In the triangular hall of Riverrun, candlelight illuminated the huge map in uncertain light and dark.
Outside the window, the roar of the intersection of Tumblestone and Red Fork continued day and night, hitting the thick stone wall.
And beside the huge oak table in the center of the hall, the atmosphere was even more turbulent than the torrent outside.
West Riverlands and Lords stood around the table, with heavy thoughts etched on everyone's face.
Blackfish Brynden. Tully leans on the main seat.
His fingers rubbed the obsidian fish-shaped pin, and his eyes scanned every mark on the map like a hawk.
Tytos. Blackwood was the first to break the silence.
The owner of the Raventree Hall wears a gorgeous cloak made of crow feathers, and his aquiline nose casts a sharp shadow under the candlelight.
His fingers were long and thin, and he pointed heavily on the north side of the map.
"The Frey family is standing still. The Twins's door is closed. We can't expect them to go south."
"It's harder to count on them than to count on Trident to go back."
His finger traced an arc on the map.
"The House Morrison tribe killed our envoy and hung his head on the flagpole with an extremely determined attitude."
"The House Bracken family has not expressed its position."
He points to the southwest, where the land represents House Lychester.
"Suleiman has deployed an army on each of the lands of Southwest Riverlands and House Lychester, each numbering between 5,000 and 6,000 people."
"The two armies assist each other and are connected in prestige."
Tytos. Blackwood raised his head and looked at everyone.
"Suleiman's plan is very clear. He wants to delay time and make us restrained and unable to move."
"It's like two fangs spread out."
He pulled out a dagger from his waist and drew an arc on the map.
"If we gather heavy troops to attack Lychester's territory, Southwest Riverlands's rebels can penetrate directly into our rear."
"On the other hand, if we want to recapture Southwest Riverlands first, the rebels in the direction of Lychester will send troops to support us, threatening our front and back."
"If the rebels led by Lychester or Southwest Riverlands take the initiative, another unit can respond at any time."
The hall fell into dead silence.
Only the roar of the river outside the window seemed to repeat their plight.
Lords The people looked at each other, some looked down at the tips of their boots, and some rubbed the hilt of their swords anxiously.
They are trapped.
Molle. Lord Smallwood, pulling his beard irritably.
He looked at Tytos. Blackwood, with a hint of anxiety in his tone. "Do you have any plans, Lord Tytos?"
All eyes were focused on the lord of House Blackwood.
Tytos. Blackwood took a deep breath and seemed to be weighing what to say.
He sighed and looked solemn, "Our army is sparse, weak and easily controlled."
"Besides, the rebels used Lord Southwest Riverlands's thousand-year wealth to win people's hearts.
"Morale is high now, so it's best not to confront them head-on."
He put forward his suggestion with a hint of helplessness in his voice.
"We should stick to Riverrun, temporarily avoid the rebels' attack, and wait for the opportunity."
"At the same time, send someone to the Westerlands to ask for help."
"As long as the army of Lannister, attack from Golden Tooth and invade Southwest Riverlands."
"At that time, there will be no worries."
"If we send out troops to capture the territory of House Lychester, and then go south, we can recover Riverlands."
As soon as he finished speaking, a lord let out a strange sneer.
"Blackwood-sama."
The man stared at Tytos. Blackwood, his eyes full of undisguised suspicion.
"I remember very clearly that at the Harrenhal conference, you were one of the people who voted for House Lychester."
"You also gave House Blackwood the family dagger that has been passed down from generation to generation to that bastard Suleiman."
"Turn around and show your absolute loyalty to House Tully."
The lord took a step forward, his voice getting sharper.
"Now you are praising the rebels so much that you advocate avoiding war and asking for help."
"One lion is not enough, we have to bring in the Westerlands lions."
"Who knows if you have secretly taken refuge with them a long time ago!"
These words were like a spark falling into the grassland.
Everyone's eyes changed instantly, with suspicion, vigilance, and hostility shooting at Tytos. Blackwood like arrows.
In Riverlands, although House Blackwood is ancient, it also seems a little out of place because of its belief in Old Gods and Lords, which is Riverlands.
"You!"
Tytos. Blackwood was furious, his hooked nose turned red with anger, and he reached out to draw his sword.
Seeing that an internal order was about to break out at the battle meeting.
"Enough!"
Blackfish Brynden. Tully's voice interrupted the argument.
He stood up straight, and the quarrel in the hall came to an abrupt end.
"I trust the honor of Lord Blackwood."
Tytos. Blackwood's chest rose and fell violently, and he nodded slightly at Blackfish, barely suppressing the anger in his eyes.
"Now is not the time for internal strife."
Blackfish's eyes swept over everyone, and everyone avoided his sight and lowered their heads.
He walked to the map and looked at the two Black Lion flags representing Suleiman, as if he were looking at two ferocious beasts that choose to devour anyone.
"Master Tytos's suggestion is indeed the safest from a military point of view."
He first affirmed Blackwood's judgment, and then changed the subject.
"But it's best for Riverlands people to resolve matters Riverlands by themselves."
Blackfish stretched out his finger and gently tapped the edge of the Riverlands map representing the position of the Westerlands.
"You should know who Tywin. Lannister is."
"If the Westerlands army comes, they won't just kill the rebels, the bandits in red cloaks will burn and rob everything along the way."
"There were countless killings and looting, and we don't know how many Riverlands civilians it will cause."
"We are fighting to protect Riverlands, not to lure wolves into the house and turn this land into scorched earth."
Lords are silent. Does the death of those people have anything to do with them?
"Besides.
Blackfish's voice became cold, and his eyes flashed with the light of a seasoned hunter.
"Master Blackwood is talking about the advantages of the rebels, but things always have pros and cons."
He straightened up and pointed at the two echoing Black Lion flags on the map.
"Suleiman divided its troops into two places. It seemed like a huge force, but in fact it completely separated its defense posture."
"His forces were scattered and weak everywhere."
"In terms of local strength, they cannot achieve an overwhelming advantage compared to our assembled West Riverlands coalition forces.""
Blackfish paused and his eyes became deep.
"If Suleiman is personally commanding Riverlands, I will choose Lord Tytos's safe strategy and wait for the arrival of the king's army."
"That young man has terrible intuition and command abilities that belie his age."
"But he was not here, so he handed over Southwest Riverlands to Patrick. Morrison, a young boy with a fierce personality."
"Who gave the Lychester territory to him? Lushen, a commoner born as a farmer."
"This gives us an opportunity. If the commanders cannot coordinate with each other, they will lead to their own destruction."
Blackfish Brynden. Tully's mouth curved into a cold arc.
His finger pointed heavily at the position of "Southwest Riverlands".
"After observation, I found that Patrick. Morrison has a fierce personality, is irritable and irritable, and is extremely eager to prove himself.
"The rebels under his command Southwest Riverlands will definitely seek war and be eager to make meritorious deeds."
"Do you think Morrison will listen to a farmer's command? Will he be willing to cooperate with a farmer's actions?"
Hearing this, all the Lords had understanding looks on their faces. In Westeros, the class gap is more insurmountable than the city wall.
Suleiman would appoint a farmer to command the army, which was simply unheard of and made everyone unbelievable.
"Patrick. Morrison will only despise him and despise him, and will never cooperate with him."
"If two commanders cannot coordinate, they will lead to their own destruction."
"Besides, the enemy is strong and we are weak, and the rebels are now arrogant, which will inevitably breed arrogance, laziness and contempt for us."
"This is our chance to win."
He raised his eyes and looked at everyone with sharp eyes.
"Suleiman has no one to use after all. He has no loyalty in his hands. A lord who is good at fighting can command the army."
The atmosphere in the hall changed.
The original depression and despair were replaced by an eagerness to fight.
The eyes of the Western Riverlords of the Riverlands players lit up, and they saw the opportunity to win.
Tytos. Blackwood Looking at the scene in front of him, his frown finally relaxed.
He looked at Blackfish Brynden. Tully with deep admiration in his eyes.
"Lord Smallwood."
Brynden. Tully turned his head and looked at Molle Smallwood in the crowd.
"House Smallwood are you willing to take on important responsibilities?"
Molle. Smallwood took a step forward with a smile, held his head high, and grinned, showing his white teeth, like a bear preparing to prey.
"Just give the order!"
Blackfish Brynden. Tully nodded, with a trace of murderous intent flashing in his eyes.
"I want you to personally lead the troops to provoke Morrison."
"Make him angry, make him fly into a rage, make him feel you are vulnerable."
"Then, you have to deliberately expose a flaw."
"Attract Morrison to lead the rebels to attack your territory and your castle."
Brynden. Tully's palm slammed on the House Smallwood castle on the map.
"We will lead our troops to take advantage of his unpreparedness and attack you internally and externally."
Blackfish raised his head, looked around everyone, his voice was sonorous and powerful.
"Right here, eat him!"
After a brief silence, a neat and passionate roar erupted in the hall.
"Okay!"
"Just do it!"
"Let that Morrison boy know what real war is!"
Blackfish Brynden. Tully was not dazzled by the cheers of the crowd.
He still had a stern look on his face, looking out the window at the dark night.
All actions of Suleiman are breaking the rules of Westeros.
Sometimes, it is this power to break the rules that will become the grave where your army is buried.