webnovel

Torrhen the Thunderbolt

In the cold, unforgiving North of Westeros, Torrhen Stark, the youngest brother of Ned and Benjen Stark, holds the ancient stronghold of Moat Cailin as his seat. Though it is now in shambles. Unlike his siblings, Theon carries a secret that no one else knows—he is the reincarnation of a modern-day medical student and history enthusiast from another world. May his path be easy. Who am i kidding.

Logi_cal · Bücher und Literatur
Zu wenig Bewertungen
17 Chs

Preparations

One month later,

It was still annoyingly humid here as summer continued. The days were long and the nights short. I had made preparations for the shipbuilders to teach my men how to build ships.

All males ranging in age from 8 to 45 were required to train in longbow skills. The second thing I had done was equip all my men with plate armor. Since plate armor was cheap for me, at around 4 gold dragons per set, and I was overflowing with gold.

The third thing I had done was commission horse-drawn scorpions and catapults, about 40 of each, to assist the infantry in field battles.

The last and most important thing I had done was put the builders' guild to work on constructing a canal connecting the Fever River to the Narrow Sea. The canal will be 30 feet wide and 4 feet deep. The project will hopefully be completed in 2 to 3 years.

The entire area to be excavated was divided into various sections. The first year will focus on clearing and excavating the easier sections of the canal and implementing stone reinforcements on the banks.

The second year will focus on the same reinforcements and excavation, with the addition of a temporary wooden bridge to connect to the king's road.

The third year should hopefully see its completion, with the wooden bridge replaced by a stone arch bridge. This will not only improve trade but will also become a new source of revenue for me in the form of tolls, potentially rivaling King's Landing as the trade hub of Westeros.

The moat and bailey will also be completely renovated. The gravel roads will be converted into paved roads due to the increased maintenance costs from the growing number of people coming and going.

Around 360 men are now in the men-at-arms. The population has increased from 14,000 to 18,000.

Hopefully, all this will be enough for the Greyjoy Rebellion.

4 Years Later

289 AC

A ship could be seen moving into a canal as it moved west towards the sunset sea. It bared the Lannister flag on it. There could be seen boom towers on the either side of the entrance of the canal. Multiple ships could be seen behind the lannister ships to enter the canal. 

"The Lord of Moat Cailin seems to have worked a miracle on these lands.", a sailor of the ship spoke to the captain that was standing alongside him. 

"You can say that again, changed this downtrodden swamp into a bustling city, in mere 5 years.", the captain replied. It was true the the place had transformed from the swampy, neglected land to a bustling city of nearly 96,000. It was sprawling. 

Lot of people had came to this city for 1 single purpose of swinging and change their lives, and mant of them succeeded. Causing more people to come from Riverlands, reach and stormlands. The majority was reach population. 

The ship moved with its other trade fleet, continuing it's travel towards the sunset sea. The winds favoring them further. They had just dropped a cargo of gold at moat cailin. 

"i hear the lord's looking to change the name of this place.", the captain spoke. 

"i would too, i mean what kind of a name is moat cailin.", the sailors continue. 

The city had become the largest trade hub of most of Westeros. The north, the Riverlands, the westerlands and the iron isles opting to trade through here instead of going round dorne. 

The city of dreamers as the people had started to call it. 

"Heh, wish i could live here too.", the captain spoke wistfully. 

He had seen the city for himself. It's roads, it's buildings, the houses and the apartment as they called it. The cleanliness and the last but not least abundance of the crops of there.

The captain shook his head at his own wistful thinking. Getting back to work of leading the small fleet back to lannisport. 

POV: Torrhen Stark

The city has grown by leaps and bounds. unexpected and mostly die to the sudden increase in manpower he had gotten. This allowed for him to carry out major projects for in the span of these years. 

The city now covered an area of 63 km². The city had evolved significantly, reflecting both its fortified origins and its new strategic importance. Modeled after Mantua, the fortress city renowned for its defensive capabilities, the city's layout featured robust walls and an intricate system of fortifications.

The city's defenses were enhanced with multiple layers of walls, bastions, and moats, all meticulously designed to repel any assault. The central core housed the administrative and military headquarters, while residential and commercial areas spread outward, protected by a series of outer defenses.

The fortress's design included a star-shaped fortification pattern, with bastions placed at key points to allow for overlapping fields of fire. This configuration was inspired by contemporary European military architecture and optimized for both defense and control of the surrounding region.

The city's military forces were organized based on the Prussian model, reflecting its disciplined and highly efficient structure. The 3,000 infantry were equipped with churburg cuirasses, barbute helmets, pikes, bastard swords, and shields, reminiscent of the Prussian emphasis on well-armored and versatile foot soldiers.

The use of halberds and longbows among the infantry allowed for a balance of close-quarters combat and ranged support, mirroring the Prussian approach to combined arms.

The 1,000 cavalry were divided into 700 heavy and 300 light horse units. The heavy cavalry, akin to the Prussian cuirassiers, were heavily armored and served as the primary shock troops in battle. They were equipped with lances and sabers, designed to break enemy lines and pursue fleeing foes.

The light cavalry, modeled after Prussian hussars, were more mobile and used for reconnaissance, skirmishing, and flanking maneuvers. Their speed and agility allowed them to outmaneuver enemy forces and perform hit-and-run tactics.

The organization of the city and its forces followed a structured hierarchy, with clear lines of command and specialized units for different roles. This system allowed for rapid mobilization and effective coordination during both peacetime and conflict.

The emphasis on discipline, rigorous training, and strategic planning was a hallmark of the Prussian military system, and these principles were applied to the city's defense and its army's operations.

The city's growth and military readiness were complemented by an efficient administrative structure, ensuring that resources were allocated effectively and that the city remained well-supplied and operational.

The capability to conscript an additional 20,000 troops further bolstered the city's defensive and offensive potential, allowing it to respond dynamically to emerging threats and opportunities.

In summary, the city, with its fortress design and Prussian-inspired military organization, represented a formidable blend of defensive strength and strategic flexibility, positioning it as a key player in the region's balance of power.

The military doctrine of the city was deeply influenced by Prussian principles, focusing on flexibility, discipline, and the effective integration of various arms. The core of this doctrine emphasized a combination of offensive and defensive strategies, tailored to both siege warfare and field battles.

The city's military was trained to maintain a defensive posture while being prepared to launch swift and decisive counterattacks. This approach reflected the Prussian belief in the importance of both strong fortifications and a capable, mobile force ready to exploit weaknesses in enemy lines.

The infantry, with their churburg cuirasses and a mix of pikes, bastard swords, halberds, and longbows, were drilled to perform complex formations and maneuvers. Their training included the use of pikes and halberds for frontline engagements and the strategic deployment of longbows to provide ranged support.

Infantry drills focused on maintaining tight formations to maximize the effectiveness of their weaponry and armor. The emphasis was on coordination, with units practicing together to ensure that their movements were synchronized and their lines held firm under pressure.

The cavalry, divided into heavy and light horse, followed a distinct set of doctrines tailored to their roles. The heavy cavalry, trained in the Prussian tradition of shock tactics, was drilled in the art of breaking enemy lines and engaging in decisive melee combat.

They practiced charges and maneuvering in tight formations to maximize their impact. On the other hand, the light cavalry focused on reconnaissance, skirmishing, and rapid maneuvers. Their drills included scouting techniques, hit-and-run tactics, and the ability to rapidly shift between roles as needed.

In addition to battlefield tactics, the city's military doctrine included rigorous training in fortification defense and siege warfare. Soldiers were trained to operate siege engines and defensive structures, ensuring that they could effectively hold the city against any assault.

The drills included mock sieges and defensive exercises, designed to prepare the troops for real-world scenarios. This comprehensive approach to training ensured that the army could transition seamlessly between defensive and offensive operations.

The Prussian emphasis on precision and discipline was evident in the regularity and intensity of the drills. Soldiers participated in daily training sessions that included both individual and unit exercises.

The goal was to instill a sense of unity and reliability, ensuring that every soldier knew their role and could perform under the stress of battle. This rigorous training regimen contributed to the army's reputation for efficiency and effectiveness, allowing the city to project power and defend itself with confidence.

Why the Prussian basis and Prussia this and that? Because I was a Prussian fanboy before my reincarnation.

I got up from the chair on the balcony of my room and went inside. The main city had a population of approximately 72,000, while the rest of the villages had developed into small towns as well, with around 24,000 people distributed throughout them. The industry had expanded significantly, as had the navy.

The navy consisted of 76 war galleys equipped with scorpions, 43 caravels also equipped with scorpions, 200 fluyts, and 16 carracks. It was the second-largest navy overall and the third-largest in terms of war-capable ships. The largest was, of course, the Redwyne Fleet, which boasted 200 warships and five times that number in trade ships and cogs.

This will prove pivotal for me in the upcoming rebellion. 

6 Days Later

POV: The Captain

The Sunset Sea, my sweet, sweet sea. I took a deep breath of air and sighed. The smell of home is near. My lovely daughter, son, and wife—I'm going to see them soon.

I gazed out at the vast, beautiful sea, where it met the sky and blended into the clouds. We passed some Ironborn ships carrying men, probably heading east to raid Essos or something. There were quite a few of them.

"Eh, probably nothing," I muttered to myself.

I ordered the sailors to sail full speed toward Lannisport.

Timeskip: 2 Days Later

Same POV

We pulled into Lannisport, our recent trade successful as always, but completed in a shorter time.

"We are back, men!" I shouted to my own men. I went down to greet the people below as my men brought cargo down. 

As we were exchanging greetings, I felt a sharp pain in my chest and heard the thuds of people falling. When I looked down, I saw an arrowhead protruding from my chest. A sharp pain spread as my other senses dulled. I tried to grasp the arrow, but then my entire world flipped and turned.

I could see the burning ships of Lannisport, people wearing scale and chainmail attacking my companions, and, last but not least, my own headless body.

'Ah, Sevens,' I thought one last time before everything went dark.

__________________________

The paragraphs might seem mechanical or 'ai' because i had given claude the command to correct grammatical mistakes and improve, today. Why? Because i have a test tomorrow and i haven't even opened my books.

Second, there will only be 6 chapters per week, that is Saturday will be my day off.

Third, the ai thingy/Proof reading will only be for today, because i am running late for my academy.

Sorry in advance if you are disappointed by today's chapter.