Chapter 250 The army is full of thousands

"Lord Clay, our cavalry has a total of 5,464 people. Except for the 1,464 people who stayed in the Shili City camp, the entire 4,000-strong army is here. Please, Lord Clay. The command."

Those who spoke were Clay's personal guards, Cresson, who came to support with two thousand Mandalay family elite cavalry.

He originally wanted to directly block Yon Royce's escape route to the east, but he didn't expect that the old boy would turn around and head south, allowing Krissen to miss him after he was ready.

Helpless, Kerrison had no choice but to bring the cavalry to join Clay.

As for Clay, after he has gathered the main force of his family, theoretically, the total force he can control in the two places is close to 30,000 people.

But for the valley cavalry team in the north that had been abandoned by John Royce, using infantry to intercept them was not effective.

The lush vegetation in the Trident River Basin is conducive to hiding the army. Even if Clay transfers nearly 20,000 people from Shili City to the north and spreads them over such a huge area, they will not be able to create much waves at all.

Once the troops are dispersed, it gives the opponent the opportunity to defeat them one by one.

But we can't let these teams that are struggling in the valley get into trouble. It doesn't matter which way they come, I only go all the way.

But infantry still has a role. It is their job to guard fixed positions.

Therefore, Clay mobilized 6,000 infantry from the 20,000-strong army, plus all the cavalry at his disposal, except to ensure the safety of the Shili City camp.

A total of 10,000 troops broke out of camp and marched northward.

Using 10,000 people to defeat 2,000 people seemed like Clay Mandler was being too cautious, but that was not the case.

Because this time, like his opponent, he was completely blind on the battlefield.

Clay knew nothing except for the letter from Count Mallister and knowing that his opponent had left Seaside City.

He didn't know where the opponent's army was, nor what the situation was.

Moreover, according to Clay's estimation, assuming they have no additional way to obtain supplies, this group of people should be almost starving now.

Anyone with a little bit of military knowledge knows that although an army in such a situation is weak, its combat effectiveness is often frighteningly high.

They don't fight for honor, they don't fight for wealth, they just want to survive and pull out the sword at their waist.

This is the most important instinct in human life, so they should never be underestimated.

Moreover, there is another point. This time, Clay did not have enough time to spend his time with these two thousand people like last time.

Once he was held back by these two thousand people, he would not be able to get back in time if there were changes in the south.

After all, Robb Stark is still in Harrenhal, being beaten up and down.

You, the commander-in-chief of an army who has turned the situation around and has nearly 30,000 men, suddenly lead your men to fish in the north.

Isn't this... a bit unsightly?

Therefore, Clay's requirements for his own action goals this time are:

Plow the court and sweep holes, win the battle in the shortest time, find the enemy in the shortest time, and kill them with absolutely superior force, completely eliminating the threat of the army in the north.

After that, he can live in peace, look south, and prepare for subsequent attacks or defenses.

There can be no delay, the problem must be solved within ten days!

The army was activated, and this time, the generals under Clay finally looked better.

Because he used his micro-manipulation ability to completely subdue these riverlanders, even Edmure Tully was deprived of military power in disguise.

This time Clay raised his troops again, especially when he used 10,000 men to fight 2,000 men. No one up and down the river would think that he, Clay Mandler, would lose the battle this time.

Since it is an obvious victory, then... isn't this a victory that can be obtained easily?

If you don’t grab it now, when will you wait?

As a result, the nobles up and down the river became warm in their hearts.

One good thing is that when you go to the battlefield, everyone will judge your merits based on your ability. If you can fight, you will definitely take the lead.

Now that Clay Mandler can play better than all of them combined, why are you still hesitating?

They quickly followed Mr. Clay, hoping that Mr. Clay would leak out a little soup for them to drink.

During the period before Clay sent out troops, he was surrounded by nobles of all sizes every day.

The Blackwood family, the Mouton family, the Piper family, etc., are all thinking of ways to send their children or simply themselves into Clay's Northern Expedition.

Clay was troubled by this, and he didn't know these riverland nobles. Who knew who they were and what their specific abilities were.

In this case, Clay directly asked this question to Edmure Tully, who had been pushed into the corner and drawn circles since arriving at Stonehedge City.

Anyway, this is you from the Riverlands, you are much more familiar with me than I am.

Clay is not opposed to letting others share the credit with him, because he doesn't value the credit at all.

If the time hadn't been ripe, how could Clay Mandler have the time to grind his teeth with you guys?

No matter how noisy they are, they will learn to behave after a sip of dragon flames.

Unfortunately, it's not the time yet.

Clay only took Tytos Blackwood, Lord of Raventree, with him, and left the rest to his own devices.

The first reason why he brought the Earl of Crowtree City with him was because he had a good relationship with him and was very prestigious among the nobles of the Riverlands.

Secondly, maybe these two thousand cavalrymen jumped over the wall and went to besiege Crowtree City, taking Tytos Blackwood with them. If something really went wrong, it would be easier to deal with the aftermath, right?

On June 8th in the 300th year of Aegon's calendar, the army rumbled out from the army camp outside Shili City.

Clay himself went ahead with four thousand cavalry. After arriving at Actor's Ford, he camped on the spot and waited for the infantry army led by Lord Tytos Blackwood to follow.

The distance between Shili City and Actor's Beach was not far. It took only three days for the recuperating horse to reach the Red Fork River crossing where Clay had gone back and forth several times.

The water of the Red Fork River is still gurgling. There are no ice floes in the flowing river water. The temperature is not that cold, but it is still very uncomfortable for the soldiers who still have not changed their winter clothes.

The reason why we came to Xizitan in such a hurry was to control the ferry in advance.

It took a lot of time from the time Earl Mallister sent the raven to Riverrun, to Clay knowing the news, and then the army was launched.

Clay had led his troops all the way north and was very aware of the speed of the cavalry in the Trident River Basin.

Even if the snowstorm some time ago slowed down the southward speed of this two thousand cavalry, it could not be delayed any longer.

What if I am slowly heading north and others have already run away from the Operator's Beach in advance, wouldn't it be like dancing for a blind man?

Hurry up and plug this hole to save yourself from wasted effort.

"Lord Clay, with such heavy snow, these two thousand people have no logistics. There is an upper limit on the dry food the cavalry can carry. Lord Yohn Royce's army before, you also know that they are all light cavalry with little baggage. "

It was getting late, and the blood-like setting sun reflected on the plains of the Riverlands that had just melted into snow, making it look extremely desolate.

Kerrison commanded the soldiers and built a large bonfire in front of the Chinese army's tent. Then, he came to the master who was sitting on the tree stump, looking at the flames in a trance, and whispered something.

Clay came back to his senses. He was actually thinking about this problem just now. He nodded and said:

"Yes, they are all light cavalry. There is an upper limit on supplies. There is no food that can feed them north of the Red Fork River."

"So, Kristen, the situation in the north is more interesting than we thought."

"Two thousand living men with swords have no food to eat. What do you think they will do?"

After listening to his master's words, Clay's chief guard seemed to realize something, and his face became a little ugly.

"Sir, they are not going to attack Crowtree City..."

Clay waved his hand, interrupted what he was saying, shook his head, and whispered:

"I don't know, Krissen, what they did, whether they have to repent to the gods and forgive their sins, that's not our task."

"Remember, what we have to do is send them all to meet the gods, do you understand?"

…

Two days later, Earl Tytos Blackwood, leading an army of 6,000 infantry, arrived at the Actor's Ford Ferry.

Wearing a great cloak made of jet-black crow feathers, the Earl of Crowtree City strode into Clay's central army tent and handed over his orders to the commander of an army of 10,000 men.

"Lord Clay, all our infantry are in place, and the logistics and food supplies are sufficient to last for a month."

The large tent of the Chinese Army was now filled with nobles from the Mandalay family and the Riverlands, ranging from knights to earls.

As the earl of Crowtree City finished speaking, a young man from the river who couldn't hold himself back suddenly said loudly:

"Sir, our army is now strong and strong. It's time to cross the Red Fork River in one go and wipe out all these damn valley people!"

Clay took a look and realized that this should be a little knight from the Pink City.

The young man seemed pleased with himself for being the first to speak.

After glancing in all directions with a mighty look, he saw that Clay didn't speak, so he continued to shout:

"My lord, give me two thousand cavalry, and I will lead the men to rush in immediately. I will definitely bring back Leonor Corbray's head for Lord Clay!"

As soon as these words came out, there was silence in the tent. The smug young man could not figure out the situation. He was still imagining that he would lead two thousand troops and then defeat the valley people in one fell swoop, causing a sensation in the entire aristocratic circle.

Little did he know that other people around him were looking at him with very strange eyes.

It's like watching a clown reveling in his own performance.

Clay didn't say anything. He encountered many such things when he was in Shili City.

During those days, I don't know how many people who don't know how high the heaven and earth are, came to me, and they all had a very loud tone. Only a few people were able to bring disaster to the ten thousand people under Clay.

Clay said at the time that he learned.

After working on it for a long time, I realized that I was the one doing the part-time job, and it turned out to be these second- or third-generation ancestors who didn't know anything who actually made the decision.

This time, he asked Edmure Tully to choose, and before leaving, he asked Lord Tytos Blackwood to choose again.

Unexpectedly, I still encountered such a strange thing.

Just because he didn't say anything didn't mean that everyone could remain calm.

As the person who chose them to join the army, Lord Tytos Blackwood's face suddenly became uneasy.

He turned around and pushed towards this guy who felt extremely good about himself.

They were almost face to face, with a dangerous look on their hard and oak-bark faces...