Chapter 130: Eddard's Plan Beyond the Wall

In the Great Hall of Winterfell, Maester Luwin was bewildered, "The larger the Wildling army of the King-Beyond-the-Wall, the more advantageous it is for us?"

Eddard stroked the head of the direwolf Grey Wind and said calmly, "The Wildlings lack discipline; they have almost no smiths and cannot even build decent siege engines. What could they possibly use to threaten the Wall? Do not forget, the Wall is the most magnificent structure built by mankind."

"The lands beyond the Wall are vast. No map can depict just how large the region north of the Wall truly is. Wildling settlements are scattered, and the land is sparsely populated. If the Northern Army and the Night's Watch were to march out to conquer the Wildlings, it would be very difficult to defeat them piecemeal. The supply lines would be too long, and in the freezing cold, logistics would be a major problem."

"Now, the King-Beyond-the-Wall, Mance Rayder, has relied on his own prestige and methods to win the support of multiple settlements beyond the Wall. The Frozen Shore folk, the Thenns, the Hardfoot, and various other settlements have all gathered under Mance's banner. With the Wildlings gathered together, the Northern Army and the Night's Watch can defeat the Wildlings in one stroke and completely clear the threat beyond the Wall."

Maester Luwin stroked the chain around his neck, sighing in admiration, "I truly had not thought of that. Lord Eddard is indeed thorough in his considerations."

Grey Wind and Summer, the two direwolves, affectionately rubbed their heads against Eddard's legs. Eddard said, "My only concern is that the Old Bear will lead the Night's Watch out rashly. The Wildlings appearing at Eastwatch, Castle Black, and Skull Bridge is a clear attempt to lure the enemy. The Old Bear is old and stubborn; I fear he will fall for the Wildlings' baiting strategy."

"The Rangers of the Night's Watch are certainly more than a match for the Wildlings, but Mance Rayder is very cunning. There is no guarantee the Night's Watch won't be ambushed by the Wildling army beyond the Wall. Go back and write a letter to Maester Aemon, the Old Bear, and Benjen each, saying that I hope they hold the Wall and do not sally forth. When necessary, the Northern Army will join the Night's Watch to sweep the wilds."

Maester Luwin turned and left. Eddard's thoughts drifted to the Wall. Eddard had always believed that the Wall was a gift from the gods to the North, a barrier for the North in the north.

Due to Winterfell stationing troops at the Green Guard, the Nightfort, and Westbridge along the Wall, and with military colonies in the Gift springing up like bamboo shoots after a rain, the number of soldiers from Winterfell at the Wall had already exceeded that of the Night's Watch. The relationship between the Night's Watch and Winterfell was closer than ever before.

Historically, the scale of the Night's Watch was massive. After all, the Night's Watch was established to resist the Others and the wights, and the Wall was built to resist the Others and the wights as well.

However, eight thousand years had passed since the Long Night, and the Others had not appeared again. Today, the Others, like giants and the Children of the Forest, had become ancient spirits in folklore. Even the Night's Watch had almost forgotten their sacred mission, believing their task was merely to deal with the Wildlings beyond the Wall.

History was not like that. Historically, the Night's Watch could attract Knights and Warriors from all over the Seven Kingdoms to join voluntarily. Many Knights brought squires; at that time, the Night's Watch had countless servants and was filled with elites.

Aegon the Conqueror rode the Black Dread Balerion and bathed Harrenhal in dragonfire. Harren the Black of Harrenhal and his heirs were all buried in the dragonfire. The Lord Commander of the Night's Watch at that time was none other than the brother of Harren the Black, and the Night's Watch then possessed ten thousand well-trained and well-equipped soldiers.

Such a scale of standing army is almost unimaginable in today's Westeros.

Today, the Night's Watch has fewer than a thousand men. Many southern nobles have long forgotten the existence of the Night's Watch, believing the Wall to be nothing more than a place that receives all kinds of criminals and scum. The Night's Watch relies heavily on the funding of Winterfell and the North.

After Eddard introduced the "Wall Food Reserve Plan," the vegetable basket and dining table of the Night's Watch were held in the hands of Winterfell. The high command of the Night's Watch would seriously consider Eddard's opinions.

The King-Beyond-the-Wall, Mance Rayder, gathering the Wildling army only indicates that the Others and wights are appearing more frequently beyond the Wall. The Free Folk beyond the Wall, having lost their living space, were forced to respond to Mance Rayder's call, leave the settlements they had inhabited for generations, join the Wildling army, and slowly migrate toward the Wall.

The Wildling army traveled with their families, bringing herds of sheep, cattle, and horses, as well as grain and goods. Among them were determined spearwives and fierce Wildling Raiders, Thenn Warriors clad in bronze scale armor, and even giants riding mammoths. However, the majority of the Wildling army consisted of the elderly and children; warriors likely made up less than one-tenth.

The Wildlings' equipment was also poor. Since there were almost no smiths among the Wildlings beyond the Wall, they could not forge steel weapons or armor. Only the Thenns knew how to smelt bronze weapons, but bronze weapons could not match steel weapons.

Most Wildling Raiders wore animal skins that reeked of musk and used weapons made of wood and stone. A few possessed pitted longswords, most of which came from fallen Rangers. Very few Wildlings could even afford leather armor, let alone plate.

Eddard understood that what the Wildlings feared were the Others and the wights. According to Eddard's plan, he had originally intended to negotiate with the King-Beyond-the-Wall, Mance Rayder, from the start. It was just a pity that Mance Rayder was a deserter from the Night's Watch. In the eyes of the Night's Watch, Mance Rayder was an Oathbreaker and a Chameleon, which led the Night's Watch high command to refuse to negotiate with Mance Rayder from the beginning.

Moreover, Mance Rayder, holding a large army, might not be willing to negotiate. Many of the Wildling Raider leaders under Mance Rayder were likely dreaming of breaking through the Wall, looting wantonly, seizing women and children, and carving out kingdoms for themselves.

Such a barbaric enemy must be conquered with iron and blood.

Eddard believed that a single elite cavalry force from the North, combined with the Night's Watch Rangers, would be enough to crush the Wildlings.

Among the Night's Watch Rangers were many excellent warriors, such as Qhorin Halfhand, Benjen Stark, Jarmen Buckwell, Thoren Smallwood, Black Jack Bulwer, and others.

The Rangers had too many good men. Eddard believed that with the Night's Watch Rangers paired with the Northern Army, crushing the Wildling army would not be too difficult.

Eddard was still in the Great Hall, calculating how to deal with the Wildlings, when the marksman Fellan walked in, his face flushed red.

"Lord Eddard, Lady Barbrey, she... she wants me to go with her to Barrowton."

Eddard smiled, "Lady Barbrey is the head of Dustin House in Barrowton. She has stayed in Winterfell for a while, but sooner or later, she must return. You should go with her!"

(End of chapter)