iron throne of ice and fire

Chapter 172 Bread and Blood

Caitlin stood on tiptoes and gently touched her 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 come out to defend her son, because her intervention would make the vassals They regarded Robb as a young boy, so... Robb could only win the respect and even fear of his vassals on his own.

At that time, she held her hands tightly under the table and looked quietly at the vassals who were trying to "test" the young lord in their own way.

Roose Bolton of the Dreadfort rashly asked him to lead the army... Robert Glover of Deepwood Motte had a milder attitude, but he also aspired to command the army.

Maggie Mormont of Bear Island 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.

Maggie Severn from Severn City directly brought her chubby daughter, who was about thirty years old. She sat on her father's left hand and paid attention to her dinner plate from beginning to end.

Harris Horwood of Horwood City did not bring his daughter, but he brought many gifts to Robb. He gave Robb a horse today, a large piece of venison tomorrow, and a beautiful silver-rimmed horn the next day. Nothing in return...except that Robb would help him get a small piece of land from his grandfather, hunting rights north of a certain ridge, and the right to build a dam on the White Knife, and so on.

Finally, Jon Umber of Hearth City claimed that if he were asked to walk behind the Horwood or Severn troops, he would immediately take the leader home.

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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.

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"What are you going to do next? There are 2 troops gathered here. As the commander-in-chief, you need to make a decision as soon as possible."

The army her son had assembled was neither the standing army of the Free Cities nor the bodyguards who ate with the lords. Most of them were ordinary civilians: farmers, fishermen, shepherds, innkeepers' sons, businessmen, and leatherworkers, plus a few Hedge knights, freeriders, and wandering knights hungry for plunder.When their lord issues a summons, they come to serve, each with their own needs.

Robb nodded: "Uncle Edmure is summoning the vassals of the Riverlands. 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."

Mrs. Caitlin shook her head slightly and said: "I will go south with you. It is best if I set off before you. I want to go to the Eagle's Nest City and meet Lysa in person."

Robb was hesitant. His mother's decision was rational, but he was worried about his two young brothers. They needed their mother's company.

Caitlin 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: "Lady Catelyn, Lord 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 vassals of the Stark family, not Your friends, they are obliged to obey your orders."

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Near Shoemaker's Square, Jinpaozi West Military Camp and the Commander-in-Chief's Camp.

"Lord Green, I'm worried that King's Landing will soon be short of food."

"Sir, I have the same concern. It is reported that there are almost no grain merchants from other places in the city."

"really?"

"If there is a shortage of food, untouchables like sheep will bite people..."

"You mean those untouchables will 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, and 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...the Blacksmith Street side also needs to strengthen its manpower..."

"You are really stupid... Idiot, don't underestimate the blacksmiths. The number of golden dragons hidden in their homes is no less than that of noble men. Even the White Walkers would not believe that they would be hungry."

Green had been staring at the map on the table in silence, letting the golden-robed officers discuss it, but when he heard the golden dragon... one of his ears twitched slightly.

"Let's continue talking about Flea Bottom. We all know that it is a place where morals have been lost."

"Don't they have brown soup..."

"God bless you, haven't you seen that thing?"

"..."

"I have seen it with my own eyes a few times. I don't want to remember it. Gods, forgive me."

"That's why I said he was a fool. Fortunately you will never become prime minister."

"me……"

Dong Dong, Green lightly knocked on the table, and everyone standing around the table stopped arguing and paid attention.

"I heard your concerns, and I will report this issue directly to the Queen Mother Regent and the Imperial Council."

After a pause, Green continued: "Our golden robe's 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..."

Green glanced at the crowd and continued: "We ourselves have thousands of mouths. Will we be hungry? Can the Golden Robe who is not full still maintain the stability of this city?"

After Green finished speaking, there was a sudden silence in the room.

Green's eyes moved slightly and he said: "Leiden, how many days can the Western Army Camp have enough food?"

Leiden 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... Therefore, we only have three days of food reserves left. "

hum!
The golden-robed officers understood what Green meant. As a result of the food shortage, the price of food would become outrageous. At that time, would the military rations still be delivered to them on time?

Green spoke slowly: "Everyone, do hungry soldiers care who will riot? Or can hungry soldiers still quell riots?"

"Lord Green, what should we do?"

No one pays attention to the situation in Flea Bottom anymore. In their eyes, the golden robe is the most important thing.

"There will be no turmoil in King's Landing in the short term. Even if there is turmoil, the Red Keep will never ignore us, but we still need to reserve military rations in advance to deal with unexpected situations...My order, everyone must Do your best for this.”…

After leading everyone away, Layton said softly: "My lord, I don't think anyone...at least our golden robes will not pay special attention to Flea Bottom."

Green leaned on the back of his chair, rubbed his brows, and said, "Bread and blood... let the fire gradually spread."

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Bitterbridge is the seat and castle of House Caswell in the Reach. It is the key point where the Rose Road crosses the Mander River.

The Reach, Bitterbridge.

Lady Olenna Redwin clicked her tongue and said, "Robert has two sons, and Renly has an older brother. How could 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 hates me. Back then... …”

Mrs. Oriana said impatiently: "If you want to brag about your achievements again, get out of here immediately, old lady, I'm tired of hearing this!"

The Duke of Metz said with a smile: "I won't mention it anymore, I won't mention it anymore."

Lady Oriana resisted the urge to roll her eyes and walked slowly to the chair.

"Did Renly know how to dress, how to smile, how to speak, and thus came to the conclusion that he should be king? The Baratheons always have some ridiculous ideas, and I think it all comes from their Targaryen blood. Inherited.”

As she said that, Lady Oriana patted the armrest angrily, and continued: "After you help Renly put on the crown, our family will have to kneel to him endlessly and be led by his nose. , what can we get?”

The Duke of Metz said doubtfully: "Mother, Renly has promised to make Margaery his queen..."

Duke Metz's expression became proud. He touched his beard and said, "Renly has already agreed, so I am willing to support him."

Lady Olenna wanted to find a wooden stick and crack her stupid son's big head open.

Before Lady Olenna could get angry, Duke Metz continued in a flattering manner: "Mother, are you very pleased? Our Golden Rose family is finally going to become a family of queens, and this queen is your favorite granddaughter."

Mrs. Olenna took a deep breath. She felt that she was the biggest fool who was angry with her stupid son.

"My Lord Highgarden, I am not an old fool. Are you sure Renly can give Margaery an heir to the throne?"

The smile on Duke Metz's face did not diminish. He nodded and said, "Their child must be the heir to the Iron Throne."

Lady Olenna yelled: "You stupid pig, I mean could Renly get Margaery pregnant?!"

The Duke of Metz's smile froze, and he said in disbelief: "Mother, he... can't do it? This will not do him any good..."

As he spoke, the Duke of Metz 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? It feels like being led by someone's nose. How? My Lord of Highgarden?"

The Duke of Metz looked a little flustered and said anxiously: "Mother, what should we do? I have already sent out a message to summon the vassals."

Mrs. Olenna snorted coldly and said, "What else can we do? Just issue another order for them to go back to their respective homes."

The Duke of Metz 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?"

The Duke of Metz sat blankly for a while, looking at his old and thin mother, with a flattering smile on his face.

"Mother, Lady Olenna, please help me."

Mrs. Olenna knocked off her son's hand in disgust and said: "Don't come near me, sit tight."

The Duke of Metz sat back in his 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 the Golden Rose.

"How many troops have you raised, Duke of Metz?"

"In addition to the [-] troops placed on the western border, there are [-] troops gathering here, a total of [-] troops."

Lady Olenna couldn't help but sarcastically said: "Duke Highgarden, you really do your best. If I were Renly, I would be moved to tears."

The Duke of Metz chuckled.

Lady Olenna finally regained her composure.

"You write to Renly immediately and tell him... I will be waiting to kneel down and salute him at Bitter Bridge. If you don't dislike me as an old woman, please trouble him to set out to see me immediately."

Duke Mace hesitated for a moment and said: "Mother, Renly is gathering an army at Storm's End, and he may not be able to escape temporarily..."

After the Duke of Metz finished speaking, he noticed his mother's gaze, which 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... The Duke of Metz is at ease.

"If you don't want to be led around, just do as I say! Duke of Metz, Golden Rose cannot be passive."

"Mother, I will send out the crow today."

Mrs. Olenna clicked her chin, waved her hand, and said: "Go and make arrangements."

The Duke of Metz did not move, but hesitated to speak.

Lady Olenna said impatiently: "My Duke of Highgarden, do you have any other orders?"

The Duke of Metz was smiling all over 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 Duke Metz with her deep eyes for a while, and then said: "The fact that Renly is here means that he is still somewhat sincere. I, an old woman, will directly make demands to him. If he is really the future king, then With the full support of the Golden Rose, the armies of the Reach and Stormlands will march to King's Landing together to help him sit on that iron chair."

The Duke of Mace nodded slightly. This was exactly his original plan. King's Landing's thousands of gold robes would never be able to stop the 10,000+ coalition forces from the Reach and Stormlands.

The Duke of Metz touched his beard. He seemed to understand his mother's intention. There were conditions for the Golden Rose to support Renly, and the issue of heirs was one of them.

Duke Mace couldn't help but said: "What if we don't see Renly's sincerity?"

Lady Olenna snorted softly and said: "Then you lead a hundred thousand troops from the Reach to surround Casterly Rock City, and let Duke Tywin give an explanation to my two grandsons. Lannister has no Do debts have to be repaid?”

(End of this chapter)