Spellcasting Gods

It was precisely because the battle was so intense that the fleet commander of the Hightoar family was completely unaware that the Ironborn fleet had just passed right under his nose.

Within a few hours, around sunset, Victalion will arrive near the old town and launch an unprecedented raid.

In this attack, the ancient Hightower family will be uprooted and permanently removed from the stage of history, and the Citadel will be completely destroyed. Except for a very few pieces of knowledge and records related to magic, everything else will be burned.

Of course, the Iron Islands fleet, which was used as a pawn, was also completely wiped out afterward, and outsiders would only know that the Iron Islands sacked Old Town and killed all members of the Hightoar family...

Chapter 0199 Wedding

That night, a grand wedding celebration was being held in the Red Keep, with almost all the nobles of King's Landing present to offer gifts and blessings to the newlyweds.

In particular, the Tyrell family, as one of the parties in the marriage alliance, not only paid for all the expenses of the entire process out of their own pockets, but also provided a dowry that made countless people envious: ownership of a fully armed army of more than three thousand men.

Of course, this army was not Highgarden's direct force; most of them were free riders and mercenaries captured during the Battle of Blackwater. Moreover, given that they abandoned their former employer Stannis Baratheon with little resistance, their loyalty was highly questionable. But in any case, an army is an army, and veterans who have experienced countless wars and killings are always far superior to new recruits.

Moreover, although the seven kingdoms have temporarily ended their war, anyone who isn't a fool can sense the turbulent undercurrents hidden beneath the surface.

Leaving aside the covert power struggles between the Lannisters and Tyrells, Stannis Baratheon's ambition to make a comeback casts a dark cloud over the Iron Throne.

Add to that the ambiguous attitude of Dorne in the south and the ambitious Bolton family in the north, and it can be said that although the Seven Kingdoms have been nominally restored to unity, in reality they have only entered a truce. Every family that believes it has the power to compete for the highest power is actively preparing for war.

Lacking a destructive force as powerful and terrifying as the Targaryen family's control over dragons, the cost of war has been greatly reduced, and the inherent arrogance and ambition of the nobles have been fully unleashed.

At this point, whoever has more troops has more political leverage.

Gazing at the pairs of eyes filled with all sorts of desires before him, Zhang Cheng, the host of the banquet, couldn't help but sigh softly, "No wonder some say that desire is the driving force behind human progress, but also the original sin that leads to self-destruction. Look at these pitiful fellows; they don't even know that while they're busy killing each other, a truly terrifying enemy is about to cross the Great Wall, bringing cold and death to this continent..."

"Sir, what are you muttering about?" Elo, sitting on the chair next to me, blinked and asked with a curious look.

As another main character at the banquet, she wore a white long dress with a hollowed-out pattern, and through the semi-transparent tulle, one could even see her alluring skin faintly visible below.

"Ah, it's nothing. I'm just looking forward to the exciting moment after the banquet." Zhang Cheng smiled, took the girl's hand, and kissed the back of her hand.

Having already been taught about matters of love and sex by the "Queen of Thorns," Elo immediately realized what the so-called "exciting moment" meant. A blush quickly rose to her face, and she gently bit her lower lip, showing a look that was both shy and somewhat eager.

Just as Zhang Cheng was about to continue flirting with his new wife, Tyrion suddenly approached, raised his glass, and said in a drunken tone, "Congratulations, my dear friend, I wish you a happy married life. At least your wife will fulfill her duties, while my wife will only make me lose face and become a laughing stock in other people's eyes."

"Hehe, are we friends again?" Zhang Cheng asked meaningfully.

“We’ve always been friends. I apologize for my rudeness last time. You’re right, I’ve never been a Lannister, never have been, and never will be. What’s more, I even expected to prove myself to my father through my achievements—what a foolish idea,” Tyrion said sarcastically.

Undoubtedly, after yet another fierce argument and conflict, he was utterly disappointed with Tywin and the entire family, and his dissatisfaction and resentment had reached their limit.

Just as Zhang Cheng had predicted, the little devil in front of him only needed a suitable trigger to do something incredibly crazy, such as killing his own father.

Although he wasn't quite sure whether this situation was the result of a meticulously planned scheme by two masterminds or some kind of coincidence, in any case, Tywin's death was more advantageous to him than his life, so he wouldn't easily interfere, and would even add fuel to the fire.

“I’m glad you’re so aware of this. Tell me, what are you planning to do next?” Zhang Cheng asked casually, trying to probe.

“Me? What else can I do? Just continue to live off the title of Chancellor of the Exchequer bestowed upon me by my great father. At least he hasn’t stripped me of my surname, has he?” With that, the little devil raised his cup and drank it all in one gulp, then staggered into the group of vulgar nobles who were groping the maids.

Watching his desolate figure recede into the distance, Zhang Cheng murmured to himself in a voice only he could hear: "Either erupt in silence or die in silence. Tyrion Lannister, I hope we won't be enemies when we meet again. Also, that news should have reached King's Landing by now..."

Before he could finish speaking!

Grand Maester Paisell suddenly burst through the door, panting and shouting, "No...it's terrible! Your Majesty! Lord Tywin! Lord Mace! A raven has brought horrible news! The Iron Islands fleet launched a surprise attack on Oldtown at sunset yesterday. In just three hours, they have captured most of the city. The Hightower family is currently putting up a last stand with the Tower of Babel and the castle, hoping for immediate rescue from the Iron Throne."

"What?!" Joffrey jumped to his feet, his face filled with disbelief.

Not only him, but every noble present had a similar reaction. No one wanted to believe that the Ironborn were capable of conquering Oldtown, especially since the Hightoar family commanded a massive fleet that was no less powerful than that of the Iron Islands.

In contrast, Tywin, with his superior military skills, was much more composed. After a moment of shock, he immediately questioned loudly, "How did the Iron Islands fleet get through the Shield Islands? What about the Hightower family's fleet and army? And who commands the Iron Islands fleet?"

Anyone familiar with the geography of Westeros knows that to attack Highgarden and Oldtown, one must pass through the Shield Islands.

Just like its name suggests, the Shield Islands are like a shield, firmly protecting the coastline of the River Bend region.

If anyone wants to launch an attack on the River Bend region from the sea, they will have to destroy and occupy the Shield Islands.

However, usually before the Shield Islands fall, the Tyrells of Highgarden and the Hightowers of Oldtown will arrive with reinforcements to thwart the invaders' plans.

Grand Secretary Paisell undoubtedly understood this as well, and explained with a wry smile, "Your Grace, according to the letter requesting aid, a group of pirates of unknown origin first attacked the Shield Islands. The Hightoar family dispatched a fleet to engage them, and the Iron Islands fleet must have secretly bypassed them during this time. In addition, the letter also mentioned that when the Ironborn launched their attack, a small squad of guards at the city gates mutinied, opening the gates and causing two consecutive walls to fall instantly..."

Chapter 0200 Initiative

"You mean, this attack was a planned and organized conspiracy?" Tywin keenly sensed something was wrong and subconsciously frowned.

Anyone with even a slight understanding of the Iron Islands' inhabitants knows that the Ironborn are never known for their scheming and trickery, nor do they waste time and effort on any betrayal.

They are a bunch of complete thugs who only enjoy plundering and killing through naked violence to obtain the wealth and women they want.

But now, they have actually managed to perfectly deceive the Hightower family and launch an attack on the oldest and most prosperous port city in Westeros, and they have succeeded. It's hard to believe.

To be precise, every thinking noble present couldn't help but think that a huge conspiracy must be hidden behind the whole truth.

For a time, many people turned their attention to Duke Mace of Highgarden and his mother, the "Queen of Thorns," Olenna.

After all, regardless of the circumstances, the Tyrells were the lords of the Reach. With Oldtown under attack, they had to stand up to defend their dignity, status, and honor; otherwise, the other lords would no longer obey the Tyrells' leadership.

For a nobleman living under the medieval feudal system, being questioned and rejected by his vassals was arguably the most terrifying situation, as it meant that when war broke out, he would have no reinforcements and would have to rely entirely on his own strength.

Imagine the extent to which the power of a great nobleman would be weakened if he lost the support of his vassals.

Taking the most prosperous Reach region as an example, if the Tyrell family were to conduct a thorough and comprehensive mobilization, they could recruit an army of over 100,000 men, of which at most 40,000 would be their own soldiers.

In other words, the remaining 60% consisted entirely of noble lords of varying ranks.

Losing the support of these families means losing more than half of the military force. If the risk of rebellion is also taken into account, the number of troops that can be mobilized at will not exceed 10,000 at most.

It can be said that the Iron Islands fleet's occupation of Oldtown was not only an unprecedented looting, but also shook the already fragile foundation of the Tyrell family's rule in the Reach.

If they lose their dominance in the Reach, they will no longer be able to compete with the Lannisters for supreme power, and will have no choice but to retreat and recuperate, waiting for the next opportunity.

As the head of House Tyrell, Olenna naturally could not tolerate such an outcome. She immediately said to her son, "Mace! You are the Duke of Highgarden! The Warden of the Reach! Whatever the Ironborn want to do, you have a duty to drive them out of Oldtown. Take all your soldiers and sail south immediately. Rescue House Hightower before the castle and Sky Tower fall, and help them restore their rightful rule."

“It is my duty, Mother.” Mays bowed with one hand on her chest, then winked at her second son at the banquet before turning to walk outside.

Perhaps realizing the seriousness of the situation, or perhaps feeling that he could take this opportunity to change his image and get rid of that annoying nickname "Inflatable Fish," he did not hesitate at all and really planned to set sail overnight to rescue the old town.

Tywin, whose face flashed a mocking expression, showed no intention of stopping him and was even prepared to watch him make a fool of himself.

In his eyes, regardless of whether Mace's mission succeeded or failed, the Tyrell family would lose control of the Reach and would no longer be able to compete with him for power and influence in King's Landing.

Just as "Chongqiyu" and "Yongwu de Jialan" were about to walk out the door, Zhang Cheng, who had been wearing a playful smile, suddenly stood up and shouted at their backs, "Please wait, Duke."

"Hmm?" Upon hearing this, Mace immediately stopped in his tracks, turned around, and said in a forced, calm tone, "My dear Mason, enjoy your wedding night. Don't worry, I won't let those bandits run rampant in the River Bend region. You'll hear news of them being driven away soon enough."

Clearly, he believed that Zhang Cheng was worried that Liangshui City would also become a target of the Iron Clan's looting, so he gave his assurance without hesitation.

“Hehe, you seem to have misunderstood something. What I meant was, if you don’t mind, could you entrust this rescue operation to me? You know, even if you sail south, it will take you at least several days to return to Highgarden and lead the Tyrell soldiers to Oldtown. This means that even at the fastest speed, it will take ten days for reinforcements to reach Oldtown. But I am different. My territory, Brightwater, is very close to Oldtown, and most importantly, I have a dragon. Riding it back to the Reach will only take a few hours.” With that, Zhang Cheng raised his right hand, glowing with red fire, and waved it twice out the window.

moment!

A fierce wind is blowing!

Before the guests could even react, a huge, ferocious, and terrifying beast landed on the outer balcony.

Although it did not let out a loud roar or breathe fire, its exposed claws and fangs alone were enough to make one feel suffocated.

Feeling the immense, almost tangible pressure emanating from the dragon, Mace involuntarily swallowed hard and cautiously probed, "You want to go and rescue Old Town in my place?"

Zhang Cheng nodded without hesitation: "Yes! I think it's necessary to make the Ironborn, who live by plundering, understand that disrespecting King Joffrey and disobeying the laws of the kingdom will have consequences. Moreover, they ruined my wedding banquet, and that consequence will be paid with blood and death."

"Hahahaha! Well said! Mason, my friend, go, go and bring fear and death to the enemy." Joffrey laughed maniacally.

Hearing words like killing and death brings immense pleasure to this deformed offspring of inbreeding.

He had no idea that this was never a simple attack, but rather a political struggle behind the scenes.

"What about your wedding? Are you going to cancel it halfway through?" Olena asked with a gloomy expression.

“Of course not! Elo and I have already exchanged vows, and the ceremony is complete. I think she wouldn’t mind spending her wedding night with me on the dragon’s back, would she?” With that, Zhang Cheng took the girl’s arm and extended an invitation with a smile.

“It is my honor, sir.” Elo quickly stood up from her chair, gripping her husband’s arm tightly, her eyes filled with excitement and curiosity.

"Look, the problem is solved. Your Majesty, Duke Mace, Duke Tywin, I assure you that within three days at most, Old Town will be restored to order, and the greedy Ironborn will receive their due punishment. They will lose all their shipyards and craftsmen, and will never again be able to build warships that could threaten maritime trade. Poverty and hunger will force them into a long period of civil war."

With those words, which were either a verdict or a promise, Zhang Cheng picked up Elo, who was trembling slightly, and jumped onto the dragon's back. Then, patting Kuro Kerba's thick scales, he flew into the black night sky in full view of everyone...

Chapter 0201 The Fallen Old Town

"Hahaha! Look! Spices! A whole warehouse full of spices! We're rich!"

"Spices are nothing! Look at this! The finest silk from the Eastern Continent! Just a piece the length of an arm can be exchanged for a set of top-quality steel armor."

"Shut up! You idiot! Instead of rushing to steal things, the smart thing to do is find a young and beautiful woman to enjoy yourself with. You know, the women of the Iron Islands aren't as fun as the women of Oldtown."

“Agreed! Matt is right! If we’re any slower, all the good women will be snatched up by those bastards on other ships. I don’t want to play with secondhand goods that they’ve already ruined.”

……

Shouts, curses, cries, pleas, and excited yells mixed in—the entire old town was now a scene of hell.

The Ironborn stormed into the city, killing almost every man they saw and attacking and pinning down women to satisfy their lust. In just one day, they destroyed the largest and most prosperous port city on the continent of Westeros.

Although many surviving soldiers and guards hired by merchants still put up a last stand by taking advantage of the terrain, their numbers were too small and they were separated. They could only watch helplessly as their money and goods were looted and their wives and daughters were brutally raped and killed by the enemy.

The darkest and ugliest side of human nature was completely unleashed at this moment.

However, compared to most of the Ironborn who were robbing and raping like madmen under the captain's leadership, the fleet commander, Victalion, was much calmer and was leading his confidants to besiege the last stronghold of the Hightower family—the Tower of the Sky.

Whether it was due to the enchanting watch's influence on his subconscious or for security reasons, he had to completely destroy all resistance within the city to ensure everyone could retreat safely after the robbery.

It's important to understand that the River Bend region is not the sparsely populated North. Once a town or fortress is captured, a large area around it will lose its defensive capabilities and be left to be ravaged by the enemy.

What's truly terrifying about the River Bend region is that its fertile land can support a large population, and a large population means soldiers.

Leaving aside the fact that the Highgarden reinforcements could reach Oldtown in just a few days by water, the minor nobles gathered around Oldtown alone would be enough to give the Ironborn a hard time. In addition, with the Hightower family hiding in the Tower of the Sky, if they were to launch a coordinated attack from within, perhaps one-third to one-half of the sailors would not be able to return to their ships alive.

Therefore, in Victalion's eyes, the Tower of Babel was a thorn in his side, and he had to take it down no matter what.

Staring at this tallest man-made structure in the known world, he couldn't help but take a deep breath and roar, "Oil! Isn't the oil I asked for ready yet?"

"Captain, the sailors have collected twenty cans of kerosene and over a hundred cans of animal fat and vegetable oil. Just give the order, and we can turn the bottom two decks into a sea of ​​fire immediately," the first mate replied excitedly.

Clearly, like all the Iron Islands sailors, he was still basking in the euphoria of conquering Oldtown, completely unaware that a terrible disaster would soon befall him.

"Then what are we waiting for! Light the fire! I'm going to turn this damned tower into the graveyard of the Hightoar family!" Victorion gave the attack order without hesitation.

Without saying a word, the crew members waiting at the entrance picked up the earthenware jars filled with various kinds of grease and threw them directly into the tower.

"Damn it! It's oil! They want to burn us alive!" A Hightar family knight, drenched in oil, shouted furiously as he retreated.