Chapter 183 Return to Winterfell

Clay couldn't directly mention someone's name to the old man, because the logic here was confusing. There were some things. As a witness, Clay certainly knew that this guy was going to cause trouble, but for the old man, he couldn't understand Clay. Why are you so suspicious?

"Grandpa, I am sure that this matter must have been done by people from the valley. After Ser Brynden Tully left the Blood Gate, we will not be able to get information about the people entering and exiting the Blood Gate. And in this place, there are Those who are capable of doing these things must be established elite troops, and there is no one else but Valley."

"Yes, I understand, but I don't understand, what are these people doing? What is Lysa Tully doing?"

Clay understood, but he was not going to explain to the old man what a love-minded woman is. He replied:

"Grandpa, we don't care why those people do what they do. There are too many people with abnormal brains in this world. If we have to understand the logic behind everyone's behavior, we will be exhausted. In this case, then we will do something Be clear about our position in this matter."

"Positioning? What do you mean?"

The old man tasted the word and didn't quite understand what his grandson meant by telling him this.

"Grandpa, let's not consider the interests of the North now. We only consider the interests of the Mandalay family. These valley people have not kidnapped Vera or Wilfield. If they want to kidnap, just let them go. This is Stark's problem, not ours."

Clay understood very well that if it weren't for his own existence, the Manderly family, under the leadership of the old man, would have been staunch loyalists to the Stark family. Even if Winterfell was lost and the family members were scattered, the old man had been planning to let the Stark family be separated. The Tucker family returns to Winterfell.

Therefore, the old man now has a subconscious habit of thinking that if something goes wrong in the North, it is closely related to the Mandalay family. This is wrong. Since the final backstab is inevitable, it is better to prepare in advance now.

Grandparents and grandsons chatted for a long time, from Clay Dragon to Essos, finding Daenerys, then reaching cooperation, completing the family marriage, then capturing Astapor, taking control of the Unsullied, and then The Iron Bank and Dorne Landing.

For other nobles, this is the time when they are full of energy and work hard to practice their riding skills, but Clay has no chance to enjoy life at all. He wants to fight for a future for himself and his family.

The old man told Clay that the family has now gathered more than two thousand soldiers in Twins City, but they are not elite, and their training level can only be said to be average.

This is normal. After all, a large part of these soldiers are the original Frey soldiers, but after being screened and beaten by the old man, they became loyal to the new masters, the Mandalay family.

The original Frey family actually preferred the theory of mass sea charge. One family can raise an army of four thousand people. If they hope to adopt the route of elite soldiers, the cost will be sky-high.

Based on this situation, the old man recruited two thousand people. He did not want any children or old people, but young and middle-aged people. Then, he evened out some infantry equipment from the Mandalay family's arsenal, plus the original Frey family's warehouse inventory, and finally It is to complete the full body armor of these people.

The original kind of soldier holding a wooden shield and holding a spear was actually of little use on the battlefield. Clay was the commander of the cavalry, which gave him the opportunity to lead the infantry. He also preferred a small number of elites with higher overall quality. Legion.

As for filling in the line, there are so many nobles in the North and the Riverlands, and there are always enough miscellaneous people who can pull them in. The Mandalay family's army is to be the main force and cannot do this kind of thing.

The Mandalay family's army is waiting at the Twins, waiting for King Robb Stark's army to move south and then join the northern army. Although this part theoretically belongs to the Riverlands, it is now because of Mandalay The line between the family and the North has been blurred.

"Grandpa, I should be able to gain control of part of the army this time, but if Robb Stark no longer divides the troops, then I have to listen to him. After all, he carries the crown, doesn't he?"

"I understand, what about the White Harbor side? Do you want to continue with your previous arrangements?"

"Continue, we must have a large fleet. I will put them to great use later. Grandpa, our clan language is "Raging Sea and Raging Waves". Don't ignore the power of the sea."

"Okay, as long as you have an idea, that's it. You go to White Harbor first. I have ordered your uncle Willis to prepare the army for you. This time it is all cavalry, two thousand people, all for you. , so that it will be easier for you later."

"Well, Robb Stark won't make it difficult for me now. Revenge is the first thing in the entire North and Riverlands right now, so they don't dare to touch me."

…

Everything that needs to be said has been said, and the rest is all other things. Both Clay and the old man understand that this may be the last battle that the Manderly family will fight for the Stark family, which has been loyal to them for nearly a thousand years. .

Early the next morning, Clay took a small team of guards and went straight to the port renovated by the Biting Bay family. After Biting Bay became the family's inland sea, the port connecting the two places already had the family's customs. Garrison fleet.

By the time Clay crossed the Bite Bay and came to White Harbor, Robb Stark's king's orders also arrived at White Harbor.

The meaning of the letter is very simple. Hurry up. Clay Manderly comes to Winterfell first. We can wait until we go south to talk about the army.

There was no way to refuse this, since Clay was not completely secretive when he left. It seems that there are also eyes in the Twins that arrange Winterfell here. This matter may not necessarily be arranged by Robb Stark, but The appearance of this letter means that he acquiesced in the existence of this kind of thing.

So, Clay, who just drank some water and didn't even feel his butt was warm, could only continue to move towards Winterfell helplessly.

The last time he came to Winterfell, he was just an unknown heir of White Harbor in the Seven Kingdoms, but now everyone in Winterfell knew what he was calling Clay Manderly for.

This battle is obviously aimed at the Lannister in King's Landing, but the Lannister stays in King's Landing. If the Northerners want revenge, they have to take down King's Landing, but this is not easy.

Moreover, when King's Landing was defeated, how could you let Renly and Stannis stand by and watch?

Originally, before Robb Stark took the crown, there was still room for twists and turns in this matter. He directly told Renly and Stannis that I would be the vassal of whoever joins me in defeating King's Landing and killing the lion. That's it.

But now, this possibility has been closed by Robb Stark himself. As a result, the enemies in this battle have changed from one to theoretically three. The Northerners can go home and live their own lives, but Blue Neither Li nor Stannis could tolerate the independence of the North and the Riverlands from the territory of the Seven Kingdoms.

If nothing else, if this is agreed, look at the location between Harrenhal and King's Landing. If there is another war in the future, as long as an elite cavalry is stationed at Harrenhal, the two will gallop at full strength day and night, sparing no effort. In this case, you can rush directly to King's Landing City.

Moreover, the independence of the Riverlands and the North means that land transportation between the Vale and King's Landing is cut off. Can the Vale still be expected to be loyal to the Iron Throne? The Baratheon family does not have dragons and cannot fly through the Blood Gate.

Therefore, unless it reaches an extreme state, it is impossible for this kind of thing to happen, and Robb Stark, who has integrated the North and the Riverlands, has military strength that can compete with the three parties.

Then the question will circle back, why should Stark take off the crown for Baratheon and swear allegiance to the Iron Throne?

The final solution is to have to fight, and whoever is tougher will be the boss. This is the most intuitive result of the unconvincing bloodline.

The claim has nothing to do with legal authority. What is fought on the battlefield is true.

In the last two hundred years of Targaryen's rule, nothing like this has ever happened, because Targaryen is equal to the throne. This concept has become a general rule in the Seven Kingdoms. The one who can sit on the throne can only be a Targaryen. Others are considered rebellious.

It's still the same route, go north along the White Knife River, and then to the King's Road. After passing Severn City, enter the city from the east gate of Winterfell.

When the dusty Clay got off the horse, he was greeted by his old acquaintance Sir Rodrik. The head coach of Winterfell looked much older, but his back was still straight.

"Thank the gods, Clay, you are finally here. Why did you go to Essos at this time? You don't know how angry His Majesty Rob was when he heard the news."

"This has nothing to do with me, Sir. I didn't know that the gods would guide Lord Ed to leave us at this time. I thought the war was over, but who knew, it had just begun."