The training intensity for new recruits in the training camp was doubled. All academic classes were temporarily suspended. Lu Xuan required all recruits over the age of fifteen to master basic combat skills in the shortest possible time.
It's impossible to get them to complete all the training. Lu Xuan's training plan requires more than two years to complete. After that, they will undergo a real combat test, and only those who survive will be the soldiers he needs. But now, the real combat test needs to be brought forward.
In Lu Xuan's view, real combat is actually the best way to train qualified soldiers. Putting aside everything else, even if you send a group of ordinary people to the battlefield and have them fight three tough battles in a row, many qualified soldiers can be selected from those who survive. It's just that many more break down and die.
Training cannot turn them into true warriors; it only enhances their basic attributes and their chances of survival. And most importantly, it cultivates discipline.
Political propaganda was launched simultaneously with military preparations. Dozens of platforms of varying sizes were temporarily erected throughout the city. A group of eloquent intellectuals were given a new task: to continuously recount the brutal past of slave owners, their oppression of slaves, and the struggle for resources in every corner of the city.
At the same time, we must also promote the good life we have now. We are free, we have our own property, we have our own families. We are now happy, free citizens. But now, someone wants to destroy all of this. They want to steal the money we've worked so hard to save. They want to steal our wives and children, and take us back to being slaves.
It must be said that thanks to the city's thriving commerce and trade, Lu Xuan actually found quite a few people skilled in this field. These people were somewhat like bards in a fantasy world. However, it was clear that their talents were being wasted. Lu Xuan immediately allocated funds to establish a special propaganda department, specifically responsible for these propaganda efforts.
This might be the first official propaganda department in the world of Ice and Fire. The effect was truly outstanding. Within just three days, the number of people heading to military camps to enlist had already exceeded 50,000.
This extreme fervor for war terrified Lord Barristan, who came from the backwaters of Westeros. In Westeros, when war was imminent, every household would try to escape. Not only would they have to send their own men, but they would also have to provide their own weapons and armor to fight for others—who would want to do that? But here, Barristan felt that if the city gates were opened, these frenzied crowds would rush out and tear the so-called enemy forces outside to shreds.
He felt he had acted rashly in coming out of seclusion. Looking at the situation, it had nothing to do with him. Whether it was personal strength, military talent, or even political acumen, there were people here who far surpassed him. His appearance had only placed him in an extremely awkward position.
Just as Barristan was feeling awkward and unsure of what to do, Lu Xuan found him.
"Make me the Queen's royal guard?"
“That’s right, probably no one in the world is more suited for this position than you. But this Kingsguard is different from the one in Westeros.”
Tell me about it.
Barristan, who almost went back to being a grassroots instructor, is clearly still very interested in this job.
"First of all, I don't need seven swordsmen to protect the Queen. As everyone knows, if a king needs his Kingsguard to step forward and protect him, it means that his era has come to an end. Therefore, the Kingsguard should represent more of a symbol, a symbol in all aspects, and of course, military force should also be taken into account as much as possible."
Daenerys's background and experiences are unparalleled. She was born in Westeros, which is why you are by her side. She is Khaleesi of the Dothraki plains, so there must be a Dothraki in the Kingsguard.
She witnessed her own heart in the Immortal Hall of Qarth. Therefore, one of the four magical advisors will become a member of the Kingsguard on the magical side.
She ruled Astapor, the city civilized by the Unsullied. Therefore, one more Unsullied will become a member of the Kingsguard. That brings us to four slots. However, the Unsullied slots will only last for this generation; this special legion will be replaced in the future. Therefore, this slot will also be filled.
My current quota is nine people. The remaining five are pending. For the four positions mentioned above, besides yourself, I have compiled a list of candidates. I hope Sir Barristan, you will observe and assess them to select the final choice.
“But this is completely contrary to the tradition of the Kingsguard.” Barristan was an old knight and found it difficult to accept Lu Xuan’s alteration.
"Is it a tradition for the Targaryen bloodline to rule a former slave city across the sea?"
"......"
"Just watch, there will be many more things in the future that don't conform to your traditional values. Look at this world, what are your so-called traditions doing?"
Barristan was speechless. He really wanted to retort, but the thought of Westeros's state left him speechless. Intrigue, betrayal, and slaughter. The rights of guests, sacred oaths, and even chivalry—all those things that were once taken for granted—had vanished.
Just standing in King's Landing, Barristan felt the stench of decay suffocating him. But the idea of breaking with Westeros's millennia-old traditions was something he found hard to accept.
Lu Xuan did not make things difficult for him.
"Think it over carefully, Sir Barristan. The Queen hopes you can accomplish this task."
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Chapter 262 Mission Impossible
Lu Xuan then stopped paying attention to the Imperial Guards and focused his attention on the upcoming battle.
Lu Xuan's physical strength has now fully recovered, and his true energy has also recovered to more than half. If a real battle were to break out, he could lead his troops to break through the enemy lines without any pressure. However, such a tactic is too unskilled. At the same time, due to the resurgence of magic, Lu Xuan is unsure whether there are any unexpected dangers hidden in this battle, so he has decided to fight this war in a more orthodox way.
Time was too short, and the vast majority of their fighting force consisted of infantry. However, Lu Xuan knew the key to cavalry, so he managed to assemble two thousand-man squads in advance.
The main problem was the lack of warhorses. On this continent, the best warhorses were obtained through trade with the Dothraki. However, Daenerys's status was unique; she was the wife of the previous Khal Drogo, a Khaleesi. After the Khal Drogo's death, most of the tribes abandoned her. This showed they didn't approve of Daenerys leading a tribe. Therefore, Astapor never managed to establish a stable trade relationship with the Dothraki. Warhorses were a scarce resource in the city.
"The enemy mercenary group is now only twenty miles away from us. Theoretically, we can launch an attack at any time. However, given the nature of those mercenaries, a fight won't break out anytime soon. According to our informants, they're currently demanding higher commissions. This presents an opportunity for us."
The Second Sons, the Wind Chaser, and the Crow Explosions are the main forces of this attack. However, these three mercenary groups don't trust each other and each wants the other to go first. Their camps are also wary of each other. The entire camp's layout is a complete mess. Therefore, I plan to launch a probing attack tonight. Two thousand-man squads will raid their camp. But we won't actually attack; it'll just be a feint to test their strength.”
To be honest, Lu Xuan saw the enemy's garrison's layout. He almost concentrated all his forces for a single, all-out attack. If the Unsullied had led the vanguard, their wedge formation could have swept across the enemy's 40,000 men, and they would have collapsed at the first touch. However, the Unsullied would be gone in the future; every one used was one less. Until his newly trained army showed results, this Unsullied legion needed to preserve its strength as much as possible.
"Sir Jorah, you will lead this raid. Listen carefully: take a thousand cavalrymen and raid the enemy camp. But don't actually engage. Just before you get close to the enemy camp, make a big commotion to alert them, then fire a volley of fire arrows at the camp, and then turn and run. There is no need for any actual combat."
"How could I possibly lead a single cavalryman, bypassing all the sentries, and get close to the enemy camp?" Jorah thought to himself, "You seem to be giving me a bit too much credit."
"You don't need to worry about that. Daenerys and her dragons will clear all the outposts for you in advance. The dragons are too young to participate in large-scale battles. But they are perfect hunters for raiding small outposts at night."
"I understand, I'll go prepare right away."
"Alright, now let's talk about the spies in the city. So far, our counter-espionage operations have been quite successful. In the last three days, we've caught twelve spies who had infiltrated from outside. But now, I want to tell you that the number of spies we've identified isn't twelve, but fifteen. There are also three people who are under surveillance but are free. Because I need their cooperation to put on a show."
Jorah's feint attack went smoothly. Just as Lu Xuan had said, the enemy showed no intention of pursuing them in the darkness.
Daenerys, who was possessed by the dragon, saw it even more clearly.
"The Second Son's Regiment was attacked, but the other mercenary groups showed no intention of coming to their aid. They merely took some defensive measures to prevent themselves from being ambushed. The overall reaction was similar to what you might have guessed, or even worse. It's basically certain that these guys have no desire to attack at all. In addition, that guy has successfully escaped back to the main camp."
"The enemy's low morale is also a problem. If they run away as soon as you attack, it's difficult to wipe them out completely. So let's see if they're greedy enough."
……
Swan was a spy, the mediocre and slippery kind. Gathering intelligence in Astapor was actually quite difficult for him. But he had no choice; the slave owners wouldn't accept a refusal. So he came anyway. He'd been doing this for years; Swan didn't have many achievements, but he was alive and well. He'd also accumulated some experience.
His main task was to gather intelligence on the city's garrison: how many men they were, how they were distributed, which ones might have been bribed, and other similar information.