Chapter 290 Take off his crown

After weighing it in his mind, Tywin Lannister decided to save his unlucky grandson Joffrey Baratheon first.

After all, although this city needs to be entered, it cannot be done in a short while.

It would be troublesome if the king was lost.

So, he led his most elite troops and pounced in the direction of Krissen.

However, before he had gone far, bad news came one after another that made him stop his horse in an instant.

Clay Mandler's banner has arrived.

A Riverland army entered the chaotic North Gate Camp and was expelling the remaining Western soldiers.

As the person who personally planned and built this camp, Tywin Lannister knew exactly what Clay was trying to do.

The boy is vicious!

The old lion cursed in his heart.

But on the surface, he remained calm, quietly waiting for the second piece of bad news.

Sure enough, Clay Mandler didn't let him down at all, and his second shot was another killer move.

The sentry reported that a Hejian Army of about 3,000 people had quickly inserted itself into the position between the Beida Camp and the East Camp, hoping to cut off the connection between the two groups.

He wants to surround himself, how brave he is!

Tywin Lannister's gray eyebrows twitched slightly.

He knew very well that those arriving on the battlefield now were actually the Riverland Legion that he had suppressed before.

At most, add a little bit of the troops brought by Clay Mandler.

Why do these cowardly riverlanders now dare to make Tywin Lannister's dumplings when they are evenly outnumbered?

Not this damn Clay Mandler!

He seems to have built his confidence in his son Jaime Lannister, and he is bold and ruthless in his military use.

Tywin Lannister can be sure that this heavy cavalry, which is extremely powerful in combat and has thrown the Beida Camp into chaos, must be Clay Manderly's handiwork.

It's not that he looks down on those riverland nobles, they really don't have the guts to mess with him like this.

The last piece of bad news made Tywin Lannister finally decide to stop.

Because Clay Mandler personally led the remaining main force, which was already pressing hard towards him!

As an unshakable guardian duke who has been active in the power arena of the Seven Kingdoms for decades, Tywin Lannister fully understands what his foundation is.

It's not a title, and it's not a bullshit Golden Dragon. There is one and only one, and that is that he firmly controls almost all the military power in the Western Territory.

With the most well-equipped troops in Westeros and a total strength of more than 30,000 troops, he, Tywin Lannister, was able to create "The Rains of Casmet".

Now, Clay Manderly's entire army is coming, and almost all of his own troops are heading in the direction of Harrenhal.

They had just captured Harrenhal and were extremely exhausted. At this time, in order to save Joffrey, they had lost the most precious time to adjust their formation to face the enemy.

Then, it would mean that he, Tywin Lannister, was indulging Clay Manderly to come and express his condolences in his backyard.

The old lion doesn't have that kind of strange habit, so he will never allow such a thing to happen.

To put it bluntly, in his heart, even if Joffrey was really caught, things would not be completely undone.

He still has a chance of survival, that is, rush into the city and catch Robb Stark.

Look, can’t this business be done again?

Although Tywin Lannister doesn't want to see Clay Manderly at all.

"Ser Clegane, take five hundred men and find a way to rescue Joffrey and the Queen Mother."

Beside him, the "Magic Mountain" like an iron tower, Ser Gregor Clegane, did not respond to his lord at all.

He just turned his horse's head quickly and led a small team of his to rush towards Joffrey Baratheon's position.

Tywin Lannister immediately began to issue orders, based on his position, to attack the troops inside the city, leaving only the troops that could guard the city gates, and the rest, along with those still outside the city.

Under his stern orders, they immediately began to turn around and line up in the direction from which Clay Mandler came.

At this time, the troops Tywin Lannister could mobilize were full, and the number of fully organized troops was less than 6,000.

No way, the losses from the previous siege, coupled with Cresson's disruption, and Brynden Tully's offensive in the west, meant that he only had so many soldiers to fight against Clay.

There were still people arriving at the East Camp, but they had just suffered a defeat, and another 3,000 people sent by Clay Mandler were blocking the way.

Although Tywin Lannister immediately ordered them to move closer to the northern camp at all costs.

But this will undoubtedly take time.

But now, it seems that Clay Mandler would rather bear the fatigue of his troops coming from afar than give him this time anymore.

Tywin Lannister had a very clear mind, so he did not take any chances.

…

"Lord Clay, the army of the Western Region has begun to form towards us."

The scout brought the news back.

In line with the principle of giving a sweet date for every hit, Clay kept Edmure Tully by his side as the so-called adviser.

Giving him an illusory feeling of participating in the army's decision-making can comfort his fragile heart.

"The old lion moves so fast!"

Edmure Tully frowned.

Clay nodded, but wasn't too surprised.

Clay would have been surprised if Tywin Lannister didn't react.

"It's okay, we have already played our cards, I want to see how he will respond."

Edmure Tully said something in agreement, which almost made Clay stunned.

"After all, with 10,000 people beating him, the maximum is 7,000. The advantage lies with me."

Maybe he noticed that Clay looked at him with very complicated eyes, and seemed to suddenly realize it. Edmure Tully asked doubtfully:

"What's wrong? Master Clay, am I right?"

"Ah, yes, yes..."

If Clay didn't agree with him, Clay himself wouldn't be able to forgive himself.

After a while, Clay threw away the random thoughts in his mind and focused his thoughts on the battlefield ahead.

Clay estimated that the number of people the old lion could bring out to challenge him head-on would only be six thousand at most.

These six thousand people are a powerful Western Army.

As for our own side, even though we have adopted the Human Sea Tactics doctrine, our troop strength is much higher than that of our opponent.

But the problem is that the only ones who can really compete with Tywin's army are his own direct troops.

The rest are a bunch of riverland troops with poor combat effectiveness and fighting will.

In this battle, Clay knew that both sides were actually evenly matched.

Just as he was thinking about it, the scout who had just left returned and brought him even more exciting news:

"Lord Clay, Lord Brynden Tully is back, and they successfully contacted Lord Cresson."

"Very good! Take me to see them."

Clay nodded and prepared to follow the scout as soon as he clamped his horse's belly.

"Wait, Lord Clay, I haven't finished yet... Lord Kerrison said... he seems to have captured Joffrey Baratheon, the false king."

Clay was stunned.

He made sure he heard correctly and skipped the very stupid "Say that again!"

He said directly:

"Don't waste time, take me there immediately!"

"Yes! Master Clay."

They immediately rushed towards the right front of the rumbling army.

After spending a little time, Clay saw the remnants of the army who were still full of energy when they set off, but now were covered in bruises, but insisted on standing on their horses.

Among them, Kristen Mandler, holding a rope with one hand, stood at the front of the team on horseback.

The two ends of the rope were tied to the hands of a tall blond boy with a gagged mouth and a panicked face, and another woman who looked slightly embarrassed but still had a slim figure.

Clay rushed over on horseback, and when Kerrison saw it, he immediately jumped off the horse.

Since he was still holding the two ropes in his hands, his coming down action caused the two people to stagger and almost fall.

Behind Kerrison, the remaining soldiers dismounted one after another, and then, a pair of eyes stared closely at the figures of Clay and Kerrison.

"I, Krissen of House Mandalay, follow your orders to surprise the enemy with five hundred cavalry."

"We penetrated the enemy's Beida Camp, penetrated their military formation from behind, and captured these two people with special identities."

"However, of the five hundred elite families who accompanied me on the expedition, only one out of eight can come back alive. Sir, they are all warriors. I..."

Kerrison spoke impassionedly at first, but later on, his tone was so serious that even snowflakes stayed away from him.

Clay understood. He glanced at the appearance of the team behind him and knew what they had encountered.

Taking a photo of Kristen, he said:

"Okay, I know what you are going to say. Put away your tears. There is no place for you to cry on the battlefield."

"I will take care of their affairs. I swear in the name of the old and new gods."

It's not that he doesn't want to do it, but only by saying this can they feel at ease.

"Go rest and take them with you."

"You have completed your mission, and the next thing is up to me as the commander."

Clay said.

Then, he left with Krissen's loot.

No matter what you want to do, now is not the right time.

After all, Tywin Lannister wouldn't give him any more time.

…

With just one glance, Clay was able to determine that the two people in front of him were Joffrey Baratheon and Cersei Lannister.

After all, unlike Kristen, he had met these two in Winterfell.

Of course he was deeply impressed, but it was hard to say whether the two people in front of him, who were busy with everything, could have even the slightest impression of him, who was still the size of a sesame seed and a mung bean at that time.

Let the guards pull the two people back.

Their current position is still in front of the army, after all, Kerrison has just broken out.

So, this place is still unsafe.

It took a lot of effort to get these two big treasures in hand. If they were snatched back by the Western Army, Clay would suffer a huge loss.

Back in the middle of the rumbling army, Clay didn't have much time to chat with the two men.

He glanced at the two men standing in front of his horse, covered in mud and in a state of embarrassment.

The arrogant and domineering captive king Joffrey Baratheon I was currently hiding in the arms of Queen Mother Cersei Lannister, his body trembling visibly.

Seeing Clay stop, the woman Cersei Lannister was actually more courageous than her king's son. Although she was scared, she would not lose her composure.

She didn't recognize Clay. After all, she only met him once in Winterfell, and it only lasted for less than ten minutes. It was more than a year ago, so it was strange that she could remember him.

Of course she recognized the golden halberd mermaid banner on Clay's back. Almost every Lannister noble had good heraldry.

But she was not sure who Clay was, so she could only say tentatively:

"Sir...my son and I are very cold. Can you give us a warm tent?"

She tried her best to show what she thought was the most beautiful smile, although because of her nervousness, she completely forgot that her face was now covered with mud.

Clay ignored her. Cersei Lannister was of little value to him. She was at best a freebie from Joffrey Baratheon.

His gaze rested on Joffrey Baratheon's head.

To be precise, it was the crown on top of his head that looked unique in the mud.

It was quite glaring. Clay didn't like it, so he said:

"Go and take off his crown. There is no such king in our army."

Unexpectedly, Joffrey Baratheon, who had been as cowardly as a poor quail just now, suddenly seemed to have been plucked, held his crown firmly, and exclaimed:

"No! No! You...traitors! No!"

The guard glanced at Clay, and Clay waved his hand, signaling the guard to continue his mission.

Joffrey Baratheon was completely anxious. Since his hands were tied, the action of holding the crown was actually very difficult for him.

But he didn't care about this, his eyes were red, and he wanted to bite the guard who was walking towards him.

"Mother...I am the king! They can't do this to me! This is my crown!"

Joffrey yelled indiscriminately, interspersed with the worst curse words that a pampered man could think of.

But the guard turned a deaf ear and pinched Joffrey's weak arms, while the other hand was already touching his head.

"This Lord of the Mandalay family...can you give me and my children some dignity? I know that people in the north value honor. I, a woman, don't think it's appropriate for you to do this."

This is a polite statement, but actually translated, Cersei means:

Who is a good man if he bullies women and children?

But Clay won't listen to such nonsense at all. Honor is the entertainment of nobles in peacetime, but in war, even if you crawl over and bite the opponent's throat, you will win.

As the winner, you take everything.

"Save your strength, Cersei Lannister. Look at him like that. He is really the same as he was at Winterfell. He has not improved at all."

"You, the Lannister family, have such a profound background, how can you actually create such a guy to be the king? It's really hard for me to understand your thinking."

"What? What do you think I'm doing? Are you planning to let him be a puppet for the rest of his life? Stop talking nonsense, who of you can survive him?"

As soon as Cersei heard the name Winterfell, she immediately understood that the person in front of her had met her and Joffrey.

Taking another look at Clay's face, which had changed a lot and had completely lost its childishness, a name suddenly came to her mind.

"Are you Clay Mandler?"

she exclaimed.

Clay did not deny it and nodded:

"I am, so I know very well what you are like. Don't act like a king or queen mother. Remember, here, you are just my captives, and captives are not worthy of wearing crowns."

"Guard, take off his crown, now!"

…

After Clay finished dealing with the two distinguished prisoners, he selected a pale little nobleman among the prisoners and asked him to bring the news that he had captured Joffrey and Cersei to Tywin.

The old lion must have known the news, but it was good to be disgusted.

However, Tywin Lannister's reaction was quicker than he thought.

"The Mountain" Gregor Clegane went to Kerrison in an attempt to save Joffrey, but failed and immediately brought the news back to Tywin Lannister.

The Duke of the West also reacted very quickly. He immediately ordered the Mountain to bring his troops, as well as all the troops outside the battlefield that would not affect the duel between him and Clay, into Harrenhal, and be sure to capture Robert. Stark.

Moreover, it must be alive.

As the most obedient dog, just like the crest of the Clegane family, "The Mountain" moved very quickly, and led his men into Harrenhal, where the Northern Army was completely shrinking.

Since the fall of the North Gate was actually a surprise to the North, their defense line at Harrenhal became extremely deformed.

The north collapsed thousands of miles and retreated directly towards the high towers in the center, while the east still had a considerable number of troops staying at the east gate.

Robb Stark's situation affected the nerves of most of the northern nobles, causing them to temporarily neglect command of the entire situation.

As a result, the heavy cavalry of the "Magic Mountain" chased the defeated troops at the north gate and easily fought their way to the five towers in the middle.

At this time, the northern nobles, who were just waking up from their dreams, hurriedly organized troops to resist.

It can be said that right now, in the entire Battle of Harrenhal, the northern border is the most dangerous time.

…

South of God's Eye Lake.

Her ears were filled with the sound of sonic boom, and Daenerys lay on Drogon's back, squinting at the looming black dot in the clouds ahead.

After flying for such a long time, Daenerys finally found Galesos under the leadership of Drogon.

However, the distance was still too far, and Galesos never found her.

"I finally found you!"

Daenerys cheered a little in her heart.

She saw the sparkling huge lake below her, but since she had never been there before, she was not sure whether the lake in front of her was the famous God's Eye Lake in Westeros.

She already had a hunch that Galesos might be looking for Clay.

I don't know if such a sudden appearance is a good thing for Clay.

Daenerys muttered in her mind.

…

"Lord Clay, there is news that there is a hound flag and a Western Army has entered Harrenhal. Where is your Majesty?"

At the beginning of the war, Clay's side was progressing quite smoothly. The army led by Tytos Blackwood successfully occupied the original North Gate Camp of the Western Territory after breaking through the resistance of the remaining Western Territory troops.

But Earl Mallister is facing greater pressure.

His three thousand men had just arrived and were still in a state of unsteady footing when they were attacked by the cavalry from Dongda Camp.

Although his side has a numerical advantage, considering the combat effectiveness, the overall advantage is not obvious.

Therefore, the two sides soon got into a melee, and this was exactly what Earl Mallister did not want to see.

He failed to complete the blockade mission assigned to him by Clay. With less than 10,000 people from the east approaching, it would be difficult to handle the main battlefield.

Then I coded, and my state was really bad. I tried to make up one more chapter at night. I found that I was not suitable for traveling. I ran 3,000 kilometers in three days. I still feel like my brain is wandering...