Game of Thrones: King of Harrenhal, starting with a blue hand stat panel

Chapter 97 Raid on Harlo Island

"The Iron Fleet is destroyed!"

"Commander Victalion of the Iron Fleet escaped with his life!"

The news from Fairy Island quickly spread throughout the Sea Frontier City.

Stannis and Pikester's victory was crucial; only with control of the sea could they confidently storm the Iron Islands.

Moreover, without a large fleet to evacuate them, they would be unable to land.

These soldiers were so bored they were practically flying off to a halt, eating, drinking, fighting, and wrestling. They had long wanted to land on the Iron Islands.

Inside the Eagle Hall, the main commanders of this Iron Islands campaign surrounded King Robert and his lieutenant Eddard.

Commander-in-Chief Robert Ed.

Secondary Commanders: Earl Royce, Earl Rickard, Sir Barristan.

The Horsts, father and son, who were in charge of the Seafront City camp, and Ser Stevieren, heir to the old Frey.

Vanguard of the army: Arthur, the red-robed monk Thoros, Lynn, "The Bear".

Other notable figures include Count Jason of the Riverlands, Count Tetos, and Count Genos.

Apart from Jon Arryn, the Hand of the King who remained in King's Landing, almost all the important figures came to join in the fun, demonstrating the unity of the wolves, fish, deer, and eagles.

This time, the landing point was Haijiang City, and the vassal states of Hejian were the most numerous.

"Great! Baron's Iron Fleet is destroyed, we can land directly." King Robert laughed heartily, wine stains still visible on his golden robe.

During this time, the king also drank quite a bit of wine in the city of Haijiang.

"The Iron Fleet is destroyed, but the Commander-in-Chief has escaped," Ed reminded him.

"Not only the Commander-in-Chief, but Raveneye has also fled. Stannis has already explained to me that only the flagship and a few longships are missing. And that Raveneye has been disobeying his brother's orders," Robert said confidently.

"Raveneye did indeed escape." Arthur listened to this latest intelligence.

Victalion escaped by relying on his warriors' bloody battle, abandoning the Iron Fleet.

Croweye never went to Fairy Island waters.

Just as Arthur suspected, Raveneye possessed some extraordinary abilities.

It's just that we're currently in a period of rising power from a low point in magic, and Raven's Eye isn't as terrifying and mystical as it will be later; his power is being suppressed.

Even so, given how cunning and shrewd Crow is, it's understandable that it would run away.

Raveneye knew he couldn't fight the Iron Throne, and he was also keen to see Balon suffer a setback.

"Gentlemen, the situation at sea is settled; all that remains is to reach the sea monster's lair," Robert said, clenching his fist. "Arthur Hoan, Lynn Cobra, Thoros, Jorah Mormont, you are the four spearheads of this operation."

"Your Majesty, please rest assured," the vanguard members who were traveling with the king assured him.

Arthur and his group weren't even the ultimate vanguard; King Robert was still warming up.

Although Robert was a king and master, he was also known as a vanguard warrior.

In The Wars of the Usurper, Robert G. was mostly a vanguard and one-on-one fighter, not a commanding general.

Robert was famous for his one-on-one duels, and he could recount four or five of them. Each time, the brothers followed him.

Robert is now king, so there are more constraints on him.

Although it was very dangerous, Robert certainly had the charisma of a warrior, unlike Tywin and Stannis who relied more on reserves and rear command.

This attack on the Iron Islands was like using a cannon to kill a mosquito.

During the Battle of the Trident, the Reach and Western Frontier armies were not heavily involved, and the battle was roughly evenly matched.

This time, the major clans united against a common enemy, brutally beating the sea monster of the Iron Islands.

Having so many powerful families serving him is a blessing that Baron himself has earned.

"Are the catapults ready?" Ed asked.

"It's all ready," Earl Jason replied. "Two will be assigned to Sir Barristan, and His Majesty's army will have three catapults to breach Pike City's defenses."

"Very well, I think the time is ripe." King Robert clenched his fist. "Let the soldiers eat and drink their fill today, and tomorrow we'll enjoy a feast at the foot of Pyke."

"Yes, Your Majesty!" The lords and knights were in high spirits.

Dealing with Baron's band of bandits is not like a general civil war such as "Dance of the Blood Dragon," the First Blackfire Rebellion, or the War of the Usurpers, but rather a "war of elite troops"!

Therefore, the Iron Throne seemed to be in complete control throughout the war, unhurried and composed, while the warriors and laborers were eager to try their luck.

Apart from the fact that the lords of Stormlands remained largely unmoved, the Riverlands, Royal Territory, and the North also recruited lord knights, cavalry, and some elite tribal soldiers, so there was no need for a general mobilization.

During his time in Haijiang City, besides eating and drinking, the king also made some adjustments to the army.

These soldiers were generally of good quality, and given that the scale of the war was controllable, training them was quite easy.

The Iron Islands are only so big, and apart from the sea, there aren't many architectural wonders.

The feudal lords no longer needed to bring farmers, small business owners, and barbers to the battlefield, unlike the War of the Five Kings, which completely drained the people's strength.

Besides the elite, there were also minor lords, mercenary knights, free riders, and landless adventurers who volunteered to join the war.

These people, though seemingly calm, were also eager to make a fortune on the battlefield of the Iron Islands.

. . . .

Early morning, at the wharf of Haijiang City.

Under the command of the feudal lords and the knights with property, the soldiers began to line up in order of marching.

The soldiers formed four battle groups, awaiting the arrival of the supporting fleet.

Sir Barristan will command the soldiers of the Royal Army, who will accompany him on his expedition to Old Wake Island.

Wang Ling was wealthy, but his army's combat effectiveness was relatively average. However, the tasks assigned to him were not particularly difficult.

The remaining lords and soldiers of the Riverlands, Valley, and Northern Cluster were under the command of the King and Northern Highlord Eddard, and their target was Harlow Island and Pyke Island.

Under the gold-and-black bat banner, Arthur, clutching his bat helmet, has reined in his horse and is waiting.

The big guy Raleigh held up the bat flag.

Behind Arthur were the Six Riders of River Ann, led by Sir Lucas: Sir Lucas, Verri, Lucas Jr., Rosso, Clatton, and Tritimor.

The remaining three hundred He'an Black Riders were also all in black armor and helmets, wearing yellow robes, and marched side by side.

There were also some free riders and hired knights who voluntarily followed Arthur.

These people couldn't get a place under the King or Duke Ed; their status as King and Duke wouldn't place them so high up in the hierarchy.

The adventurers immediately thought of the vanguard and other lords.

Of the four vanguards, Arthur is the richest and has the Sea Monster Special Forces, so he has no choice but to follow.

Arthur has now become wealthy and has become very strict with his long-term hired knights.

"The Black Riders of He'an are not to be underestimated!" Count Tethos glanced at Arthur's cavalry and sighed with emotion.

"So many skilled players?" Lynn Cobley was also very envious, feeling envious every time he saw them.

Arthur's knight officers are too good; they threw out seven or eight in one hand.

Talented individuals aren't like corn in a field, which grows everywhere; they are cultivated and discovered.

Arthur Hoan led a group of top-notch knights in a coordinated charge, appearing on the battlefield as easily as cutting melons and vegetables.

Such family cavalry are clearly products of gold and rigorous training, the true trump card of the lords and knights, not to mention that cavalry following a fearless leader can further inspire their fighting spirit.

Apart from those extremely wealthy feudal lords, ordinary lords don't have many family trump cards.

The core of their fighting force consists of these tribal soldiers and laborers; ordinary troops with poor combat capabilities can only serve as second-rate forces.

"The ship is here!"

On the sea not far away, a fleet of warships decorated with grape patterns began to appear, growing larger and larger.

Earl Parker personally led many warships of Redwin's fleet to meet the King's army in their attack on the Iron Islands.

The Iron Throne's great fleet is now divided into three factions: Stannis is going to attack Great Wick, Oldtown heir Baelor Hightower is leading a fleet to Lannister Harbor to meet the Lannister army in their attack on Oak Isle, and Lord Parker is in charge of Seafront.

"Get on board!"

'

"Get on board!"

Lord Parker disembarked to meet the King, and then Robert waved his hand, beginning the landing operation.

The Redwin family's warships were anchored at the shore, and the sailors led the soldiers aboard.

House Redwin made their living off the water, though their cavalry and infantry were not particularly famous.

The sailors were renowned throughout the seven kingdoms, many of them being veteran sailors whose families had served for generations.

Arthur kept an eye on his cavalrymen. Traveling by sea was different from traveling by river; seasickness was a common occurrence.

Fortunately, the journey was not particularly long, and although some soldiers were feeling unwell, they were able to maintain their fighting capacity.

Not only Arthur's soldiers, but also the soldiers in the North, some of whom may never have traveled far from home to go by sea in their entire lives.

Sailors like Stannis, who stormed from Dragonstone to the Iron Islands, were the Navy's Iron Men.

"Experience is still essential!" Arthur said, looking at the tribal soldiers and sailors embroidered with grape symbols.

There weren't that many professional soldiers in the seven kingdoms.

Professional armies mainly consisted of regular troops trained by feudal lords, knights, and other lords, as well as mercenaries who made a living.

In contrast, the harsh environments of the Dornish frontier and the North, and the more knightly regions like the Valley, would be even more formidable.

However, the fleet sailors are more professional.

Arthur, Lynn, and a few others were crammed onto another warship, their first destination being Harlo Island.

Harlow, the leader of the "Readers" Rodrik, lost two sons, two nephews, and a brother-in-law in the Baron Rebellion, making him arguably the most tragic figure in the Iron Islands.

But Robert's army wouldn't let him go, after all, Harlow Island was the closest to Seafront City and also the richest island.

Robert wanted conquest by blood and fire; he would only live if Lord Harlow knelt before him.