Winterfell.

Farewells rang out from outside the walls, and the townsfolk were bidding farewell to Robb, Lord Stark, and the lord of Winterfell on horseback.

His cloak fluttered in the wind, and the Icewolf Grey Wind galloped to his side.

This was the first time Jones had seen an ice wolf, and he had heard that it could grow to the size of a small pony when it was an adult, and that it was so intelligent that it could be considered a strange beast, but unfortunately it was now only the size of an ordinary adult wolf.

"That guy's sword is really big, huh?"

"Which one?"

"It's the knight who rode the highest horse and wore black armor. ”

Jones was accustomed to the chatter coming from the side of the road, and he had been practicing epee hard these days, and had found an opportunity to learn actual combat swordsmanship with the big Jon, plus he had taken a tall horse.

It won't take long for an ordinary horse to run out of breath when he lies on his back, and only the horse breed that the Amber family has bred for thousands of years can meet his requirements.

Jones's cavalry commando team walked behind Robb and the Counts, and the total number of attendants exceeded 500, but the only one he knew was Rona Stone, the son of Earl Stone, who had been defeated in the tournament before, and most of the others were cavalry recruited from under the territory of Winterfell.

The cavalry numbered about 4,000, followed by nearly 10,000 infantry, armed with spears and shields, or carrying bows and arrows, or carrying swords and sharp knives.

During the journey south, there will also be Knights of the Wasteland, Zedi, and Earl of Flint.

......

Carlin Bay, an abandoned castle at the northern end of a huge moorland neck.

It has been uninhabited for hundreds of years, and its three dilapidated towers speak of its desolation.

Patches of black basalt, as large as a farmhouse, were falling in all directions, like children's building blocks, half-sunk into the mud of the soft moor, and the wooden fort had rotted and decayed thousands of years ago, and now there was not even half a log left, and there was no trace of its glory anymore.

The Drunkard Tower, sunken on the edge of the swamp, where the south and west walls used to meet, now leaned like a drunken man ready to spit out a full stomach of wine.

The Tower of the Children of the Forest, on which the Sons of the Legend of the Forest summoned their gods and sent the punishment of the great waves, and now the spire is half gone, and it looks like a big monster has bitten the tower pheasant and then spit it into the swamp.

The Gate Tower, one of the three remaining towers, looks fairly intact, with at least some walls on the left and right sides.

......

"We should be here, there's no better position to keep than this. The new Earl of Flint said loudly, he was over fifty years old, and his body was bloated, but he spoke with a sonorous force.

"The Three Towers control the causeway from three sides, through which any enemy heading north must pass through them, and the swamp is full of quicksand and pits, and poisonous snakes are raging in between, making it impossible to cross. ”

"To attack one of the towers, you have to wade through waist-deep black mud, cross lizard-infested moats, and climb moss-stricken, slippery walls, all while being exposed from head to tail from the arrows of the archers of the other two towers. ”

"Tywin, that cunning old lion isn't going north to get here. "If we're going to stay here, why don't we stay in Winterfell, not in the last Hearth, isn't it safer there?"

"That's right! we should head south at once, plunge our sword into Tywin's pit in the eye of his ass while he takes off his pants, and then attack the Red Keep and rescue Master Stark. ”

Great Jon's voice roared like thunder, raising his head in fright, and his golden eyes looked around cautiously.

Jones was speechless at Big Jon's foul language.

Originally, he was not qualified to sit in on Robb and the Counts' deliberations, but as a commando leader, he could also stand on the side like a guard.

Robb's face didn't fluctuate in the slightest, just staring at the old leather map on the table with a frown, and then pointed to the map, "Tywin's army is already stationed in the Riverlands, to the south of us, and his son 'The Kingkiller' is in our southwest, here in Golden Tooth City. ”

"Uncle Edmure Tully ordered Earl Vance and Earl Piper to defend the Golden Tooth Pass, and the Kingkiller Jaime Lannister led his troops down the mountain and attacked them, defeating them to the ground, and Lord Vance was killed in the line of duty. According to the latest information, Earl Piper is withdrawing his troops to Riverrun in order to join his uncle and his other vassals, and Jaime Lannister is now in pursuit. ”

"My grandfather, Lord Tully, is on his sickbed at this time, and the king-killer is fierce. Tywin's old lion burned and plundered the riverlands again, and ran towards Harrenhal, where the Countess of Harrenhal was powerless to resist his obscenity, and Harrenhal would have to give it to her. We don't have dragons, and taking Harrenhal, where Tywin is garrisoned, will be a difficult task. ”

At this time, Jones was thinking about whether Robb was an advantage or a disadvantage.

The Riverlands were the domain of his grandfather, Duke Horst Tully, the Vale of Arryn was now under the rule of Robb's aunt Lysa Tully, and to the south were Stannis Baratheon and Ranley Baratheon, the younger brothers of the late king, both of whom were dissatisfied with the Lannisters' control of King's Landing.

If you calculate it carefully, the power of the original Seven Kingdoms, except for Dorne, who is further south, is now almost a five-to-one situation.

And the Dorne Martell family has not hated the Lannisters for a day or two, and it is rumored that when Robert overthrew the previous king, the Lannisters raped and killed the queen at the time, who was also the sister of Prince Doran Martell.

Six to one, it shouldn't be possible to lose.

But it's not right to think about it, the six countries that were killed by the Qin State back then may also think the same.

Thinking of this, Jones couldn't help but shudder, the strength of the Lannister family is several times that of Robb, and it is not impossible for the so-called six to one, and it is not impossible to be driven one by one in the end.

......

I only heard Robb conclude by saying, "It is inevitable to continue south. If I want to rescue my father, of course I have to show my strength to the Lannisters, otherwise how can I negotiate?"

After hearing Robb's analysis, the counts almost nodded convincingly, and at the same time sighed in their hearts, the people of the Stark family are indeed extraordinary, and it is indeed not easy for Robb to see things so clearly at a young age.

"The young wolf lord is right! Big Jon yelled loudly.

Mandalay is also an old and powerful family, and the troops brought this time will be in the thousands, and they will have to wait.

"Young wolf lord. Jones, who was next to him, suddenly shouted, drawing everyone's eyes to him.

It stands to reason that only the counts could speak at this time, and his sudden opening was indeed abrupt. Fortunately, his whole body was under the black armor, and his slightly restrained expression was not visible to others.

"I don't think we can just wait now, whether it's sending someone to Arryn Valley to ask for a union, or sending a vanguard team to support Riverrun. ”

"My mother has already taken Tyrion Lannister to Arryn Valley, and should be back soon, so naturally she will be joining us with the Canyon Knights of Arryn Valley. As for sending the vanguard to support Riverrun, it is indeed necessary, but it is very dangerous to bypass the blockade of the Lannisters, and if you are not careful, you may be a sheep in the mouth of a wolf. Robb replied seriously with a frown.

"Young wolf lord, I have a cavalry commando, and it is difficult for them to catch up with me. And even if you can't beat them, it can play a role in harassment. ”

"That's it. Big Jon slapped the table and said, "Can't let the Lannisters too comfortably." And we're wolves, not sheep!"

After hearing this, everyone was quiet for a while, thinking about the pros and cons.

"If the cavalry wants to go to Riverrun, they can pass through the Twin River City of the Frey family. The Freys also swore allegiance to Lord Tully. Luce Bolton said slowly.

"And Tywin won't be able to move his army for a cavalry of a few hundred men. Then as long as the speed is fast enough, it is very possible to reach Rushing City safely. ”