Both Sides of Mande

Chapter 103 Both Sides of Mande

A golden rose blooms on the verdant green field, but atop the tallest tower built of white marble, a crowned stag flag flutters.

"Lord Mace is truly loyal, actually allowing our family's flag to fly over theirs," Joffrey teased.

Unfortunately, Ed was unwilling to respond with his rare sense of humor.

"Your Majesty," he shook his head, "that's Renly's banner, not yours."

Of course, Gaoting was not captured so quickly.

However, both sides claimed to be the legitimate successors, so they used the exact same banner.

Fortunately, Stannis was replaced with Red Heart; otherwise, many more soldiers would have been confused and disoriented during the Battle of Blackwater.

When the Stormland army retreated, a dozen or so fools from Joffrey's side followed them across the river. They only realized halfway across that the raft was carrying the enemy, and they were so frightened that they quickly jumped into the water and swam back.

Lanley's side is even more outrageous.

Soldiers from some unknown family had gotten separated from their lord and were unsure whether they had won or lost. Seeing that the banners of Baratheon were hanging on the city walls, they followed the people of Eagle's Nest into King's Landing in a daze.

In the end, it wasn't Red Roland who discovered it; it was the group of soldiers who got drunk and exploded.

They drank to celebrate for two days and then went straight to asking Renly when he would ascend the throne.

Then they ended up drinking in the jail.

With the candlelight flickering, Joffrey opened a letter.

A raven brought news that a naval battle had taken place outside Lannes Harbor, and the outcome was naturally not good.

The handwriting on the letter was neat and tidy, without any fancy cursive or embellishment, as if it had been printed on.

"To His Majesty King Joffrey:"

"Redwin's fleet arrived outside Lannes Harbor three days ago. Thanks to His Majesty's advance warning, the harbor was prepared. However, the enemy ships were too numerous, and our forces were no match for them."

"The enemy forces split into two groups. One group, consisting of about 20,000 men, landed south of the port and is building an siege camp."

"Scouts report that the Nameless Brotherhood operating at the border of the Westerlands and the Reach is Loras Tyrell in disguise."

"Another force of about 20,000 men launched a strong attack on the port from the sea, but they were repelled. However, there are many breaches in the outer walls of the port."

"Castlerock cannot accommodate too many soldiers and civilians. I have evacuated the new army and the people in the city to Kecher Town on the western peninsula."

"The garrison at Lannisport is insufficient. If the enemy launches a full-scale attack, the port may not be able to hold out for long."

"Your Majesty, this is extremely urgent! Please send troops to our aid immediately."

'

—Tywin Lannister, Warden of the West, Duke of Casterly Rock

Joffrey handed the letter to Ed.

"Grandpa has finally given in. I was wondering when he would come to ask for help."

After Ed finished reading, his face remained expressionless; he simply started banging on the table again.

"Is His Majesty truly willing to abandon Lannesport?" He chose his words carefully. "Would Ser James be willing?"

"So I sent him out, to avoid that impatient guy dragging people to the Westerlands to get themselves killed." Joffrey leaned back in his chair, pressing himself back again and again.

Ed just looked at him cautiously.

Joffrey sighed, "My lord, it's not that I'm heartless, it's just that we're powerless to save them."

"Just like when we resisted Stannis, they traveled by boat while we walked. Renly is deliberately maneuvering us."

Ed shook his head.

"That's not what I wanted to say. This approach is already rational to the point of being ruthless—oh well, never mind."

What are you calculating? Why are you secretly cursing me?

My grandfather isn't your grandfather. Tywin has enjoyed life his whole life; it's time for him to experience the hardships of war.

Selling him off, Joffrey felt no guilt whatsoever, yet Ed is now showing him some sympathy.

"There's one more thing." Joffrey pulled out a document.

"The North River Bay is temporarily under the control of the Iron Throne, and the remaining enemies who are still resisting are hereby stripped of their property and titles."

"Farmers who are willing to return will continue to cultivate the land, and a new master will be found for them; those who are unclaimed will be taken into the royal family."

"I have sent ravens back to King's Landing to have Tyrion post notices throughout the city, recruiting those lazy, good-for-nothing poor people to come here and farm."

Although he had already greeted him, Ed still looked a little unhappy.

"Your Majesty, this is a dangerous flag."

Of course, it was very dangerous to seize land from nobles.

Joffrey, as the greatest feudalist leader in Westeros, went too far with this behavior, essentially turning against himself.

However, Joffrey had no intention of debating with Eddard, who was very stubborn, so he steered the conversation away with something else.

"Go check on how the King's Landing Commandos are doing in training."

There is an angle at the upper reaches of the Mandeb River and the unnamed river, where Joffrey's camp was set up.

Apart from the reserve forces that remained, the five thousand men summoned by King's Landing were the main force here.

Because they were civilian militia, they differed from regular conscripts; there was no hierarchical system from sergeant to knight to baron.

Joffrey didn't even need to think about how to take back his authority, so he started to smuggle his own agenda into the job.

A group of ten people is led by a group leader, a team of one hundred people is led by a team leader, and a regiment of one thousand people is led by a regimental leader.

The officers in the team were all appointed by Joffrey himself, based solely on ability, not rank.

If anyone asks, just say you learned it from the Golden Regiment across the Narrow Sea.

That being said, those with real skills all have some aristocratic connections, and most people's command experience is limited to leading people in group fights, which is still at the level of relying on courage.

They were much bolder than the peasant soldiers and were much more unruly.

Even though Ed only brought half the men, he couldn't get them all to run.

The area that needs to be emphasized in training is discipline.

Joffrey appointed two commanders, one black and one white.

Hound and Baron Sven.

I'll keep the rest for now.

Hound is a complete brute; he's good as a vanguard, but not much of a commander. However, his presence can intimidate these people.

Baron was brave, polite, and ambitious, and had gained some reputation through previous battles.

In addition, His Majesty personally embezzled from the national treasury to occasionally give them extra meals and good things, and then gave them a few words to boost their morale.

At least they've been made to obediently accept the training.

The training content wasn't much; it was nothing more than walking, sitting, standing, moving forward, backward, left, and right. Westeros already had a ready-made system for this.

However, this only applied to a few hundred guards; once the number reached five thousand, there was no precedent to follow.

The Immaculate Ones can achieve uniformity, but at the cost of breaking their eggs.

Joffrey's biggest achievement so far is making these people completely understand whether to step with their left foot first or their right foot first.

The price they paid was that each of them only had one shoe.

The situation on the other side of the Mandeb River is different; it has been transformed into a bustling construction site.

The carpenters, shirtless, climbed up and down the hills, their hammers clanging incessantly, as they worked overtime to build a siege tower.

The tower, which has already been erected, is nearly ten meters high and covered with freshly skinned cowhide. People are carrying wooden buckets and splashing water on it to prevent it from being destroyed by fire-breathing crossbows during the advance.

Great Jon Snow dragged a huge oak log from somewhere, about two circumferences in diameter.

But this is relative to the standard of him and his son, Little Jon. For an ordinary person, three or four strong men might not be able to carry him.

The top of the wood had been shaped into a cone and several through holes had been drilled. Several craftsmen were gathered around it, attaching a deer-shaped hammer to it.

A six-wheeled siege vehicle was parked nearby, its thick wooden roof also covered with animal hides and coated with a thick layer of wet mud.

Fifteen thousand men were stationed not far east of High Pavilion, and Joffrey ordered them not to attack without authorization and to wait for reinforcements.

At the same time, take care to protect the siege equipment from being destroyed by the western enemy.

"Waaah"

As a result, people came from the south.

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