Game of Thrones: I Created the Magic Web

Chapter 111: The First Strike of the Rebels

“'Sweet as Song!' That's the motto of House Caron of Nightsong! Your Grace, they are so brazen, not even bothering to conceal it!”

Baron Rosby Mallister denounced them with a face full of resentment.

Perhaps it was a coincidence, but the Kingsguard assigned to guard the Iron Throne were Loras Tyrell and Brienne Tarth. As Kingsguard, they had to remain silent and focus on guarding the king.

Joffrey sat quietly on the Iron Throne, looking down at the crowd below seeking justice.

Besides Baron Rosby Mallister, the other two standing were Earl Joshua Mooton and Earl Triston Massey, with a large group of gray-faced and miserable commoners kneeling behind them.

“You,” Baron Rosby Mallister said, turning to a one-armed young man, “tell everything you know, don't be afraid, and report to His Grace truthfully.”

The ministers at the council table and the courtiers on both sides looked at the young man.

The one-armed young man's face was numb, and his words were devoid of emotion. “There were hundreds of them, all wearing armor and carrying shields with the black stag, coming to Saltpans to announce Renly's decree, and they even brought Old John's head.”

Baron Rosby Mallister added, “John Bywater was a knight I knighted, and his fief was Saltpans.”

The one-armed young man continued, “They first demanded half of the village's grain reserves, then stayed for a night. The next day, two of them died, so they burned the entire village. The black-haired captain said 'Sweet as Song' and chopped off my right hand.”

A fisherman next to him chimed in, “It's not just that, they also took all the valuables, every grain of food, and destroyed everyone's boats and fishing nets!”

A farmer with a face full of ravines wailed, “Those people are completely beasts! My poor daughter, only fourteen years old, was defiled by them all night, and in the end, those guys forcibly took her away. Who knows if she's dead or alive now!”

The courtiers on both sides sighed incessantly.

Baron Rosby Mallister also said, “The two who died were villagers from Hayford, which is also my territory. It was burned down on the same day as Saltpans. Other towns and villages have also suffered one after another, which shows that they originally had this vicious plan!”

Another farmer said, “I am from Hayford. After the black-haired people left, hundreds more people came, led by a red-haired man.”

“The red-haired man's subordinates also died, and then the entire village was destroyed.”

“I saw it with my own eyes,” an old man said, his beard trembling excitedly, “those cavalry and caravans all came from the south. The caravans brought many, many empty wagons, just to load our lifetime of belongings.”

“The people in the caravans even paid the cavalry directly!”

“It's worse than bandits! We have lost everything, so we have to come to King's Landing to ask for His Grace's protection.”

Joffrey looked at Baron Rosby Mallister, who was standing at the front and speaking the most.

House Mallister, a small lord on the east bank of the Wendwater, whose territory is close to the Kingswood and Blackwater Bay, has barren land, declining commerce, insignificant strategic position, and no important role.

But Baron Rosby Mallister's performance was very loyal.

Not only has he stayed in the court to serve for many years, but he also responded positively when Renly rebelled and the throne summoned vassals, contributing twenty knights and one hundred infantrymen to the army. The number is not large, but it is already most of the power within the Mallister territory.

In terms of both emotion and reason, the throne cannot ignore the encounters within its territory.

Joffrey then looked at the two people slightly behind him, Earl Joshua Mooton and Earl Triston Massey.

House Mooton is the largest lord along the Wendwater, with territory south of House Mallister. Although it is not the liege lord of House Mallister, it obviously retains great influence over it.

Earl Joshua Mooton has not said a word so far.

Baron Rosby Mallister added, “They are still heading north, towards Massey's Hook!”

The northeast of the Wendwater is the narrow Massey's Hook, which surrounds half of Blackwater Bay from south to north, choking a key waterway to King's Landing.

But without a strong navy, Massey's Hook is just a burden.

But House Massey obviously did not relax because of this. Earl Triston Massey personally sailed to King's Landing to petition with other lords.

“Earl Mooton,” Joffrey finally spoke, “what is the situation in your territory?”

Joshua Mooton saluted respectfully, “The rebels used similar methods. At first, they used a few heads to frame various towns and villages, and then they saved even this cost, directly declaring everyone in my territory to be rebels, destroying everything, and only leaving people's lives.”

Joshua Mooton pointed behind him, “Your Grace, most of the people here have escaped from my jurisdiction.”

Joffrey asked in a deep voice, “What is your suggestion?”

Joshua Mooton was still respectful and calm, “Now that the war is urgent, all actions must be cautious, and I dare not ask for anything. I only hope that after the victory, those who do evil can receive the punishment they deserve.”

What beautiful and thoughtful words. Joffrey almost thought it was true.

“Earl Massey, what do you think?”

Triston Massey looked indignant, “House Massey and its subjects are willing to make some sacrifices, taking the overall situation as the most important thing. Massey's Hook is insignificant. If it disperses our strength and affects the war, that would be a great crime.”

Not a single word of truth.

Joffrey separated his mind and entered the online Small Council meeting in the light screen, secretly discussing with a group of ministers.

Lord Commander of the Kingsguard Arryk Cargyll gave the information:

“Renly's rebel army has been assembled.

Ten thousand cavalry and twenty thousand infantry are stationed in Highgarden in western Reach, with Earl Mathis Rowan as the commander, confronting the Rock.

Ten thousand cavalry and fifty thousand infantry gathered at Bitterbridge in the eastern Reach, with Earl Randyll Tarly as the vanguard and Duke Mace Tyrell as the commander, harassing the Goldroad while clearing supply routes.

According to reliable information, the Bitterbridge rebels intend to go directly north, cross the Blackwater Rush upstream, detour through the Riverlands, and attack King's Landing from the land north of the Blackwater Rush.

Seven thousand and ten thousand infantrymen were gathered at Haystack Hall and Bronzegate in the northern Stormlands and eastern Kingswood, respectively.

Five thousand cavalry are heading north along the Kingsroad from Storm's End and will soon arrive at Bronzegate.”

After introducing the general background, Arryk's tone became more serious:

“Another two thousand cavalrymen invaded the Crownlands, burning, killing, and looting along the Wendwater, driving away civilians.

The main participants include House Caron of Nightsong, House Buckler of Bronzegate, House Fell of Felwood, and House Grandison of Grandview.

The knights of each family concealed it slightly, but still wore their family crests. It is suspected of being intentional provocation.

The rebels' destruction is very thorough.

As of this morning, more than 52,000 refugees have poured into King's Landing. It is estimated that nearly 200,000 more are fleeing to various parts of the Crownlands or are on their way to King's Landing.

Now, the rebels have entered Massey's Hook.

Most of the Crownlands' forces are concentrated in King's Landing. Facing two thousand cavalry and reinforcements, Massey's Hook's defense force is insufficient, and more than three hundred thousand people under its jurisdiction…”

Arryk abruptly ended his speech.

The ministers all understood the current situation and fell into deep thought.

There is only one question.

What does His Grace the King behind Arryk want to do?

Chapter 109 is temporarily blocked and will be restored in two days

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