GOT: Molten Crown Chapter 240: The Simplest Strategy

On the eastern side of the Womb of the World, Drogo waited an entire day, yet there was no movent from Viserys' camp.

When his scouts reported that four corpses—one large and three small—had been hung outside the camp gate, he imdiately realized that his plan had failed.

"Khal Drogo, it seems this Viserys is extrely cautious. Should we take the initiative and attack?"

Drogo knew he had to defeat Viserys as soon as possible. Otherwise, the forces of Braavos and Volantis would inevitably arrive.

Although he had persuaded Malaqo to slow his advance, the old man would eventually have to bring his army forward.

There was no way he could justify doing otherwise.

Once that happened, the coalition would have enough troops to surround the Mother of Mountains completely.

A direct confrontation with Viserys' army was not in his favor.

Attacking Braavos or Volantis instead would only create opportunities for Viserys.

The Braavosi army's position was still unknown, but the Volantene forces would arrive within a month at most.

Ti was running out.

Yet Viserys' camp was solidly fortified. A direct assault would be difficult.

With the assassination plan failed, Drogo's n ca up with another idea.

They captured a group of silver-haired won and began humiliating them outside Viserys' camp.

Since the fall of Valyria, its descendants had fallen into hardship, and the Targaryens were only one example.

Viserys paid no attention to such petty tactics.

Only after Lothan had finished positioning the water mages did he finally order his generals to take their positions and prepare to advance on the Mother of Mountains.

When Drogo saw Viserys' army finally begin to move, he was overjoyed.

Standing atop a hastily constructed watchtower, he observed the battlefield and saw that Viserys was using a fairly standard hamr-and-anvil tactic.

Drogo did not know the formal na of the strategy, but from the placent of the Dragonriders on one flank, he understood its intent.

The plan had been proposed by Jon Connington and finalized after discussion among the commanders.

In a head-on battle, such a tactic favored the side with superior equipnt and troop quality.

The Dragonriders would break through from one side, smashing into the enemy like a hamr, while the rest of the army held the line and prevented collapse.

It was a simple and effective plan.

Drogo's own strategy was even simpler.

He would lead his elite warriors straight through the center of Viserys' formation.

With the power granted by the Horse God, he intended to charge forward like a living battering ram and cut his way directly to Viserys.

Kill the king, and the battle would be won.

Before dawn, both armies were already in position.

Viserys and Connington commanded from the center. Oberyn and Ogo held the reserves, ready to reinforce any threatened point.

Gerold led several thousand cavalry to prevent Drogo from attempting a flanking maneuver.

Arthur commanded the Dragonriders, acting as the hamr.

As for Drogo, he gathered his strongest warriors around himself, preparing to smash through the enemy lines in one overwhelming charge.

When the horns of Viserys' army sounded, tens of thousands of soldiers began advancing.

Drogo's forces, being entirely cavalry, surged forward all at once.

The longbown raised their bows, drawing in unison.

As Drogo's army entered range, the sound of bowstrings tightening filled the air, and a storm of arrows fell like a swarm of locusts.

For a brief mont, fear flickered in Drogo's eyes.

He rembered the battle at Velvet Hill, how he had lost his bloodriders and nearly all his kos beneath a rain of arrows.

But the fear was quickly swallowed by anger.

His whip lashed through the air, urging his horse faster.

On open plains, the effectiveness of longbows was sowhat reduced, while cavalry strength increased.

More importantly, Viserys had brought far fewer longbown this ti—less than a third of what he had fielded before.

After suffering several thousand casualties, Drogo's army still managed to reach the front line.

What awaited them were ranks of spears and walls of steel armor.

From a distance, it looked like a wave of yellow-brown crashing against a black fortress.

Standing on the observation platform, Viserys watched through a telescope.

His lines showed no sign of breaking.

If anything, they were steadily pushing forward.

Around him stood eight hundred elite guards, clad in Valyrian steel armor and ard with Valyrian steel spears.

The earlier assassination attempt had been a humiliation.

The enemy had managed to draw blades within the king's own camp.

That could not be tolerated.

The guards surrounded Viserys completely, sealing him within an iron wall.

Connington, while directing the battle, occasionally glanced back at the king and his guards.

This unit was exceptional in every way—equipnt, discipline, and loyalty.

He had even discussed it with the Kingsguard.

Roughly five to eight of these soldiers could take down one Kingsguard knight.

Arthur might handle more, but even he acknowledged their strength.

At the sa ti, Connington feared that this young king might suddenly decide to charge into battle himself.

Sensing his concern, Viserys spoke casually.

"Don't worry, my lord Hand. Unless absolutely necessary, I won't duel Drogo personally. Otherwise, what's the point of maintaining heavy infantry and longbown?"

"You're right, Your Majesty."

Connington finally relaxed and turned to a ssenger.

"Tell Ogo and Oberyn to watch our right flank closely."

"Yes, my lord!"

On Viserys' side, the right flank was anchored by the Womb of the World, while the left leaned against the Mother of Mountains.

On the lake, Lothan and his water mages were ready to summon dense fog at any mont.

Once Drogo's position was identified, they would obscure him with mist and direct the longbown to concentrate their fire.

Soon, the Dragonriders under Arthur began to press their advantage.

Their coordination was seamless, like interlocking gears.

The front ranks engaged in close combat, while those behind fired arrows in support.

Before long, the northern section of Drogo's line began to show signs of breaking.

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