"Is that so?"
Jon Umber's eyes widened, his face showing displeasure, but he quickly looked towards the approaching infantry phalanx. As he watched, his face gradually filled with rage, and finally, he cursed, "Damn it, Roose Bolton, that dog, he's using my soldiers as bait, isn't he?!"
As he spoke, he gave Eddard a dissatisfied look and said, "Eddard Karstark, you are indeed clever, and you have some real skill, but you are still too young. You don't understand the treachery of human hearts. You should spend more time learning from your father!"
After leaving that remark, he rode away in a hurry.
Eddard stayed where he was and smiled, watching as Jon Umber successively approached Maege, Earl Glover, Ser Wendel Manderly, and various other family heirs and commanders.
Before long, they huddled together, surrounding the King who was observing the battlefield, and began complaining vociferously.
Earl Glover said, "Your Majesty, we have no objection to you making Roose Bolton the Marshal, and we entrusted our family soldiers to him with confidence. However, look at the infantry phalanx returning; this is clearly abnormal!"
Maege's tone was also sarcastic, "I heard that the Lord of the Dreadfort is kind to people, speaking softly even to a stable boy. I didn't expect him to be so vicious when it comes to harming his own people."
Rickard did not speak, but his eyes were extremely cold, making Robb Stark feel a chill.
Ser Wendel Manderly, an outsider in the North, only muttered that he hoped His Majesty the King would provide justice.
It was Jon Umber who spoke quickly, shouting loudly, "Why are you talking such nonsense? Look closely, hundreds of Last Hearth's lads have died, and House Karstark has suffered the most severe losses, almost a thousand men. Other families with some strength, more or less, have lost at least five hundred, haven't they?"
As he spoke, he pointed at the approaching infantry.
"What, are their soldiers from Dreadfort the best equipped and the most capable? Not a single one died! Are they treating us like brainless Others?!!!"
"Yes, Roose Bolton must give us an explanation!" "Return his soldiers to us." "Pay us money!!" "Give us land!!"
Robb Stark, whose mind was about to explode, had almost thought that Tywin had cast some evil spell, making all these vassals, who were originally loyal to him, change their hearts.
Now he finally understood the reason.
He carefully looked in the direction Greatjon was pointing, and his brows gradually furrowed.
At the time of the troop division at Twin River City, he felt that Roose Bolton possessed a very calm mind, and he himself was even somewhat afraid of this man, which was why he gave command of the Eastern Army to the Lord of the Dreadfort.
He hoped that he could help him resist Tywin's attack.
He didn't expect him to be too calm, too terrifying; during the battle, he actually let all the other family soldiers charge forward.
The casualties of the Dreadfort were only less than two digits!!
If no one reminded him, it would actually be hard to notice, but now they were marching on the wilderness, and the rows of formations were still quite neat, making it easy to count!!
Previously, he knew through raven messages that Roose Bolton was still commanding ten thousand men, but he didn't know that one-third of those ten thousand men were soldiers from the Dreadfort!!
Now, this action had caused dissatisfaction among most of the lords, who hoped that he, as King, would preside over justice.
Robb Stark, encountering such a situation for the first time, felt quite overwhelmed.
He had no experience dealing with such matters.
At this moment, Eddard watched the commotion from the crowd, almost laughing out loud.
Originally, he could have said something himself.
However, Robb Stark was too upright, naive, and somewhat pedantic; he might have been fooled by a few words from Old Flayer.
Now, with so many lords complaining, even to appease his vassals, Robb would have to do something to give Old Flayer a hard time.
This would be much more effective than him speaking up himself!!
As he was enjoying himself, he suddenly saw Robb Stark turn his head, his eyes piercing through the crowd, casting a look of help towards him, the instigator.
!!
Eddard was startled and quickly shook his head, then spread his hands, indicating that he also had no solution.
Are you kidding? As a second son with no right of inheritance, I shouldn't have experience dealing with such matters.
Moreover, if I were to offer advice rashly, Greatjon would definitely notice something.
People from the North are indeed straightforward and think less for most of the time, but that doesn't mean they are truly foolish!!
As soon as Eddard spoke, he might expose his role in this matter. He couldn't help with this, absolutely not!!
Seeing Eddard shake his head, Robb's face showed a helpless expression, but it was fleeting; his eyebrows raised as if he suddenly thought of something.
His expression also turned firm. He waved his hand, stopping the clamor of the lords, and said in a deep voice, "I understand your demands, and there will definitely be a reasonable explanation."
Hearing the King's reply, the lords who had come to seek justice all closed their mouths and said no more.
Since the division of troops at Twin River City, the Young Wolf could be said to be invincible, and his prestige was absolutely sufficient!!
Moreover, he had always been a man of his word, and his credibility was guaranteed.
Time passed bit by bit. Facing the hedgehog-like spearmen formation and the two thousand longbowmen, the Northern cavalry tried to approach several times but were forced back by a hail of arrows, leaving dozens of bodies behind. They then stayed in the distance, patiently waiting for the infantry to engage.
At this moment, Ser Kevan was holding the ford and commanding the spearmen formation.
Only he, the Duke of Casterly Rock's younger brother, had enough prestige to make these few thousand men obediently stay put, gaining enough time for Tywin's retreat.
Moreover, to be safe, most of the lords and officers who remained also had relatives who had retreated with them.
If something went wrong here, they would start killing over there.
But if they served Lannister wholeheartedly, House Lannister would absolutely repay their kindness!
With all these methods combined, Kevan managed to make these lords hold their ground despite knowing they were doomed to fail.
"Brothers, think of your wives and children back home. If you desert, your whole family will be hanged. But if you hold this place, Lord Tywin promises double compensation for those who sacrifice. If you are captured alive, Lannister will pay to redeem us!!"
"There is nothing to fear!!"
Although his father being taken away made Ser Vylant of Fair Isle very upset, he still swallowed his anger and arranged for his attendants to spread Tywin's promise.
To calm the restless hearts of the common soldiers.
Most of the nobles who remained were doing the same thing.
Their family's reputation might not be enough, but Lannister, who ruled the Westerlands, could definitely convince these commoners.
This was Duke Tywin's prestige in the Westerlands, and it was his ability to control with one hand fear and the other gold!!
Disobedient? Unhappy?
But everyone had to endure it!
Ser Kevan knew that this situation couldn't last much longer. He looked back and saw his brother's banner already far from the shore, quickly disappearing into the night, leaving him and the five thousand soldiers as pawns.
"Is this fleeing? In front of the North? In front of Stark?"
This thought had barely appeared in his mind before Ser Kevan instantly dispelled it. His eyes became firm again, and he silently said, "This is strategy, to preserve more fighting strength for future victory over the opponent."
Immediately, dense figures appeared on the distant hill. Even without counting carefully, it was clear there were at least over ten thousand.
The appearance of an enemy far outnumbering their own caused a stir among the soldiers.
"Calm down, you are the best soldiers in the Westerlands, stay calm, think of Lannister's promise!!"
Ser Kevan shouted loudly to boost morale, and the surrounding attendants also began running back and forth in the formation, shouting, "Lannister, a debt repaid, a kindness returned."
The commotion quickly subsided.
"Whew~"
Ser Kevan's tense expression relaxed. Even if he really had to surrender, now was not the time; his brother still needed some time to escape the pursuit.
Hold on a little longer, just a little longer.
As a younger brother, he was far less composed and calm than his older brother. Duke Tywin, even if he were truly afraid, would never show it.
Roose Bolton was also unwilling to show his inner feelings.
His outward appearance was gentle and refined, speaking softly to everyone, stable boys, maids, even a prostitute, without any difference.
At this moment, facing a large group of lords glaring at him, Roose Bolton was somewhat surprised. He didn't know which matter had caused their dissatisfaction.
Was it his private contact with Duke Tywin?
Or marrying Walder Frey's granddaughter during the war?
Or intentionally letting these lords' soldiers suffer huge losses?
But it shouldn't be!
Everything he had done was quite meticulous; even the commanders who fought alongside him didn't feel anything abnormal.
After all, how can there be no deaths on the battlefield? It could be entirely explained with words!
Old Flayer had already prepared a whole set of excuses to absolve himself.
"Lord Bolton."
The King's call pulled the Lord of the Dreadfort out of his thoughts. He bowed and said, "Your Majesty, I heed your summons, and I congratulate you on your victory over Lannister."
The current situation clearly indicated a great victory for House Stark.
The old lion had abandoned some soldiers and fled ignominiously.
Robb Stark looked at Roose Bolton, whose expression was extremely calm, and a wave of disgust crawled out from the bottom of his heart like an insect.
"How can he act as if there's no problem at all? Does he think I'm too young to be easily deceived?"
However, he had no intention of falling out with him, nor did he intend to give him a chance to explain. Instead, he said coldly, "Hmm, thank you for your hard work, Lord Bolton. It's just that there's another troublesome matter now that requires your loyalty to resolve for me."
Suddenly, Robb felt as if he was no longer afraid of this person.
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