Under the azure sky, Daenerys, clad in black leather armor, stood atop the tower at Mermaid Port. Her blood-red cloak flapped wildly in the howling sea wind, and her violet eyes gazed at the faintly visible Flaming Heart flag on the sea.
Around her were Mason Baker, Samwell, Borona, Follard, and others.
Ser Mason spoke, "The intelligence is accurate. Stannis's army was defeated by the Lannister, a crushing defeat."
A hint of disdain flashed in his eyes: "These are remnants who have lost their warrior's honor."
Daenerys withdrew her gaze and said, "They aren't resting at Dragonstone, so why are they here? Could it be…"
Ser Mason nodded and said, "Yes, you guessed correctly, Your Highness. Perhaps these desperate cowards want a place to vent, or perhaps they've long coveted Mermaid Port. Whatever the reason…"
He showed a cruel smile: "They chose the wrong place."
Follard's rough voice rang out, "Ser Mason, will they just be putting on a show again (Chapter 249)? Do Stannis's defeated troops dare to invade Kleber?"
Follard's words held suspicion, but his fierce-looking face was full of anticipation.
Ser Mason glanced at Follard and said, "Before it was two or three ships, today at least ten warships have arrived."
Follard chuckled, "Ser, we can't diminish Lord Green's prestige."
Then, everyone, including Ser Mason, looked at Daenerys in unison.
Daenerys's eyebrows slightly raised. She knew that the Cleber Soldiers who hadn't been able to join Lord Green in the Vale campaign were very eager for battle.
After the legendary great victory reached Klaeb Territory, this atmosphere intensified… She had to admit that she herself had also been somewhat influenced.
Not only Stannis's remnants, but also the Cleber Soldiers guarding the home needed an "outlet" for their energy.
"Kleber has a neutrality agreement with Stannis. Kleber will not break the agreement, unless…"
Daenerys's gaze swept over everyone, finally settling on Ser Mason, and she said, "Stannis's people break the agreement first."
Ser Mason placed a hand on his chest and said, "Princess, there's no difference between remnants who escaped from the battlefield and bandits. I believe they won't disappoint you."
At this moment, the urgent voice of a messenger rang out: "My Lord, they've raised the flag for port resupply!"
One of Daenerys's eyebrows slightly raised. She turned her head to look at Ser Mason and said, "Do they truly believe Kleber hasn't seen through their malice, Ser?"
A hint of anger flashed across Ser Mason's face: "I think Stannis's army hasn't gotten used to being remnants yet. Perhaps they still think Blackwater Bay is Stannis's backyard."
Daenerys looked back at the sea, her gaze slightly narrowed, and she said, "Perhaps they still believe in the Baratheon flag."
She asked, "Ser, how do you plan to fight?"
Ser Mason replied, "If the enemy ships enter Mermaid Port's warning line, we will first use ballistas to warn them."
Daenerys's violet eyes moved slightly, and Ser Mason continued, "If they ignore our warning and continue to advance, I think we can legitimately start the war. This will be them actively breaking the agreement between Kleber and Stannis."
Daenerys lightly nodded her chin. She asked the captain of Mermaid Port's guard, "Follard, tell us about the enemy fleet."
"Their flagship is a 200-oar ship, and the others are 100-oar ships, about… twelve or thirteen of them." After speaking, Follard withdrew his gaze.
After a pause, Daenerys asked Ser Mason, "Is there a way to keep their ships?"
She added, "The lives of Cleber Soldiers are more valuable than those ships. If it requires the blood of warriors, then there's no need to regret those planks."
Ser Mason's gaze shifted downwards, where rows of white houses stood.
After a moment of silence, he spoke, "We can feign fear and retreat, luring them ashore."
He pointed to the square north of the port and continued, "The several squares near the port, they were intentionally left as 'pockets' by Lord Green when Mermaid Port was built. They are all very suitable for encircling and killing invading enemies; they will become lambs to the slaughter."
He paused, then added, "But letting the enemy in will cause considerable damage to the port."
A moment of silence, then Samwell cautiously spoke, "Princess…"
Daenerys looked over and said, "Sam?"
Samwell glanced at the grim-faced people in his eyes. Seeing this… Daenerys smiled and encouraged him, "Do you have a suggestion? Please speak it, I will listen."
Encouraged, Samwell, with a shy smile, said, "I don't have a very good idea. I just… I just… Hmm… The repair cost for those stone houses would be a few hundred gold dragons, and counting other things… I think it would add up to about one or two thousand gold dragons."
Nervously licking his lips, he continued, "From what I understand, a 100-oar ship is worth at least 10,000 gold dragons, and a 200-oar ship at least 30,000 gold dragons. Their value lies in the long construction time."
He leaned slightly closer to Daenerys, lowering his voice, "If we could capture… no, take one as a prize, that would also be… very good."
Having finally finished speaking, Samwell's cheeks had turned crimson.
Daenerys smiled and nodded, saying, "I think we have made a decision. Thank you, Sam."
The sunlight was dazzling. Daenerys squinted her eyes slightly and said, "I leave it to you, Ser."
Ser Mason bowed with a hand to his chest, then strode away with Follard and the others.
...…
After everyone left, Daenerys asked a small question she had earlier: "Sam, do you know why Ser Mason chose ballistas when he mentioned warning enemy ships just now? Isn't the range of trebuchets farther?"
Samwell scratched his head and said, "Princess, it's because of accuracy. The stones thrown by trebuchets… no one can guarantee where they will fly. They could very likely hit the ship's hull, and that would be equivalent to directly starting a war."
"Thank you for your instruction."
Daenerys then said, "Sam, do you understand the 'pockets' Ser Mason just mentioned?"
Samwell nodded and said, "Princess, the stone houses around the square are connected… You can think of them as walls…"
...…
"Ballista warning, prepare!"
With the commander's order, the Cleber Soldiers at Mermaid Port began to nervously operate the ballistas.
Two soldiers together adjusted the angle of the ballista, then… creak~ creak~ creak~ the bowstring slowly tightened, and then another soldier placed a thick, long bolt into the arrow groove.
"Ballista warning, fire!"
The soldier released the bowstring with a thud, and the bolt whizzed forward.
...…
That day, over 600 Stannis remnants who landed at Mermaid Port encountered a Kleber ambush. It is rumored they were shot into porcupines by over 1000 Cley Cerwyn longbowmen.
At the same time, Follard led over 700 Blue Cloaks aboard the ships docked at the port. After a fierce battle, Kleber captured 8 100-oar ships and several hundred oarsmen and sailors.
The other ships, with the aid of the 200-oar flagship that had not docked, retreated in disarray towards Dragonstone.
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