iron throne of ice and fire

Chapter 171 A War That Can't Be Lost
Red Keep, Throne Room.

Grand Maester Pycelle stood up shakily, his maester's chain ringing softly.

He whispered: "Your Majesty the Queen Mother, the kingdom's finances are in very bad shape. Representatives of the church and the Iron Bank have expressed concerns. We need to find a capable finance minister as soon as possible."

Jaime Lannister left only a letter and left suddenly. This made Cersei Lannister feel very bad, so she easily became angry. Others were cautious when dealing with it.

She frowned and said, "When will Garth Tyrell of the Golden Rose arrive?"

Varys held his hands and said, "Queen Cersei, my little bird told me that the man has been silent since he arrived at Bitterbridge."

Pycelle glanced at Varys and said: "Your Majesty the Queen Mother, I think... that person's actions represent Highgarden's attitude. Golden Rose should be waiting and watching."

"The cowardly golden rose."

After saying that, Queen Cersei snorted coldly and said, "Varys, is there any news about Petyr?"

Varys shook his head slightly: "Littlefinger is good at buying people. None of us can know who he has bribed. It may be a groom or a small jailer... In short, anyone may have been bribed by him... little people , or a big shot...let him disappear like a ghost in a heavily guarded dungeon..."

Maester Pycelle interrupted: "Your Majesty, do you want to..."

"Pour me wine."

Upon hearing this, Lancel Lannister, who was standing behind Queen Cersei, immediately picked up the flagon and poured wine for her.

Queen Cersei swung her wine glass, took a sip of summer red, and said, "He can be made the chancellor of the treasury again."

Varys said in surprise: "Your Majesty, most people now know that Littlefinger helped Lady Lysa poison Jon Arryn..."

Pycelle rarely agreed with Varys and advised: "Your Majesty, this is a crime of murdering the prime minister. Even if Littlefinger is an accomplice, he cannot forgive it, let alone let him serve as the minister of the throne."

Queen Cersei interrupted their suggestions: "That's enough. You recommend the candidate for Chancellor of the Exchequer as soon as possible. I don't want to hear nonsense."

After a moment of silence, Pycelle suddenly said: "Your Majesty the Queen Mother, maybe we can ask Prime Minister Tywin."

With a bang, Queen Cersei placed the wine glass in her hand on the table.

"Pycelle, my father is in Casterly Rock, and I am sitting here now, are you an old fool?"

Pycelle shook his body and nodded quickly.

"Before the next imperial meeting, please recommend a suitable candidate to me for the next topic."

…………

Cersei's voice was filled with anger: "What is Green doing?!"

Varys sighed: "Queen Cersei, my little bird told me that as soon as the rumors surfaced, the golden robes arrested those who spread the rumors, but the effect was not good..."

Maester Pycelle's eyes moved slightly, and he glanced at the angry Queen Mother Cersei, and said: "Your Majesty, there are 10 people in King's Landing, but there are only a few thousand people in golden robes. Capture alone cannot extinguish those who are motivated." Someone’s intentional move. I even heard..."

Queen Cersei said coldly: "What did you hear?"

Maester Pycelle hesitated for a moment and said, "It was the Queen Mother who poisoned Robert I..."

Wallis's eyes flashed: "Oh, are my little birds lazy? Such strange rumors, these people are so vicious..."

As he spoke, he looked at Maester Pycelle and continued: "Grand Maester, where did you hear the news?"

Maester Pycelle looked back at Varys and said, "Lord Varys, you can ask your men to investigate near the Mud Gate. It is said that the rumors came from there."

Varys smiled and nodded in thanks.

Maester Pycelle said slowly: "Your Majesty the Queen Mother, almost every new king will encounter such rumors that doubt the royal bloodline. Earl Green's arrest is also very timely, and the baseless slander will soon be dissipate."

After listening to Maester Pycelle's analysis, Queen Cersei's eyes trembled.

Queen Cersei stood up from her chair and said, "I want the rumormongers who slandered Joffrey to weep and sing to strangers, praying for the kiss of death!"

After saying that, Queen Cersei left the throne room directly with a sullen expression.

After Queen Cersei disappeared, Varys looked at the old Maester Pycelle with a smile.

"Maester Pycelle, you scared me to death just now. The lioness's roar was really terrifying... Count Kleb really needs to thank you. If it weren't for you... he would definitely be angry today."

Pycelle paused for a moment while sorting the documents.

As he rolled up the parchment, he said, "It would be great if Janos Slynt had not died, Lord Varys."

Varys asked in confusion: "Grand Maester, what do you mean?"

Maester Pycelle sighed: "There is only one person who can hold on to the golden robe now. We have no choice."

Varys's eyes moved slightly and he said with a smile: "Maester Pycelle, are you worried that Her Majesty the Queen Mother will remove Green Clay from his post in anger?"

Pycelle glanced at the eight-clawed spider with his sleepy eyes, and he shook his head slightly.

"Lord Varys, I am worried that rioters will break into the Red Keep. Some issues need to be slowed down, at least until our new Prime Minister arrives in King's Landing."

Varys showed an expression of admiration: "Maester Pycelle, you are worthy of being a royal bachelor. You are indeed far-sighted."

Pycelle's sleepy eyes widened slightly: "Lord Varys, I'm just an old fool. I just want to spend the remaining few years peacefully..."

As he spoke, he paused and suddenly said: "Why would those rumormongers spread rumors about the royal bloodline? Lord Varys, no one will really believe this kind of baseless speculation. The people will at most regard this as entertainment." It’s just fun.”

Varys approached Maester Pycelle, and the smile on his fat face was somewhat meaningful: "What if there is some basis?"

The rolled parchment fell from Pycelle's hand and fell on the table.

His hands covered with age spots were trembling: "Varys, what do you want to say?"

Varys held his hands together, nodded slightly towards Pycelle, did not answer, and left with a smile on his face.

…………

Outside the throne room.

"Queen Regent, please leave this matter to me!"

Queen Cersei paused and looked at Lancel beside her with a pair of green eyes.With Jaime's departure, Lancel's status can be said to have risen. He is now not only the captain of the Red Keep Guards in golden robes, but also the Lannister red robes in the Red Keep. It can be said that he alone holds the command. All defenses of the Red Fort.

"You can do it?"

Lancel straightened his chest and said: "Your Majesty, they are just common people who like to gossip. I will pluck out all their tongues until no one dares to spread rumors anymore."

Queen Cersei was very satisfied with Lancel's method, but she was still a little hesitant because she didn't trust Lancel's ability to do things.

Seeing that Queen Cersei was still hesitating, he hurriedly said: "Queen Regent, Green only has two hands and two feet. We are all the same. I just need a chance to prove myself. Please."

Queen Cersei saw mist in Lancel's eyes, and she frowned slightly.

Cersei doesn't like weak men, but... Lancel really needs a chance to let others see his abilities.

Snapped!
Lancel covered his cheek in horror, why did the Queen Mother hit me? !

Queen Cersei's white fingers clamped Lancel's chin. She raised her lips and said, "Lancel, don't let me see you like this again. Remember... you are wearing armor, not armor." skirt."

Lancel replied with a trill: "As you command, Queen Regent."

Queen Cersei's voice was cold: "My Lancel, I can give you opportunities, but don't let me down."

After saying that, she gently stroked one of Lancel's red cheeks.

…………

…………

North, Winterfell.

In a short period of time, the vassals of the Stark family in the north came to Winterfell with their leading troops to gather. Due to the frequent entry and exit of people, Robb Stark, the heir of Winterfell, ordered the gates of the inner and outer city walls to be closed. All rise.

Winterfell is filled with the clash of swords and axes, the rolling of carriages and the barking of hounds.

A long column of heavily armored lancers was crossing the moat. They wore black half-iron helmets and black woolen cloaks with white sunburst patterns.

They were the forces of House Karstark, led by Lord Rickard himself, with his sons Harion, Eddard, and Torrhen riding alongside them.

The Karstark family is a branch of the Stark family. They are all tall and strong-looking. They have thick beards on their faces, hair that is longer than their shoulders, and their cloaks are made of bear, seal, and wolf skins. Made.

Other lords have led their troops to Winterfell one after another, and they are the last troops.

…………

Robb is 15 years old. He is a tall man with blue eyes and auburn hair inherited from his mother's family.

Robb heard various messages from different people, and each one was more terrifying than the last. No one was sure what the truth was.

For example, Duke Eddard killed King Robert and became a wanted criminal on the run; the heads of his father's guards were stuck on the tips of spears and hung on the wall of the Red Keep to rot; the Baratheon family's army was besieging King's Landing; Lord Eddard and the king's brother Lord Renly fled south together; Arya and Sansa were killed by hounds; Lord Tywin Lannister led his troops to the Eyrie; Rhaegar Targaryen had Back from the dead, ready to take back the Iron Throne, and more.

Before Robb had finished digesting the disturbing news, a messenger crow brought a letter written in Sansa's handwriting and stamped with his father's seal... The cruel truth no longer seemed to surprise him.

Maester Luwin read: "..., King Robert is dead, mother and brother should quickly go to the Red Keep to swear allegiance to King Joffrey... We must promise never to betray... I will ask Joffrey to forgive my father... …”

Catelyn Tully said angrily: "This is a letter written by Cersei, not Sansa. She must have been coerced by Lannister!"

Lady Catelyn caught the hand of her eldest son, who had summoned his father's vassals, whose hearts he was calmly and politely winning over.

She can no longer treat him as a child who has not yet grown up, Caitlin feels sad and relieved at the same time.

"Robb, the real meaning of this letter is exactly the part that Sansa didn't write... how much the Lannisters took care of her and treated her... This is actually a threat. They held Sansa hostage and treated her as theirs. Hostages and chips.”

Robb couldn't help showing a sad look: "Mother, Arya was not mentioned in the letter."

Caitlin tried her best to hold back tears. She didn't dare to think deeply about what this meant.

"Mother, I have written three letters to Aunt Lysa in the Eyrie, asking for assistance from the Knights of the Vale, but I still haven't received a reply."

Catelyn sensed Robb's uneasiness and nervousness.

Caitlin comforted: "Don't worry, my child, I will go to the valley myself and I will bring reinforcements to you."

"Thank you, my mother, I'm just worried..."

The calm and powerful heir to Winterfell suddenly disappeared, and Robb turned back into a 15-year-old boy. He hoped that his mother could provide answers.

Catelyn noticed tears glistening in Robb's eyes, and she knew her son needed encouragement...the Lord Commander must not waver in his confidence.

She said softly: "Robb, can you tell me what you are afraid of?"

"I...", he opened his mouth.

Robb, like his father, was used to keeping everything to himself and taking responsibility for it alone, but Sansa's handwritten message made him unable to hold back any longer.

Robb took a deep breath and continued: "If I lead my troops south...even if we win, my father and Sansa will still be in the hands of the Lannister, and they will be killed, right? Should I... …”

"Robb, look at me."

Robb looked up at his mother.

Catelyn said firmly: "That's what the Lannister wants us to think."

"what do you mean……"

"Robb, all I know is that you have no choice! If you go to King's Landing and swear allegiance, it will be difficult to leave from there... If you escape back to Winterfell with your tail between your legs, the Stark vassals will have no sympathy for you." Respect will be gone, and some will even defect to the Lannister side.

At that time, the Lannister will have no worries and can dispose of the hostages at will... Our greatest hope, or our only hope, is that you can defeat the Lannister on the battlefield... If you can capture Lord Tywin alive Or regicides, then we can exchange them for our families.

In fact, exchanging hostages is not the most important thing. The most important thing is...as long as you use your strength to make the Lannister dare not act rashly, Ned and your sister will be safe...Cersei is not stupid and knows that if the war is against her, If it's not good, she will take the initiative to trade them for peace. "

Robb said, "What if the war is not against her, but against us?"

Catelyn held her son's hand tightly and said: "Robb, I am not going to hide the fact. If you are defeated, then we will have no hope at all. Lannister never shows mercy to the defeated, you must firmly Remember what happened to Rhaegar’s children.”

The Young Wolf Lord said solemnly: "Mother, I will defeat Lannister."

(End of this chapter)