Chapter 446 Grass on the wall
When Samwell got the news that the Northern Army was retreating, he couldn't believe it.
Although the enemy's attacks have been frustrated repeatedly in the past few days, it is obviously still far away from the defeat and withdrawal of the army. Why are they running overnight now?
Samwell even wondered if this was Tywin's trick to lure the enemy into depth.
But that doesn't make sense either.
Once the Southern Army crossed the river, King's Landing City was in front of them. How could there be a strategy to lure the enemy into the deep and lead the enemy into his lair?
What's more, doesn't Tai Wen understand that the city of King's Landing is not suitable for long-term persistence?
With this retreat, the Lannister family almost pushed themselves into a desperate situation.
Samwell even had some doubts that the old guy Tywin saw the situation was not going well, so he just slipped back to the west?
If this is the case, then he really has to admire Tywin's determination.
Of course, no matter what the enemy's plan is, Samwell doesn't really care too much.
Now his first task is to let the army cross the river. As long as the army all reaches the north bank of the Blackwater River, no matter what tricks Tywin Lannister uses, it is doomed to have no effect.
This is the upright use of power to overwhelm others, which can break all conspiracies and schemes.
Thinking about this, Samwell also put the news behind him, and only ordered the sentinel to pay attention to vigilance, and then went back to the camp to continue to sleep.
Wait until dawn the next day, the patrolling sentries sent back news one after another, confirming that the Northern Allied Forces had indeed withdrawn, and that the direction of retreat was King's Landing.
After getting the news, Samwell didn't think too much about it, but ordered the guards to continue to watch the movement of the northern coalition forces and report back at any time, and then ordered the whole army to rest in place while waiting for the troops on the south bank to cross the river.
This is obviously not going to pursue.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtMany nobles who were eager to make merit felt that the Storm King's decision was too conservative, so they came to the door and suggested sending troops to follow them, and even looking for opportunities to fight the Northern Army in the wild.
Samwell vetoed all these suggestions.
The more he got to the decisive stage, the more cautious he became.
Of course, these impatient nobles are only a minority, and most of them can still see that their side has an absolute strategic advantage. As long as they fight steadily, they can win this war, and there is no need to take risks at all.
Some noises from a small number of people were also easily suppressed by Samwell.
While Samwell was waiting patiently by the Blackwater River for the follow-up army to cross the river, an unexpected but reasonable visitor appeared in front of him.
"Your name is Walder Frey?"
"Yes, Your Majesty Caesar. I am the Warden of the Riverlands, the second son of Sir Stevron, the son of Lord Walder, Duke of the Twins. You can also call me Black Walder." The man with black cheeks spoke Hu's chunky man.
Lord Walder Frey of the Twin Rivers married eight wives in his life, gave birth to more than thirty children, and hundreds of grandchildren.
In order to please the patriarch, so many Freys like to name their son Walder and their daughter Walda.
So there are so many "Walder Freys" in the Twin River City that they can almost form a bodyguard.
Samwell couldn't tell which of these Walder Freys was which, but he knew the purpose of this person coming to find him.
Obviously, the Frey family wanted to leave a way out for themselves.
Although due to some reasons, Samwell disliked this family very much, but as a qualified monarch, he knew that he had to show enough tolerance at the right time.
After all, the current Frey family is the nominal owner of the Riverland.
The Guardian of the Riverlands was originally the title of the Tully family of Riverrun, but after Duke Hoster Tully died of a serious illness, the duke title was taken away by King Tommen and re-given to Walder of the Twins. Frey, as a reward for joining House Lannister.
Winning over the Frey family is of great significance for Samwell to win the support of the nobles in the riverland.
What's more, the Twin River City itself is one of the largest territories in the Riverlands, and the Frey family is powerful and worth wooing.
Of course, wooing is wooing, but vigilance is also essential.
Although in this world, because Eddard Stark, the Duke of the North, has never died, Walder Frey did not have such treachery and anger as the "Blood Wedding" in the original book, but Samwell knew very well Well, the lord of the Twin Rivers City is a cunning guy like a fox.
Seeing that Samwell had been staring at him with an inexplicable gaze, Heiwade felt apprehensive, and couldn't help but said:
"Your Majesty, you must be wondering why Tywin suddenly withdrew his troops."
Samwell came back to his senses and said with a smile:
"Could it be because of your Frey family?"
"We do have our share of credit."
"oh?"
Heyward explained:
"Your Majesty, I'm afraid you don't know that it is precisely because my grandfather secretly contacted the nobles in Hejian and asked them to refuse to supply food to King's Landing with various reasons. This caused Lannister to run out of food and had to withdraw his troops."
"Lannister is out of food?" Samwell was startled, and only then did he understand why Tywin retreated so decisively.
"Yes."
Samwell looked at the slightly arrogant Heiwade, suddenly smiled slightly, and said:
"But how did I hear that it was 'Blackfish' Brynden Tully who raised the banner of rebelling against Lannister in Riverrun, that's why the riverlands fell into chaos, making it impossible to supply King's Landing with food."
"There are indeed factors in this regard." Black Walder said a little embarrassed, "but without the connivance and secret cooperation of our Frey family, a black fish alone would not be able to disturb the riverland."
Samwell smiled noncommittally.
Hey Wald's words must be exaggerated, but it is undeniable that the Frey family does not have one heart with the Lannister family.
But obviously don't expect them to be of one mind with the Caesars.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm"Thank you for everything the Frey family has done, I will remember it in my heart." Samwell said with a smile.
"This is what we should do." Black Wald said politely, "Your Majesty, my grandfather has always admired you, and he had no choice but to bow to Tywin before, but now that you have come to Blackwater On the north bank of the river, we, the Frey family, are willing to be your internal support, helping you conquer King's Landing and ascend the Iron Throne."
Facing the naked loyalty of the Frey family, Samwell was not very happy.
In addition to hating Walder Frey, it is also because the behavior of the Frey family at the moment is too flattering.
Now everyone can see that the Lannisters are gone, even without the help of the Frey family, Samwell is sure to capture King's Landing.
It can even be said that the Frey family jumped back at this time, suspected of snatching the fruits of victory.
If Samwell agrees to Black Wald's proposal, wouldn't the greatest hero of this war be the Frey family?
Then after the war, the meritorious service will be rewarded, and Walder Frey's duke title will be as stable as Mount Tai.
"I appreciate the kindness of the Frey family." Samwell said with a smile, "However, I am already sure to conquer King's Landing, so I don't need you to take risks."
Compared to the Foley family on the wall, Samwell obviously prefers the Tully family.
What's more, the Tully family already had higher prestige and a better reputation in the riverlands, and its heir, Edmure Tully, was about to marry Samwell's sister.
Who will be the future guardian of the river, Samwell has already made up his mind.
Hey Wald obviously didn't expect his proposal to be rejected, and he was stunned for a while, not knowing what to say.
"Okay, Sir Walder, you Frey family can watch the show with peace of mind. The outcome of this war has been decided."
Without waiting for Black Wald to speak again, Samwell called an attendant and ordered,
"This Sir Walder is my honored guest, please treat him well."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Heiwade suddenly became anxious: "Your Majesty, we..."
"I still have some military affairs to deal with." Samwell interrupted with a smile, "When the war is over, I will definitely entertain your grandfather and thank him in person for everything he has done for the Caesar family."
After finishing speaking, he turned and left, ignoring Heiwade.