Catelyn stood on tiptoes and gently touched his son's forehead.
"Robb, I believe you."
Catelyn·Tully had seen the vassals making things difficult for the young lord. At that time, she remained silent and chose to believe her son... It can also be said that she did not dare to defend her son, because her appearance would make the vassals regard Robb as a brat, so... Robb could only win the respect, and even fear, of the vassals on her own.
At that time, she held her hands tightly under the table and quietly watched the vassals who were trying to "test" the young lord in their own way.
Dreadfort's Roose·Bolton asked in a reckless tone to let him lead the army...Deepwood Motte's Robert Glover, although his attitude was milder, also aspired to command the army.
Bear Island's Mei Ji·Mormont bluntly said that Robb was old enough to be her grandson and was not qualified to boss her around, but she also said that she happened to have a granddaughter who could marry him.
Cerwyn's Meiqi Cerwyn directly brought her chubby daughter, who was about thirty years old, sitting on her father Left Hand's plate, focusing on her dinner plate from beginning to end.
Hornwood's Harys·Hornwood did not bring his daughter, but he brought many gifts to Robb. Today he gave a horse, tomorrow he gave a large piece of venison, and the next day he gave another one. A beautiful silver-edged horn, and there is absolutely no need for anything in return... except that he hopes that Robb will help him obtain a small piece of land from his grandfather, hunting rights to the north of a certain ridge, and the right to build a dam on White Knife, etc.
Last Hearth's Jon·Umber claimed that if he was asked to walk behind the Hornwood family or Cerwyn family's army, he would immediately take the leader home.
Robb responded calmly and politely, gradually winning over the hearts of the vassals... Catelyn was proud of her son, but she also missed her husband even more.
"What are you going to do next? There are 20,000 troops gathered here. As the commander-in-chief, you need to make a decision as soon as possible."
The army her son assembled was neither Free Cities's standing army nor the guards who ate with the lord. Most of them were ordinary civilians: farmers, fishermen, shepherds, innkeepers' sons, businessmen and leatherworkers, plus a few mercenary knights, Free Riders and wandering knights who were eager to plunder. When their lord issued a summons, they came to serve, and they had their own needs.
Robb nodded. "Uncle Edmure is summoning Riverlands's vassals. I want to go south to join him as soon as possible."
Lady Catelyn murmured, "Family, responsibility, honor... your uncle will help you wholeheartedly."
"Mom, I leave the house to you."
Lady Catelyn shook his head slightly and said, "I will go south with you. It is best if I leave before you. I want to go to Eyrie and meet Lysa in person."
Robb was a little hesitant. His mother's decision was rational, but he was worried about his two young brothers, who needed his 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 interjected softly. "Sir Lady Catelyn, Robb, I will take good care of Bran and Rickon."
"Thank you, Maester Luwin."
"Thank you, mother."
Lady Catelyn smiled softly and said, "I will set off early tomorrow morning and leave the rest to you...Robb, I hope you can remember that they are House Stark's vassals, not your friends. They are obliged to obey your orders."
Near Cobbler's Square, Gold Cloaks Western Barracks, the commander-in-chief's camp.
"Sir Gryn, I'm worried that King's Landing will soon be short of food."
"Sir, I have the same worry. It is reported that there are almost no grain merchants from other places in the city."
"Really?"
"If there is a shortage of food, the untouchables like sheep will bite people..."
"You mean those untouchables are going to riot?"
"Obviously, of course, I'm just guessing."
"I agree with you, no one will just wait to starve to death."
"The place I'm most worried about is Flea Bottom. I propose to strengthen the manpower there."
"The alleyways in that place are as intricate as a maze... Unless we mobilize all our manpower, you should also know that that is impossible."
"That... that...Street of Steel also needs to strengthen manpower over there..."
"You are really stupid... Idiot, don't underestimate the Smith. They have no less Gold Dragon hidden in their homes than noble gentlemen. White Walker will not believe that they will be hungry."
Gryn had been staring at the map on the table in silence while the Gold Cloaks officers discussed it, but when he heard Gold Dragon... one of his ears twitched slightly.
"Let's continue talking about Flea Bottom. We all know that it is a place where morality has been lost."
"Don't they have bowl of brown..."
"The Gods bless you, haven't you seen that thing?"
"..."
"I have seen it with my own eyes a few times. I don't want to recall it. The Gods forgive me."
"That's why I said he was an idiot. Fortunately, you will never be able to sit in Hand of the King's position."
"I... I..."
Dong Dong, Gryn knocked on the table, and everyone standing around the table immediately stopped arguing and paid attention.
"I hear your concerns and I will report this issue directly to the Queen Regent and Small Council."
After a pause, Gryn continued, "Our Gold Cloaks responsibility is to maintain the stability of King's Landing, so we naturally have to pay attention to every hidden danger that may endanger the stability, but..."
Gryn glanced at everyone, and then said, "We ourselves have thousands of mouths, will we go hungry? Can Gold Cloaks, who is not full, still maintain the stability of this city?"
After Gryn finished speaking, there was a sudden silence in the tent.
Gryn's eyes moved slightly and said, "Leyton, how many days can Western Barracks's food last?"
Leyton nodded slightly and said respectfully, "My lord, we usually receive the next seven days of military rations every seven days, and now there are still three days until the next batch... So, we only have three days of food reserves left."
Buzz!
Gold Cloaks The officers understood what Gryn meant. The result of the food shortage is that the price of food will become outrageous. At that time, will the military rations be delivered to them on time?
Gryn slowly said, "Everyone, do hungry soldiers care who will riot? Or can hungry soldiers still quell the riot?"
"Gryn Master, what should we do?"
No one pays attention to the situation of Flea Bottom anymore. In their opinion, Gold Cloaks is the top priority.
"There will be no turmoil in King's Landing in the short term. Even if there is turmoil, Red Keep will never ignore us, but we still need to reserve military rations in advance to deal with unexpected situations... My order is that everyone must do their best for this."
After leading everyone away, Leyton said softly, "My lord, I don't think anyone... at least our Gold Cloakss won't pay special attention to Flea Bottom."
Gryn leaned on the back of the chair, rubbed his eyebrows, and said, "Bread and blood... let the fire gradually spread."
Bitterbridge is the territory and home fortress of House Caswell within the Reach. It is the key for Roseroad to cross Mander River.
The Reach, Bitterbridge.
Mrs. Olenna·Redwyne clicked her tongue and said, "Robert has two sons, and Renly has an elder brother. How can he ask for that ugly Iron Chair?"
Duke Mace·Tyrell rubbed his hands, with a smile on his face, "Mother, Robert I's two sons are still just children, and Stannis... you should know how much he hated me, back then..."
Mrs. Olenna said impatiently, "If you want to brag about your achievements again, get out of here immediately, old lady, I'm tired of hearing this!"
Lord Mace said with a smile, "I won't mention it anymore, I won't mention it anymore."
Mrs. Olenna resisted the urge to roll her eyes and slowly walked to the chair and did it.
"Did Renly know how to dress, how to smile, how to speak, and thus came to the conclusion that he should be the king? People in the Baratheon family always have some ridiculous ideas, and I think they are all inherited from their Targaryen bloodline."
With that said, Mrs. Olenna patted the armrest angrily, and then said, "After you help Renly put on the crown, our family will not only kneel to him endlessly and have to be led by his nose, what will we gain?"
Lord Mace said doubtfully, "Mother, Renly has promised to make Margaery his Queen..."
Lord Mace's expression became proud. He touched his beard and said, "Renly has already agreed, so I am willing to support him."
Lady Olenna wishes he could find a wooden stick and crack his stupid son's big head open.
Before Lady Olenna could get angry, Lord Mace continued in a flattering manner, "Mother, are you very pleased? Our Golden Rose family will finally become the Queen family, and this Queen is your favorite granddaughter."
Lady Olenna took a deep breath, she felt that she was the biggest fool who was angry with her stupid son.
"My Lord of Highgarden, I am not an old fool. Are you sure that Renly can give Margaery an heir to the throne?"
The smile on Lord Mace's face did not diminish. He nodded and said, "Their child must be the heir of Iron Throne."
Lady Olenna shouted loudly, "You stupid pig, I mean can Renly make Margaery pregnant?!"
Lord Mace's smile froze, and he said in disbelief, "Mother, he... can't do it? This won't do him any good..."
As he said that, Lord Mace suddenly stopped talking.
Lady Olenna's voice was full of sarcasm. "You are not that stupid. People in the Baratheon family have stubbornness that is difficult for ordinary people to understand. You don't know that, right? How about it? How does it feel to be led by the nose? My Lord of Highgarden?"
Lord Mace looked a little flustered and said anxiously, "Mother, what should we do? I have already sent a message to summon the vassals."
Lady Olenna snorted coldly and said, "What else can we do? Just issue another order for them to go back to their respective homes."
Lord Mace was stunned for a moment, then shook his head and said, "Mother, how can that be done? They will laugh at Golden Rose behind their back."
Lady Olenna snorted again, "But why do I think those vassals will only laugh at their stupid lords?"
Lord Mace sat blankly for a while, looking at his old and thin mother, a flattering smile appeared on his face.
"Mother, Lady Olenna, please help me."
Lady Olenna knocked off his son's hand in disgust and said, "Don't come near me, sit still."
Lord Mace sat back in the chair with a smile.
Whether it was her husband or her son, Lady Olenna could no longer be angry. What made her even more angry was Renly who was plotting against Golden Rose.
"Lord Mace, how many troops have you gathered?"
"In addition to the 20,000 troops placed on the Westerlands border, there are 80,000 troops gathering here, a total of 100,000 troops."
Lady Olenna couldn't help but sarcastically said, "Lord of Highgarden, you are really trying your best. If I were Renly, I would be moved to tears."
Lord Mace chuckled.
Lady Olenna finally regained his composure.
"You write to Renly immediately and tell him... I am waiting to kneel down and salute him at Bitterbridge. If you don't dislike me as an old woman, please trouble him to set out to see me immediately."
Lord Mace hesitated and said, "Mother, Renly is gathering the army at Storm's End, and there may be a chance that we will not be able to escape temporarily..."
Lord Mace noticed his mother's gaze after saying that. This was a gaze he was very familiar with... Well, her mother seemed to be looking at an idiot.
Well, he has long been used to it... Lord Mace is at ease.
"If you don't want to be led around, just do as I say! Lord Mace, Golden Rose can't be passive."
"Mother, I will send out the letter today."
Lady Olenna tapped his chin, waved his hand, and said, "Go and make arrangements."
Lord Mace did not move, but hesitated to speak.
Lady Olenna said impatiently, "My Lord of Highgarden, do you have any other instructions?"
Lord Mace said with a smile on his face, "Mother, I want to know what to do next... for example, Renly came to see you immediately after receiving the letter, or he did not leave immediately..."
"Well, it's time for you to be prepared in advance so that you don't do something irreversible again."
Lady Olenna stared at Lord Mace with his deep eyes for a while, and then said, "Renly is here, which means that he is still somewhat sincere. I, an old woman, will directly make demands to him. If he is really the future country, King, he will be able to get the full support of Golden Rose, and the armies of the Reach and Stormlands will march to King's Landing together to help him get on the Iron Chair."
Lord Mace nodded slightly. This was exactly his original plan. King's Landing's thousands of Gold Cloaks would never be able to stop the coalition forces of hundreds of thousands of the Reach and Stormlands.
Lord Mace touched his beard, and he seemed to understand his mother's intention. Golden Rose supported Renly with conditions, and the issue of heirs was one of them.
Lord Mace couldn't help but said, "What if we don't see Renly's sincerity?"
Lady Olenna snorted lightly and said, "Then you lead the Reach's one hundred thousand army to surround Casterly Rock, and let Lord Tywin give an explanation to my two grandsons. Lannister must pay his debts, right?"