Game of Thrones: I am Dothraki, not a barbarian

Chapter 91 The war is about to begin
When the citizens along the way heard that Laharo had appeared, they spontaneously gathered on both sides of the street. The crowd was thronged, banging copper pots, waving ribbons, cheering, and shouting one after another.

"Rahalo! Blade of Pentos!"

"Long live the commander-in-chief of the guard!"

"Long live the Shield of Pentos!"

The Shield of Pentos escorted Rakharro to the Magnificent Square. He walked onto the high platform, and his Valyrian armor emitted a mysterious light in the sun.

He raised his scimitar high, and his voice filled the room, "Citizens of Pentos! I am Rahalo!"

He pointed his blade towards the distant harbor, "I once slew the legendary sea serpent and cleared the sea threats for you. I also defeated the great pirate Euron and protected the safety of the sailors!

These victories are not only my glory, but also the glory of Pentos! Our city-state is safer and more prosperous because of them!
No matter what obstacles lie ahead, I will be with you and lead you to a brighter future!"

At this moment, the Shield of Pentos's ranks split to the sides, leaving a passage, and dozens of carriages entered the square one after another.

The carts were filled with freshly baked bread, roast meat, and ale.

Rahalo's voice was heard by all:

"During my tenure as Commander-in-Chief, at the end of each quarter, a loaf of bread, a piece of roast meat, and a mug of ale will be provided to the citizens!"

The reaction in the square was even more enthusiastic. The poor people who could not even afford to eat were so excited that they shed tears when they heard that there was even meat.

With the Shield of Pentos guarding them, the people lined up spontaneously and in an orderly manner. No one was worried about not getting food and drinks because they trusted Rahalo.

Rahalo looked at their reactions, a smile playing on his face.

Providing food only cost more than 2000 gold royals, which was just a negligible expense for him, but it won the support of nearly one million people in the city.

The governors would rather go to the branch and throw a handful of gold dragons on women's bellies than spend even a copper coin for the common people.

In ancient Rome, Caesar was able to become a lifelong dictator by using this method. Laharo was just copying others, but the effect was surprisingly good, simply because the gap between the rich and the poor in Pentos was even greater, and the people were more persecuted by the governor.

At this moment, Baqu, with an anxious look on his face, rushed up to the platform in two or three steps and whispered in Laharo's ear:
"A large number of Westerosi warships have been spotted at sea, with the crown and stag emblem printed on their sails. We suspect they are the royal fleet, expected to arrive tomorrow morning!"

"Don't worry," Laharo said calmly, patting Baqu. "I'll go to the port with you later."

...

As night falls, the waves hit the rocks, splashing silver-like waves.

Laharo stood on the observation deck of the Tidebreak Tower, feeling the salty sea breeze blow against his face.

He had just arrived from the Glorious Square, and the city of Pentos behind him was in a tense and busy state of war preparation.

"What a coincidence..." Rahalo chuckled self-deprecatingly, "I've just become the commander of the guards, and I'm about to face a fierce battle."

On the distant horizon, Robert Baratheon's fleet was like a black iron curtain, with tall masts, fluttering sails, and the crown and stag flag faintly visible in the firelight.

Baqu stood beside Laharo, shook his long white hair in front of his forehead, and said in a rough voice:
"My lord, the royal fleet is elite, but this is the only way for ships to enter Pentos."

"Let them come! I'm targeting the elite!"

Pentos is located on the shore of a crescent-shaped bay, like a giant stretching out its two arms to embrace the port. This natural breakwater isolates the hurricanes of the Narrow Sea. The tide-breaking tower where Laharo is located is located at the tip of the left arm, one on each side.

If Robert's fleet wants to land, it can only choose to break through the narrow mouth head-on.

At the bottom of the Tidebreak Tower was a chain, as thick as a child's arm, that stretched across the entire narrow passage, much the same as the one at the mouth of the Blackwater River in King's Landing. Once raised, the chain would completely seal the narrow passage, forcing the fleet to break the chain before it could penetrate the bay and launch an attack, thus buying precious time for the defenders.

A thousand Shields of Pentos have assembled on the battlements of Tidebreak Tower and in bunkers near the coastline.

The walls of Pentos had been in disrepair for a long time and lacked large defensive weapons. Before leaving, he searched the armory and only found ten ballistae and a twenty-foot catapult that were usable. He deployed all of them in the Tidebreaking Tower and handed them over to the Shield of Pentos.

Dozens of barrels of fuel were piled next to the catapults, ready to turn enemy ships into a sea of ​​fire as soon as they approached.

Soldiers are using sandbags to reinforce their bunkers to defend against enemy catapults and ballistae.

Baqu said solemnly, "If the warship hits the iron chain and suffers a loss, they will definitely give up the assault and use catapults and crossbows for long-range bombardment, or send frogmen to sneak in.

Once the capstan is destroyed, this line of defense will be over. Our crossbows have too short a range to defeat their catapults and ballistae."

Laharo pondered for a moment and nodded, "Send twenty elite crossbowmen and eighty heavy infantry from each fortress on both sides to guard the capstan!

Also, place some oil drums on the lower level of the fortress. Once the enemy ship is overturned by the chains, the sea surface will be immediately ignited and the soldiers who fall into the water will be burned to death.

Also, have the light boats be on high alert. If the enemy gets into disarray, launch a surprise attack and burn the boats with Molotov cocktails!"

Rhahalo turned and looked towards Poseidon Castle in the distance.

Poseidon Castle is a fortress in the port, located outside the city walls and is also the last fortress.

The wall where the Gate of Braavos is located is part of the southwest wall, echoing the Fort of Poseidon in the distance. If the enemy lands at the dock, they will be attacked from both sides.

If Fort Poseidon falls, the enemy can directly attack the Gates of Braavos, and then we will have to defend the city.

The wall was too long and he didn't have enough troops.

There was not enough pasture east of the Velvet Hills, and his Khalasar was far away on the east bank of the Rhoyne River. There were only 3,000 light cavalry left outside the city of Pentos, plus 700 guards and Pentos Shields in the city, for a total force of no more than 6,700 men.

It hadn't rained in Caohai for nine months, and food was in short supply. The cattle, sheep, and horses he had seized from Ogo became highly sought-after, more valuable than gold, and the other Karasas were all eyeing him covetously.

His more than 20,000 warriors had to protect more than 100,000 women, children and slaves, and his military strength was really stretched.

It’s not that he hasn’t thought about conscription, but he hasn’t even warmed up yet, he’s not familiar with the situation and he’s completely in the dark. Can the soldiers really be relied upon?

If you turn against the enemy, you will have no place to cry.

He had already sent a fast horse to deliver a message to Old Mosso, but it would take at least half a month to go back and forth, and distant water could not quench immediate thirst.

Robert had brought with him at least eight 200-oared dromen this time, and even at their minimum configuration, each ship could carry 540 soldiers.

There are also 120 standard 80-oared Dromon warships, each with a crew of 230 people, and more than 80 small fast interceptors and logistics supply ships.

Rhahalo would never underestimate Robert. According to his calculations, Pentos could only hold out for eight days at most.

Of course, there is the final killer.

He had buried eight hundred barrels of gunpowder in the harbor, almost one barrel every five meters, in wooden boxes filled with gravel.

He was reluctant to destroy the port unless it was absolutely necessary. However, repairing the port didn't cost military money, so if it came to that, he wouldn't mind exchanging the port for Robert's death!

(End of this chapter)