Volantis is located in the southeast corner of the Free Cities, in the eastern Disputed Lands, at the mouth of the Loyne River, making it the Free City closest to Valyria.
She is the earliest colony established by the Valyrian Freehold, with a long history and great power, and is known as the "Eldest Daughter of Valyria", the "Queen of the Loyne River", and the "Mistress of the Summer Sea".
Because Volantis is the Free City closest to Slaver's Bay, Volantis openly engages in the slave trade.
Although Volantis's official military strength has been reduced by ninety percent, it still has a considerable number of slaves who can temporarily serve as city defenders.
Coupled with Volantis's proud Black Wall and other defensive siege equipment, the remaining two Elephant Party governors still believe their Volantis is as solid as gold.
The Black Wall, which gives them immense confidence, is a two-hundred-foot (approximately 66.67 meters) high oval wall built of black stones fused together.
This Black Wall was built by the Valyrians when Volantis was a forward outpost of the Freehold.
The Black Wall is not only high, but also extremely thick, wide enough for six four-horse chariots to advance side by side.
(Estimated based on the original description, the walls of Volantis are likely about fifteen or sixteen meters thick.)
To celebrate the founding day of Volantis, a ceremony of six chariots racing side by side is held every year.
Furthermore, a large number of residents live within these Black Walls. They call themselves the "ancient bloodline" because their ancestors can be traced back to the Ancient Valyria era.
Unless invited by these residents living inside, foreigners, free people, or outsiders are not allowed within the Black Wall.
Today is different from the past. In addition to the official soldiers of Volantis, a large number of fully armed slave soldiers are also patrolling everywhere on the Black Wall.
This is because, in addition to the news of the complete annihilation of the Governor of Volon Therys's army, news of the fall of towns surrounding Volantis, such as Saath, Valysar, and Veyon theses, has also arrived successively.
Clang, clang, clang!
The Black Wall of Volantis and the areas near the four city gates were filled with Volantis slave soldiers standing ready.
Under the command of a small number of Elephant Party soldiers, they were patrolling back and forth in relatively neat formations, preventing anyone from approaching.
"Lord Zusana!"
As the Volantis soldiers were patrolling, they happened to encounter one of the Elephant Party governors, who was surrounded by a team of personal guards.
They immediately saluted and greeted this female governor, who was about fifty years old, respectfully.
Zusana Dora nodded kindly and then encouraged them, "Mm, keep patrolling!
Remember, the safety of Volantis now depends entirely on you to protect!"
"Yes, my lord!"
"Lord Zusana, how much longer do you think Volantis… will need to be sealed off?
After all, almost a month has passed since we learned of Lord Volon's unfortunate death in battle.
Now, the lords and commoners in the city are already expressing some dissent, and some people have even started to organize joint protests!"
Watching the Volantis soldiers gradually move away, the captain of her personal guard, wearing a magnificent suit of armor, adjusted the hilt of the long sword at his waist and tentatively asked Zusana.
"Want to organize a joint protest? There must be organizers.
Go and find out who they are. Since they don't want to stay in Volantis, I'll send them out!"
Hearing the captain of the personal guard's question, Zusana turned her head to look at him and replied first, then continued meaningfully,
"The morale in the city is unstable now, and some people are even planning to surrender the city early in exchange for merit.
Foolish. Judging by the evil deeds of that evil dragon, it has no mercy whatsoever.
I hope you and your family don't have such thoughts!"
"Ah? Lord Zusana, I, I and my family absolutely do not have such thoughts.
We will forever be loyal to you, loyal to the Elephant Party!"
Sensing the threat in Zusana's cold words, the handsome-faced captain of the personal guard immediately bowed in panic and assured her.
"Mm, good to know!"
"Oh, by the way, Lord Zusana.
I have indeed made some discoveries during this time…"
The captain of the personal guard, who had been frightened by Zusana, seemed to want to show off in front of her and immediately lowered his voice to tell Zusana some news she didn't know.
"Mm, I am very satisfied with your performance. Let's forget about what just happened.
Well, the patrol is finished for today. Come back to my palace with me and chat!"
Zusana was very satisfied after hearing this and patted the captain of the personal guard on the shoulder, feeling his young and strong body.
Her eyes immediately filled with charm, and her face became increasingly flushed.
"Well, yes, my lord!"
Seeing Zusana's appearance, the captain of the personal guard naturally understood her meaning.
He tried his best to put on a flattered expression and nodded in response.
At this moment, Volantis was like a besieged city, with many people inside wanting to get out, and many people outside wanting to get in.
Outside the four city gates, many people of various identities such as commoners, peddlers, and mercenaries gathered, forming temporary settlements composed of dilapidated tents of various sizes.
Because the Black Wall was guarded by fully armed Volantis soldiers, these temporary settlements were outside the range of bow and arrow attacks.
These temporary settlements of various sizes offered various services, including food, clothing, shelter, transportation, and some entertainment.
This perfectly illustrates the saying, "Where there are people, there is a market."
Outside the Gods' Gate, in a temporary settlement, inside a large tent with a sign that read "Wild Boar Tavern" at the entrance,
Groups of drunkards sitting around the tavern tables were shouting and drinking large mugs of ale.
A man with a sword, completely covered in a cloak, lifted the tent door and walked straight to the tavern bar, where he sat down.
Clink!
Accompanied by a crisp sound, a small bag filled with coins was thrown onto the bar counter.
Because of the force, a few coins bounced out.
They were copper coins with a crown on one side and a skull on the other.
This is the currency of Volantis, called "Splendors".
"Pear brandy!"
"Sorry, we don't have such expensive wine in this shop!"
The male bartender, who had directly picked up the bag of Splendors and weighed it, showed a surprised expression and shook his head in response.
"Then, what kind of strong liquor do you have here?"
The cloaked man heard the bartender's reply and continued to ask without raising his head.
"Tyroshi pepper wine!"
Although Tyrosh has been destroyed, it does not affect the brewing method that has already become widespread.
"Mm, I'll have a glass then!"
"A glass? Haha, guest, this bag of Splendors is almost enough to buy a barrel!"
Seeing that the cloaked man did not seem to know the price of Tyroshi pepper wine, the bartender kindly said.
Hearing the bartender's honest reply, the cloaked man finally looked up at him and said, "A glass of Tyroshi pepper wine, and then tell me what has been happening in Volantis recently.
The rest of the money is your tip!"
The bartender immediately knew that this person's identity might be sensitive. He turned his head to look around,
Then he lowered his voice and replied, "Thank you for your generous reward. What would you like to know?"
"Do you know where the thinnest part of the Black Wall of Volantis is?"
… … … …
A month and a half after the death of the Governor of Volon Therys, the Westeros Eastern Expeditionary Army arrived at Volantis.
If it weren't for occupying all the towns along the way, they could have arrived in half the time.
But this time, coming to Essos was for complete conquest, and Jacaerys's strategy was a steady, step-by-step plan of gradual encroachment.
Now, more and more Westeros lords and merchants are crossing the Narrow Sea and coming to areas such as Myr and the Disputed Lands.
All valuable items in the towns occupied by the Westeros army have basically been emptied.
The vast number of prisoners who want food can only obtain it by working as labor.
Now, after absorbing the surrendered soldiers under the Governor of Volon Therys, the Westeros Eastern Expeditionary Army has barely reached ten thousand men.
But tens of thousands of Volantis commoners and slaves who were previously tricked into ambushing were accompanying them.
After a night of rest, these commoners and slaves began to cut down the abundant timber resources in the forests near Volantis the next morning, and began to build siege equipment.
Due to the excessive manpower, the low sound of the war horn sounded outside the West City Gate of Volantis on the morning of the fifth day.
This siege battle, which would determine the fate of Volantis, officially began!
The vanguard Commanders of the Westeros Eastern Expeditionary Army were the two Frey brothers who had performed outstandingly at the ambush point before.
Koma and Dicken, one civilian and one military, complemented each other well and were now fully capable of leading independently.
Clang, clang, clang!
Five thousand Westeros Eastern Expeditionary Army infantry, and ten thousand prisoner slaves serving as cannon fodder, holding shields, carrying siege ladders, and pushing battering rams, surged towards Volantis.
Their numbers were so vast that the siege formation spread out in a line seemed endless.
The surge of the Westeros Eastern Expeditionary Army siege soldiers brought immense pressure to the Volantis city defenders.
The command of Volantis was in the hands of the other Elephant Party governor, Hornos.
He saw the performance of his soldiers on the Black Wall and, to boost morale, directly ordered in a loud voice, "Shoot!"
Swish, swish, swish!
Thud, thud, thud!
Thousands of sharp arrows rained down into the Westeros Eastern Expeditionary Army siege formation, and a series of low thuds immediately sounded.
Most of the arrows were blocked by shields, and a small portion of the arrows penetrated the wider gaps in the siege formation and hit their targets.
Looking at the damage caused by this volley of arrows, Hornos's brows immediately furrowed.
Because after this round of arrow attacks, he had already realized that these well-equipped Westeros Eastern Expeditionary Army siege soldiers were experienced in combat and had good coordination in their formation.
Those hit by arrows were the panicked cannon fodder prisoners.
"Archers continue to volley fire, others prepare boulders, boiling oil, and human waste.
When this group of bitches from across the Narrow Sea gets close, we'll give them a hard time!"
Hornos was very methodical in his work, so he was very suitable for the position of battlefield Commander.
The defending army on Volantis, composed of ordinary soldiers and prisoners, followed his orders and began to operate very smoothly, like a machine with added lubricant.
"Quickly set up siege ladders to climb the wall, and push the battering rams to open the city gate.
Kill one enemy and receive a reward of five hundred Splendors. The first person to climb the city wall and survive will be promoted three ranks and rewarded with five thousand Splendors!"
After approaching the city wall under the rain of arrows from the Volantis city defenders, Koma, wearing full armor, stepped out from behind the shield and raised his long sword to boost the morale of his soldiers on the spot with extremely generous rewards.
Charge! Kill!
Koma's tactic of using money was indeed effective.
Knowing that their side had an absolute advantage in numbers this time, the soldiers of the Westeros Eastern Expeditionary Army were greatly boosted in morale after hearing his heavy incentives.
Whoosh! Crash!
Sizzle, sizzle!
Rows of siege ladders covered the western Black Wall of Volantis, and some Westeros Eastern Expeditionary Army soldiers eager for merit climbed up the siege ladders regardless of the consequences.
But head-sized boulders, steaming boiling oil, and pungent-smelling human waste fell from the city wall, directly harvesting the lives of these money-loving early birds.
As the tragic siege battle of Volantis officially began.
The smell of blood, the smell of roasted meat, and the stench of decay began to permeate the area below the walls of Volantis.
Bang, bang, bang!
The iron-clad oak gate of Volantis was constantly being struck by the thick, long battering rams, and the several bolts behind the gate creaked under the immense force.
"Someone, destroy the battering rams that are attacking the city gate for me!"
Hornos, protected by his personal guards holding shields, kept scanning the battlefield. After hearing the sound of the city gate being struck below the city wall, he calmly turned his head and ordered the messenger beside him.
After the messenger delivered the order, a group of soldiers extended two bright yellow copper pipes from the top of the city wall.
Splash!
Two streams of thick, green liquid gushed out from the two copper pipes.
The prisoners and slaves who had just rushed to the area below the city wall were directly doused with the thick, green liquid.
They touched the green liquid and then put it to their noses, immediately smelling a pungent odor.
They were inexperienced. Not far behind them, a Westeros veteran smelled the pungent odor and his face immediately changed drastically.
"Quick, get away from there, it's Wildfire!!!"
Obviously, his single voice could not be heard at all on the noisy battlefield.
Swish, swish!
Two flaming arrows were shot from the top of the Black Wall, igniting the green liquid below.
Whoosh!
The thick, green liquid was instantly ignited by the arrows and spread rapidly below the city wall like fiery snakes.
Ah!!!
The prisoners and slaves who were doused with the green liquid were instantly set on fire.
Human torches emitting green flames ran wildly below the city wall, igniting their comrades, siege ladders, and battering rams beside them.
In an instant, the area below the western Black Wall of Volantis became a fiery hell where green flames raged.
Needless to say, these flamethrowers were naturally siege weapons that Volantis had purchased from Pentos.
As of now, the combination of flamethrowers and wildfire can be said to be the nightmare of siege equipment.
It can directly burn you and your equipment to ashes.
Koma, as the vanguard Commander of the siege, sneered at the sight and muttered to himself, "Hmph, they're already using Wildfire?
As expected, Volantis has reached its end!
Order the cannon fodder to continue advancing and exhaust their Wildfire!"
The cruel order was given, and groups of prisoners and slaves were driven by Westeros soldiers to the area of the West City Gate of Volantis.
Their only value was to consume the enemy's Wildfire. Life was worthless at this moment, which is the cruelty of war! (End of this chapter)