Game of Thrones: Oath of Iron and Fire-Chapter 46: The Wolfpack’s Domain and the Looming Threat

The territory of the "Lord of the Wolfpack" encompassed two islands of the Stepstones, a peninsula in the Disputed Lands, and numerous manors beyond the peninsula. The western part of the continent of Essos was mostly fertile and rich, a land of plenty.

The Wolfpack's domain was no exception, though from a military standpoint, it lacked natural barriers and strategic depth, making every battle a hard-fought necessity.

"Freedom!"

"Liberate the slaves!"

The rallying cry of the Free Army, with their banner of broken shackles, spread like a contagion through the Disputed Lands and even reached the towns of the Three Daughters and Valyria. Many escaped slaves from the Disputed Lands and the deep banks of the Rhoyne River flocked to join the "Liberator," swelling the ranks of the Free Army.

The upper echelons of Myr, Tyrosh, Lys, and even Valyria were deeply worried, but their polycentric democratic structures meant slow decision-making, unlike the Wolfpack's strict command and control.

Inside Gendry's tent, a heated discussion was underway about the next phase of the war.

Myr's first defeat hadn't been crippling, and a second war was brewing. This time, it wasn't just the revenge of a single governor; it was on a larger scale, with more governors in agreement. The slavemasters, who had long abused their slaves, did not like the idea of a role reversal.

The tent was filled with blood oranges, their rich aroma permeating the air with a sweet scent. The blood oranges, as red as blood, symbolized the impending war. The high command of the Wolfpack and the Free Army savored the oranges, which came from Dorne. With access to a coastline and ports, bold merchants and smugglers had already begun trading with the Wolfpack's territory.

"Beware of the Myrish gift!" Gendry said, holding a letter from the Red Viper. The letter, delivered by Dornish fishermen who traded blood oranges, was hidden inside a hollowed-out orange. The "Myrish gift" was, in essence, a warning that Myr was planning a new assault on his kingdom.

In reality, Maester Cale's informants had already known about this, but the Red Viper's letter still represented a gesture of goodwill, an offer of assistance. It seemed the Myrish had reached out to many city-states, even seeking aid from Dorne.

"Myr is actively lobbying mercenary companies that could launch an offensive against us, from the Golden Company to the Cat's Guild, the Windblown, the Long Spears, the Brave Companions, and even the Second Sons!" Handsome Harry remarked.

The Disputed Lands were teeming with mercenary companies, but only a few were truly formidable. The Golden Company, with its ten thousand well-trained soldiers, was the undisputed leader. Next came the Cat's Guild with three thousand infantry, the Windblown with two thousand mounted soldiers and infantry, the Long Spears with over eight hundred cavalry, the historically prominent but now-declined Second Sons with around five to six hundred men, and the Brave Companions with about five hundred.

"They've even approached the Cat's Guild and the Second Sons; it looks like they're grasping at straws!" the Bowyer laughed. The Cat's Guild, led by Bloodbeard, was notorious for its brutality, and the Second Sons had a similarly infamous reputation.

"Though the Cat's Guild and the Second Sons have a bad reputation, they're still formidable forces," the cavalry commander, Longspear, analyzed. "The Golden Company is in a league of its own, no doubt. But the Cat's Guild still has over three thousand members."

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"What about the Golden Company?" Everyone was most concerned about the top mercenary group in the Disputed Lands. They had a large number of troops, strict discipline, and strong combat capabilities.

"The Golden Company is still on the fence," Maester Cale said. "They're demanding an astronomical amount of gold as payment, even the Myrish governors can hardly afford it. Moreover, the Golden Company won't participate in attacking the Wolfpack; they'll only protect the city-states from the Wolfpack within a certain period."

"The Golden Company is hesitant; they could potentially support either side," Gendry analyzed. "Supporting the Wolfpack would give them a hand in attacking Westeros. Supporting Myr would earn them a substantial amount of wealth."

"Commander, should we also send emissaries to try to bring the Golden Company over to our side?" Handsome Harry asked.

"There's no need. I don't think the Golden Company's leaders are all fools."

"The next thing I'm about to say isn't pleasant, but it's crucial to our success or failure," Gendry's tone became serious.

"Be mindful of our tactics and policies. Our foundation in the Disputed Lands is liberating slaves, not indiscriminate killing and making more enemies! Crushing the slavemasters is inevitable, but we must avoid wanton slaughter, especially of skilled individuals. That would unite all the slave-owning city-states against us! I want to establish as complete an order as possible," Gendry said. All wars change the existing power structure, replacing it with new blood.

Gendry's supporters were escaped slaves, and their conflict with the slavemasters was irreconcilable. However, in this process, it was still necessary to avoid going too far. Peaceful slavemasters could be bribed and appeased, while stubborn opponents needed a heavy hand. War is the continuation of politics, and all politics are about compromise and strikes.

"Yes, Commander!"

"As you command, Commander!"

"We also need to address the combat effectiveness of the Free Army. The Free Army now has a large scale and needs systematic training. Training is the foundation of soldiers. Our instructors are all excellent warriors. The Wolfpack is fierce, and the recruits of the Free Army must also be trained into true steel. Next is discipline. The discipline of the Wolfpack and the Free Army must be strict, and the selection must also be rigorous! For those who try to revive slavery or indiscriminately kill the innocent, we must not be merciful."

Gendry laid these points out clearly, and the Wolfpack and the Free Army would soon execute his orders. Now, the Free Army also accepts training with its characteristics. The Wolfpack trained Northern-style warriors, focusing on frontal assaults, including knights and longbowmen. The Unsullied's training method was to train light infantry formations.

"Commander, there's another matter!" Handsome Harry inquired. "Many freemen have petitioned for you to be crowned king of the Narrow Sea, the Stepstones, and the Disputed Lands."

Upon hearing this, many people showed signs of concern. A string of military victories had given the soldiers and freemen some ideas. To present a crown to the Commander.

"We'll address that matter later. Now is not the time. Declaring kingship now would make us a target for everyone!" Gendry knew what many freemen and Wolfpack soldiers were thinking, but he couldn't afford to do so.

Gendry also yearned for a crown, but now was not the time. Building walls, storing grain, and delaying the declaration of kingship was the wise approach. Once he put on that crown, he would be putting himself in the firing line.

"We'll support the Commander's decision!" Handsome Harry breathed a sigh of relief. He had feared that Gendry might also get carried away, which would cause a complete sensation.

"A wise decision. We haven't yet occupied all of the Stepstones or taken any towns, such as the Three Daughters. So the Commander's idea is correct. Our strength is still limited," Maester Cale added.