owlsbooks #325 - Chapter 59: Burning Flag (II)
#325 - Chapter 59: Burning Flag (II)
In reality, the wildlings did possess some cavalry, but due to limited resources, only the Thenns had a sizable cavalry force. Still, providing mounts for their leaders to travel was more than manageable.
As the sun began its westward descent, the wildling army started to consolidate its forces. A day of fierce fighting had resulted in six to seven thousand casualties. Hundreds of massive pyres were lit just to burn the mountains of corpses, the thick smoke billowing into the sky, seemingly obscuring it entirely. Clearly, the wildlings were preparing to retreat, and in the haunted forest behind them, campfires flickered to life.
“Toot! Toot! Toot~” A series of stirring horn blasts echoed through the heavens, one after another. Then, a large contingent of magnificent cavalry thundered forth, bathed in the afterglow of the setting sun, their momentum unstoppable! The awe-inspiring sight left the wildlings from beyond the Wall dumbfounded, rooted to the spot in utter astonishment.
Stannis's cavalry swept in like a tempestuous storm, unleashing deafening, earth-shattering roars, while the thunderous sound of hooves reverberated through the air, accompanied by swirling snow and thick mist! The overwhelming force seemed capable of crushing any obstacle, unstoppable!
Even the wildlings who sought death couldn't help but be shaken by the terrifying scene, a primal fear welling up within them. They scattered in panic, instinctively fleeing towards the forest.
The cavalry flashed across the battlefield, wielding sharp weapons, hacking mercilessly at the enemy. In an instant, blood splattered everywhere as the wildlings screamed in agony, suffering heavy losses. Further back, Stannis's infantry advanced steadily, archers already drawing back their bows, unleashing a dense, covering barrage across the entire battlefield.
Upon hearing the news of reinforcements, Jon immediately signaled an attack. Grenn decisively ordered all the crossbowmen on the walls to stand at the battlements, secure themselves with ropes, lean out, and fire with everything they had. Working together, these crossbowmen unleashed a furious, saturated volley. The wildlings crowded at the gate fell like fragile straw, one after another. The dense arrows rained down, forcing the wildlings to retreat, away from the gate.
Caught in the sudden onslaught, the wildlings were thrown into disarray, unsure of what to do. Should they continue to retreat? Or should they press the attack?
Just then, the screech of a winch sounded, and the previously closed passage swung open. Jon, leading the Night's Watch cavalry, charged out like an arrow loosed from a bow, straight into the wildlings. This Night's Watch cavalry included not only all the rangers, but also every warrior capable of fighting on horseback. With a limited number of warhorses, they had to use packhorses, mules, and donkeys to fill the gaps.
Now, the Night's Watch and Stannis's army acted as a sharp pair of shears, launching a pincer attack on the wildlings with overwhelming force, tearing their ranks to pieces.
The battlefield was filled with deafening shouts and cries as the two sides engaged in a thrilling battle. Jon, leading the charge, fought alongside the Night's Watch, battling the enemy to the death. Amidst the intense fighting, the Night's Watch and Stannis's cavalry demonstrated remarkable coordination, their unspoken understanding successfully dividing the massive wildling army into five isolated groups.
In reality, conventional cavalry rarely risked charging a well-formed enemy line. However, against the disorganized rabble of the wildlings, the situation was entirely different. A simple cavalry charge could inflict massive casualties. In this chaotic melee, the number of people trampled to death far exceeded those slain by swords.
Jon and Stannis simultaneously noticed the wildling command post on the hill, and without hesitation, they led their respective armies in a fierce attack towards it!
Mance Rayder would not surrender easily, but he was, after all, just a soldier from the Night's Watch, and he had not received systematic military training. Faced with this emergency, he could only do his best to issue orders: "Don't panic! Have the siege forces gather around me as quickly as possible. Cubas, take some men and engage the enemy cavalry. We can't let them continue to drive our forces, or the entire line will collapse!"
The burly wildling leader raised his great axe, shouting for the strong warriors around him to retaliate. In fact, the wildlings were already prepared for battle, and they had deployed a well-trained elite force. Although the giants had been subdued by Liu Yuan, the seal hunters had brought back many mammoths from the frozen coastline. Around Mance Rayder's camp alone, there were more than thirty such massive beasts. These mammoths were originally intended to drag the gates, but now they were being driven by brave wildling handlers, charging straight towards Stannis's cavalry. In addition, there were also snow bears, cave lions, shadow lynxes, and dire wolves, all kinds of ferocious beasts participating in the battle.
The wildlings from beyond the Wall, living in remote areas, may not have personally witnessed the shock and awe of a large cavalry charge, but these cavalrymen from the south had also never witnessed such a spectacular stampede of beasts.
A brave cavalryman raised his sharp sword, slashing with all his might at a massive mammoth. Surprisingly, the sword only left a shallow scratch on the mammoth's tough hide. As the cavalryman stared in shock, a huge dire wolf suddenly leaped high, pouncing on him with lightning speed. In an instant, the cavalryman was knocked to the ground, followed by a merciless and ferocious mauling.
These fierce beasts brought great fear and intimidation to the warhorses, throwing the entire cavalry into chaos. Many riders were caught off guard and thrown from their frightened mounts, crashing heavily to the ground.