The road back from King's Landing to Coppergate City was long and bitter, especially for a freed captive like Count Selwyn Tuss.

The gates of the Bronze Gate City were open, and a large number of sergeants and civilians entered and exited, and a scorching and tense atmosphere filled the air.

This is the taste of the coming war.

"Father!"

When the Earl of Selwyn came to his senses, he saw his daughter, Brienne Tarth, trot from within the city gates.

"Are you alright?"

"I'm fine." Count Selwyn barely managed to squeeze out a smile, "The Lannisters have been kind to me. Of course, I am still able to come back thanks to His Majesty Caesar, who exchanged me for Tywin's second son, Tyrion. ”

Sir Brienne nodded heavily, and said solemnly:

"Our Tass family has received too much grace from His Majesty."

"yes." Earl Selwyn also sighed, "I'm already old, and I've lost the battle again, so I guess I won't have the opportunity to serve Your Majesty anymore." I hope you can repay Your Majesty's grace on behalf of the Tass family. ”

"Father, there is no need for you to say such frustrating words, Your Majesty still values you very much. At this time, he was convening a military meeting of several high lords, and he knew that you were about to arrive at Bronze Gate City, so he specially asked me to call you to attend the meeting. ”

A warmth swelled up in Earl Selwyn's heart, and his face swept away the previous depression and worry, and suddenly regained his fighting spirit.

As he quickened his pace towards the castle, he said to his daughter:

"Tell me about the current situation, is Your Majesty preparing to officially launch an attack?"

"It was going to attack, but ......," Brienne recounted the visit of the Iron Vault Emissary as she walked.

Earl Selwyn sneered when he heard this:

"It seems that Your Majesty has put a lot of pressure on Tywin, forcing this old lion to be willing to use his own gold to fill the hole in the Iron Throne's finances. However, the Braavosians were also too naïve to think that they could interfere in the war in Westeros. Hehe, they're setting themselves on fire. ”

Brienne didn't speak, she wasn't interested in any of that.

The female knight was more accustomed to carrying out orders in silence than to think about what was behind them.

The two of them made their way into the castle and came to the council chamber on the first floor.

Brienne tapped twice on the wooden door, getting a response from inside before pushing it open.

Count Selwyn walked in, and saw that there were already more than a dozen great lords from the Riverlands and Stormlands, and of course, Caesar, the Storm King, who sat at the top.

"Your Majesty," said Count Selwyn, kneeling down on one knee, "it was my carelessness that gave the Lannisters a chance to lose the outpost......

"You can't be blamed for that loss." Samwell stepped forward to help Earl Selwyn up with his own hands, "No one thought that the Lannisters would take the initiative to cross the river to attack. But it doesn't matter, the outpost on the south bank of the Blackwater River is more of a sweet trap for the Lannisters, and Tywin is probably having a headache at this point whether to defend or give up. ”

Earl Selwyn immediately patted his chest and said:

"If Your Majesty wants to take back the outpost, I am willing to personally go into battle and charge for you!"

Samwell laughed:

"Good! If everyone had your courage, no amount of odds would stop us from making it to King's Landing. ”

Hearing Samwell's point-in-point words, the lords present exchanged a few glances, and they all had a certain understanding of the Storm King's attitude.

After pacifying Earl Selwyn, Samwell returned to his position and sat down, and asked:

"You all know the attitude of the Iron Vault, so let's talk about it, how should we deal with it?"

After a brief silence, Count Leighton Hightower was the first to speak:

"Your Majesty, the Iron Vault is mercenary, and since the Lannisters can buy them, we may not be able to."

It is not surprising to the Hightowers that they say this, after all, this family does not have less wealth than the Lannisters.

Samwell didn't respond, just sipping his tea in silence.

Earl Selwyn retorted:

"If the Lannisters raise the price again, will we also do the same? It's ridiculous to attack King's Landing, and as a result, the Braavos make a lot of money. ”

"And even if we pay more than the Lannisters, we may not be able to get the Braavos on our side." Earl Landau said, "Don't forget that the House of Black and White once sent the Faceless One to assassinate Your Majesty, and I'm afraid that the Sea King has never wanted to see Your Majesty ascend to the Iron Throne smoothly." ”

"Does the Sea King have a grudge against His Majesty?"

All eyes turned to the Storm King on the throne.

Samwell shook his head and said:

"I have never met Aquaman, and I have no personal vendettas. But now it seems that Braavos really doesn't want to see me on the Iron Throne. ”

"Why is that?"

"Because of the dragon." Samwell said, "Braavos is a city-state founded by fugitive Valyrian slaves, who have a natural aversion and fear of dragons.

I had always wondered how the Baratheon family, who had only occupied the Iron Throne for more than a decade, owed such a huge sum of money as the Iron Vault. Now that I think about it, I'm afraid that during the process of Robert's rebellion against the Targaryens, the Iron Vault also secretly supported a lot of gold. ”

"There's some truth to that speculation." Count Matus Rowan nodded, "In that case, then we don't have the idea of buying the Braavosians." If you want me to say, leave these guys alone, now we should have enough supplies to stockpile, just send troops to King's Landing, as long as the Lannisters are killed, the Braavos can only stare dryly, does the Sea King dare to send troops to Westeros? ”

Earl Layton said: "Braavos does not have a strong army, but there is a sea fleet known as 'invincible', and we have to guard against this. ”

"Invincible?" Earl Selwyn sneered, "Who wouldn't brag." It's okay for Aquaman's fleet to bully the soft fleets of those free trade city-states, I don't believe they dare to go head-to-head with the three fleets of Westeros. What's more, His Majesty's fleet has defeated the fleet of Qingting Island, and if the Sea King doesn't want to lose his foundation, he should let his fleet hide in the harbor obediently and don't interfere in the war in Westeros. ”

"If the Stormlands fleet is here, I won't be worried." Earl Layton glanced at Samwell and said, "But Your Majesty has sent a fleet to the Mandeb River to guard against the Iron Fleet raiding the Riverbands. So, if the Sea Kings do send a fleet to support the Lannisters, it will be difficult for our army to cross the Blackwater River safely. ”

Several Stormland nobles were about to speak.

Samwell saw their looks and guessed what was going on in their hearts.

It's nothing more than that the Stormlands fleet should give priority to protecting the army across the river, and it is impossible for the Iron People to conquer the castle of the riverbend, but this kind of thing obviously cannot be said in front of the riverbend nobles.

And he had enough of some people's hesitation and hesitation, and decided to cut through the mess quickly.

"Don't rush to cross the river." Samwell stood up and made the final decision, "Drive the Lannisters to the other side first." Count Selwyn, would you like to be the vanguard and take back the outpost for me? ”

Earl Selwyn stood up suddenly, and said in a loud voice:

"I am willing to die for Your Majesty!"

"Good! You will lead 5,000 soldiers as the vanguard, and set out early tomorrow morning. The army officially marched three days later, to the north! ”

"Yes, Your Majesty!" The crowd responded.

They all knew in their hearts that the Storm King had made up his mind, and once the army was mobilized, it would not stop advancing.

There's one more chapter to wait a little bit on

(End of chapter)