A high hill in the Riverlands, in the woods called High Heart.
Two groups converged at the foot of the mountain, one bearing the banner of the direwolf, the other the banner of a silver trout leaping against a background of red and blue stripes.
Robb Stark and his uncle, Ser Edmure Tully, finally met again after a long separation.
"I've gathered quite a few refugees and soldiers in the Riverlands, adding up to more than five thousand.""Although this is good news, Edmure still looked worried: 'The Mountain has unleashed a reign of terror in the Riverlands, and many civilians are lost in the wilderness.'
'After these people join my ranks, not only do they lack any combat ability, but they also burden the seasoned soldiers. I suspect it would be a great achievement if they didn't break our formation on the battlefield, and they are also consuming our food.'
Ordinary farmers, if sent to the battlefield without training, can only be counterproductive. Not only can they not help, but their cries and fleeing will also undermine morale."So even though Edmure has five thousand men, just a hundred trained enemies who have seen battle once could chase them all the way to the Wall in the North.
If they lived, that is.
Robb, sitting at the head of the tent, smiled slightly after hearing his uncle's complaint.
He casually tossed a few secret letters to Edmure, who took them and opened them, finding maps of the Riverlands marked with certain routes.
Edmure, not understanding, looked at Robb with some confusion.Robb looked out of the tent: "That old dog Tywin has unleashed a lot of pups. They've seized a lot of supplies and are transporting them to King's Landing and Harrenhal. These are the supply routes I've uncovered. Just take some men and go rob them."
Robb added, "Use the Brotherhood Without Banners I brought to attack them. You should train those farmers you have first."
This intelligence was easily obtained.
Robb's punishments were unprecedentedly terrifying. Whether they were Lannister men or his own, everyone felt psychological discomfort when they first saw so many horrifying scenes.The five or six captured nobles and their knights were caught between life and death, unable to beg for either, even the luxury of a wail was denied to them.
Under such cruel torture, they answered whatever Robb asked. In reality, they were already delirious, answering questions subconsciously, completely unaware of what they were saying.
Such punishment was beyond any human's endurance.
After all, the fact that they couldn't faint or die no matter how much pain they endured was simply too outrageous.
"Robb... Your Majesty, shouldn't we just kill those people outside?""Torturing nobles like this, others might..."
Edmure hesitated for a moment, then added the word "Your Grace."
Only he and his nephew were in the tent now. He had originally wanted to call Robb by his name to show their familial closeness, but the terrifying scenes outside made him subconsciously add the word "Your Grace."
It was a kind of invisible authoritative oppression.
Robb shook his head. "Killing them directly is too easy on them. Even if nobles are a cut above commoners, they can't be massacred in such a cruel way.""Besides, the Riverlands have already sworn fealty to me, and the people of the Riverlands are my people. Since they dare to attack my people, it means they have already considered the consequences."
Robb never minded being a tyrant. Sometimes, political maneuvering wasn't that complicated: win over some, suppress others.
Treat your own people well, be cruel to your enemies. Robb retained this simple concept of political maneuvering.
Edmure sighed helplessly, preparing to discuss another matter with Robb."The Mountain is very active in the Riverlands right now, and many nobles have had their lands completely plundered by him, so they hope you can allow them to return to their own territories to protect their property.
Edmure has also been having a headache these past few days. Many Riverlands nobles, seeing that the crisis at Riverrun has passed, are eager to return to their own territories.
Although some are eager to attack the Westerlands and reclaim everything they've lost, the Riverlands nobles as a whole are more inclined towards self-preservation."It's no wonder the Riverlands nobles are a generally warlike bunch; historically, they wouldn't have been plundered in turn by the Westerlands and the Stormlands otherwise.
Robb immediately nodded in agreement: "Of course they can."
Edmure didn't react, subconsciously continuing to persuade: "They lost a lot at Golden Tooth, and now... what? You agreed?!"
"Yes, of course they can go back. I need them to manage their lands well and provide me with supplies. But not now, after I've cleaned up most of the Lannister's claws in the Riverlands, they can go back."Edmure was taken aback: "You're going to face the Mountain head-on? That's too dangerous!"
The Mountain's fearsome reputation could now scare any Riverlands child to tears, but no adult would play such a joke on a child, as they all knew that the joke could become reality at any time.
Rumor had it that the Riverlands garrison would wet their pants at the mere sight of the Mountain, and that the Mountain would personally tear apart anyone who dared to stand in his way.Even the legends say his horse wasn't an ordinary beast, but transformed from a demon, otherwise there's no way to explain how that horse could carry the two-meter-forty-five Mountain and his heavy armor.
The Mountain's men were as brutal as the Mountain himself. They enjoyed amputation, and cruelty flowed in their blood. Women had better pray they had the courage to commit suicide before being captured, otherwise they would surely regret it.
Robb knew the Mountain was the only card Tywin could play in the current situation. He had been encountering Lannister troops less and less frequently lately, indicating they were beginning to contract.But the Mountain's actions became more and more blatant, like a plump pheasant roasting itself to a tender, juicy perfection, its intentions of seduction couldn't be clearer.
"When I catch the Mountain," Robb said to his uncle, "Tywin that old bastard will probably shrink back into his shell completely, and then those nobles who want to go home can go home."
Edmure was still worried: "But, that's the Mountain! You're the King in the North, how can you do something so dangerous?"
He knew Robb was strong, but anything could happen on the battlefield.If something were to happen to Robb...
Edmure hardly dared to continue thinking. Not only would he be unable to face Catelyn, but he also couldn't imagine what terrible disaster would befall the Riverlands.
Robb smiled. "Dear Uncle, perhaps the Mountain is dangerous to you, but for me, there doesn't seem to be anything dangerous in this world."
Thanks to [Lady Xu] for the reward.
...
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