Chapter 206 Attack three times a day and then call in reinforcements

On this point, the old man is right. Strictly speaking, it is not entirely correct. Clay does need to make a gesture of rescuing Robb Stark, and he needs to perform some actions, but the specific effect is not certain.

Clay understands very well that the current strength of the Mandalay family is still too small. The two or three thousand people who went south with Robb Stark must be finished, although most of them are soldiers from the Twins.

But this is still a major weakening for the strength of the Mandalay family. At least one thing is that if these two or three thousand people are still there, Clay will not have to change his cavalry to infantry and stay in the city.

Cavalry can only be a deterrent when it is in motion. When dismounted, it may not be as good as infantry.

…

Clay's raven has not yet flown to Riverrun, but the raven over there has arrived first.

Taking the letter that had just arrived from the old man's hand, Clay unfolded it with a flick of his hand. He wanted to see what Edmure Tully was going to tell him.

"Lord Clay Manderly, I learned that you went south later than His Majesty Robb Stark. I estimate that you have arrived at the Twins."

"You must have heard the news of His Majesty's defeat. Now, our Riverland army has raised 20,000 troops in Riverrun City, and is always ready to rescue Your Majesty. But just like the day I wrote to you, the Valley Cavalry attacked our Stone Hall Town one after another. , Acorn Hall and Stonehedge.”

"Although they were repulsed by our defenders, the remaining villages and farmland were all burned to the ground, resulting in great losses."

"Therefore, Lord Clay Manderly is invited to Riverrun to discuss the current situation of the war. I hope Lord Clay Manderly will not hesitate and come to Riverrun as soon as he sees the news."

It was signed with Edmure Tully's signature and the trout symbol representing House Tully.

When the two men saw the letter, they looked at each other silently, then opened the map and carefully drew the attack route of the valley cavalry.

"What do the people of the Vale want to do? Crash into the east gate of Riverrun and use the cavalry to attack the city wall?"

The old man rubbed his chin, not understanding the logic behind the valley cavalry's choice of attack. The cavalry had many tanks and there was no way they could take the city wall. If they wanted to attack the city, they could only dismount and become infantry.

But who has the luxury of cavalry to be used as infantry to attack cities? Shouldn't this thing be a baby bump? No matter how arrogant your valley is, you only have ten thousand cavalry. If they are defeated, they will be gone. What are these people thinking?

Clay also found it strange that Littlefinger had never been on the battlefield. It would be understandable if he commanded this war alone. But the problem is that there are not without capable people in the valley, such as Bronze Yohn and Yohn Royce. I've also been on the battlefield.

"Two possibilities. First, Edmure Tully is exaggerating the seriousness of the matter. The Valley Cavalry actually only plundered the villages in these three cities and did not launch an attack on the castle."

"The second possibility is that they really sent people to attack the city walls, but the purpose is not to capture these three cities, but to put pressure on Riverrun and let Edmure Tully send troops."

"Edmure Tully has no prestige. If he can't protect his vassal's territory with a heavy army, it will be a huge harm to his dominance."

Clay prefers the second explanation, because his opponent is also a guy who is good at using tricks, or in other words, a guy who only believes in tricks. He must be very aware of the state of the riverlands, so he does this.

"Well...if that's the case, then why are they looking for you? I don't believe that Edmure Tully would be kind enough to invite you over and then give you the army he worked so hard to raise."

Clay couldn't give a definite answer to this question now. He was not in Riverrun and didn't know the situation there.

"I think, otherwise Edmure Tully wants me to go over and take responsibility. He doesn't want to send troops, but he has no excuse. If I go over and say I don't agree to send troops, then everything becomes my responsibility."

"Otherwise, other old nobles in the Riverlands put pressure on Edmure Tully. After all, I had been to Riverrun at the time. These people knew very well what Edmure Tully's military capabilities were. This is Ask me to come over and be your advisor."

"It's a combination of both. It's hard to tell what Riverrun's side is thinking now. We won't find out until we go there."

The old man nodded. The situation was now passive for his side. After all, the valley cavalry and Tywin's army had nearly 40,000 people on the southern front. To say that the pressure was not great would be an understatement.

"Grandpa, send a letter to Winterfell and ask Bran Stark to once again call on all the major families in the North in the name of the guardian of Winterfell, asking them to send me the remaining soldiers. There are definitely not enough people here.”

Both Clay and the old man knew that when everyone went south this time, they must have left some troops at home, and it was impossible to take out all the coffins.

This is also an old tradition. No noble family will use all the power in their territory for the sake of the lord. What if it is over, and they will not be able to survive their small life?

But the situation is different now. The lords of each family either died in the rebellion, or followed Robb Stark and surrounded them layer by layer at Harrenhal.

It's not easy to hide it at this time... What if the lords come back later? It's not easy to explain, right?

Clay estimated that if you squeeze a little, there would be no problem in squeezing out tens of thousands of people, but the quality would definitely not be good, and the equipment would be in a state where it would explode if you look at it one more time.

But it doesn't matter. What Clay wants is the number of people. Moreover, if the so-called new soldiers or garbage soldiers survive a battle, they will become veterans, and their ability to survive and fight will increase dramatically.

As for how to get more people to survive the first battle, that is what Clay Mandler needs to worry about.

"Okay, I'll send a letter to Winterfell right now."

"Oh, by the way, grandpa, send a letter to the uncle as well, telling him that the savage women who brought me back will be divided immediately, and I will have a soldier for each one. Also, tell the remaining male prisoners If they want to live, come here and fight for me. Those who are alive will be given land to live a good life. Those who disagree will just wait to die."

"...Clay, what does this mean? Can we use savages?"

"It's okay, Grandpa, just write like this. Uncle knows what I mean. Besides, I killed their king outside the wall. They have already knelt to me once as a prisoner, so they will not kneel a second time just to stay alive." Second-rate."

"Moreover, if these men stay in White Harbor, they will definitely not be able to integrate in a short time. This is a factor of instability. I don't have time to deal with them now, so I might as well let them come to the front line."

"I don't expect their fighting power. If five people kill one, I think it's worth it."

What he said seemed casual, but the old man understood that he was planning to bring these thousands of savage men over as cannon fodder, and had no intention of letting them go back alive.

As if he understood what his old man was thinking, Clay said softly:

"I think it's very reasonable to exchange their lives for those women's right to live a new life. After all, everything has a price, and I don't have any kindness for them."

This is the fate of losers, and no one will feel sorry for it.

"Grandpa, let's do this. On your side, first transfer some of our troops from White Harbor. As for the villages in Twin River City, leave them to the people in the valley to plunder them."

"I set out for Riverrun first. Edmure Tully presented me with a difficult problem. It's not my style to turn around and run away."

Clay said.