The journey of film and television world is endless

#154 - Chapter 40: Strategy for the Outer Great Wall (Part 2)

After Ser Colin was injured, he was jokingly called 'One-Hand' Colin. This wasn't an insulting nickname, but rather a testament to his martial prowess. He introduced Jon to various details of the Wall along the way, including its purpose, historical evolution, and defensive facilities. The Night's Watch was indeed in a dire situation. Many facilities had fallen into disrepair. For example, the outer towers had to be abandoned due to insufficient funds for maintenance.

He also mentioned that, in addition to defending against Wildlings and White Walkers, the Night's Watch had an important task: cutting down the forest outside the Wall to prevent the Haunted Forest from spreading to within half a league of the Wall. This task required a lot of manpower and resources, but it was essential for protecting the Wall's safety. However, they no longer had enough manpower to implement this policy, and in most cases, they just burned it.

On the side of the Wall facing the lands beyond, the Night's Watchmen often poured hot water to repair some obvious gaps. In unguarded sections of the Wall, Wildlings would often sneak in. Climbing without any protection required great courage and skill, and countless Wildlings died each year from falling while climbing the Wall.

After finishing his day trip to the Wall, Liu Yuan spent the night at Castle Black. The next morning, he packed his luggage and prepared to leave. At this time, a black brother found him and handed him a letter of accreditation issued by Lord Commander Jeor Mormont. The letter stated that Liu Yuan would be traveling to Eastwatch-by-the-Sea and hoped that the Night's Watch along the way would provide assistance. At the same time, Lord Commander Jeor Mormont also sent five rangers to escort Liu Yuan.

"What's going on?" Liu Yuan asked in confusion.

"Lord Galon, the money you gave was too much. 1,000 new gold dragons is enough to pay our legion's salaries for half a year. So the Lord Commander decided to send us to escort you to Eastwatch-by-the-Sea to ensure your safety," one of the rangers explained.

Liu Yuan nodded, feeling somewhat emotional. He didn't expect that his actions would receive such a great reward. So, he embarked on a journey to Eastwatch-by-the-Sea with five rangers.

Liu Yuan also stopped at the outposts along the way. After trekking, they arrived at Eastwatch-by-the-Sea. Eastwatch-by-the-Sea was the easternmost castle of the Wall, located on the storm-swept beaches of the Bay of Seals. The environment here was extremely harsh, but it held an important strategic position.

In Eastwatch-by-the-Sea, all the Night's Watch's ships were neatly lined up. These ships varied in size. Some were huge and could traverse narrow waters, while others were slender, like agile hunters. Together, they formed a powerful fleet, whose commander also served as the fleet commander. This fleet was mainly responsible for patrolling the Bay of Seals, and their mission was to catch smugglers who dared to sell weapons to the Wildlings.

Davos Seaworth had been involved in smuggling before Robert's Rebellion, so he was no stranger to Eastwatch-by-the-Sea. Back then, he had traded here with others. His former boss Rollo Uhoris's Pebblecat was confiscated by Eastwatch-by-the-Sea for trading weapons with the Free Folk, and Rollo himself was beheaded. This incident made Davos deeply realize that only by joining the regular army could he ensure his safety and interests. So, he decided to invest in Stannis to obtain a legitimate identity.

When Liu Yuan arrived at Eastwatch-by-the-Sea, a three-masted sailing ship flying a dragon banner was already waiting for him there. This sailing ship was specially arranged by Liu Yuan, and it would take him to Skagos. When Liu Yuan walked into Eastwatch-by-the-Sea, he immediately felt an atmosphere of tension. Soldiers were everywhere in the castle, busily working, as if ready to meet the battle at any time.

In the castle's hall, Liu Yuan met the commander of Eastwatch-by-the-Sea, Cotter Pyke. Cotter Pyke was a tall, stern-faced man who welcomed Liu Yuan and asked about his purpose.

"I'm here to learn about the situation north of the Wall," Liu Yuan said.

"Oh? What do you want to know?" Cotter Pyke asked.

"I want to know the Wildlings' range of activity and whether they have any plans to attack the Wall," Liu Yuan said.

Cotter Pyke frowned and thought for a moment. Then he said slowly, "Recently, the Wildlings' activities have become more frequent. They seem to be gathering strength, preparing to launch a large-scale attack. But we don't know the specific time and place."

During his stay in Eastwatch-by-the-Sea, Liu Yuan also visited the Maester's and raven tower. The Maesters introduced him to the geography, climate, and other conditions north of the Wall, giving him a deeper understanding of this land.

A day later, Liu Yuan once again set foot on the land of Skagos. At this time, Crowl's Port had undergone tremendous changes and had become exceptionally prosperous. The port was crowded with people, ships came and went, and trade was very active. All of this made Liu Yuan feel very gratified.

Six white five-masted giant ships, already fitted out, were anchored in the harbor. The bows of the ships were inlaid with metal, and a huge tiger head was extremely majestic. The sharp corners below the waterline were not only weapons for naval warfare but also tools for breaking ice. These giant ships, like behemoths, were quietly moored in the harbor, waiting for the order to set sail.

The first wave of troops was ready. Ten infantry battalions, five cavalry battalions, including skinchangers and giants, totaled more than eleven thousand people. They were neatly lined up on the dock, their aura magnificent. The soldiers were uniformly dressed in black studded cotton leather armor, appearing as a dark mass from a distance. The red tassels on their helmets fluttered in the wind, like burning flames. If people from Earth saw it, they would be surprised to think that the Manchu Eight Banners had been resurrected.

During this time, the remaining troops were not idle. They sent out small groups to explore north of the Haunted Forest multiple times. Although they did not find any enemies, they remained vigilant and continued to strengthen the monitoring of the surrounding areas.

The newly formed corps, relying on constant practice in actual combat, captured a large number of scattered Wildlings. They even went deep into the lands of the Thenns, finding a gathering place for giants in the mountains.

This giant tribe was the largest beyond the Wall, with about five hundred members. They lived a life of fishing and hunting on an icy tundra northeast of the Frostfang Mountains, and their main sources of food were fish and seals.

When the sailing ship sailed into the harbor, everyone was watching. He knew that his lord had returned, and the war was about to begin.