This move was learned by Edward from Dong Zhuo when he watched Romance of the Three Kingdoms.
It wasn't particularly clever; anyone approaching the camp and observing carefully would certainly notice something amiss.
But this was an offensive and defensive battle. The three thousand cavalry of the North were divided into three teams, patrolling around the camp day and night, strictly preventing enemy scouts from approaching.
To avoid exposing their movements.
Moreover, to make his blindfold more realistic, Edward also instructed Daisy Mormont, who was in charge of logistics, to gradually increase the number of cooking fires based on the increasing number of people.
There must be no mistakes.
Because from a sufficient distance, enemies on the city wall most likely couldn't see their numbers clearly, but they could definitely count the smoke from the cooking fires during meal times each day.
Details determine success or failure.
Meanwhile, he himself led the captives and archers in feigning preparations for a siege.
To ensure realism, Edward not only sent captives to dig trenches beneath the walls of Lannisport, gradually reducing the depth required for the siege.
He also had those captives pile earth in the direction facing the city wall.
This way, they could both conceal themselves and defend against some arrows, ballistae, and even trebuchet attacks.
At the same time, Edward dispatched the craftsmen of Ox Town to cut wood and build those massive and formidable mechanical devices according to the siege weapons he had seen in TV shows and games.
This included siege towers, battering rams, and even trebuchets. Whether they could be used or not, at the very least, they looked very intimidating.
This move truly astonished many people.
Such knowledge was only understood by specialized engineers; nobles generally did not have time to study it.
Edward did not explain, nor was he bothered to explain, and instead offered other suggestions to Robb Stark.
He recommended his cheap old man, and also Earl Titus, who harbored similar hatred for the Westerlands, suggesting that each of them lead a raiding party to operate around Lannisport.
It was adopted.
Upon hearing that people would be arranged for looting, every family was eager, sending their most ruthless and skilled cavalry.
The two earls also genuinely enjoyed this task, acting efficiently and achieving significant results.
They not only occupied Flashgold Town near Lannisport to serve as a contact point for transmitting messages via raven.
For several days, they continuously herded livestock and captives into the camp.
At the same time, they also brought back cartloads of spoils, which the King distributed among the lords according to their merits.
Robb Stark had some reservations about this banditry, and Edward could only persuade him.
"Your Majesty, as Hand of the King, I hope you can consider other matters besides fighting."
"The lords who follow you in battle, besides their passion and loyalty to the Stark family, also need to gain wealth to compensate, because the sacrifice of every warrior means the loss of a large amount of valuable wealth to them."
"You need to do something to appease them, and financial rewards are very useful."
"Of course, the distribution must also be fair and impartial, otherwise it would be better not to have it."
"Oh, by the way, this kind of thing in the distant barbarian lands is probably summarized as 'not fearing poverty, but fearing inequality.' That should be the meaning, I can't quite recall."
This lengthy explanation ultimately convinced the young King of the North to agree to the arrangement.
As for whether the Young Wolf listened to other things, Edward didn't know, and it didn't matter. A sixteen-year-old boy is always rebellious, and he didn't expect his casual words to influence a king.
However, this matter not only allowed the two middle-aged and elderly nobles, full of hatred, to exact their revenge, but also appeased the lords and soldiers who were acting in the camp with some glittering spoils.
The effect was obvious!
Edward had a mission and couldn't go himself, but he also arranged for his subordinates to go with his cheap old man.
He couldn't just watch others get rich while his own people stayed behind, envious, could he?
That's not what a good leader should do.
The remaining four thousand cavalry were personally commanded by His Majesty the King, to act as if there were over ten thousand people in the camp.
Some rode horses, some walked, and some gathered for drills.
They pretended to be very lively to deceive the enemies on the city walls.
And indeed, Edward's actions really fooled Davos Lannister, who had already taken over the city defense.
These days, he had been observing the enemy's movements from the city walls, and then watched as one enemy team after another entered the Northern camp.
A few days ago, he also tried sending out some scouts to gather information, but they all went missing.
Their bodies were even placed directly below the city wall by the enemy, and their severed heads were thrown into the city by small trebuchets.
This was a blatant provocation!
Some exasperated officers, full of anger, clamored to lead troops out of the city to fight.
Ser Daven strictly refused.
Three thousand men counter-attacking an army of twenty thousand?
They must be out of their minds!
Two days ago, he had ordered the maester to send out countless ravens.
Some were requests for other Westerlands territories to gather soldiers and come to Lannisport for rescue; he would dispatch the Commander of the fleet to pick them up at other ports, making it convenient for them to enter the city by sea.
Others were pleas for help sent to Harrenhal and King's Landing!
He could completely defend against eight thousand cavalry with the city walls and garrison.
But with twenty thousand men, plus well-prepared siege equipment, he had no confidence.
The disparity in strength was too great.
Ser Daven was not afraid of death.
But if Lannisport were to fall to the enemy, the name Davos Lannister would probably be forever nailed to the pillar of shame.
He dared not gamble his honor, so he could only ask for help.
And the Northern archers, who had been waiting for this moment, intercepted two ravens by shooting arrows outside the city, one of which was flying to King's Landing.
After seeing the content of the letter, everyone felt relieved.
And the other lords looked at Edward with admiration and curiosity.
This scheme truly did not resemble a Karstark of Karhold, but rather a member of the Bolton family.
Edward ignored these thoughts, still urging the captives to keep up appearances, and then waited for the raven from the Riverlands.
...
Outside Harrenhal.
Duke Tywin was now wearing a thick mink cloak, his golden armor gleaming in the dawn, and even the sturdy warhorse beneath him was clad in a deep red glazed scale armor, with gilded gorgets and head coverings.
He was so dazzling in the army.
Behind him followed the lords and officers of the Westerlands, various flags fluttering in the wind beneath the Lion.
Kevan Lannister galloped over, reining in his horse as he approached, and said breathlessly, "Tywin, everything is ready, shall we depart?"
He wore gold and red plate armor, his face haggard, and his body was even thinner than before.
As the Duke's most trusted subordinate, Kevan was also Tywin's younger brother, an admirer and follower of his elder brother.
At this moment, in Ser Kevan's pale green eyes, besides respect for Tywin, there was also a hint of deep sorrow and intense killing intent.
According to the letter sent by Davos Lannister, he had already learned of his son Martin's death.
The sea of sorrow seemed to completely engulf him at that moment.
"Hmm, depart."
Duke Tywin glanced at his brother expressionlessly, waved his right hand, and urged his warhorse forward slowly.
Half a month ago, he had already received letters informing him of the deaths of Stafford and Martin, and of the hastily assembled ten thousand new recruits, only a few hundred had escaped.
That boy from the Wolf family had once again given him an "unexpected" surprise.
However, Duke Tywin did not act rashly because of this, even when his brother fell ill in bed upon hearing the bad news, he did not hastily lead the army back to the Westerlands.
Instead, he sent out scouts to observe and gather information on other forces.
For the sake of his family's destiny, he had abandoned most emotions, especially after his wife's death.
However, Robb Stark's surprises to him were far from over.
Two days ago, ravens brought news again. Davos swore that Robb Stark had two hundred thousand troops besieging Lannisport, and he was busy building siege engines. If this continued, he would not be able to hold on.
The family's important territory was in peril!
This information, combined with the Tully Family's previous summoning of vassals.
Tywin understood that at that time, Robb Stark had already found a way to enter the Westerlands.
And to lull himself into a false sense of security, he even sent a messenger with conditions to negotiate with the Iron Throne, making it convenient for the armies of the North and the Riverlands to secretly enter the Westerlands.
It was a very clever feint.
Thus, he could no longer sit still.
At the same time, various pieces of information arrived one after another with the ravens.
Renly's army was still slowly advancing on The Rose Road, waiting for more people to join.
Stannis's Commander of the fleet was still holed up on Dragonstone, not having moved an inch.
This might be the only chance to return to the Westerlands and have a decisive battle with the Young Wolf.
After much thought, Tywin made up his mind to lead his troops along the River Road through Golden Tooth, and then return to the Westerlands to relieve Lannisport.
The current situation.
If the Running Wolf Flag was dancing on a tightrope.
Then the Lion's situation was not much better, like a giant carefully advancing on the edge of a cliff.
Everything had to be done with extreme caution.
Before leaving Harrenhal, Duke Tywin also sent a raven to King's Landing, agreeing to Tyrion's idea.
Even if Cersei tearfully pleaded in her letter, hoping her daughter would stay by her side, it could not move his cold heart.
And Ser Gregor, riding his ill-tempered mount, loyally followed behind the army, but he had already been labeled a sacrificial lamb.
For Lannister, Duke Tywin would not hesitate to sell them all!
Inside Harrenhal.
Arya stood by the arched window of the Crying Tower, moving her body to completely hide herself in the shadows, her bright eyes watching the army outside the city, her eyes filled with resentment.
She recognized the last lord in the procession.
Ser Harys Swyft, over sixty years old from Corn City, was riding on horseback, frequently looking back, as if he was reluctant to leave his life in the castle.
"Hmph, a difficult old man from the South."
Watching the army slowly move along, heading towards Riverrun, a shiver ran through Arya's mind.
She suddenly understood that these terrifying people would bring death and fear to her brother.
"I'm such an idiot, I should have let that strange guy kill Duke Tywin, I was so stupid, why didn't I say Duke Tywin's name?!"
Arya's eyes were full of remorse, repeatedly chanting the name Tywin, and a flash of inspiration struck her heart.
She thought, perhaps it wasn't too late.
She still had two names, and if she could find Jaqen, he might be able to help Robb a lot!
Thinking of this, Arya ran down the winding stairs and bumped into Weese, who was coming to inspect.
He was the head of the Crying Tower, responsible for managing a group of slaves to serve Lannister.
Weese kicked the hurried half-grown boy to the corner, then, ignoring Arya's pleas and cries, grabbed her messy hair with his left hand and slapped her three times with his right, cursing, "You little brat, next time I catch you slacking off, I'll break your legs."
"Now, immediately, take this letter to Vargo Hoat of the Brave Companions, understand?"
Arya covered her burning face, obediently saying, "I understand, I'll go right away."
She lowered her head, took the letter, and quickly ran off, but her eyes were filled with uncontrollable anger, her young mind being tested, and her thoughts changing accordingly.
"Two names, one must be given to Weese!"
Hurrying down the stairs of the Crying Tower, Arya glanced out the window and saw that Lannister's army was getting further and further away. Her heart grew heavier, and tears streamed down her face.
She had no chance to help Robb.
Tywin had no idea that he had almost died by the various methods of the Faceless Men.
He led his army west along the River Road, and with careful vigilance from both infantry and cavalry, the army successfully crossed the Red Fork shallows a week later.
Duke Tywin looked at the heavily guarded soldiers on the walls of Riverrun from afar, and his guess became even more certain.
The Tully Family's vassals must have gone to the Westerlands with Robb Stark.
Otherwise, the other party would never have allowed him to cross the Riverlands so brazenly!
"Kevan, order the soldiers to speed up, we must hurry back to Lannisport!"
Tywin was sure that he had grasped the enemy's true strength, and he was no longer as cautious as before.
After receiving the order, Ser Kevan took a few messengers and galloped off.
Two hundred thousand troops could not move together. He needed to spread Duke's orders along the road one by one.
Riverrun.
Edmure Knight stood on the high fortress, looking at the vast army gathered under the Lion banner from afar, his eyes flashing with raging anger.
If he hadn't known Robb's plan, and if most of his cavalry hadn't been taken away, he would never have allowed the enemy to cross the Red Fork so easily!
For now, he needed to endure. The armies of the Riverlands were all hidden on the north bank of the Tum Stone River, waiting for orders.
And Roose Bolton, who had just married Old Frey's granddaughter, also rushed to Riverrun with over ten thousand Northern soldiers.
He even brought the four hundred soldiers led by Ser Heman Tallhart.
They should have been guarding Twin River City.
However, Old Flayer's reason was very sufficient, saying that this decisive battle was crucial for His Majesty the King and certainly required all forces to participate.
As the Governor of the Riverlands, Edmure Knight, after hearing this reason, no longer had any intention of making things difficult for the other party.
Now, as long as Lannister's army moved away, all of them would go south together, block the enemy's retreat, and sandwich them with Robb from front and back, giving that old fellow Tywin a grand and solemn surprise!
Below the outer walls, two people huddled in a deserted corner, whispering.
"Dita, do you think we should go too? It's too boring staying in Riverrun all day."
As he spoke, Karas Snow ran his fingers through his hair, his green eyes looking at the retreating enemy, eager to try, his heart filled with a desire to achieve great deeds on the battlefield.
"Alright, Karas, the Young Wolf told us to guard Jaime Lannister. As long as Lady Catelyn doesn't go to visit the Kingslayer, we just guard him. We don't need to do anything else, and we certainly can't leave Riverrun."
Dita. Kalander said in a low voice, looking at the retreating enemy, feeling a little relieved.
If he could, he actually didn't want to face Lannister head-on on the battlefield. The Lion's army was well-equipped and famously well-trained.
Last time, even after being repeatedly affected, the enemy reacted quickly, killing Mam, and injuring Karas and Lando. He himself was spared because he stayed behind to shoot arrows.
Now, the Young Wolf had given him a seemingly very simple task. Dita. Kalander was overjoyed and certainly wouldn't rush to the battlefield.
"Alright, alright, I was just saying. Everything listens to the Young Wolf."
Karas looked at the gradually disappearing enemy, then turned to look at the army crossing the Tum Stone River, pouting helplessly.
"That's right, Young Wolf Edward said that as long as we two do this job well, there will definitely be rewards."
Dita. Kalander whispered to Karas, then looked at the gradually darkening sky.
And the Young Wolf he was talking about was standing outside the western wall of Golden Tooth at this moment, loudly ordering the archers beside him.
"Everyone, prepare!"
"Aim at the wall, fire!"