This eastward expedition saw nearly the entire military force of House Clegane mobilized: 100 Clegane household troops, 400 members of the Thorn Regiment, 100 longbowmen, and 200 spearmen—a total of 800 combat soldiers. Including 300 auxiliary troops handling logistics, the army totaled 1,100 men.
For the Clegane lands, it was the largest military campaign in over a decade, and Lord Green could clearly feel the excitement surging through his people.
Following the lord's command, Steward Herschel gathered as much dried meat as possible from the domain. Once preparations were complete, the Clegane forces marched eastward.
…
On the fourth day of the march, they engaged in their first battle.
After a month of continuous training, the Clegane longbowmen had become more skilled. A few volleys were enough to break the charge of over 500 mountain wildlings.
Near dusk that same day, a few seasoned household troops finally snapped.
The continuous marching was already exhausting. Despite the victory, there was no wine, no camp followers, and even prisoners were off-limits. It wasn't that they were disloyal to their lord—it was simply too many changes at once. Frustration, dissatisfaction, and suppressed rage from their naturally violent temperaments finally exploded.
Those shouting and making a scene didn't realize how easily such behavior could lead to chaos in the camp.
But military orders were absolute.
Green knew well that kindness had no place in commanding soldiers. To swiftly eliminate outdated and detrimental habits, he enforced even stricter discipline.
…
Sensing the disturbance outside, Green grabbed his riding crop and stepped out of the tent, swiftly mounting his horse. On the way, he snatched a spear from a nearby soldier and, without hesitation, hurled it at the loudest of the unruly men.
With a sharp whoosh, the spear pierced through the man's chest and out his back. The force sent his body flying several meters before the spear embedded itself deeply into the ground, still quivering from the impact.
The surrounding soldiers felt their breath catch in their throats. Silence fell instantly.
Clip-clop, clip-clop—the only sound left was the steady rhythm of hooves.
With a slight tug of the reins, Green's horse snorted and slowly began to move through the crowd.
Green's cold gaze swept across the gathered soldiers. The oppressive aura he exuded weighed down like a mountain. One by one, the soldiers began to tremble and drop to their knees.
Green's voice rang out, louder than usual: "I told you—no shouting or gathering in the camp!"
"Look at me. Look at your lord. If you dare to defy the laws I decree, that is an insult to your lord. And the price for insulting your lord… is death!"
The people of the Clegane lands, isolated on the Crab Claw Peninsula, were indeed backward in their level of civilization. Green didn't bother to explain why he was changing what he saw as outdated habits—they wouldn't understand. Say too much, and they'd just grow confused.
Since they couldn't comprehend it, there was no point in reasoning. They would learn through their bodies that the lord's laws were not to be defied.
"I will say it again: Clegane soldiers, when at war, no alcohol, no women!"
"Only obedience to the law during wartime!"
"Win this war, and I will reward you greatly—reward your bravery, reward your adherence to the law! Farmlands, houses, delicious food, fine wine…"
Green pointed his riding crop at a few soldiers closest to him and said, "You three, get up and answer me."
The soldiers pointed at stood up trembling.
"Answer me—did you understand? Will you obey the law?"
One by one, they replied, "Yes," "We can do it," "I promise."
Green pointed at a different group and asked the same question.
"Louder! Didn't I fill your bellies? Shout it out, obey the lord's law!"
"Obey the lord's law!"
"Obey the lord's law!"
"Obey the lord's law!"
The soldiers' cries grew more and more unified, the waves of sound building higher with each shout.
Green, initially indifferent, finally showed a slight smile on his otherwise emotionless face.
He then ordered that the soldiers' evening meal be supplemented with meat.
The soldiers, who had just shouted their resolve to the lord, ignored their sore throats and cheered again.
…
As the Clegane soldiers advanced, the mountain wildling tribes finally realized that the Clegane forces were not something a single tribe could face. In a rush, several large tribes formed a coalition.
The coalition of over 3,000 wildlings gathered on the opposite side of the battlefield.
The Clegane spearmen formed a defensive formation of three layers, all coordinated with uniform shouts.
The Clegane household troops were grouped into two teams of 50 each, positioned on either side of the spearmen's formation.
Behind them were the 500-strong Thorn Regiment and the Clegane longbowmen.
The wildlings' warhorn sounded as they charged.
Each Clegane longbowman carried 40 arrows. As the 3,000 wildlings entered the effective range of the longbows, they were about to be met with a hail of arrows.
…
At Whispering Town, two septons who had voluntarily joined the army were watching the battlefield, deeply shaken inside.
"This is no longer a war on the same level."
"Yes, if the Clegane archers numbered ten thousand, they would be unbeatable."
"It's been quiet for over a decade, but under the leadership of the young lord, this family is about to rise. If no external forces intervene, the entire Crab Claw Peninsula will eventually fall into his hands."
"Have you decided to intervene? If so, I will contact the High Septon in King's Landing immediately. Perhaps we should try reaching out directly to Lord Jon, the Hand of the King. He may be more concerned about this."
"But let me offer my advice: the Crab Claw Peninsula belongs to the Old Gods. The people here never trust outsiders. The old god trees are deeply rooted here. The young lord would prefer support from us. He needs stable rule after the war, and he would welcome the blessing of the Seven."
"..."
"He has conditions!"
"Oh? Besides bringing divine light to the suffering, what else can the septons do? Do you mean the few copper stars in a poor priest's pocket?"
"You misunderstand. It's not copper stars, nor is it gold dragons. What he wants is the power to appoint and dismiss the bishop of the lord's domain! Ha, that is the king's power!"
"The cheese is indeed tempting. With the young lord's support, the entire Crab Claw Peninsula will fall into the embrace of the Seven. It would be a great accomplishment, a new chapter in the history of our faith."
"This is truly an offer that's hard to refuse."
.
.
.
🔥 The Throne's Last Flame — A Song Forged in Ice and Wrath 🔥
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