Catelyn stood on tiptoes and gently touched her son's forehead.
"Robb, I trust you."
Catelyn Tully had seen her vassals make things difficult for the young Lord, but she had remained silent, choosing to trust her son… It could also be said that she didn't dare to step forward to defend him, because her intervention would only make the vassals treat Robb even more like a greenhorn, so… Robb could only rely on himself to earn the vassals' respect, or even fear.
At that time, her hands, hidden beneath the table, were tightly clenched as she quietly watched the vassals who were trying to "test" the young Lord in their own ways.
Roose Bolton of Dreadfort brashly demanded to lead the army… Robert Glover of Deepwood Motte, though gentler in his demeanor, was also aiming for command of the army.
Maege Mormont of Bear Island unceremoniously said that Robb was old enough to be her grandson and had no right to order her around, but then she added that she happened to have a granddaughter who could marry him.
Mycha Seven of Seven City directly brought her plump daughter, who was about thirty years old, sitting to her father's left, and kept her attention on her own plate the entire time.
Harris Horwood of Horwood City did not bring his daughter, but he brought many gifts for Robb, a horse today, a large piece of venison tomorrow, and a beautiful silver-rimmed horn the day after, and he asked for nothing in return… except that Robb help him gain a small piece of land from his grandfather, hunting rights north of a certain ridge, and the right to build a dam on the White Knife River, and so on.
Finally, Jon Umber of Last Hearth claimed that if he had to march behind the Horwood or Seven armies, he would immediately take his troops and go home.
...
Robb calmly and politely responded to each, gradually winning over the hearts of his vassals… Catelyn was proud of her son, but she missed her husband even more.
...
"What do you plan to do next? There are 20,000 soldiers gathered here, and as the commander, you need to make a decision quickly."
This army assembled by her son was neither the standing army of the Free Trade Cities nor the guards who dined with their lords; most of them were commoners: farmers, fishermen, shepherds, innkeepers' sons, merchants, and tanners, plus a few mercenary knights, free riders, and wandering knights eager for plunder. When their lords issued a summons, they came to serve, and they had their own needs.
Robb nodded: "Uncle Edmure is gathering the Riverlands vassals, and I want to go south as quickly as possible to meet him."
Lady Catelyn murmured: "Family, Duty, Honor… Your uncle will assist with all his heart."
"Mother, I leave the household to you."
Lady Catelyn shook her head slightly and said: "I will go south with you, or rather, I should depart before you. I need to go to Eyrie to personally meet Lysa."
Robb hesitated; his mother's decision was rational, but he worried about his two young brothers; they needed their mother's company.
Catelyn seemed to understand Robb's concerns: "Robb, you are also my child, and you also need my help. I want to help you win the war."
Maester Luwin softly interjected: "Lady Catelyn, Lord Robb, I will take good care of Bran and Rickon."
"Thank you, Maester Luwin."
"Thank you, Mother."
Lady Catelyn smiled gently and said: "I will depart early tomorrow morning. The rest is up to you… Robb, I hope you remember that they are Stark vassals, not your friends. They are obligated to obey your command."
...
...
Near Cobbler's Square, Gold Cloaks West Barracks, Commander's tent.
"Lord Green, I am concerned that King's Landing will soon run out of food."
"My Lord, I share the same worry. Reports indicate that there are almost no foreign grain merchants left in the city."
"Is that true?"
"If there's no food, even the sheep-like commoners will bite…"
"You mean those commoners will riot?"
"Obviously, of course, I'm just guessing."
"I agree with you. No one will just sit around and starve to death."
"My biggest concern is Fleabottom. I suggest we increase the manpower there."
"The alleys in that place are as intricate as a maze… unless we deploy all our manpower, but you should know that's impossible."
"That… that… does Blacksmith Street also need more manpower…?"
"You are truly a moron… an idiot. Don't underestimate blacksmiths; they have no less gold dragons hidden in their homes than noble lords. Even Others wouldn't believe they would go hungry."
Green had been silently staring at the map on the table, letting the Gold Cloaks officers discuss, but when he heard 'gold dragons'… one of his ears twitched slightly.
"Let's continue discussing Fleabottom. We all know it's a place where morality is lost."
"Don't they have brown soup…?"
"Gods preserve us, haven't you seen that stuff?"
"…"
"I've seen it with my own eyes a few times. I don't want to recall it, gods forgive me."
"That's why I said he's an idiot. Luckily, you'll never sit in the Hand's position."
"I… I…"
Thump, thump. Green lightly tapped the table, and the people gathered around it immediately stopped arguing, all looking at him.
"I have heard your concerns, and I will report this issue directly to the Queen Regent and the Small Council."
Pausing, Green continued: "Our responsibility as Gold Cloaks is to maintain the stability of King's Landing, so we naturally need to pay attention to every potential threat to stability, but…"
Green scanned the crowd, then continued: "We ourselves have thousands of mouths to feed. Will we go hungry? Can hungry Gold Cloaks still maintain the stability of this city?"
As Green's words fell, the tent suddenly fell silent.
Green's eyes twitched slightly, and he said: "Leyton, how many days of food are left in the West Barracks?"
Leyton nodded slightly and respectfully said: "My Lord, we usually receive the next seven days' military rations every seven days. There are still three days until the next batch… So, we only have three days of food reserves left."
Buzz!
The Gold Cloaks officers understood Green's meaning. The result of a food shortage would be outrageous food prices. At that time, would military rations still be delivered to them on time?
Green slowly began: "Gentlemen, will hungry soldiers still care who riots? Or rather, can hungry soldiers still quell a riot?"
"Lord Green, what should we do?"
No one was concerned about Fleabottom anymore; in their view, the Gold Cloaks were the top priority.
"There will be no unrest in King's Landing in the short term. Even if unrest occurs, the Red Keep will never abandon us, but we still need to stockpile military rations in advance to deal with unforeseen circumstances… My order is that everyone must do their utmost for this."
...
After everyone left, Leyton softly said: "My Lord, I don't think anyone… at least our Gold Cloaks will specifically pay attention to Fleabottom."
Green leaned back in his chair, rubbing his brow, and said: "Bread and blood… let the fire spread gradually."
...
...
Bitterbridge is a dependency and ancestral castle of House Caswell within the Riverlands, a crucial point where the Rose Avenue crosses the Mander River.
Riverlands, Bitterbridge.
Lady Olenna Redwyne tutted, saying: "Robert has two sons, and Renly has an older brother. How can he demand that ugly Iron Throne?"
Duke Mace Tyrell rubbed his hands, his face beaming: "Mother, Robert I's two sons are just children, and Stannis… you should know how much he hates me. Back then…"
Lady Olenna impatiently said: "If you want to boast about your achievements again, get out immediately! This old woman is tired of hearing it!"
Duke Mace chuckled: "No more, no more."
Lady Olenna suppressed the urge to roll her eyes and slowly walked to a chair and sat down.
"Renly knows how to dress, how to smile, how to speak, and from that, he concludes that he should be king? The Baratheon always have some absurd notions, which I think they inherited from their Targaryen blood."
Saying this, Lady Olenna angrily patted the armrest, then continued: "After you crown Renly, what do we get besides endless bowing to him and being led by the nose?"
Duke Mace asked in confusion: "Mother, Renly has already promised to make Margaery his queen…"
Duke Mace's expression became smug. He stroked his beard and added: "Renly has already promised, that's why I'm willing to support him."
Lady Olenna wished she could find a wooden stick to knock open her idiotic son's big head.
Before Lady Olenna could get angry, Duke Mace continued in a fawning manner: "Mother, aren't you very pleased? Our Golden Rose is finally going to be a Queen's family, and this Queen is your favorite granddaughter."
Lady Olenna took a deep breath. She felt that she was the biggest fool for getting angry with her idiotic son.
"My Duke of Highgarden, I am not yet senile. Are you sure Renly can give Margaery an heir to the throne?"
The smile on Duke Mace's face did not diminish. He nodded and said: "Their child will definitely be the heir to the Iron Throne."
Lady Olenna loudly rebuked: "You stupid pig! I mean, can Renly get Margaery pregnant?!"
Duke Mace's smile froze. He said in disbelief: "Mother, he… no way? That wouldn't benefit him at all…"
Saying this, Duke Mace suddenly stopped speaking.
Lady Olenna's voice was full of sarcasm: "You're not completely stupid after all. The Baratheon have a stubbornness that is difficult for ordinary people to understand, and you're not unaware of that, are you? How does it feel to be led by the nose? My Duke of Highgarden?"
Duke Mace's expression was somewhat flustered. He said urgently: "Mother, what should we do then? I've already sent out ravens summoning the vassals."
Lady Olenna snorted coldly and said: "What else can be done? You just send another order telling them to go home."
Duke Mace was stunned for a moment, then shook his head and said: "Mother, how can that be? They will mock the Golden Rose behind our backs."
Lady Olenna snorted coldly again: "But I rather think those vassals will only mock their stupid liege lord?"
Duke Mace sat blankly for a while, then looked at his elderly and frail mother, a fawning smile appearing on his face.
"Mother, Lady Olenna, please help me."
Lady Olenna disdainfully slapped away her son's hand and said: "Don't come near me, sit down properly."
Duke Mace chuckled and sat back in his chair.
Whether it was her husband or her son, Lady Olenna could no longer get angry. What made her even angrier was Renly, who was scheming against the Golden Rose.
"Duke Mace, how many troops have you assembled?"
"Besides the 20,000 troops stationed on the western border, another 80,000 troops are gathering here, making a total of 100,000 troops."
Lady Olenna couldn't help but retort sarcastically: "Duke of Highgarden, you truly are dedicated. If I were Renly, I'd be moved to tears."
Duke Mace chuckled.
Lady Olenna finally managed to compose herself.
"You immediately write to Renly and tell him… I am waiting at Bitterbridge to kneel and salute him. If he doesn't mind this old woman, then please trouble him to set off immediately to see me."
Duke Mace hesitated for a moment and said: "Mother, Renly is currently gathering troops at Storms End, and he might not be able to leave for now…"
As Duke Mace finished speaking, he sensed his mother's gaze, a gaze he was very familiar with… Hmm, his mother seemed to be looking at an idiot.
Well, he was used to it by now… Duke Mace remained composed.
"If you don't want to be led by the nose, do as I say! Duke Mace, the Golden Rose cannot be passive."
"Mother, I will send out the raven today."
Lady Olenna nodded her chin, waved her hand, and said: "Go and arrange it."
Duke Mace, however, did not move, but hesitated to speak.
Lady Olenna said somewhat impatiently: "My Duke of Highgarden, is there anything else you wish to say?"
Duke Mace's face was wreathed in smiles: "Mother, I want to know what to do next… For example, if Renly comes to see you immediately after receiving the letter, or if he doesn't set off immediately…"
"Alright, it's good to give you some preparation in advance, lest you do something irreversible again."
Lady Olenna's deep eyes stared at Duke Mace for a moment, then she continued: "If Renly comes, it means he still has some sincerity. This old woman will directly state her demands to him. If he truly is the future king, he will receive the full support of the Golden Rose, and the armies of the Riverlands and Stormlands will march together on King's Landing to help him sit on that Iron Throne."
Duke Mace nodded slightly; this was exactly his original plan. The few thousand Gold Cloaks in King's Landing would certainly not be able to stop the combined forces of over a hundred thousand from the Riverlands and Stormlands.
Duke Mace stroked his beard. He seemed to understand his mother's intention. The Golden Rose's support for Renly was conditional, and the issue of heirs was one of them.
Duke Mace couldn't help but ask: "What if we don't see Renly's sincerity?"
Lady Olenna snorted lightly and said: "Then you lead the hundred thousand strong Riverlands army and besiege Casterly Rock for me, and let Duke Tywin give my two grandsons an explanation. Don't the Lannister always pay their debts?"
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