North entrance to Ox Horn Mountain.
Inside the military tent, the lights were on.
The atmosphere was as heavy as the deathly silence before a blizzard. The tent flap was suddenly flung open, and two guards helped Shanks, who was almost exhausted and covered in blood and dust, stumble in.
He was breathing rapidly, his face was deathly pale, and extreme terror lingered in his eyes.
"My lord... Ironborn...ambush..."
Shanks, his voice hoarse and barely able to form sentences, struggled to report the details of the encounter and the devastating news that his squad had been almost completely wiped out.
The hearts of all the generals in the tent sank, and the air was filled with the smell of blood and a chilling rage.
Galon strode up to Shanks and said in a deep voice.
"You did a great job; their deaths were not in vain."
"You can go now and get some rest!"
His voice was steady and powerful, with a calming quality.
After Shanks was helped away from the tent, Galon slowly turned around.
His gaze swept over each officer in the tent like a cold blade.
Did you all hear that?
Galon's voice echoed in the silent tent, " Eron is more cunning and proactive than we thought. He even plans to launch a night attack on our camp while we're off guard!"
He walked to the long table in the military tent, stared at the map that had been spread out, and tapped his fingers heavily on West Horn Mountain.
"The key to this battle isn't Kings Road, it's here!"
The others gathered around, staring at the map under Galon's finger, their expressions varied.
Jon immediately understood the reason.
"My lord, are you worried that while we are engaged in battle with the main Ironborn force, Euron will lead men to attack our flank from West Horn Mountain?"
Galon nodded and looked around at everyone.
" Ern is cunning, treacherous, and brutal!"
"They will not give up after their night raid failed."
"When the war begins, Victarion will surely lead his main force in a frontal assault to draw our attention."
"As for Euron..."
Galon's eyes gleamed with an all-knowing light. "He'll definitely choose this place! Using the trees as cover, he'll move back to our flank and launch a deadly charge."
The descriptions of Euron's personality traits from the original work flashed through his mind.
Galon was 50% certain that Euron would not follow Victarion into actual combat.
"Gentlemen, think about what happened to Torrhens Square and Sevon."
"Even if the two cities wanted to be restored to their original state, it would take many years, not to mention the dead!"
"Therefore, we must win this battle!"
"And West Horn Mountain became of paramount importance!"
Galon observed everyone's expressions discreetly, paying particular attention to Little Flayer's.
Seeing the slight twitch in his face, Galon smiled inwardly.
"They've taken the bait!"
"Next, we need to make him willingly serve as a cannon fodder for the forwards!"
A strange smile appeared on his lips, and he said in a deep voice, "We need to leave some men to hold off Euron. This battle is very dangerous. Who among you is willing to come?"
As soon as the words were spoken, Umber and the Karstark family members immediately stood up and said, "Sir, we are willing!"
Galon shook his head. "Your family are all spearmen. I need you to stay on the front lines and resist Victarion's fierce attack!"
His gaze swept over the crowd, finally settling on Ramsay Bolton: " Lord Ramsay?"
Ramsay's heart skipped a beat, and he knew something was wrong.
He raised his head, his face habitually plastered with that unsettling fake smile.
"Lord Galon, I also have spearmen among my men..."
Galon interrupted, "Besides the spearmen, your Bolton family has at least half of your infantry, which would be suitable for our right flank. But Ramsay, thinking of the devastation at Torrhens Square and Sevon, didn't want to fight the mad Euron."
He still refused, saying, "These people probably can't withstand Crows Eye's charge. Let me lead some men to intercept Victarion instead!"
To everyone's surprise, Galon readily agreed.
"In that case, I'll give you a chance to win unparalleled honor for House Bolton."
"The battle begins tomorrow. You will lead Bolton's 1,000 men to meet Victarion's first wave of attack!"
The tent fell silent instantly.
Everyone understood that this was almost the most dangerous mission.
Ramsay's smile vanished completely, and his face turned ashen.
"Lord Galon, you're sending my men to their deaths!"
"I only have a thousand people..."
"It is precisely because the mission is so arduous that its glory is so extraordinary!" Galon interrupted him, his voice rising abruptly, carrying an undeniable pressure. "Listen, Ramsay Snow!"
He deliberately emphasized the surname " Snow," the illegitimate child's name. "I know what you want. Not just survival, but recognition, the true right to inherit the Bolton name, right?"
Ramsay's pupils contracted slightly as he stared intently at Galon.
Galon met his gaze and said in a low voice.
"Hold on to Victarion's first attack!"
"You don't need to defeat him, you just need to hold your ground, blunt his momentum, and draw his main force here!"
He pointed to a narrow spot on the map, his voice full of enticement.
"If you can do it, I, the Commander-in-Chief of the Northern Army, in the name of Stark, assure you that after this battle, I will do everything in my power to make Winterfell recognize your legitimate status!"
"You will be the rightful and sole heir to The Dreadfort, Ramsay Bolton! "
He paused, then his tone instantly turned icy cold.
"But if you refuse, or... back down at the last minute, leading to a complete rout!"
"Then not only you, but the entire House Bolton will be regarded as a traitor to the North!"
"I will not allow an element of uncertainty to remain in the military. I will relieve you of your command of the army in Stark's name."
Now, tell me your choice!
Coercion and bribery were laid bare before Little Flayer.
All the officers in the tent had their eyes fixed on him, and the air seemed to freeze.
Ramsay's face was contorted, and he was struggling intensely inside.
Ultimately, the desire for power and status outweighed the fear of death, and he took a deep breath, almost gritting his teeth as he spoke.
"Okay! I'll do it! But you must keep your promise!"
Galon smiled and nodded, "Of course, I swear in the name of the gods!"
He turned his gaze to the map and issued the order again.
" Jon, lead five hundred cavalrymen to dismount and secretly circle around to hide deep in the dense forest on the northern slope of West Horn Mountain."
"Once they are spotted, intercept them immediately on West Horn Mountain!"
Jon stood up and said solemnly, "Yes, Lord Galon!"
Galon then turned his gaze to his trusted followers, pointing to one side of the map.
" Mihawk, you have led five hundred archers and ambushed us here."
"Once Victarion engages Bolton, you must immediately join the battle to relieve the pressure on him!"
Mihawk nodded, indicating that he understood.
" Sir Lambert Toha! "
Galon then looked at Lambert, who had been rescued in Winterfell, and said, "I'll give you two hundred cavalrymen. Go straight around West Horn Mountain and march through the night to recapture Torrhens Square!"
"And recruit vassals on the spot, and shut the door for Ironborn to escape to Stony Shore!"
Lambert's expression changed drastically. He knelt on one knee, tears welling in his eyes, and said, "My lord, Toha swears to complete the mission to the death!"
Seeing this, Galon quickly helped Lambert up and comforted him, saying, " I will avenge Torrhens Square for you. Please bear with me for a moment!"
Lambert nodded emphatically.
" Everyone from Bear Island!"
Galon finally looked at the Dustin family officer.
"The salt spears of the Redang River were a shortcut for fleeing soldiers to swim back to the Iron Islands."
"Please immediately send someone to inform Countess Barbara to patrol the riverbank day and night, and kill any Ironborn who attempts to cross the river!"
The Dustin family members nodded in agreement.
"The rest of you, join me in facing the main force of the Ironborn!"
"In this battle, I will annihilate the Ironborn of the North!"
"I'm going to tell Balon that the North is our territory, and squid that come ashore will only face certain death!"
The morale of the troops in the bombardment tent was high, and they couldn't wait to fight the Ironborn.
The generals took their orders and left one after another, leaving only Galon in the tent.
He stepped outside the tent and gazed at the deep night in the south. The snowflakes carried by the wind and the faint clamor foreshadowed the approaching storm.
"It'll be soon. Once we win this battle, it'll be time to set our sights on the south!"
Galon withdrew his gaze and began inspecting the military camp.
Tomorrow there will be a battle that will determine my fate!