The combined army began to set up camp on the first day they arrived at the Dreadfort. Since the logistics carriages transported enough luggage, the military tents set up by the combined army were far larger than what five thousand soldiers should have.
The Bolton defenders reported this situation to Luce, but after analyzing the feedback from the reconnaissance cavalry, he believed that this was a confusion array set up by the Young Wolf Lord to deliberately increase pressure on them.
At the same time, the logistics troops began to use the empty transport carriages after unloading the supplies, and began to cut down the trees in the surrounding forests for transportation, and worked feverishly to build crude and primitive siege equipment.
The combined army as a whole seemed to be in good shape, but three days had passed, and the logistics troops were still transporting wood and building equipment, without even launching a tentative attack.
On the wall of the gate of the Dreadfort, Luce looked at the coalition army camp in the distance, thinking expressionlessly.
As three days passed and the combined army showed no movement, he clearly felt that something was wrong.
After integrating the information, Luce, who was still clueless, thought carefully about his own troop deployment methods and strategic layout, trying to find out the problems.
There are currently 1,500 troops stationed in the Dreadfort, including 1,300 elite infantry to defend the city, and 200 cavalry waiting for opportunities to conduct surprise attacks.
On Locke's side, a total of 3,000 territorial infantrymen and 1,000 cavalry have been gathered in Shitie Town, half a day's walk from the Dreadfort.
There are more than 400 cavalrymen on Ramsay's side, galloping towards the Dreadfort as a backup force.
The Dreadfort is easy to defend but difficult to attack. As soon as the coalition forces begin to attack the city, the Dreadfort will turn into a meat grinder. The current defenders are enough to hold back all the coalition forces outside the city.
When they suffered heavy losses and their morale dropped, Locke's troops attacked from the rear.
When the time comes, the Dreadfort will be attacked from both front and rear, and the combined army will be attacked from both sides and will surely win in one battle.
Woo!
In the early morning of the fourth day, the Dreadfort finally ushered in its first siege.
There were approximately a thousand Winterfell infantrymen, holding direwolf flags and wearing shabby mail armor, carrying huge wooden shields crudely made by the logistics troops.
Forming a huge rectangular square, they marched towards the gate of the Terror Fort with heavy steps.
Under the protection of their wooden shields, other infantrymen carried siege ladders that were also freshly made.
Roose stood on the wall of the gate of the Dreadfort, looking at the Winterfell soldiers who began to attack the city, and felt relieved in his heart.
He raised his right hand and stopped in mid-air. The archers on the city wall waited with bated breath for his order.
"put!"
As the infantry stepped into the attack range, Luce waved his hand and ordered.
Phew!…
Hundreds of arrows gleaming in the morning sun, drawing beautiful and deadly parabolas, raining down on the phalanx of Winterfell soldiers.
Doo doo doo!......
ah!
The rain of arrows fell on the wooden shield, making a low muffled sound, like falling hailstones.
Most of the arrows were blocked by the wooden shields, but there were always some unlucky ones on the battlefield who fell to the ground after being hit by arrows through the gaps in the wooden shields, letting out heart-rending screams.
The Winterfell offensive phalanx could not stop for these unlucky people and continued to move forward unswervingly.
Behind them, some rescue team soldiers with linen heads tied on their heads came to the rescue in groups of two carrying long shields.
They briefly glanced at the wounded on the ground, and gave up if they could not be treated. For those who could be treated, one person held the shield, and the other dragged the wounded to the rear position.
As soon as the Winterfell offensive phalanx arrived at the front gate of the Dreadfort, the wooden shield phalanx quickly separated, and the infantry hidden inside quickly erected the siege ladder towards the city wall.
At this time, the Bolton family soldiers on the city wall began to throw stones the size of their heads down, accompanied by many arrows.
Ah! Ah!
The screams of the soldiers in Winterfell were endless. Those who were hit by arrows would not necessarily die. But those who were hit by stones would definitely have their heads exploded, with red and white splattering everywhere.
Under the city wall, some Winterfell soldiers armed with bows and arrows began to fight back. Some Bolton family soldiers were hit by arrows and fell to the ground before they could throw stones.
Taking this opportunity, the Winterfell infantry began to climb up the siege ladder.
Wow!
A Winterfell infantryman was concentrating on climbing the siege ladder. Suddenly he heard the sound of water flowing above him, and he subconsciously looked up.
A stream of hot steam and boiling oil covered his face directly and tightly.
ah!!!
The skin and flesh on the infantryman's face was suddenly burned to the point of redness and ulceration, blisters appeared densely all over the face, and the skin tissue cracked and rolled.
The infantryman didn't care enough to hold on to the ladder and fell straight down, covering his face.
Due to a posture problem, his head hit the ground first. He no longer screamed and struggled, but his right foot twitched slightly. It looked like he would not survive.
This Winterfell infantry was not the only one who fell. The Winterfell infantrymen on each siege ladder were seen falling down like dumplings.
As the Bolton defenders deployed various defensive methods on the city wall, the Winterfell infantry phalanx under the city wall lost more than 30%, and morale was extremely low.
As an infantryman looked at the corpses of his comrades who died in various tragic conditions and ran for his life like crazy, the entire Winterfell infantry siege front began to collapse.
The wooden shields, siege ladders, and standard long swords were all discarded. These fleeing infantrymen just wanted to run faster.
How could the Bolton defenders on the city wall let go of this opportunity? They all worked harder to beat the drowned dog, hoping to gain more merit for killing the enemy.
Ouch!
When the Winterfell infantry fled away from the attack range, the Bolton defenders roared with joy in celebration.
Roose looked at the Winterfell infantry who fled back to the base camp, his face expressionless, and he didn't know what he was thinking.
"Has there been any reply from Locke?"
Luce suddenly asked about the attendants beside him.
"Lord Locke sent out a reconnaissance cavalry team to follow and observe the enemy troops as soon as they arrived within the Dreadfort.
The enemy's total strength is about 5,100, including 500 logistics troops. During this period, they were logging and transporting wood from the woods near Gushan every day, and there was no unusual behavior."
The attendant in mail heard Luce's question and immediately answered,
"Although there are some bare hills blocking the road from the Dreadfort to Stone Iron Town, there are no woods, ravines, or other places where a large group of people can hide and set up an ambush. Lord Locke has repeatedly confirmed it with his people."
"Well, what did Ramsay say?"
After hearing the report, seeing that he was indeed a little worried, Luce nodded and asked about the illegitimate child.
"Lord Ramsay still needs at least five riding days to arrive. According to reports from his spies, Robb Stark meets with the heads of various noble families in Winterfell every day."
"Well, after all, I was too cautious. I wrote back and told Locke to prepare for battle."
After listening to the latest situation report, Luce nodded and issued his order,
"Also, let Ramsay come back slowly! By the time he comes back, this war will be over."
After receiving the order, the attendant hurriedly walked down the city wall and went to the crow's nest to convey Luce's order.