Harrenhal Mutiny-March on King's Landing

"Where did Jon go? Why did he leave me here?! Did he go to attack King's Landing?!"

"No, Miss Arya, Master will be back soon."

Inside the room at the Dreadfort, Old York was frantically trying to comfort Arya.

The room they were in was the one Prince Daemon had lived in back then. Old York looked at the marks left by Prince Daemon and seemed to be able to feel the anxiety he felt as he prepared to face the dragon Vhagar.

Old York simply couldn't understand why Jon would stage a mutiny that offered him no benefit whatsoever. With his military achievements, a knighthood and land grant in the future were practically guaranteed.

Before Jon's actions, he left Old York at the Tower of Dread to prevent Arya from being injured in the ensuing chaos. Now that everyone knows Arya's identity, it's impossible for anyone Harrenhal to harm her.

But Old York knew that Jon was actually concerned about him. After all, he was over sixty years old and couldn't be of much help in the operation. "Gods bless this young man and let him accomplish what he wants to accomplish," Old York prayed in his heart, hoping that Jon's wish would be fulfilled.

What bad intentions could someone who would risk their life to save others on the battlefield have? He only knew that Jon must have his reasons for doing so.

At that moment, a familiar face appeared in Old York's sight; it was Monde, who Jon Jon's army along with Martin.

"Lord Sir, Lord Jon has the situation under control," Monde said excitedly.

Upon hearing this news, Old York breathed a long sigh of relief, while Arya, standing beside him, kept asking questions:

"What's going on? What happened to Jon? Tell me quickly—"

On the other side, the Kingspyre Tower.

"Jon, are the Tyrell and Lannister really going to join forces? Joffrey is just a Lannister!"

The speaker was also Mormont, a Bear Island native who was rather naive when it came to politics.

"A prince can become a bastard, and a bastard can become a prince, as long as there is a need." Mormont pondered Jon's words, feeling that something was amiss but unsure how to refute them.

"And what if you're wrong?" Wendel Manderly asked, though he was obese, he was always cautious as a member of the House Manderly.

"Since the army set out, when have I ever missed a chance?" Jon retorted immediately, leaving everyone speechless.

Roose Bolton, standing to the side, snorted coldly, wanting to retort but then shut his mouth.

Although this was arrogant, it was true, but Jon patiently explained it to them:

"I think you all know that Margaery, the youngest daughter of House Tyrell, is the same age as me, and her fame is widespread. The condition for the House Tyrell' alliance with Renly was that Renly would make Margaery their queen. Now that Renly is dead, my sister Sansa was originally slated to become Joffrey's queen, but now the Stark and Lannister are enemies. If House Tyrell still wants a crown, where will they get it from?" Jon then changed to a stern tone, "If Stannis is defeated, then our North will become easy prey. Isn't the best option to take the initiative and keep the war out of our homeland?"

Listening to Jon's analysis, everyone nodded in agreement, but one person, still unwilling to give up, added, "And His Majesty Robb."

"His Majesty Robb has already formed a marriage alliance with our House Frey," a nobleman stood up and said. He didn't even need to introduce himself; his short chin was the best proof of his identity. "Yes, the Stark have formed a marriage alliance with the House Frey. As people of the North, we must keep our word, mustn't we?" Jon seized the opportunity to flatter him, and no one else in the hall spoke.

"Jon, is this really necessary?" Meiqi Saiwen looked at Roose Bolton, who was being held hostage, and her heart was still pounding.

"If it were you, would you be willing to entrust your back to our Lord Bolton?" Since Roose Bolton has started calling Jon a bastard, Jon has no reason to give him any face.

Upon hearing Jon speak of him in this way, Roose Bolton was about to retort. He widened his eyes and opened his mouth, but in the end, he couldn't say anything, so he turned his gaze to the others.

But after hearing Jon's words, the others nodded in agreement.

There was no way around it; the fact that he abandoned his army on the the Green Fork was deeply ingrained in people's minds.

Although there were no tactical errors, Jon first turned the tide by saving Meiqi Saiwen and Harrion, and then went to Darry Castle to kill the Mountain, saving the House Darry from extinction. His two actions were in stark contrast to Roose Bolton's, like two deep nails that pinned him to the pillar of shame.

"I have already asked Lord Bolton, and he does not agree to my going to King's Landing. Now Robb is also demanding that I relinquish my military command and go to Riverrun. I have no other choice."

After a long pause, Harrion spoke up, "Jon, I'll follow you. The Karstark and the Stark are one. I will march on King's Landing and avenge Lord Eddard!"

"Although I am not worthy of your thanks, I still thank you on behalf of the House Stark," Jon said, looking at him.

Harrion's statement put Meiqi Saiwen in an awkward position, after all, he too had been rescued from the battlefield by Jon.

But King's Landing was not close, and he might have to face Tyrell's army, which made him uneasy.

Meiqi Saiwen slowly rose, as if his backside had been bitten by the chair. "Jon, I'm very grateful to you for saving my life. If it weren't for you, I would either have died on the battlefield or become Lannister prisoner, but now—"

"I understand what you mean," Jon said. "I'll leave Harrenhal to you to guard; you're one of the people I trust most."

What Earl Severn to say was that Jon was now staging a coup, which was tantamount to disobeying Robb's orders, but seeing how much Jon trusted him, he was also somewhat moved.

He hesitated for a moment before saying, "But Jon, you're right. I... I still have 1,300 men. I'll give you half."

Thank you.

Seeing him say that, Manderly and Mormont followed suit.

I'll give you half too.

Me too.

In the end, Frey also gave Jon half of his men.

This aligns with the House Frey's consistent investment philosophy of seeking stability.

Jon lost, then they were "forced into splitting up"; if they won, then they contributed and made a contribution.

Finally Jon looked at Vargoth, who had remained silent.

Vargo Hoat felt Jon's gaze and instinctively sat up straight. As the leader of the Brave Companions, he had over two thousand men under his command.

However, Jon's strategic objective was far too risky, and he hesitated before speaking:

"Lord Jon, this isn't a decision I can make alone. Mercenaries are just trying to make a living."

"I don't want your soldiers." Jon interrupted him directly. "The Brave Companions have surrendered Harrenhal to the North. This is your achievement, and the North will not forget it. In the upcoming war, you can stay here and stand with the North, or you can withdraw from the war. But if you choose to stand with the Lannister again, you know my methods and capabilities."

Hearing Jon's sinister and chilling words, Vargo Hoat felt no resentment whatsoever; instead, he forced a smile with a supple gait.

"Rest assured, sir. Mercenary groups that keep wavering will only ruin their reputation and lower their commissions. We're here to risk our lives, so naturally we want to get a good price."

In the end, Jon assembled an army of 15,000 men.

Compared to the massive Harrenhal, this army was as insignificant as a wisp of smoke rising from a pile of bacon.

But Jon wants to use this army to officially step into the center of the Seven Kingdoms!

The carriage bumped along the road to Riverrun.

Inside the carriage, Arya's curses and pleas had ceased at some point. A sense of foreboding gripped Old York; he abruptly reined in the carriage and lifted the curtain—it was empty.

Only a section of the wooden plank at the bottom of the carriage had been lifted, revealing the bumpy muddy road beneath. Cold wind blew in, chilling one to the bone.