Chapter 213

On the drill grounds inside Winterfell, torches were lit again; the strong smell of firewood and the rising smoke mingled with the thin mist, enveloping the city, and the mingling aroma of meat almost made him unable to restrain himself.

After returning from the north to Winterfell, he and his squad were permitted to hunt outside the city (also carrying out patrols). After so long, the dog puppies raised by his servant could finally be put to use—he felt that the hunting dogs provided by the hunter were not the ones he had originally raised: their coats were completely different, and even one did not match the breed at all.

He thought the hunter had most likely sold the hunting dog he had entrusted or put it to another use. He had no intention of investigating the actual situation. For him, as long as the hunter remembered to supply him with qualified hunting dogs, it didn't matter whether they matched the original—what was the point of demanding more? His pleasure lay in hunting, not in keeping pets.

This time they did not choose the hunting grounds in the western Wolf Forest; due to the limits of hunting time and mission, they turned their attention to the Stark-exclusive hunting ground in the forest along the White Knife River.

Compared to the Wolf Forest, the vast forest here is gentler, never giving an inexplicable sense of oppression or an unchanging desolation. Hunting in this ground is like dancing in a bright hall—how well or poorly one dances depends entirely on hunting skill.

The elk in the forest have long grown accustomed to the hunters' dance.

Herds of small spotted elk dart warily among the mangroves, firs, and shrubbery; Ronal felt that hitting these timid creatures with an arrow was harder than striking an eagle in the sky. It is said that they can hear hoofbeats within ten miles; when you think you are approaching cautiously, in fact the herd has already hidden behind the trees, watching you.

To bag such game, one must conduct a sweep, but because he also had patrol duties, he could not adopt that method, for he did not want his men too scattered, nor did he want the She-wolf to think he had come out merely to play—although the fact indeed was so.

Compared to those flighty elk, the wild boar with its stronger scent attracted the hounds more; in most cases they had to follow the dogs' inclinations, which was truly strange.

Their results were outstanding—they had taken two wild boars and one deer—but their scouting yielded little of note: the White Knife River remained unchanged, and along its banks there was no sign of any enemy military activity.

In fact, most of the banks of the White Knife River are inaccessible mudflats and steep hills rising like swords; the straight, wide river flows gently between mountains and forests, and in winter it is even hundreds of feet wide, with the White Harbor barges freely navigating the central channel, patrolling the river.

The mountains and broad waters block communication between the banks; only a few places have been artificially cleared of trees and leveled, with wooden bridges built over the deep gullies, opening roads that follow the undulating terrain toward the King's Road, and where the road reaches the riverbank lies a vitally important ford.

The Stark defensive forts built along the banks of the White Knife River stand on this crucial road, connecting to the ford, and together they seal off the enemy's westward advance.

They slaughtered the game at a stream along the way, sending half the spoils to the forts they passed, and bringing the rest back to Winterfell to be handled by Gai Qi—Gai Qi must have devised yet another cooking method; perhaps this is the meat aroma he smelled on the Winterfell drill grounds.

Gai Qi and his assistant cooks had rich experience in processing game, with many preparation and cooking methods far beyond his skill, yet in fact he preferred to build a campfire in the mountains and simply cook his dinner. Unfortunately, during this hunt the ceramic cookware he had brought for stewing shattered from an accidental impact, causing him to lose all interest in cooking game himself—after all, once you have tasted tender, stewed venison and boar, the prospect of meat that easily scorches on the grill naturally holds little appeal.

Although the ceramic cookware was exquisite, it was far too fragile compared to metal ware; he felt he must have been addled to bring it out despite its flaws, out of vanity.

Earl

Their hunting ground lay in the area between the White Knife River and the King's Road, where oaks were planted in rows every seventy feet, separating the ground from the larger forests to mark it as the Stark family's exclusive hunting preserve.

We must romanize the Chinese characters, giving the pinyin Kleduo.

The She-wolf had little interest in hunting, so this recreation served as her reward to the victors around her.

The victors would often bring back large quantities of game for her to Winterfell, where the cooks prepared it in various ways and supplied it to the trainees on the drill grounds; in her words, it was used to boost the fighting spirit of those training there.

Ronal expressed doubt. Although this was the sternest training, most of the trainees had begun with strong resistance and possessed little fighting spirit; he said these foods were better suited to soothe their repressed resentment at being forced to obey.

Ha, those Northerners of Westeros still think that following the She-wolf in noisy, fervent battle is all there is to being an army!

The She‑Wolf captured a long‑bearded infantry officer named Ai Li Ang Pu Lei De from the Barren Grave Garrison and appointed him as the chief instructor of Winterfell's infantry, also forming a training unit with his original subordinates who had surrendered, to devise a training plan for Winterfell's infantry.

The She-Wolf captured a long-bearded infantry officer named Allyon Pryde from the Barren Grave Garrison, appointed him as Winterfell's chief military instructor, and together with his originally surrendered subordinates formed a training unit to devise a training plan for Winterfell's infantry.

Our translation: "The She‑Wolf captured a long‑bearded infantry officer named Ai Li Ang Pu Lei De from the Barren Grave Garrison and appointed him as the chief instructor of Winterfell, and together with his original subordinates who had surrendered established a training unit to devise a training plan for Winterfell's infantry."

We must retain the term "long‑bearded infantry officer".

We'll need to decide on "軍務教頭": "chief instructor of military affairs"? Actually "軍務教頭" is "chief instructor of military affairs". We'll translate as "chief instructor". Might be okay.

We'll need to keep "教導團": "training unit". Good.

Now we need to ensure we don't add extra info.

Let's craft each translation.

We'll go line by line.

【24】 The She‑Wolf captured a long‑bearded infantry officer named Ai Li Ang Pu Lei De from the Barren Grave Garrison and appointed him as the chief instructor of Winterfell, and together with his original subordinates who had surrendered established a training unit to devise a training plan for Winterfell's infantry.

We had omitted "Winterfell's infantry", but we have now added it.

To implement the plan and let everyone in the city watch and feel, the She‑Wolf ordered the removal of obstacles and fences around the drill field that hindered infantry training, cleared the greenbelt walkway passing through it, and after the cleanup the original drill field became larger, its activity range broader, appearing sufficient for a thousand soldiers to train together.

We must retain the phrases "watch and feel", and we note that she ordered the removal of obstacles and fences around the drill field that hindered infantry training, cleared the greenbelt walkway passing through it, and after the cleanup the original drill field became larger and its activity range broader, appearing sufficient for a thousand soldiers to train together.

All those receiving training in the Winterfell drill field are infantry officers belonging to Stark and the She‑Wolf herself, and also include the recently surrendered bandit brotherhood; they must undergo the same training as ordinary soldiers given by the captives from the Barren Grave Garrison.

We must also include the recently surrendered bandit brotherhood, who need to undergo the same training as ordinary soldiers provided by the captives from the Barren Grave Garrison.

According to the She‑Wolf's idea, after completing training these trainees will serve as instructors to train their own subordinates.

After completing their training, these trainees will serve as instructors to train their own subordinates.

According to current statistics, in Stark's domain the total number of infantry responding to the She‑Wolf's recruitment, after excluding the elderly and children, will reach three thousand, plus over a thousand soldiers who came in reputation from White Harbor and other northern regions.

According to current statistics, in Stark's domain the number of infantry responding to the She‑Wolf's recruitment, excluding the elderly and children, will reach three thousand, plus over a thousand more who came from White Harbor and other northern regions.

He didn't know how many of them had been attracted by the rich spoils of the previous battles, but wanting to train these farmers and ruffians who had a bit of battle enthusiasm into obedient, qualified soldiers obviously required an excellent officer corps and strict military discipline.

Speaking of military discipline, he himself was a little afraid; the regular soldiers of the major free‑trade city‑states had to obey all kinds of rules, and a moment's inattention could bring a whipping, broken fingers, or even beheading—he had decided to become a wandering knight and a guard with his two brothers precisely because he feared those regulations.

Ronald and the other cavalry officers temporarily did not need to wear heavy armor and hold long spears on the drill field, repeatedly practicing various orders and formations, but after he returned from hunting, he was required to stand on the corridor and observe the infantry formation, partly to understand the infantry formation's characteristics as a cavalry officer, and partly to prepare for later participation in training.

According to Langnü's demand, these armored cavalrymen likewise needed the ability to carry out infantry tactics—that is, at the proper moment they had to dismount, form ranks, and fight as infantry.

Since they might also become infantry, this kind of drill was naturally necessary; only the timing was rushed and the sequence differed.

Training meant nothing to someone of his temperament, but he thought that for those accustomed to fighting it out in the free‑trade city‑states and for the southern bandits, serving as a stern infantryman after dismounting was not easy—this too was nothing, he had confidence that Langnü's whip would not be merciful, and they would eventually adapt.

Ronald couldn't help turning his head to look at Langnü; she was still the same old self, leaning on that Valyrian steel sword, standing planted on the corridor, gazing at the drill field, without joy or sorrow.

By her side, two young attendants, one male and one female, stood left and right, and next to them were her scholars and clerks, looking like the eunuchs who attend the Astapor nobility. Since she returned from Streamland, she has constantly been followed by a retinue.

Ronald had never seen her idle for a moment. Earlier, seeing her go down to the field to spar, he had thought it was leisure, but later learned it was merely to teach a lesson to the tall, hot‑tempered barbarian count.

In battle the count looked like an eastern continent barbarian, but his offensives and defenses were coarse yet refined, his advances and retreats measured—clearly he too had undergone good training—this is almost trivial—he was born a noble, and receiving training was perfectly normal.

The count had ample strength and stamina; anyway Ronald felt he certainly was no match. This Count Anbo might be the tallest and most warlike of all the lords he knew.

He remembered that in the "leisure" scene, this Langnü had been teaching that "beast" a lesson with a wooden stick. Langnü was too agile; the count was completely restrained and could not properly exert himself.

Before Langnü noticed his gaze, he hastily turned his head and continued looking at the drill field.

After several days of training, the officer formation in armor and shields now looked more orderly; it was unknown whether the heads hung up had any effect.

Before he went hunting, these lax officers and knights had all been indifferent, especially after hearing that the ones in charge of drilling them were merely defeated underlings from Streamland.

This was quite normal, whether it was their reaction or the subsequent changes.

Three willful heads were hung together on a pillar beside the drill field; blood trickled down the pillar, soaking the sand beneath it.

The heads signified that Langnü was not merely playing around, and that the former captive instructor was not without power.

He had examined the heads closely. One had a distinctive face he still recalled, remembering only that the man's voice sounded like a broken, hoarse sneer. Rather than learning the man's name, he was more interested in whether that head had been cut off by cold ice or by passion.

Ahead of the heads, Wil in gold robes and his cavalry squad stood far off at a corner of the border city, lightly flicking their horsewhips. According to the drill, they would attempt to strike the formation from various directions to test the heavy infantry formation's ability to adapt its defense, the results of these days' training, and of course to verify the rhythm of the heavy cavalry charge.

The guards and cavalry officers observing on the corridor shouted encouragement loudly, or else tried to disturb the infantry formation, but Erwin and his infantry formation stood firm, facing Wil's cavalry squad unwaveringly.

Wil lightly chatted with the nearby cavalry, then donned his armor, kept time, and, mimicking cavalry advance, tentatively strode toward the infantry formation while maintaining front‑to‑back distance. When they drew somewhat closer, they swiftly changed direction under spear thrusts—leaping from left to rear, then from rear to front—while the infantry formation constantly raised shield and spear, shifting position and direction in response to Erwin's and the squad's bugle officer's calls.

He looked toward Langnü again; she seemed to be thinking or drifting off.

Indeed, the present "charge" offered nothing to see, for Wil could not actually launch a charge to test their defensive strength and will.

Wil, along with Shal, Ga‑shal, and these other eastern continent people, had no chance to serve as officers commanding Stark's large cavalry detachment, but they would instead form a separate unit as heavy cavalry under Langnü.

They had captured from the battlefield enough horse armor and plate to equip three hundred heavy cavalrymen; after returning to Winter City they added another fifty through various means, so her entire heavy cavalry regiment numbered only three hundred fifty. The command of the heavy cavalry regiment was given to the Red Warrior Cred.

Langnü had a suit of armor specially forged for Cred to fit his build, and she gifted him the black mare she had ridden when returning to the North—it is estimated that only that warhorse could bear the weight of Cred and his barded horse for a charge.

Ronald could only envy him. Though he himself was strong‑built and of medium stature, compared to Cred's hulking frame and courage he was practically a forest child.

He suspected that the ice sword would sooner or later be lent to Langnü by the 'Red Warrior'. Only someone like that could wield a two‑handed greatsword as if it were a one‑handed blade… then Cred might become Langnü's weapon for breaking formations.

On the drill field, the infantry formation continually shifted its direction, adjusting its spears. The surrounding shouts faded away, and the guards and officers began to watch seriously this orderly, uniform formation.

He did not know what kind of infantry Langnü had seen on the battlefield at Huangzhutun that had aroused such envy, prompting her to promote a surrendering commander to be an instructor. Not only Stark had cavalry, but Stark was not only cavalry either?

He did not know how Langnü's enemies could breach such a defensive formation. He only felt there was a stark beauty about it.

As a member of the heavy cavalry, he still felt somewhat uneasy.

Wei'er led the heavy cavalry, circling the infantry formation, sometimes pulling back, sometimes accelerating the charge. Under the rhythm of the infantry's shout, the spear shafts continually shifted direction, driving off the heavy cavalry's repeated probing approaches.

Luona'er kept stroking the ancient wood handrail before the corridor, putting aside his contempt, unsure how to use cavalry to break through this layered heavy infantry formation bristling with spears and spikes.

When he thought this "test" would end hastily in such an inconclusive manner, a low humming sound arose from within the infantry formation that he did not understand.

At that moment, the spearmen of the first rank, wielding wooden shields and long cones, quickly moved through the gaps left by the rear rank under a certain rhythm, shifting to the rear to guard the infantry's back—the infantry even had spare energy to display a defense against nonexistent enemy reinforcements!

The infantry advanced step by step following the shout's rhythm, two units swiftly merging into one, lengthening the formation; before Wei'er's cavalry had turned at the corner, they had already cut off all retreat routes for its maneuver.

The forest of spears at the infantry's front pointed at Wei'er's cavalry squad, continually pressing forward, squeezing the cavalry's space; ultimately, in the low hum's advancing rhythm, they drove the cavalry into a desperate situation.

What this meant went without saying.

When the "test" ended, Wei'er's handsome face no longer bore a smile.