Chapter 133 Negotiation is not about what you want to talk about, you can talk about it if you want

The extent of Ed Stark's injuries was actually unknown in the North, because from the beginning to the end, they had not been able to contact their lord, and recently they had only glanced at him from a distance.

Based on the statements of several soldiers who witnessed it, it is certain that Eddard Stark himself must have been in a coma and seriously injured when he was taken away by Lannister. The visual evidence is the side of the horse. The body was covered in blood.

Therefore, this time the entire army in the north is pressing towards the Lannister. In addition to rescuing their lord through negotiations, they are also prepared that the lord has died in the Lannister camp.

If it really comes to that point, the land in front of Harrenhal will definitely be stained red with the blood of both sides.

Eddard Stark died at the hands of the Westlanders. Why not avenge this hatred? Even if Tywin doesn't want to fight, it's impossible. A victory must be decided in one battle before the next step can happen.

Early the next morning, nearly 7,000 cavalry under Clay's command, carrying their own flags, rumbled toward the Lannister army camp in the east.

They no longer hide themselves, and they definitely can't hide themselves at this point anyway. So they might as well open up their posture and show the old lion what the mighty army that defeated Jaime Lannister looks like.

Under Clay's order, the entire army set up an offensive formation. On the plains of the Riverlands where Harrenhal is located, this open terrain is the most suitable battlefield for cavalry to gallop.

Clay gathered more than 1,200 heavy cavalry from the entire army, lined up at the front, and sent out four offensive echelons. This was a wall charge offensive formation.

If nothing can be done, as long as Clay or the remaining commander gives an order, these heavy cavalry, which will increase their horse speed to the extreme and roar like city walls, will completely crush their opponents.

"Master Clay, do we still need to send people to copy their retreat this time? The old lion's tail is very weak now. If our cavalry attacks, we will definitely cut off their food route."

In the center of the team, Earl Glover rode close to the commander who was issuing marching orders and asked such a sentence. It was obvious that he had tasted the sweetness.

In the last battle of Riverrun, he, a thousand men who did not participate in the main battlefield, played a miraculous role in the final battle. He cut off food, harvested the defeated troops, and fell in front of the cavalry commanded by Earl Glover. Lannister soldiers, more than any other noble.

In this era, the morale of the army is not high, and it is easy to have huge fluctuations. If they know that their food channels are occupied by the enemy and they have no food, it is equivalent to directly emptying the morale bar.

This is one of the most cost-effective methods from the perspective of war. It is a tried and tested trick to use unexpected troops to cut off food. After all, no commander will use most of the army to protect the food road.

Therefore, this time, Earl Glover wanted to repeat his old trick and asked Clay to give him another thousand men. He quickly maneuvered directly towards the south side of God's Eye Lake, and then headed east to the King's Road near Sow's Corner, directly cutting off Tai The connection between Wen Dajun and Junlin.

If King's Landing doesn't respond, as long as he is brave enough, he can rush directly to King's Landing for sightseeing. Attacking the city is impossible, horses are not tanks, and there is nothing he can do against King's Landing's walls.

But the question is, do those thousands of gold robes in King's Landing dare to come out to chase him? Of course it is impossible. It is estimated that Cersei will order the golden robes to fill up the city wall by then, and they will be the only two in the city.

Moreover, this gave the Seven Kingdoms a different look. The northern army set out from Winterfell and defeated powerful enemies along the way. Unexpectedly, the vanguard army had already appeared at the foot of King's Landing.

This is undoubtedly a great stimulus to the Seven Kingdoms, and as soon as this happens, the boy on the Iron Throne who can only scream that he is the king may pee his pants in fear, and then immediately send out the so-called king's order , and called his grandfather, Lord Tywin, and his army back to King's Landing.

In that case, the situation in the entire Western Region will be completely ruined, because they, trapped in the isolated city, will become everyone's target.

Clay knew that Earl Glover's suggestion was right. If he considered it from a military point of view, he would have sent Earl Glover out long ago if he didn't need Earl Glover to advise him now.

But the problem is that the current situation is very complicated and there is no way they can do whatever they want.

The key to everything is whether Ed Stark is dead or not. The main reason is that the old wolf has returned to the embrace of the old gods. Then the matter will be simple. Don't worry about it, just do it.

But if the old wolf lord is still alive and well in the Western Camp, what do you want to do if you cut off other people's food routes and push Tywin to a dead end? Forcing Team Tywin to attack Eddard Stark? You are such a loyal minister!

If Clay really sends someone to do this, no matter whether Ed is dead or alive, no matter what Duke Tywin does to him, Clay will have no way to survive in the aristocratic circle in the North.

Earl Glover is not the one who controls the overall situation. From the perspective of a soldier or general, this suggestion is of course no problem, but from the perspective of a commander, this is an out-and-out bad move.

"My Lord, this time, our first goal is to get Lord Ed back, not a battle of annihilation like the Battle of Riverrun."

Clay shook his head and sighed. He also had some regrets, but that was the fact. He continued:

"Last time we took advantage of everything, and we were able to use five thousand people to devour the elephant, break up twelve thousand Lannister people and eat them. This time, Lord Tywin has more than twenty thousand people hugging each other. How can we?" manage?"

"And, more importantly, since Lord Ed is in their hands, we can't act rashly. This is no longer a problem that can be solved by charging on the battlefield. Our advance this time is based on fighting, but we still can't really fight. Fight, you have to see what happens next, in short, just be calm and don't be impatient."

Clay patted Earl Glover's breastplate and made a banging sound, indicating that he could return to his command position. Clay arranged for each nobleman who returned with him to have a person who commanded part of the cavalry. Location.

Seven thousand people, without a mature command system, this arrangement is more efficient than concentrating all command power in one's own hands.

Clay was not worried at all that someone would share his power with this arrangement. The prestige he had gained on the battlefield in the Riverlands was much higher than that of these aristocratic gentlemen with great names.

…

The two armies approached the Lannister army from the northwest. Along the way, the scout troops of both sides had a fierce battle, because so far the two sides were still hostile, and they would cut them off when they met without any problems.

Finally, after killing dozens of Lannister scouts who wanted to come to scout the army, Clay took his seven thousand cavalry and saw the rolling Lannister military camp north of Harrenhal.

"Old gods, there are so many Lannisters..."

Earl Horwood couldn't help but sigh, because there was no such large-scale army gathering in the north, and the number of troops going south this time was less than 20,000, and the troops were quickly divided.

Now he was standing on a slightly higher ground, overlooking the endless camp, and felt a strong pressure in his heart.

This is not comparable to the three thousands-man-level camps in Riverrun City that are separated by rivers.

If the defense is good, even if Master Clay brings all the main forces, he probably won't be able to break through such a large camp, right?

Clay didn't go to Robb's infantry camp. There was no need. He wanted to see the reaction from the Lannister side first. There were 17,000 people at the door with murderous intent in front of the camp. There was no way they wouldn't react.

He roughly estimated that it was not impossible to charge forward. The Lannister defenses on both sides were obviously weaker than the front. However, the risk of doing so was too high. There was no problem in breaking through the first line of defense. However, whether he could break through was a matter of course. Two said.

"My lord, look at the cavalry!"

Lord Horwood pointed at the west gate of the camp. Just now, a group of Lannister cavalry with bright armor and the banner of the Roaring Lion were walking slowly towards the west woodland where Clay's army was.

This is a messenger, because there are less than twenty people in this team. Although the military appearance is neat and the steps are neat, facing Clay's nearly 7,000 cavalry, they are still weak and can't even be counted as ants.

"Let them come here and let me hear what Lord Tywin wants to say to me?"

Clay gave an order to the army in front. In Westeros, the rule of not killing two armies in battle is not so rigid. If you don't like it, you will be killed. Some lords who are curious about it will also kill them. Will come up with some other tricks.

But Clay doesn't think it's necessary. In his heart, no matter how Robb Stark behaves, he still has to talk to Tywin in the end. The hostage is for exchange. Otherwise, what's the use of staying here with him? Also wasting food.

This time from the north to the south, many fields have been abandoned, leaving good grain unharvested. Now, the long summer has come to an end, and the short autumn will come.

If there is not enough food reserves, the riverlands are now reduced to scorched earth, and with the coming of winter, the food security of the northern border will not be guaranteed.

In the face of natural disasters like wind and snow, all strategies are ridiculous. Cold, and the enemies behind the cold, will kill everyone. If this is the work of the cold god who huddles in the land of eternal winter, then it will Lei will have to brace himself and deal with it carefully.

Lord Tywin sent messengers to both northern armies that were approaching him. He didn't have to be so anxious, because in any case, Eddard Stark's status was higher than that of his son Jaime Lannister. Much higher.

But the problem is that this morning, the doctor in charge of Ed Stark's health came to report that Ed Stark's blood loss was resolved, but he started to have a high fever again.

Ed Stark, who is still unconscious until now, has become a hot potato in Tywin's hands. He must take action as soon as possible. If Ed Stark really dies in his own hands, That's a bad thing.

So, hurry up and negotiate. As long as the conditions in the north are not too excessive, hurry up and put your son back. Ed Stark, hurry up and transport him away. Life or death has nothing to do with me. This is what Tywin really thinks. .

Clay welcomed the Lannister messenger in the center of the army. He originally thought he was an ordinary noble from the West, but when the man announced his family name, Clay discovered that he was actually a Lannister.

"I am Lord Tywin's brother, Kevan Lannister. I am here to meet your commander, Lord Clay Manderly. I bring greetings from my brother."

Tsk, is this the famous Lannister sending greetings? Can I not accept this kind of greeting?

Clay complained a few words in his mind. He was not Robb Stark and would not match up with such a special saying.

However, if I remember correctly, the old man in front of me is probably the second-largest figure in the entire Lannister army. According to this, wouldn't it mean that Tywin Lannister went to the Northern Army camp by himself? Went to see Rob?

Duke Tywin would not be so stupid. Soon Clay figured out that this was probably a trick deliberately used by Tywin to apply eye drops to Robb Stark.

No need to guess, Clay knew that the person who went to contact Robb Stark must be just a small person. This kind of thinking is really...

Clay didn't point it out. It's already here. Let's ask first. Even if Robb Stark is really stupid enough to have thoughts in his heart, he won't attack at this juncture. All he can think about now is his father. Don't care about this.

"I am Clay Manderly, Lannister, tell me why you are here!"

This is knowingly asking, but no matter what, the momentum in the relationship cannot be lost. Now that the North is on the offensive, it is natural to raise the airs a little higher.

"Now, your Lord Eddard Stark is in our hands, and you have also taken the Lord's son and some of our people. I don't like to be secretive. Let's be clear. I come to negotiate with you. , discuss the armistice."

Everyone's eyes are focused on Clay and Kevan. In fact, everyone understands that this situation cannot be fought, and they have to talk about it even if they don't want to.

Now, it depends on what both parties think, but in any case, let's just talk first.

Clay thought for a moment and then asked:

"First of all, I need to know how Lord Ed's health is."

As a senior leader of Lannister, Kevan certainly knew that Eddard Stark was not in a good situation now, otherwise he would not be here, but on his face, he still answered calmly:

"If Master Clay has any questions, please come with me to the camp and have a look."

This is nonsense. If I can come out even if I go in, it’s only possible because Tywin’s brain suddenly disappeared.

Clay sneered:

"Don't say these useless things. If I go in, I won't be able to get out. Don't tell me that you can swear by the honor of the Lannister family. Here, the Lannister has no such thing as honor. Support The false king, who started the war without declaring it, has really brought shame to the nobles of the seven countries."

Kevan was completely unmoved by Clay's accusations. He was as thick-skinned as a city wall. He smiled slightly and said calmly:

"King Joffrey is the eldest son of King Robert and the only heir to the Iron Throne. The Archbishop has obtained the proof from the Seven Gods and declared to the world that his Majesty's identity is orthodox."

These fat-brained bastards of the Seven Gods, you are indispensable everywhere. Just wait, I will give you a spoonful of painting one day.

Clay waved his hand. This was a meaningless topic that was completely unclear.

"I obey Lord Robb's orders. I personally suggest that in the center of the confrontation between the armies, your Lord Tywin and you come to talk to me and Lord Robb, away from the army."

"Sound advice, isn't it?"

Kevan smiled.