Chapter 106 The troops from the northern border are coming
The night is deep, the moon is dim, and there is silence around Harrenhal. If you listen carefully, you can distinguish several howls of wolves in the distance.
This is the voice coming from the Isle of Thousand Faces, an island in the center of Lake God's Eye. If nothing unexpected happens, this is Arya's female direwolf and her offspring.
Robert Glover, Hosteen Frey and four squires were lying under a forest, waiting for the Lannister cavalry patrolling with torches to pass by.
The former is the younger brother of Galbert Glover, Earl of Deepwood Motte. He is tall and thin, with a chiseled face.
A two-handed sword hung on his waist, and a dark red cloak was fastened on his shoulders with heavy silver buckles in the shape of an armored iron fist. Even though he was lying on the ground, his head was still raised high.
The latter is the sixth son of Lord Walder Frey. He is tall and has a square face with a pointed chin. He is also called "Sir Fool" because of his slow reaction and the fact that he is unstoppable when provoked.
The four attendants were composed of two Deepwood Castle soldiers and Frey House infantry, each wearing chain mail and a round helmet.
The only thing that can distinguish them is the robes on their bodies. The soldiers of Deepwood Motte are wearing red and silver steel armor and iron fists, while the Frey infantrymen are wearing robes with a blue tower bridge pattern on a silver-white background.
"The old lion is actually willing to let the cavalry patrol the city at night. His family is really rich." Robert Glover sighed in a low voice.
He is a noble from the northern border. Compared with the nobles from the south, he is naturally much poorer. He is naturally jealous when he sees the enemy using precious cavalry to patrol the night.
Hosteen Frey snorted coldly and said in a low voice: "Perhaps he is afraid that the infantry will not be able to run out of the attack range of our river people. After all, there are many river warriors in Harrenhal, such as Mako...
Ser Piper, Lord Arthur Bracken, etc."
Robert shook his head high and said unconcernedly: "If you Hejian nobles are really as powerful as the rumors say, will it be our turn from the north to go south to rescue you? Judging from the current situation in South Hejian, most of the people in Hejian are
He's a softie."
"Of course, except for Bracken who captured the Kingslayer among the armies, I reluctantly regard him as a warrior like the Northerners."
Hosteen glanced at Robert, a northerner, with sharp eyes, took a few deep breaths and then said:
"Don't laugh at us either. You Northerners fought mediocrely on the south bank of the Twins. During the daytime duel, your troops far exceeded Kevan's. The ratio of soldiers killed in battle was only one to one."
When Robert heard his companion expose the shortcomings of the Northerners, he treated him politely and said:
"Why don't you talk about the battle outside Runliu City? Nearly five thousand people were killed in one battle, and the general Edmure was seriously injured. Then the major earls actually led their troops to leave, and the remaining thousands of soldiers shrank.
In the city, let the soldiers from the west run wild in your territory. As for us, we can win a small victory during the day and chase the people from the west at night, aren't we much better than you?"
The two nobles favored each other's achievements and began to argue.
A soldier behind them saw the Lion Cavalry on patrol walking away and reminded them in a low voice: "Two adults, it's time to leave."
The two of them stopped arguing, bent down and slipped towards the huge castle not far away.
After jogging all the way to the foot of the city wall, the familiar Hosteen Frey took the lead, and the six of them headed towards the east gate.
After arriving, the two soldiers began to knock on the iron door, while Hosteen and Robert watched the surroundings nervously with the remaining two soldiers.
According to rumors, Harrenhal was tightly besieged, and even at night there were people watching the two city gates. Naturally, they did not dare to be careless.
"Who? Tell me the lord and nobles you belong to." There was a burst of impatient shouts from inside the door.
Naturally, the person knocking on the door at this time cannot be a soldier from the Western Region. If it is a civilian, he must be let in according to Lord Arthur's order and then verified.
"I am Hosteen Frey, the sixth son of the Lord of the Twins. My lord is Lord Hoster Tully. I am also accompanied by Robert Glover of Deepwood Castle in the north.
My lord, we have been sent to deliver some words."
The gatekeepers in the castle were quite annoyed, and none of them were happy to have their dreams interrupted.
But when he heard the two names outside the door, he suddenly trembled.
The Frey family has never responded to Master Tully's call to participate in the war against the Lannister.
The people in the river were very unfamiliar with the nobles in the north, and the soldier was not sure whether there was such a Glover.
Could it be a spy sent by the people from the West?
"Do you have proof?" the guard guard asked, while pushing up his sleeping companions beside him.
"There are letters from my father, Lord Frey, and Lord Robb of the Stark family." Hosteen continued to answer.
He was convinced that he saw a group of torches approaching in the distance.
This means that the same number of Western Cavalry are approaching.
Robert also noticed that the enemy was approaching, and immediately became anxious. He raised his hand and slammed the door: "Open the door quickly."
"Immediately," the guard guard who was the first to speak replied.
After he and more than twenty Hejian soldiers took up arms, the iron door was slowly opened a crack.
At this time, the Lannister cavalry who came after hearing the news had already started shooting arrows at the few people in front of the iron gate.
"Come in quickly," the guard guard shouted.
So six people rushed in, and the last Deepwood Fort soldier who entered was almost shot in the butt by an arrow.
"It's finally safe." Robert raised his head and said words that were not very consistent with his posture.
But the next second, he changed his mind.
More than 20 people around them held swords on the necks of six of them.
Hosteen turned his head and looked around awkwardly, and said to someone who looked like the team leader: "Is there some misunderstanding? We are serious friendly forces."
The team leader snorted coldly and waved his big hand: "The ones captured are friendly troops. They are all tied up and waiting for Lord Patrick to be punished."
Since Ma Ke was injured in the camp attack, Patrick has been in charge of the city gate affairs.
Robert's eyes widened and he roared: "Is this how you Hejian people treat your allies? Wait until Marquis Bolton arrives with his troops..."
This Glover was cursing and had already begun to greet the mothers of the governors of the Riverlands one by one.
Hosteen, who was also kidnapped, was also suppressing his anger, but did not speak rudely.
It's just that the Frey family soldiers who are familiar with his character feel something is wrong. If this "sir" of theirs is completely angry, then this action may not be good.
Fortunately, the situation did not last long. A sleepy-eyed Patrick was surrounded by soldiers and walked to the killing cave at the east gate.
When Hosteen saw a familiar person coming, his suppressed anger suddenly burst out, "Patrick, you have to give us an explanation."
The heir to Haijiang City rubbed his eyes to confirm that what he saw was the sixth child of the Frey family, and then immediately ordered to be untied.
Twin River City is not very far from his family's territory, so the two of them are relatively familiar with each other.
"I'm sorry to offend you. People from the West are always dressing up as various characters these days, trying to sneak into the city and open the city gate. It's reasonable for my subordinates to be a little nervous. I'll forgive you. I forgive you." Patrick tried to smooth things over.
At the same time, he personally stepped forward to untie the ropes of the two nobles.
Hosteen and Robert were very angry at this, but because of Patrick's humiliation, they did not make an attack for the time being.
The two men quickly explained the reason for their coming, hoping to meet the person in charge at Harrenhal and convey to him some orders from Robb Stark.
After learning about the situation, Patrick nodded and said, "No problem. To be honest, we are also waiting for news from the north."
He instructed several soldiers to run to the Burning King Tower to wake up the sleeping river nobles, and he accompanied the two visitors on foot to the meeting place.
…
Arthur, who had just put on his linen robe, hurriedly put on two soft leather boots, smoothed his already long hair, walked out of the room, and walked down to the Hundred Furnaces Hall with the calling soldier.
After going down three floors, he arrived at his destination.
The few lights in the hall were emitted by the torches held by the soldiers.
A lot of people have gathered near the city lord's main seat.
Except for Raymond, who went out to seek troops, and Lightning Major Berry and others who left with the Brotherhood Without Banners, basically all the river nobles who could come came.
Even Ma Ke, who was seriously injured, was carried down by two soldiers.
Robert Glover, who was having a lively chat with the river nobles, caught a glimpse of a tall and handsome long-haired young man walking towards him with his peripheral vision, so he asked the Bracken next to him: "That is the famous Arthur.
·Bracon! When I was at Moat Cailin, I was already listening to the legend of him capturing the Kingslayer on horseback every day."
Although it is a question, the tone is firm and like an exclamation.
Hendry's eyes were full of sadness, but he still replied to Robert: "That's right, he is also my cousin."
Arthur strode towards them and said loudly: "These two are friends of the Frey family and the Glover family, right? What do we need from the north?"
Robert took out the letter with the wax seal of the decapitated wolf from the package on his back and handed it to Arthur.
"This is what Lord Robb wants you to do."
Arthur took a quick glance at it, and it read that the river troops near Harrenhal were to hold Tywin's troops until the 30,000 troops from the Northern Territory and Frey who were heading south crossed the Trident River.
As soon as he saw it, he knew that the letter was half true and half false.
Let’s not talk about where the Northern Army marched south from. Just the 30,000-strong army is enough to prove that it is false.
The Northern-Frey coalition forces numbered over 20,000 at the top of the sky.
The purpose of writing such a letter may be to prevent the sender from being captured by the enemy and then revealing the secret.
But these two people traveled hundreds of leagues to deliver the letter. Naturally, it was impossible to send a fake letter. The real letter should be in their minds.
After all, in the Great War of Westeros, the captured nobles were basically treated well. Even during the war, both sides of the war could use golden dragons to exchange prisoners.
Therefore, nobles with higher status often send letters and discuss important matters. For example, in the original book, Mrs. Stark walked through the combat zone and arrived at Renly's camp next to the Bitter Bridge to seek alliance.
After Arthur read it, he passed the letter to Patrick beside him.
As soon as the latter saw the word that the 30,000-strong army was about to move south, he immediately shouted excitedly: "We have 30,000 reinforcements. When the time comes, we will defeat the old lion in one fell swoop and reach his hometown of Casterly Rock."
When the nobles in Hejian heard the news, most of them became happy.
But Hosteen and Robert didn't speak.
Arthur did not want to dampen everyone's confidence, so he turned around and asked how the battle was going in the north.
The two came to talk to each other and describe to everyone the situation before their departure.
Eighty-nine days ago, Robb united with the Freys and fought a battle with Kevan who was heading north. Although they won a small victory due to their numerical advantage, the coalition also lost nearly 3,000 people.
That night, the coalition forces with the blessing of the direwolves launched another attack on Kevan's Western Division, and this time the results were much more fruitful.
Kevan's partial division lost 3,000 men during the day, and only maintained a strength of just over 10,000. During the night, all the Western Division's partial divisions were dispersed. Most of the soldiers only focused on escaping for their own lives, without forming a formation to fight.
.
In this battle, the coalition forces killed more than 3,000 enemies and captured thousands of Western soldiers and dozens of famous nobles in the Western Region, such as Count Gavin Westerling of Cliff City and Damon Marr of Brand City.
Count Bran, Count Andros Brax of Corner Valley City, etc.
Only less than 5,000 Western soldiers fled to the south, which made the war situation in Xihejian suddenly clear.
Robb made a prompt decision and personally led the coalition's 5,500 cavalry to chase the fleeing Westerners, as well as Kevan, Jaime and other Lannisters.
The remaining 15,000 infantry were led by the Marquis of Roose Bolton in the north, crossed the Twins, went south along the King's Road, and headed straight towards the Ruby Bank of the Trident River.
At the same time that Robb made this order, the two men were sent to the south to let Harrenhal, Maidenpool and other places that were still holding on to defend the crossing across the river.
In order to seize the time to pass on the order, the two of them took a small boat on the Green Fork River and headed south. All the messenger crows along Kevan's route were shot dead by the Northern-River Alliance forces, so the Western Army on the south bank of the Red Fork River probably didn't know about Kevan.
News of Feng's defeat.
"The mission given to you by Lord Robb and Lord Bolton is to prevent the ferry crossing of Earl Harroway's town from falling into the hands of the people of the West, so as to make it easier for the infantry of the North to cross the river." Robert Glo.
Buddha explained this.
"It's the coalition infantry. My family also has 2,800 infantry." Hostin reminded.
"I mean." Robert raised his head and waved his hands to show that he didn't care. "After the infantry from the north arrives, we can work with strong generals like Mr. Arthur to stab Tywin in the asshole."
He still didn't change the word Alliance, which made Hosteen Frey angry.
"What was the situation like when you passed the small town as you went south?" Arthur asked.
Robert thought for a while and expressed his impression: "Soldiers from Maiden Springs and a large mercenary group control the town."
"That mercenary group is your subordinate, Mr. Arthur." Hosting added.
Arthur was stunned for a moment when he was called. He had not sent a mercenary group to control Earl Harroway's town.
All members of the Blood Troupe have been killed in the battle, Bill's King's Landing mercenaries are all at Harrenhal, and Kerry's Reach mercenaries are in the Moulin Rouge territory in the middle of the Red Fork River.
He thought over and over again, only the backbone of the blood troupe sent in Xier Village two months ago could match this mercenary force.
The situation at that time was that Wag Huot promised to send a backbone to the Essos continent to recruit more than two hundred mercenaries.
Counting the time, it's time to arrive.
I just don’t know why it appears here on the Trident River.
"I understand, does Robb have anything else to say?"
Hosteen slapped his forehead and said suddenly: "I also remembered something. Lord Robb said that if Tywin leads his army back to the West to aid, all the troops in the south of the river will follow Lord Bolton and launch an attack on King's Landing in the southeast.
attack."
Robert nodded, "That's right."
Arthur's right thumb and index finger formed a circle to indicate that he understood.
It seems that Robb's combat intentions are similar to the plot of the original novel.
If Tywin and the Bolton-River Alliance are entangled in the Lake of the God's Eye, the cavalry of the Fish and Wolf Alliance led by Robb will attack the hinterland of the West along the River Road.
If Tywin returns with reinforcements, let Roose Bolton lead the infantry of the Northern-River Alliance forces to attack the King's Landing and King's Landing directly.
Anyway, the Lion family's two major bases - the Western Territory and the Royal Territory - are one in the east and the other in the west. This is a good time for Lord Tywin to focus on his head rather than his body.
In this case, as long as Earl Harroway's town is in his hands, the fifteen thousand troops led by Old Skinny Bolton can cross the river and confront Tywin's main force in the west.
The Fish-Wolf Alliance will temporarily have the upper hand.
However, Stannis of the Deer Family and some of the Redwyne longships who supported Renly were still competing in Shipbreaker Bay, Blackwater Bay and other waters, and they really had no time to intervene in the land battle between the Lion Family and the Fish Wolf Family.
After so many days of confrontation, the Western soldiers really do not have the ability or tools to attack the walls of Harrenhal, so there is no need to worry about this place.
"In this case, let's set out tomorrow with five hundred people to defend the ferry town." Arthur made a decision.
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