章 492: Chapter 492: The Game of Racing Against Time
Dorne, the Reach, the Stormlands, the Vale, and King's Landing were all in turmoil, caught in a change of fate unlike any in a thousand or even ten thousand years.
On the battlefields of the Westerlands, after leaving King's Landing, Oberyn Martell led an army of twenty thousand, charging along the Goldroad with great momentum, heading straight for Deep Den, seemingly intent on storming the gates of the Westerlands in a grand assault.
Tywin Lannister, Lord of Casterly Rock, received this news and immediately prepared for battle, deploying a series of commands and even personally attending the battlefield to ambush the Prince of Dorne.
However, the cunning Tywin never expected to be outmaneuvered by a younger generation. Because the Targaryen army attacked along the Goldroad, Tywin did not seek help from the Riverlands.
In fact, the Riverlands were currently fending for themselves, as Dorne's army had broken through the borderlands, surrounding Highgarden. House Tarly was on its way to assist, and House Tyrell was occupied with its own matters, naturally unable to attend to the Westerlands' side, and they were unaware of this news.
But at that moment, Oberyn's army, unhurriedly approaching Deep Den, suddenly turned and accelerated, breaking directly towards Silverhill.
Oberyn's forces easily conquered this small castle of House Swyft, leaving corpses strewn everywhere and smoke filling the air.
Silverhill, also known as the Silver Hall, was located on the edge of the Westerlands' mountainous area, rich in silver mines, hence its name.
Though they were prepared in advance, House Swyft, whose family motto was 'Matchless,' still could not withstand Oberyn's assault. They were even conquered before they had a chance to surrender.
And after conquering Silverhill, Oberyn began a massacre, venting his emotions and plundering House Swyft's accumulated wealth.
"Kill!" Oberyn commanded, and all members of House Swyft, save for the infants, were executed, their heads rolling to the ground.
This battle had been ten years in the waiting for Oberyn, and the abundant bloodshed brought him brief clarity.
From childhood, Oberyn had a very close relationship with his sister Elia. They were inseparable, sharing the sincerest kinship, not the twisted relationship of Cersei and Jaime.
Thus, after Elia's brutal murder by House Lannister, Oberyn was nearly driven mad, vowing to avenge his sister.
In this battle, Oberyn wanted to paint the entire Westerlands with blood. His thundering voice raised cheers among the Targaryen soldiers.
"Let their blood tell Tywin! It's not only the Lannisters who must pay their debts!"
"I will paint this land red with their blood! Take their gold! Burn their castles!"
By dusk that day,
Rumble, rumble—
The banner of the Sun and Spear and three-headed dragon fluttered, the thundering sound of galloping hooves was deafening, and the army's march enveloped the earth with dust, like a rolling torrent heading west under the setting sun.
The Targaryen Second Legion, having outmaneuvered Tywin Lannister, conquered Silverhill but did not linger there, continuing on their way.
This was a game of racing against time.
Oberyn's command style was flexible and cunning. Having successfully fooled Tywin Lannister, he had to seize the opportunity.
Oberyn had to conquer Cockleswent Hall before Tywin could react and lead the Westerlands' army there, opening the road to Lannisport; otherwise, all would be in vain.
Therefore, after conquering Silverhill, he left no survivors, hastened his speed, marched lightly, and went straight for the next target.
Cornfield.
Cornfield, like Silverhill, was also located on the outer edge of the Westerlands' mountains. It was a castle loyal to Casterly Rock, belonging to the Swyft family of knights, whose family crest was a yellow dwarf chicken on a blue field, with the motto 'Wake! Wake!'
Because Cornfield was even smaller than Silverhill, Oberyn did not personally lead the attack but sent Evan Passerby, Count of Lornach, to take it.
Oberyn himself led the main force south to Red Lake, preparing to bypass the vast forest from the Coastal Road straight to Cockleswent Hall.
Legend had it that the expansive forest next to the Sunset Sea had once been inhabited by the Children of the Forest. The First Men had waged a long war there with the Children of the Forest.
Only after the Pact on the Isle of Faces did the Children occupy the forests, and the First Men the coasts, plains, grasslands, mountains, and swamps, ending the Dawn Age and beginning the Age of Heroes.
According to the original plan, if Oberyn's army conquered Cockleswent Hall, they could directly attack the Westerlands' largest city, Lannisport, and the capital, Casterly Rock, avoiding the Westerlands' complex terrain and natural barriers.
But what Oberyn knew, Tywin Lannister, famous for his steady military command in the Seven Kingdoms, also realized.
He understood Oberyn's true intent after receiving the news of Silverhill's fall.
"Damn Dornish barbarian!"
"Summon the men!"
Inside his tent, Tywin looked at the belated intelligence and could not help but lift a candelabra and smash it to the ground. With an ashen face, he ordered a withdrawal.
He called everyone, despite it being the middle of the night, to set out immediately for the west.
In a duel between masters, each move reveals the other's intent.
The situation had become a game of racing against time.
However, Tywin was cautious this time, leaving many soldiers behind at Deep Den.
Despite the shorter direct distance from Deep Den to Cockleswent Hall, the complex roads and mountains within the Westerlands made the journey more challenging.
"Quick, quick, quick!"
"All men! Hasten your steps!"
Lord Tywin personally supervised the troops, warning all vassals and nobles that those who lagged would die.
After the marshal's team took the field and killed dozens, the entire troop's pace quickly increased.
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