Chapter 270 Final Words

Human beings are always afraid of their own death because no one knows what the world after death is like.

Putting aside the instinctive desire to survive as a species, fear of the unknown is the root cause.

But right now, in Harrenhal with scattered snow, the first king of the North in three hundred years was calmly talking about his death to his vassals.

"Your Majesty, is your body... really irreparable? You understand, we still need your leadership."

Jon Umber held Robb Stark's hand, his hand so cold that it was almost like a stone, and spoke sincerely.

He really didn't want to see this scene. Not to mention his loyalty to the Stark family, at least for now, they couldn't bear the result of the collapse of the King in the North.

Hearing this, Robb Stark smiled bitterly.

No one wants to have to deal with his own life, but when a person really wants to leave, he actually feels it.

"It can't be done. The gods are already calling me. If I don't leave, I will be disobeying the gods."

Robb Stark's tone was calm, as if the subject of this sentence was not him at all.

Jon Amber was silent, and Robb Stark himself had given up his confidence in living. It was really impossible for the gods to save him.

"Don't think about it, my right half is completely rotten now, I just didn't let you see it."

"It's hopeless. I feel like I'm just a piece of rotten meat soaked in water, this damn weather."

Jon Amber remained silent.

I have to admit that Robb Stark was actually right. If the humid weather hadn't accelerated his infection, with his strong physique, he might have been able to survive.

But now, there is no turning back.

"Okay, Lord Jon Umber, we don't have much time for you now, let's hurry up."

Robb Stark suppressed his almost invisible smile, and his tone became extremely serious.

What he said next almost represented his political arrangements for the entire northern border in the coming days.

Originally, this was meant to be said to the next heir, but now, he can no longer return to Winterfell.

"Listen, Lord Jon Umber, after I die, you must hold on until Clay Manderly comes to the rescue."

"Bring my crown to my brother Bran, and I have a warrant here to legalize my brother, my father's bastard son Jon Snow, as a member of House Stark."

"Tell him to stop chewing ice on that damn Great Wall. Come back to me and help Bran until he becomes an adult and can well shoulder the responsibilities of the family."

"Your Majesty...this"

"listen to me!"

For some reason, Robb Stark suddenly became irritable and restless.

With a roar, he interrupted Jon Amber's words, closed his eyes slightly, leaned back in the chair, and his chest heaved violently.

Judging from his expression, he was in great pain now.

After a long time, Robb Stark finally calmed down, and his eyes, which were almost filled with bloodshot eyes, opened again.

He glanced at Jon Amber, who was sitting opposite him like a sculpture, and continued.

"During the time when I was in a coma, I always dreamed about Bran."

Robb Stark's tone had a rare gentleness.

He has always thought of protecting his younger brothers.

"I dream about him, training with us at Winterfell."

"He is stupid, has little strength, and holds a small bow. Sir Roderick cannot teach him how to do it."

"He is not even as good as Arya, and he is always bullied by her."

Robb Stark's voice was full of memories.

But he suddenly frowned and murmured with regret:

"Arya, I still don't know where she went. In my dream, I saw her in a very, very high place. I couldn't reach her."

"Your Majesty, while you were unconscious, Lannister used arrows to send Tywin Lannister's words in."

"It says that Miss Arya is in the Eyrie now."

Jon Umber carefully observed Robb Stark's expression.

He actually didn't want to tell Robb Stark this.

But now, the King in the North, who misses his younger brother and sister, is almost dying. To hide it from him and let him leave with regrets, Jon Amber cannot do such a thing.

"The Eyrie?"

Robb Stark read the name silently, and his already somewhat confused brain suddenly became clearer.

The bony left hand suddenly grabbed Jon Amber's arm.

"Tell Bran, tell Clay Manderly, never let the Eyrie harm Arya!"

After saying this, it seemed that Robb Stark was very consumed.

Except for holding tightly, or pinching, Jon Umber's hand, his whole body seemed to be completely motionless.

After a long time, he struggled hard and finally regained his clarity of thought.

"Lord Jon Umber, tell me the truth, how many of us in Harrenhal can stand up?"

As the de facto supreme commander of the Northern Army after the fall of Robb Stark, Jon Umber certainly knows this number.

He hesitated for a moment, looked at Robb Stark's pale face, gritted his teeth, and said:

"Your Majesty, there are still 2,800 people in Harrenhal fighting for my northern flag."

Robb Stark was stunned for a moment.

He wanted to say something, but he couldn't.

He just opened his dry mouth silently, and in the end, all the emotions were transformed into a heavy sigh.

"well……"

"Those who survive are all warriors. They are the seeds of our northern army. Protect them."

Robb Stark to Jon Umber.

"Your Majesty, Master Clay..."

Finally, the Earl of Hearth City hesitated to speak.

Although there is no such thing as surrender in Westeros, the situation of weak leaders and strong ministers has happened countless times.

The current situation is that once Robb Stark passes away, Bran Stark will not be able to support the Stark name at all.

And if it was really him, Clay Manderly, who came to rescue them who were trapped in Harrenhal.

And, escort Robb Stark's body back to Winterfell.

Then, Clay Manderly's reputation will reach its peak, and the ignorant Bran Stark will have no way to stand firm in front of the powerful military leader in front of him.

Coupled with the powerful Mandalay family as their backing, the northern nobles all have their own considerations about what will happen.

Sometimes, it’s not whether you want to do it or not, but the situation has developed to such a point that you have to do it.

Although it is not possible to directly snatch the crown of the King of the North from the head of that stupid brat Bran Stark and put it on his own head, but the king is young and takes over all the military and political power in the North. Totally possible.

Most of the northern nobles are trapped in the dark and damp Harrenhal, and they don't know what's going on outside.

However, the situation from now on is a certainty.

Therefore, just now Robb Stark personally gave Jon Snow Stark the surname as king, which is actually giving Bran Stark, who has few manpower, an adult brother who can help him.

Look at the cards Winterfell is holding now.

If Robb Stark died.

An acting city lord who is only ten years old is about to become the co-lord of the North and the Riverlands.

A matron who is very emotional and actually can't make up her mind.

A Winterfell that was extremely empty, with almost all of its troops out of hand.

In addition, there is a powerful military leader Clay Mandler outside who they don't know, but in fact has an army of more than 30,000 people.

To talk about this situation, if no one can step forward to help Bran Stark withstand the pressure of Clay Manderly.

Then, the Wolf Banner will become exactly the same as the Lannister before Tywin succeeded to the throne for a long time in the future, without any value.

Moreover, winter is coming, and in the memory of the Stark family, every cold winter will take away one-fifth to one-quarter of the population of the North. In other words, the two largest remaining members of the Stark family There was no telling whether the ten-year-old male bloodline could survive this winter.

Therefore, an adult male Stark is vital.

If he hadn't been worried about encountering too much resistance in the future, Robb Stark would have thought of directly passing on Jon Snow.

He knew that this was definitely a good decision for the entire Northern Territory, but he knew very well that he could not issue such an order.

"Okay, I know what you want to say..."

Robb Stark said something irritably, but he realized that he had to speak clearly at this time, so he suppressed the irritability caused by the severe pain on the right side of his body.

The King of the North tried to adjust his facial expression, and then said:

"Emotionally speaking, I don't believe that Clay will do anything detrimental to the North, and I don't believe that he will do something to Bran. He won't..."

"From a rational point of view, which one of you can compete with Clay Mandler's abilities on the battlefield?"

"I know you don't have this ability, so if you really want to conflict with him, you must not do it on the battlefield."

"Clay Manderly has no reason to oppose Winterfell, because his Manderly family was originally accepted by my Stark ancestors. Based on this, if he does this, the entire North will rise up against him. "

Jon Amber didn't know how to feel about what Robb Stark said just now.

To be honest, the naive part of Robb Stark's thoughts still accounts for a large proportion until now.

For example, as he said just now, Jon Amber absolutely does not agree with the so-called Clay Mandler who cares about the situation of the Mandalay family's ancestors.

If you have to say that it happened decades, at most a hundred years ago, it would still have a certain binding force on the current Mandalay family.

Of course Jon Umber knows the story of the Starks accepting the Manderlys and giving them White Harbor.

But the problem is that the Mandalay family has already seized the new foundation with Twin River City as its core in the hands of Clay Manderly.

It's hard to say whether the current Mandalay family is a Northern family or a Riverland family.

If we try to use the things in the story to constrain today's people, to be honest, it won't do much.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

But Jon Umber still nodded in agreement.

Because there was no point in disagreeing with him. Robb Stark was right about one thing.

Once he's dead, there's really no one left that can compete with Clay Mandler.

Nobody.