Chapter 138 Going Home

Regardless of the trivial matters in the south, there is no point in leaving more than 10,000 northern troops here. No one from the Stark family has ever thought about going to King's Landing and sitting on that spiked iron chair.

Eddard Stark no longer firmly supports Stannis, who is busy gathering troops on Dragonstone Island. He just wants to return to the North and his home as soon as possible.

Nothing in the south was worth leaving for him. His best brother Robert died under the tusks of a wild boar, and his heir actually had no blood of his in his body, leaving only his two The younger brother is fighting for the throne.

Yes, Ed Stark still doesn’t know that his good friend Robert died in the Lannister conspiracy. He has been regretting why he didn’t stop Robert’s hunting trip even after During Robert's lifetime, that was almost his only pleasure besides wine and women.

After Robb and Clay discussed it, they quickly reached an agreement. Robb took Eddard Stark and led the infantry to go first, while Clay led the cavalry to follow behind to prevent possible pursuit by Lannister.

Harrenhal, the gate to the south of the Riverlands, was temporarily garrisoned by the native nobles of the Riverlands who came with Clay. Clay sent a letter to Edmure in Riverrun.

Harrenhal is still left to the Tully family to distribute. This also gives the Tully family a chance to win over people's hearts again. After all, Harrenhal is ownerless now. How many people are jealous of such a big piece of cake.

He had already swallowed the Twins, which originally belonged to the Riverlands. Although the Tully family did not dare to object to this arrangement due to their military power, they were dissatisfied after all. Therefore, Clay used Harrenhal in exchange for The Tully family has been able to settle down for a few years.

When his Galesos flies over Riverrun, all dissatisfaction will disappear. Clay believes that the Tully family will make the choice that is most beneficial to them.

When they parted, Clay met Eddard Stark again who was recovering from his injuries. To his surprise, the seriously injured Duke of Winterfell was actually in very good spirits.

His face is flushed, and his voice seems to have regained some of its strength. It is not as weak as before. Is this okay?

It shouldn't be, it wasn't Clay who was cursing Ed Stark. After being in the military camp for so long, he knew very well the level of the military doctors under his command.

To exaggerate a little, if you can tie a bandage to stop bleeding, you can become a military doctor. If you can use simple herbal medicine, you are very awesome. The soldiers treat you more lovingly than their father. If you can save three out of ten, Above, then you are a rare animal in the military camp. Everyone wants to find you a cage and lock you up, for fear that you will run away.

It is simply incredible that such a team of military doctors could treat such a weak Eddard Stark to such an extent in just a few days. Why didn't Clay know that there was such a powerful person in his army?

He himself has a huge witcher potion formula, but the problem is that most of them are witcher limited editions. For ordinary people, drinking them is no different than seeking death.

"Sir, I hope you recover as soon as possible. The North still needs your leadership."

Clay drove his horse forward and came to Eddard and his son. Eddard Stark insisted on riding back to the North, but Robb was worried that his body would never agree.

In the past, Rob would never have dared to talk to his father like this, but now, having led the army for a long time and been in a high position for a long time, the young man has a certain magnanimity of his own, and his words are naturally tougher than before.

Ed Stark has no intention of seizing power. He is aware of the physical injuries he has suffered. Instead of forcing himself to take charge of the army, it is better to let his son take charge of the army.

He had already learned from Robb and Caitlin what Clay had done in the battle south. While he felt that the North was lucky, Ed also understood that he had made a mistake in Winterfell.

Originally, he thought that this boy was just a normal young man who was full of blood and full of anger. He was just more ruthless than ordinary people, and he killed people without mercy.

But now Ed knows that this kid's ruthlessness is not only reflected in himself, but also on the battlefield, and he is a first-class cool character. Those orders that don't even take prisoners, even if it's him , it will take a long time to weigh, but there is a high probability that it will not be issued.

And this Clay Manderly, who could defeat his opponents every time and had achieved his goal, yet in order to expand the results and ensure his own advantage, he just used 5,000 men to eat 12,000 Lannister men in one bite. .

From a military point of view, this guy made every move right, which is extremely noticeable. Isn't a commander who makes no mistakes on the battlefield scary? Moreover, he is only less than twenty years old, and his future life is formidable.

He smiled weakly at Clay. Personally speaking, Ed Stark had no ill feelings towards the boy in front of him. Since he showed no bad signs, he was still Rob's right-hand man.

Among young people of Robb's age, Clay Mandler's brilliance alone overwhelms everyone else. Robb will definitely inherit the position of Duke of Winterfell in the future.

If Clay Manderly and his family are still the most loyal vassals in the North, then Robb will have a strong helping hand in handling future affairs in the North.

"I will. I will leave the matters in the south to you."

Ed Stark originally wanted to say some more words to close the relationship, but his sober mind suddenly spun, making Ed Stark almost faint.

He reluctantly leaned on the horse, gritting his teeth to ensure that he would not pass out in public. Robb also noticed something strange about his father. Just when he was about to ask, Eddard Stark held him tightly with one hand. .

"Let's go home, back to Winterfell..."

This sudden dizziness came with force, but it went away quickly. Clay, who was the closest, also noticed that something was wrong with Ed Stark's body. He also saw the arm that prevented Rob from opening his mouth. .

In the current situation, maintaining stability is the top priority. Clay nodded to the somewhat panicked Rob, indicating that he was fine here, and quickly left with Ed Stark.

After resting on the horse's back for a few minutes, the dizziness was gradually suppressed. Ed Stark regained some strength and stood up straight again.

"Rob, I'm fine, I guess I'm just a little weak."

Rob helped his father get into the carriage. After the father and son greeted Clay, who stayed behind, they led all the northern infantry to break camp first.

Looking at Stark's leaving back, Clay frowned slightly. He always felt that things went too smoothly this time, and Ed Stark's physical condition also made him suspicious.

I hope it's an illusion. I don't know what other northern nobles think, but Clay himself knows very well that this situation has completely changed beyond recognition. It seems that the war in the north is over, but in fact, it is just an intermission.

If things like the Riverlands hadn't happened, once the gates of the Neck were closed, the North would have been stable for a few days until the White Walkers invaded the Wall and Daenerys crossed the sea to march westward.

However, the North and the Riverlands are the staunchest allies, and the situation in the Riverlands and the Land of the Four Wars has not changed at all. The seven kingdoms of Riverrun are all aware of the weakness of Riverrun.

Therefore, maybe one day, Clay will ride south again. Who knows how many troops he will command at that time, and who will his enemy be?

King's Landing

Red Keep Throne Room

Wearing a stag crown made of pure gold, the young king Joffrey Baratheon, who has just sat on the Iron Throne for more than a month, is using his sharp voice to vent his kingly power to the silent nobles of King's Landing. angry.

"How dare they! I am the heir to my father's throne, the only master of the Seven Kingdoms, these two traitors! Who will help me go to the army of those two traitors and cut off their heads for me? Your king is so heavy There’s a reward!”

The traitors in Joffrey's words are, of course, his two nominal uncles, the other two great figures of the Baratheon family, and the other two kings of Westeros.

Next to the Iron Throne, there was a special chair. The still beautiful Queen Mother Cersei looked at her son with a doting look on her face, and said softly to her angry son:

"A king should not be easily angered. Those two rebellious bitches do not deserve my Joffrey to be so angry."

After saying that, Cersei patted her son's hand, just like she had done for the past ten years.

But her kingdom son blushed, as if he felt that his image as a majestic king was easily destroyed by his mother's coaxing tone. Although everyone under the throne lowered their heads, no one looked at him. But he still felt that he could no longer hold on to his face.

He threw away his mother's hand angrily, but couldn't find a reason to roar at his mother, who was the Queen Mother Regent, so he could only redirect his anger.

"Where is my grandfather! He led the king's army to fight against those stupid wolf cubs in the north. Now even my uncle who was captured doesn't know whether he has been rescued or not."

Joffrey has been to Winterfell and met the young people of the Stark family. In his opinion, they are just a group of country people who have never seen anything, hiding in the cold and small castle of Winterfell. , extremely pitiful.

Such a person, with a poorly equipped army, actually defeated Uncle James, whom he had previously considered brave and commendable, and made his mother cry for a long time.

This made Joffrey very angry, and he also began to look down on Uncle Jaime. He even said that even if Uncle Jaime came back, he should kill himself in St. Baelor's Cathedral, so as to preserve his honor as a Kingsguard. Don't embarrass him as a king.

Of course, these words were destined to have a bad end. At that time, he was having lunch with his mother and uncle Tyrion Lannister. When he heard these words, Tyrion didn't say anything, and walked directly with his short, deformed legs. He gave his nephew a hard slap, then turned a deaf ear to Joffrey's piercing scream and left the restaurant on his own.

What is rare is that Cersei Lannister, who cares so much about her son, acquiesces to her brother's behavior for the first time. In addition to crying silently, she also looks at those few who don't know what to do with cold eyes. The Kingsguard who shouldn't have drawn his sword.

Joffrey's angry questions echoed in the empty throne room, and no one answered him. The nobles in King's Landing were very clear-minded. Without the more than 20,000 troops in Lord Tywin's hands, the one in front of them would only be angry. Boy, there's no way you can sit on the Iron Throne.

They were very well-informed and already knew that Duke Tywin had defeated the powerful enemies in the north and was leading his army day and night to rush back to King's Landing to set up defenses to resist the enemies in the south and east.

More than 20,000 people seem to be a lot, and the combat effectiveness of the Lannister army cannot be compared to the golden robes of King's Landing. But the question is, how much defense capability can it have in such a large city of King's Landing?

Not only do they have to face the pressure of Renly's 100,000 troops on land, but they also have to worry about Stannis' possible attack at sea.

As the commander-in-chief of the navy during King Robert's time, Stannis took almost the entire royal fleet with him when he escaped from King's Landing. Now the naval power that King's Landing can control, which is a few broken ships, is in front of Stannis's navy. Not vulnerable at all.

Therefore, all the adults in King's Landing actually have different thoughts. The man on the Iron Throne, regardless of his very problematic origins, with his personality, it is difficult for people to believe that he can govern. Good country.

Although Robert Baratheon is rotten and soaks himself in wine all day long, you have to admit that his broad body gives people a sufficient sense of security.

As long as he mounts his horse, swings his huge war hammer, and the crowned stag flag is still flying behind him, it is difficult to believe that he will be defeated.

He was not a good king, but he was a good warrior, no doubt about it.

But what does this child in front of me who only yells and yells have to do with him?

He is tall, but no one can find a sense of security in him. He has a handsome appearance, but the king of the Seven Kingdoms never asks for his appearance. He is richly dressed and embroidered with lions and stags all over his body, but, damn, As you get closer, you can smell the full scent of powder.

He and Robert are two extremes. They don't have any sense of majesty as a man. On the contrary, anyone who has seen this king will think that his most suitable position is to lie in the arms of Queen Cersei and nurse, not Sit on the throne and govern the country.

Seeing that no one responded to him, the king's anger reached its peak. He slapped the armrest to stand up from the Iron Throne, but sharp pain came from his palm.

The sharp blade of the Iron Throne cut his finger, and red blood immediately flowed out.

The image of the king that the boy thought he had carefully maintained suddenly disappeared without a trace. He covered his finger and screamed, as if the finger that had only a small cut had been severed.

After a moment of panic, Joffrey Baratheon returned to his palace as fast as he could to find someone to stop the bleeding. He liked to see others bleed, but was very afraid of seeing his own blood.

Cersei coaxed him, at least not letting him shed tears in front of a pair of eyes. She followed her son out of the throne room with a concerned look on her face, without even looking at the remaining nobles.

Everyone, look at me and I look at you. In addition to being embarrassed, it is still embarrassing, although this kind of thing has happened often since Joffrey came to the throne.

Finally, Varys, the only intelligence chief left in the royal council, sighed and announced in his eunuch's sharp tone:

"My lords, the king has returned to the palace to handle state affairs. Everyone, please leave now."

My Highness, take a look, this is the current master of the Seven Kingdoms. Such a person is only worthy of being a stepping stone for you to ascend the throne.

The eunuch thought, the smile on his face not diminishing, and he slowly walked out of the throne room.

Behind him, a bloody throne watched him silently until he disappeared into the distance...