Chapter 287 Running Wolf’s Strategy
The cavalry marched against the dawn of dawn. The winding Red King Ancient Road ended in front of them. Only a fallen road sign was mostly buried in the snow, pointing in the direction.
The tall horses in the north are treading on the snow, and the cavalry is lying low on the horse. Spears, daggers, bows, daggers and other armaments are all available. The faded flags show a faint gray in the night that is about to see light, and the direwolf above them The pattern is very light, and unless you have a very good eye, you will probably not be able to make it out. But the Mormont flag on the side is very prominent, and the green color is eye-catching.
Daisy did not choose a long sword, a meteor hammer was her favorite.
She kicked her legs silently, and the horses moved forward slowly in tacit understanding. The cavalry team gradually dispersed, bypassing the Red King's Ancient Road, and marched along the long foothills towards the forest in the distance.
The second son of the Ryswell family walked at the front of the team. Daisy recalled the accusations made by Greatjon Umber against the Ryswell family, "They were married to the Boltons after all, even if they swore in front of the weirwood tree." A thousand times, I’m afraid I won’t trust them!”
But Lord Eddard Stark chose to trust the Ryswell family. After all, the army in the Brooklands was quite intact. Not only that, he also asked Greatjon Umber's team to return with Ser Marlon Manderly. White Harbor.
Daisy didn't trust her. The Dustin family might be the first family to receive the Raven's letter, but Mrs. Barber, who was born in the Ryswell family, chose to remain silent. Moreover, as Great Jon said, the Ryswell family still She had a marriage relationship with Bolton, which made it hard not to be wary, but she didn't know how to speak to the Duke.
Daisy looked at the distance, stretched out her arm, and gave the instruction "dismount".
The scouts dismounted one after another, lowered their posture and slowly entered the forest.
The forest land was also covered with snow, and the scouts tried to move as slowly as possible to reduce the sound of stepping on the snow.
Daisy opened her ears and listened carefully to the rustling in the air.
His nose moved, and it was obviously the smell left by the extinguished campfire.
She reached for her waist, took off the wine bag, took a small sip, moistened it in her mouth, chewed it for a moment and swallowed it. Slowly pushing aside the bushes in front, the meteor hammer was raised slightly.
"Creak!" In the dense jungle under the cover of night, mistakes are inevitable, and a scout stepped on a branch.
Small sounds will become loud in the silence, and the atmosphere will suddenly become stagnant, followed by rapid footsteps and breathing.
"Kill!" Daisy rushed out of the bushes and slammed the meteor hammer forward.
"Crack!" The Bolton infantry met him in the face and fell to the ground. Daisy swung her hammer, always keeping her distance from the shadows in the night ahead.
Arrows flew out all around, and Stark's scouts drew their swords and jumped out from all directions, fighting with Bolton's infantry.
After several encounters, the sounds of fighting ceased.
Many of Bolton's soldiers were killed by arrows and swords before they could even take out their weapons, and many more died in their sleep.
The second son of the Ryswell family aimed his sword at the sleeping enemy's throat and stabbed him, holding on tightly and watching him struggle.
"This is the team that least resembles an advance army I have ever seen," the second son joked, looking at the silent enemy, he shook his head, "A child."
Daisy looked over and saw that he was indeed a child. He was just practicing swordsmanship and was about the same height as the illegitimate son of the Hornwood family.
"They must have spread out. Stay vigilant. There are enemies nearby." Daisy glanced at the second son of the Ryswell family and said to the surrounding scouts.
They groped forward for more than ten miles, until the morning light began to rise, illuminating the snow on the ground. They did not stop until the entire forest was searched.
Burton's corpses were piled up, with a total of thirty-five. As for the rest, Daisy looked at the lines of footprints in the snow in the distance and saw the direction in which they extended. She thoughtfully turned her head to look around. The soldiers shouted: "Cut off the heads and return to camp!"
"Woohoo!~" The cheers of the scouts after their achievements echoed in the forest again.
After breaking out of camp, the Stark army continued to advance towards the Lonely Mountain. The terrain was getting higher and higher, and the army's forward speed also slowed down a lot.
News of Bolton soldiers being discovered and camped became more frequent. Ed analyzed this information and issued orders one after another. Thousands of sergeants were properly dispatched, and then they returned with many heads collected. It became increasingly common for the army to break camp and move forward.
Unknowingly, they had far exceeded their original plan and expectations, and the Lonely Mountain and the Weeping River seemed to be within easy reach. A huge bearskin was draped over Ed's body. He took off his thick gloves and felt the temperature of the air.
It's getting colder every day, he thought. But northerners are often prepared for this. Ed looked at his team.
The thick and big paws of the thick-haired pony stepped on the snow, leaving only a line of shallow footprints. This group of gray-haired veterans or young novices who were just entering the battlefield were all ready with tightly wrapped bags. Fur, lined with cooked leather, many people put the old chainmail they brought on the horse's back, holding the reins and following the team forward.
Some people painted their faces brown-green and carried many branches on their bodies as camouflage.
Eddard, the envoy sent by Roose Bolton, ignored them all and drove them away before continuing their march.
In fact, he felt deep down in his heart that this was not appropriate. Perhaps it would be more efficient to pretend to agree and trick the Boltons into coming over and catch them all.
But he needs a clear statement to restore the Stark family's declining reputation. He wants to defeat the rebellious Bolton family and revive Stark's wolf-running momentum.
The jungle composed of countless masts in White Harbor Shipyard was a huge support behind him. When Ed saw this scene at the top of White Harbor City, he was speechless and speechless.
He could only be thankful that even in the current situation, Manderly was still loyal to Stark and loyal to Winterfell.
Ed turned his head and looked to the rear. The mules, horses, and bulls that had just been snatched from the vassal farm of the Dreadfort were in the baggage train. The livestock were dragging a long line of wagons, and a large number of civilian carts were carrying food, fodder, and tents. Wait for the rest of the supplies. A large number of family members wearing chain mail or even plate armor stayed on both sides of the train.
The northern cavalry was dragged at the end of the team in an orderly manner, reinforcing the main team and the baggage train at any time.
"Duke!" Roger Laiswell, the eldest son and heir of Earl Laiswell, strode over with his sword in hand.
Ed nodded at him and called his name, "Rorge Ryswell."
Rorge nodded, and Ed had to rely on Ryswell's cavalry. Most of the latter were recuperating and did not suffer much losses. The Northland war horses provided by the stream land were also the most in the Northern Expedition in the Dreadfort, far exceeding the rest. Among the northern princes, one-third of the drum cavalry behind the baggage train flashed the flag of the Ryswell family.
The head of a black horse, no wonder they are famous for their horse breeding.
"The weather is too cold. There is a forest ahead. I suggest you camp where you are and cut down more trees." Rorge pointed to the large forest covered by snow in front of him and said to Ed.
Ed nodded thoughtfully and agreed to Rorge's proposal, but then asked:
"Has your father, Lord Ryswell, brought any news from the Brooklands, news about the Ironborn."
Rorge suddenly became excited when he heard this, "Don't worry, Lord Ed, my father has personally led the army to build fortifications along the river. He can kill all the arrogant ironmen on the rocky coast at any time and anywhere. There are only a few hundred of them! And Leiswei You have an army of more than two thousand people!”
Hundreds of people, Ed was surprised when he heard this. If there were only this number, the previously worried alliance between Bolton and the Ironborn would become a joke.
"Lord Eddard!" A clear and loud voice came from the distance. It was Daisy Mormont, the fighting female bear.
A letter was clutched in Daisy's hand, "It's a raven! A raven from the herald! From Winterfell!"
Ed stepped forward and opened the letter. "Ser Caleb Conton has entered Winterfell and is marshalling the armies of all parties, preparing to help the Taoha family regain Torrhen Square."
"Old gods bless you!" Luo Jie smiled, and even the female bear beside him couldn't hide her smile.
"Spread the news to the whole army and organize the camp today." Ed put away the letter and ordered, leading the horse to the baggage train.
Not a moment later, countless people cheered behind them, loud and continuous, echoing in the snowy sky.
After resting for a night, the rear army turned to the front army and issued an emergency march order. Ed thought to himself, he estimated the time, if there was no mistake, the White Harbor fleet would have almost reached the Weeping River.
Mandalay can also send people to go around and go to the Last Hearth City and Kahor City to contact the Amber family and the Karstark family in the north. The north and south sea routes will attack them, making it impossible for Roose Bolton to escape.
(End of chapter)