Stones flying through the air pierced the dark night, raining down on the streets of Firegrass Manor.
Despite their massive size, the Myr people at least didn't send all these terrible gifts into the Manor. Most stones merely struck the walls, with many also hitting the battlements, parapets, and defense towers.
However, Bloodbeard had set up a good offensive formation around the Three Daughters trebuchets of Myr, launching attacks day and night.
The night was also Gendry's friend; the Free Army's escaped slaves, relying on their familiarity with the terrain, harassed the Myr army multiple times in the darkness.
It was the Hour of the Wolf, the longest and darkest hour of the entire night. For many gathered by Gendry at the East Gate, this would be their last night.
Gendry led four hundred Wolf Pack cavalry, followed by two thousand warriors, consisting of four hundred expanded Wolf Pack infantry and sixteen hundred Free Army warriors. Steel Fist led the Wolf Pack infantry, and Gray Wolf led the Free Army warriors. These warriors, having received training from the Wolf Pack Company, the Unsullied, and Gendry, finally looked somewhat elite.
Gray Wolf led fifteen Unsullied at the forefront of the Free Army infantry. Each Unsullied carried three Longspears, a short sword, and a shield. Firelight flickered on the long-thorns of their bronze helmets, illuminating their smooth faces.
The rest of the warriors guarded the various gates; the South Gate faced the most pressure, while the North Gate faced the least. Once the battle began, the Longbowmen, who had been hiding in the outskirts and heard the horn, would assist them by firing long-bows from the west.
Perhaps holding fast would be safer, but the expanded town of the Manor was not impregnable. Moreover, facing the intense wrath of the slavers, it was better to take the initiative and attack.
"You have trained with me, with Steel Fist, with the Unsullied! You are the best warriors!"
"Freedom! Freedom!" the Free Army shouted. For the slaves, losing the war meant they would not survive, as slavers were always cruel to escaped slaves.
"The plan is well-prepared!" Gendry said. "I will charge them with cavalry. Once the city gates open, we will advance at full speed, heading straight for the mercenary rabble and trebuchets at the rear. When their army forms ranks, outflank them, from both the rear and flanks, but do not charge Longspears head-on."
"Don't forget our targets: the trebuchets, then those small fry at the rear," Longspear added. "The Three Daughters of Myr are unlikely to be taken by us; it's better to dismantle or burn them."
Steel Fist nodded, "Also, kill as many mercenary leaders, Myr nobles, and slave masters as possible, and burn their tents, especially the large, enormous ones."
"No taking slaves! Slaves are our friends!" Gray Wolf said.
"You are terrifying warriors! Shout and roar with all your might to scare them. When our cavalry breaks their formation and a gap appears, follow the cavalry into the gap and kill as many as you can. If circumstances allow, spare the slaves and target mercenary leaders, nobles, and officers. Retreat in time before you are surrounded," Gendry instructed Steel Fist. Steel Fist's four hundred plate-armored infantry were the elite of the infantry.
The Unsullied's formation was rigid and orderly, but it required some time to complete. Their cavalry's charge would buy time for the Unsullied to set up their Longspear and shield formations for the Free Army.
"Listen for my horn!" Gendry then added. "Cavalry against cavalry, infantry against infantry. We will surprise them. The enemy will attack before the Unsullied's formation is ready, if their Commander-in-Chief Bloodbeard isn't a fool. And I will try my best to delay this process. Gray Wolf's Unsullied Longspear thrusts will break Bloodbeard's formation. Bloodbeard's elite, the Myr elite, are only about a thousand strong."
"We will obey your command, Commander-in-Chief! Great liberator," Gray Wolf said. "Charge when you hear the attack horn. Retreat when you hear the retreat horn. Our Manor is still standing, and the enemy dares not approach within crossbow range.."
"Avoid their sharp edge, drain their spirit, strike their weariness," Gendry thought of his tactics. This was the best tactic, and Gendry was most adept at it.
The terrain of the Disputed Lands was mostly flat and boundless, but a large-scale head-on charge was a losing tactic. The best and most ruthless tactic was the Dornish 'blunt the spear' tactic: avoid the sharp edge, then attack. Unfortunately, the Disputed Lands were too fertile, so there was no need to consider cutting off supply lines.
To the east, the light of dawn pierced through all darkness. Thousands of lives depended on today's battle. It was time.
Gendry put on his wolf-head helmet, along with his gorget and Myr brocade cloak. His dark, heavy mace emanated a cold gleam. He raised his shield, slipping his arm through the straps.
Gendry trusted no gods, but he still hoped the Seven Gods far away in Westeros would grant him strength. He prayed to the Warrior to grant him strength like a storm, and to the Crone to grant him a bit of wisdom, so he could lead his men to victory.
"Perhaps I will die in a woman's arms, or on a cold battlefield! But definitely not today!" Longspear raised his weapon and shouted. A torrent of steel surged forward.
The Knights were pointing, putting on helmets, and reaching for their swords and axes.
"Long live the Wolf Pack!"
"Long live the Wolf Pack!"
"Kill!" Gendry raised his warhammer. He heard all kinds of sounds: the wind whipping flags, the clash of steel, the scraping of horseshoes on the ground.
The torrent of steel charged first, like a heavy punch.
Bloodbeard hesitated for a moment, then immediately recovered. Bloodbeard, though bloodthirsty, was also experienced. He ordered his Free Mercenaries to charge and had the Cat's Company immediately form a Longspear formation against the cavalry. The three hundred Knights of the Cat's Company were his elite and could not be used up at this moment.
"Where is the Spear Company? There are eight hundred Knights, bring them over quickly!" Bloodbeard commanded.
"Commander, the Knights of the Spear Company are under attack from above. The enemy's Longbowmen are ambushed outside the city; some of these long-bows can shoot three hundred yards!"
"Useless, a bunch of useless people!" Bloodbeard roared furiously. "Didn't we have scouts? How did they not discover them!"
"They were very well hidden, concealed in the wilderness. Speaking of terrain, we don't have that advantage."
"Enough!" Bloodbeard no longer considered the impenetrable Spear Company. Perhaps this was a feint, with the main focus on the center and the Second Sons' flank. He had to hold steady, like a rock.
"Charge the Second Sons!" Gendry issued the command. The main target was the Second Sons. The dilapidated, infamous Second Sons were now like a lame chicken, long past their former glory. The Second Sons' weapons were too tattered; some were barely usable.
The fierce attack, like a tide, directly broke the Second Sons' formation. The Second Sons tried their best to counterattack, but to no great effect.
Many of the Second Sons' warriors fell directly from their horses and died. The Bastard of the Titan was anxious and quickly blew the horn for reinforcements. On the other side, he organized men to counterattack, resisting desperately.
"Kill!" The magnificent warhorse charged towards the Second Sons, and Gendry wielded the mace in his hand. He would first attack the Second Sons, then burn the trebuchets, and then outflank them. He wanted to slaughter as many living forces as possible.
Gendry's mace emitted a cold gleam of death, directly crushing the Second Sons warriors wearing tattered chainmail. With a swing of the mace, the immense force that followed shattered faces and crushed heads.
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