The Mountain of Ice and Fire

More than fifty warships, of which only eleven were true royal warships, the rest were large and small merchant ships forcibly conscripted from the Blackwater River port.

The biggest difference between merchant ships and warships is the absence of ballistae.

Ballistae are small machines that launch barrels of oil, barrels of asphalt, and round stones weighing less than thirty pounds.

This is not a powerful fleet, but it can easily sweep through any fleet in Blackwater Bay.

After the Battle of Blackwater River against Stannis Baratheon, the Royal Navy was completely destroyed. This fleet under the Mountain is the only naval force in Blackwater Bay.

The fleet set off from Dragonstone and, after half a day's sailing, arrived at the most dangerous place at the mouth of Blackwater Bay: the Water Gate, with only two narrow waterways on the left and right.

The Mountain's flagship was the first to pass through the Water Gate. The flagship went upstream, followed by dozens of warships, one after another, passing through this dangerous waterway at a uniform speed. In the current between the left and right channels, the looming sharp spikes of the reef were like long swords and black spears, hideous and terrifying.

This is an area where a large area of black reefs emerges in the middle of the water after the tide recedes. Subjected to years of scouring by the current, the reefs are sharp and hard, surpassing steel.

The Mountain stood at the bow of the ship and saw a ship coming down from upstream in the distance, its flag fluttering. As the two ships got closer and closer, the Mountain saw the royal flag flying at the bow and the white seashell flag of House Westerling.

On the opposite side, Lord Gawen Westerling also saw the royal flag on the Mountain's flagship and the new flag of a red smoke beast galloping in the air with a giant ice sword in its mouth. The three-dog flag he was familiar with was gone.

The Mountain had even changed his family crest, no longer using the three-dog flag as his family crest.

As the two ships approached, the Mountain coldly looked at the three people at the bow of the ship: his father-in-law, Gawen Westerling; Kingsguard Sandor Clegane, and Kingsguard Meryn Trant. Although Meryn Trant had no knightly honor, he was the Queen Mother's confidant.

Gawen was representing the royal family to negotiate with the Mountain. Queen Cersei would definitely not feel at ease if she didn't send someone of her own!

Behind these three people were twelve gold cloaks, all glaring!

The Kingsguard and the gold cloaks are all direct forces belonging to the king, representing the supreme royal power!

As the two ships approached, the Mountain gave an order, and the ballistae on the warship fired iron hooks with ropes attached. With a series of bangs, they pierced through the hull of the large ship, locking the other ship in place and preventing it from escaping. With two loud booms, two ballistae fired large round stones weighing dozens of pounds, hitting the mast of the large ship directly. With a series of cracking sounds, wood chips flew everywhere, and the mast slowly fell to the outside, causing everyone on the ship to change color.

Lord Gawen was frightened and shouted, "Duke Gregor Clegane, we are here to convey the royal order!"

*

The Mountain stood on the high bow of the ship, looking down at Lord Gawen without saying a word.

There could only be two reasons why his father-in-law Gawen came as a negotiator: the first reason was that the lives of his family and soldiers were threatened; but with Lord Tywin's character, even if you completed his task, he would kill you all to avoid future troubles; the second reason was a huge benefit. For example, a promotion in title, an increase in territory, a reward of a thousand households of people, and exemption from taxes.

Nothing cannot be bought with gold dragons. Everyone and everything has a price. This is Lord Tywin's famous saying!

*

The iron hooks fired by the Mountain's warship pierced through the hull of the other ship, and the soldiers worked together to pull the opposite ship over. The two ships gradually came together, and the Mountain's generals were filled with murderous intent, Gawen was frightened and shouted to his daughter Jeyne beside the Mountain: "Jeyne, my good daughter, I am here on the king's order and have nothing to do with Lord Tywin! Tell the Duke."

Jeyne looked at her father, who was likely a negotiator who had received huge benefits!

The Mountain ignored his father-in-law, naturally indicating that he would not accept anyone's persuasion, not even his father-in-law.

This time, only blood can wash away the blood! In large-scale battles, morale is the most important thing. The Mountain's military strength and numbers are limited. The advantage is not in numbers, but in morale!

The morale of the Clegane army must not be泄 [xiè - leak]!

To make a knife sharper and sharper, naturally you have to sharpen it!

To make the morale of a legion stronger and stronger, and everyone has the courage to go forward, naturally you have to crush all the way, don't talk nonsense! Every time you talk nonsense, morale will leak away by one point, invisibly. If the commander-in-chief begins to hesitate in the face of huge benefits, and begins to retreat in the face of threats, considering gains and losses, and looking forward and backward, he will definitely be defeated in the face of an army several times his own, and in the face of Tywin's killing!

The Mountain's refusal to negotiate with Lord Gawen is a strategy and a tactic! Because he is facing Tywin Lannister!

Although the Mountain did not explicitly hint to Jeyne, Jeyne understood the Mountain's intention with a single glance. Any good results that you want can only be achieved by fighting, never by talking!

Jeyne did not respond to Lord Gawen's shouts either.

Now that things have exploded, the Mountain judged that Lord Tywin must have controlled everything inside the palace. Then, no matter who Gawen nominally represents, he can only represent one person's will: Prime Minister Tywin!

The Mountain believes that Prime Minister Tywin is the mastermind behind Lord Gawen's coming to negotiate!

Tywin is not afraid, this is his strategy!

If the Mountain does not accept the negotiation and insists on attacking King's Landing, he will fall right into Lord Tywin's trap - Lord Tywin will have an excuse to 'have to' order the entire city to fight, no matter how far-fetched the excuse is, it can be fully utilized!

"Mountain! I am your father-in-law, won't you even give me a chance to speak? If you want to fight, then fight, but give me a chance to speak first!"

The Mountain replied to his father-in-law, "Take down the negotiators on the ship, and kill anyone who resists!"

"Ho!"

Brienne, Erion, Landon, and the soldiers under the command of the Mountain, together with soldiers led by others, roared angrily!

They had been unable to speak from the time they set off until now, and they had been holding it in for too long.

Clang clang clang!

The sound of swords being drawn was heard all around. On the deck, swords were raised densely, forming a forest of swords.

As the two ships came together, the hulls rubbed against each other, and the ship bodies shook.

"Take him down!" The Mountain pointed at his father-in-law!

Brienne of Tarth was the first to fly across the ship's rail, jumped onto the other ship's deck, and went straight for Gawen Westerling. Meryn Trant glanced at the Hound. The Hound remained unmoved. He still had the most basic Kingsguard blood. He shouted, "Hound, are you going to violate your Kingsguard oath?" Clang, he drew his long sword halfway, stopped, glanced at the giant-like guy at the bow of the ship, and silently put his sword back.

The Hound looked at Meryn Trant coldly!

The captain of the gold cloaks behind them was indignant, drew his long sword with a clang, shouted long live the king, and came to fight Brienne.

Clang!

The swords clashed, and sparks flew!

The captain took a step back, his body swayed, but Brienne remained motionless.

The two roared at the same time and fought together again.

Gawen Westerling shouted, "Stop, stop, stop!"

Landon, The Mountain's adopted son, the boy from Crab Claw Peninsula was excited, his eyes bloodshot, followed closely behind Brienne, jumped over and engaged a gold cloak in close combat, swords clashing; Captain Erion flew over and kicked over the gold cloak fighting Landon. Landon took the opportunity to stab the enemy in the throat with his sword...

Puff!

Brienne's long sword cut into the captain's neck, the blade cutting in hard, cutting in diagonally, and even severing the other's collarbone.

The eleven-year-old squire, Comm Warner, and dozens of The Mountain's personal guards jumped onto the deck one after another. The sound of fierce sword clashes rang out. After several short screams, the battle ended. Four fools among the twelve gold cloaks died, and the remaining eight dropped their long swords and surrendered. Gawen Westerling, Sandor Clegane, and Meryn Trant were captured without resistance.

*

The Mountain looked at Meryn Trant: "I saw you draw your sword, Kingsguard!"

"Uh, I am a knight!"

"But you put your sword back!"

"...We were ordered to protect Lord Gawen to negotiate, not to fight!"

"You are not here to protect Lord Gawen, you are here to monitor him. Whose eyes are you? The king? The Queen Mother? The Prime Minister?"

"I hope the Duke and the Prime Minister will not start a war. The Prime Minister has gathered 60,000 troops. You cannot break through the city gates. Think about the lives of your soldiers! If you fight, they will probably all die!" Meryn Trant straightened his chest, but the fear in his eyes betrayed him.

"Thank you for your concern. I have a suggestion, would you like to hear it?" The Mountain said lightly, his voice containing murderous intent!

"...Your Grace, I have no selfish motives in coming here..." Meryn Trant stammered.

"You are a beast who abuses little girls without any guilt. What virtues and abilities do you have to be a Kingsguard?" The Mountain sneered!

Meryn Trant was afraid. The Mountain's tone was getting more and more wrong. He looked at Lord Gawen. Lord Gawen was also frightened and closed his mouth tightly. It seemed that he was determined not to interrupt.

"Your Grace, I was chosen by the late King Robert and anointed with holy oil in the Great Sept of Baelor. The fearless Ser Barristan Selmy personally put the white cloak on me. I am here to fulfill my duty and have no malice towards you, let alone any hostility."

The Mountain looked at Meryn Trant coldly: "The fearless Ser Barristan Selmy put the white cloak on you? When he was forced to leave the throne room, I heard that you and Ser Boros Blount laughed the loudest."

Meryn Trant was speechless...

"Ser, if you were smart, you shouldn't have come."

Clang!

The Mountain's Ice Sword was drawn.

Thump!

Meryn Trant knelt down on both knees and kowtowed: "Your Grace, spare my life, Your Grace, spare my life. I was ordered by Queen Cersei to monitor Lord Gawen to see if he would communicate with you and attack King's Landing from the inside."

The Mountain snorted coldly: "Ser, whether you say it or not, I know you are Queen Cersei's eyes!"

"No, Your Grace, you can't..." Meryn Trant exclaimed. When he was ordered to come, although he was afraid of the Mountain, he did not expect that this trip would be a dead end.

What can't I do?

His words were not finished... A cold light flashed, the Ice Sword fell, Meryn Trant's head flew up, and hot blood spurted from his neck...

*

Meryn Trant's armor was stripped off, and his body was thrown into the raging Blackwater River.

All the warships had passed through the Water Gate and were arranged in five rows on the wide waters of the Blackwater River, advancing at a uniform drumbeat.

Ahead, the huge outline of King's Landing began to appear.

"Hound, are you the Prime Minister's eyes?"

"Yes!"

"All the innocent people in the Clegane lands have been killed, do you know that?"

"I know!"

Tear!

The Mountain tore off the Hound's white cloak and threw it into the rolling waves. The white cloak rolled, floated, and spun in the water, and was swept into the bottom of the water and disappeared.

"Are you a Lannister or a Clegane?"

"Clegane!"

"Very good, I am also a Clegane."

"Hmph!"

"Do you want to stand and be a Clegane, or kneel and be a Lannister's dog?"

"What I do has nothing to do with you, and you can't control it!" The Hound took a step forward, and then another step forward. The two brothers' armor touched each other, and the Hound looked straight into the Mountain's eyes, without blinking.

He is not Meryn Trant. This guy is not afraid of death, and he can't scare him!

"I am your brother, so this matter has something to do with me."

"Then what are you going to do to me? Cut off my head, or throw me into the Blackwater River?"

Jeyne noticed that the Hound did not deny that the Mountain was his brother.

"If you want to be a Clegane, I have a vacant position for the captain of the guards left by Ser Gerold Hightower."

"Hmm!" The Hound raised his head proudly, facing the Mountain.

"If you like being a Lannister's dog, I will throw you into this Blackwater River," the Mountain said coldly.

"Do it, throw me down."

The two brothers' eyes clashed, neither willing to back down.

Jeyne said, "Your Grace, if Sandor Clegane were not a member of House Clegane, he would not have let you succeed when you tore off his white cloak just now."

The Mountain and the Hound still stared at each other, like two bulls about to collide.

Jeyne hit the nail on the head, piercing the Hound's mask.

Tywin had murderous intentions. The Cleganes faced extermination, and the example of the Reynes of Castamere was known throughout the Seven Kingdoms. Any vassals, relatives, friends, and subjects of House Reyne and Tarbeck would be exterminated. The Hound knew right from wrong in his heart, and he had his own yardstick.

Jeyne's vision is sharp. Whoever gets such a virtuous wife is the luckiest!

The Mountain's eyes retreated first, softened, and the murderous intent disappeared.

The Hound took half a step back: "Don't think about using the position of deputy captain of the guard to give me alms. I don't belong to any of your cavalry, infantry, or navy. I am who I am, and I won't lead troops for you. Also, don't even think about making me kneel to you in any situation."

"I don't want you to kneel, I want your sword and your Clegane surname. Remember, the Clegane family crest is no longer three dogs, but a red smoke beast and an Ice Sword, and the family motto is Unmatched."

"That's your family crest and motto, not mine!" the Hound said coldly.

"Captain Erion, give the Hound the sword!"

Erion handed the Hound's long sword to the Hound. The Hound took it, glared at Erion, and spat on the deck: "Northerner!"

Erion was expressionless. As Eddard Stark's former captain of the guard, he did not choose to die in battle, but chose to lead the brothers around him to follow the Mountain. Being despised and spat on by many honorable knights and arrogant lords was already part of Erion's life.

The Mountain stood in front of the eight guards: "Do you swear to join the Clegane army or will I throw you all into the Blackwater River?"

Eight warriors tore off their golden robes, knelt down, and swore allegiance to the Mountain. The Mountain handed the eight guardsmen over to Erlin, instructing him to incorporate them into the guard. These men, mixed with his most loyal, bravest, and fiercest guards, would soon change.

*

Gavin Westerling, already fully armed, stood beside the Mountain: "Mountain, King's Landing has sixty thousand regular troops, and Tywin says he can arm another hundred thousand refugees. We can't win. Let's negotiate!"

"You've forgotten the Rains of Castamere."

"No, I haven't. House Reyne of Castamere and House Tarbeck of Tarbeck Hall were exterminated because they refused to submit. But House Farman of Fair Isle was spared by the Duke as long as they submitted. We only need to submit..."

"Submission is useless. My head is one of the conditions Tywin needs to gain Dorne's support."

"Must we fight?"

"Righteousness is on our side. The soldiers' families have been massacred, and the morale for revenge is high. This is the best time to fight."

"But our forces..."

"The Tyrells' forty thousand troops won't truly participate in the battle. Most of the guardsmen won't fight against me in their hearts. I led them in the great battle against Stannis. Their goodwill towards me exceeds that towards Tywin Lannister."

"...Uh... If you insist... our two thousand Westerling warriors..."

"Father, this is war!"

Westerling's breath hitched, and he closed his mouth!

Being timid, hesitant, greedy for profit, and seeking quick success are not the right ways to deal with Tywin! The right way to deal with Tywin is to move forward without hesitation and never look back.

As darkness fell, the warships arrived in the waters outside the Blackwater River harbor, forming a line that blocked the vast and wide river. Immediately, warning horns sounded from the walls of King's Landing: Woo—! Woo woo—! Woo woo woo woo woo—!

Boom boom boom! Boom boom boom!

Figures swayed on the city walls. Spearmen, swordsmen and shieldmen, and archers all took their positions, looking tense and as if facing a great enemy!

It was none other than the Mountain who had come!

Thanks to [Son-Giving Imam], [When Sunlight Meets Our Time], [Yu Xiang Tian Qing] for their support and rewards. Thank you, and handshake!