The Mountain of Ice and Fire

The City Watch of King's Landing typically maintained a force of around two thousand gold cloaks.

As the royal army, the gold cloaks held a sense of superiority over the armies of other nobles. They enjoyed better conditions and higher pay. Under the command of Janos Slynt, and with the tacit approval of the inept King Robert, the buying and selling of positions had become rampant, with the king himself taking a cut. Corruption was blatant, and training was severely neglected.

This resulted in the royal army's combat effectiveness being only average compared to the armies of other dukes, and far inferior to the elite private armies of lords like Tywin Lannister in the Westerlands. Many great houses possessed armies stronger than the royal forces.

The Mountain's proposal to select a new commander for the City Watch and immediately conscript more soldiers was met with unanimous approval from the king, queen regent, and courtiers.

Soon, a new commander for the City Watch was chosen. His loyalty, courage, and martial prowess were beyond reproach. In the final vote against candidates like Lord Beric Dondarrion of Blackhaven and Thoros of Myr, a red priest from Myr, Sandor Clegane, the Hound, received unanimous support from key figures such as the Mountain, Littlefinger, King Joffrey, Queen Cersei, and the Kingsguard. He reluctantly became the commander of the City Watch of King's Landing.

King Joffrey was ecstatic, and Queen Cersei felt greatly reassured. Had Beric Dondarrion been chosen as commander, Cersei would have been uneasy, as Beric was a vassal of Renly Baratheon of Storm's End.

Most of the courtiers in King's Landing were vassals from the Riverlands, Westerlands, Vale, Stormlands, and Reach. While called vassals, there was an unspoken understanding: they were also hostages. Should a noble rebel, their children at court would naturally become hostages.

This was a double-edged sword, because if a noble's loyalty was proven, remaining at court as a courtier would bring many benefits in terms of power and land. Furthermore, these courtiers could weave their own complex networks of relationships while serving at court.

When the Hound, with a longsword at his hip, replaced his red cloak with a gold one and stood at the forefront of the courtiers as the commander of the City Watch, Queen Cersei felt greatly relieved.

The Queen Regent looked at the Mountain. He was indeed, as Jaime had said, no longer a reckless brute who couldn't grasp political matters, but a general who spoke with substance and understood the key aspects of complex affairs.

Littlefinger said, "The escape of Eddard Stark, the disappearance of Varys, and the murder of the Grand Maester are all events with far-reaching consequences. We should inform Lord Tywin of these matters so that he can make timely military plans for the North and the Riverlands."

The Mountain agreed, and Cersei thought it made sense. King Joffrey immediately ordered Qyburn, who was temporarily feeding the ravens in place of Pycelle, to send the information out.

Thousands of miles away, the raven flew day and night, taking only a few days for the round trip.

The Mountain said, "When sending the message to Lord Tywin, we must completely block the news, so that the Northerners believe that Eddard Stark is still in our hands. At the same time, order the lords of the Crownlands to block the Gold Road and the Kingsroad, and the Royal Fleet will continue to strictly blockade Blackwater Bay. If Eddard Stark and Varys are still lurking in the city, they will not be able to escape."

Littlefinger smiled and praised, "Lord Mountain is right! Varys only disappeared last night, and since Eddard Stark was rescued by him, they must be together. In such a short time, the Royal Fleet had already blockaded Blackwater Bay last night, so they cannot escape by water, and can only take the main roads." Littlefinger scanned all the courtiers and slowly said, "Even if they escaped overnight, they are still within the Crownlands and have not gone far. My personal judgment is that Varys and Eddard are still lurking in King's Landing."

*

The Westerlands, Golden Tooth.

Jaime sent out dozens of small units every day to harass the borders of the Riverlands. Edmure Tully, who loved his people like his own children, stationed troops in every village. However, the Westerlands army only harassed and did not truly raid, which forced the soldiers of the Riverlands to be constantly on edge.

Jaime Lannister, who was in charge of Golden Tooth, was in the midst of a council with his generals when suddenly, a commotion erupted outside the city. A guard rushed in to report that Lord Tywin had arrived with a large army. Jaime immediately led the generals out to greet him. The city gates opened, and they saw Lord Tywin wearing a heavy cloak woven from pure gold thread, riding a tall horse beneath the banner of the golden lion.

Lord Tywin's cloak was woven from pure gold, so thick that even the strongest wind could barely lift a corner. The cloak was long enough to cover the horse's hindquarters and body. On the battlefield, this cloak could withstand the attack of arrows, which would not penetrate it.

Behind the Duke were his five hundred most elite family knights, surrounding a large carriage adorned with pearls. Following them were a thousand guards from Casterly Rock, all infantry.

Jaime was slightly surprised. His father hated ostentation in war, never caring for empty names, only for practicality. Why had he brought such a luxurious carriage this time?

Looking at his father's face, covered in dust, he did not seem to be enjoying the comfort and leisure of riding in a carriage.

Jaime was filled with suspicion and uncertainty.

On either side of Tywin, beneath the golden lion banner, were Lord Kevan Lannister of Casterly Rock, Lord Addam Marbrand of Ashemark, Lord Crakehall of Crakehall, Lord Swyft of Cornfield, Lord Westerling of the Crag, Lord Farman of Fair Isle, Lord Sarsfield of Sarsfield, Lord Prester of Feastfires, Lord Sherratt of Silverhill, Lord Banefort of Banefort…

All the powerful lords of the Westerlands had come!

The army stretched as far as the eye could see, a forest of spears and swords, extending from the city gate to the end of the River Road… In the sunlight, the tips of the spears and the blades of the greatswords glittered.

Jaime and Lord Leo Lefford of Golden Tooth quickly dismounted, and the generals behind them also dismounted one after another, lining up on both sides to clear the central road. Jaime and Lord Leo Lefford hurried forward to pay their respects to Lord Tywin.

Tywin, carrying the secret letter from King's Landing, glanced at Jaime and said indifferently, "Tonight, we will launch a surprise attack, break through Edmure's defenses, cross the tributary of the Red Fork, and besiege Riverrun."

It happened so suddenly!

Jaime and Lord Leo harbored doubts in their hearts, but they bowed and said, "As you command, Lord Duke."

Eddard Stark had escaped, and they could not give him the leisure to return to the North and reorganize his army. They had to act quickly and decisively, taking the Riverlands first.

The plan had been in the works for so long. It was time to release the arrow, to launch the attack tonight.

Lord Tywin dismounted and turned back to the carriage covered with pearl curtains. He whispered something to someone inside the carriage, showing an attitude of humility and respect. Then, with a wave of his hand, the coachman shook the reins, and the wheels of the carriage rumbled towards the city gate. Lord Tywin mounted his horse and followed alongside the carriage.

Jaime was filled with surprise and uncertainty. Who was in the carriage? Who deserved such humility and respect from his father!

Tywin had become famous at the age of eighteen for participating in the War of the Ninepenny Kings, and at nineteen, he returned to the Westerlands and completely annihilated two powerful noble houses—the Reynes of Castamere and the Tarbecks of Tarbeck Hall—becoming famous throughout the Seven Kingdoms. The Rains of Castamere had been sung throughout the Seven Kingdoms for decades.

At the age of twenty, the Duke was hired by King Aerys as the Hand of the King, governing the Seven Kingdoms for twenty years. Whether it was politics, military affairs, government affairs, or diplomacy, he was always successful and invincible, and was considered by the Seven Kingdoms to be the true king of Westeros. Over the years, Lord Tywin had never shown such humble respect to anyone.

The Duke had a very high opinion of himself, and did not care about the heroes and champions of the Seven Kingdoms.

So who could be sitting inside the carriage?

*

King's Landing, outside the Dragon Gate, on the Kingsroad.

The Mountain and the Hound stood facing each other on horseback.

The Clegane cavalry and infantry had all left the city, following Lord Tywin's raven orders, and were heading north along the Kingsroad, their target: Lady Anya Waynwood's castle of Harrenhal.

Tonight, the army of the Westerlands at Golden Tooth would launch a surprise attack, break through Edmure's Red Fork line of defense, and besiege Riverrun. Eddard Stark's disappearance had forced Lord Tywin to abandon his superior plan of 'subduing the enemy without fighting by holding Eddard hostage'. He immediately took military action.

The Mountain quickly received the Duke's military order, ordering him to lead his cavalry and infantry to attack the eastern stronghold of the Riverlands: Harrenhal, to cooperate with the Duke's military operations against the Riverlands in the west.

Attacking from both the east and west would cause the Riverlands' old fox, Lord Hoster, to be overwhelmed. In fact, Edmure had concentrated all the Riverlands' forces on the western tributary of the Red Fork, leaving the east empty and unguarded, which was a good opportunity for the Mountain to plunder.

As the Mountain left King's Landing under Lord Tywin's military order, the Clegane army went ahead, and he alone arranged to meet his younger brother Sandor Clegane, the Hound, outside the Dragon Gate.

"No matter what, you are my younger brother, connected by blood. There is one thing I want you to remember."

"Hmph!" The Hound snorted.

"A true man will never be willing to be a dog for the rest of his life."

The Hound was stunned!

The Mountain's words surprised him, completely unexpectedly.

"What is the fate of a dog? If there are no rabbits, it will be slaughtered, skinned, and cooked. If a dog bites a neighbor's cat, and the neighbor is relentless, the owner will slaughter the dog to appease the situation."

"Hmph, some owners will not kill their beloved dogs."

"But our master will, that I am sure you are also sure of. Look at your master Joffrey, he doesn't treat you like a person at all."

The Hound's body trembled.

He naturally understood that the Mountain was telling the truth, but revealing the scars like that was too damaging to his dignity.

A sharp light flashed in the Hound's eyes: "Mountain, do you want to rebel?"

"It's not a rebellion."

"Then what is it?"

"A man will take his fate into his own hands. A dog will not, and will be satisfied with the bones left over by people." The Mountain said coldly.

The right corner of the Hound's mouth cracked open, turned up, wearing a mask of contempt and disdain, and a shell of injured dignity: "What do you want me to do for you by saying these words?"

"I don't need you to do anything for me, I hope you do something for yourself."

"My business is to be loyal to the King and the Queen Regent."

"Then be a good dog." The Mountain said sharply, "The next time we meet, I may kill you, and I will never be soft-hearted again."

"The next time we meet, you will have rebelled?"

"Be a good dog, don't care whether I am rebelling or doing anything else. If you and I are enemies in the future, don't show mercy."

"I will tell Queen Cersei what you said today."

The Mountain sneered, "The words came out of my mouth and entered your ears. There is no third person here. Who can prove that your words are not slander? If I don't admit it, what can you do to me?"

The Hound was choked!

The Mountain stared deeply at the Hound, reined his horse around, and galloped away.

The Hound watched the Mountain run away, suddenly spurred his horse to chase after him, and rode side by side with the Mountain, shouting sharply, "Did you let Eddard Stark go?"

"Guess!"

"Did you collude with Varys? Or did Varys collude with you? Did you also let Varys go?"

"Guess!"

"Why did you do this? What exactly are you planning? Is Eddard Stark still in the city?"

"You'd better not guess, you can't guess! Either be a good man or be a good dog, don't hesitate between man and dog."

"You think you are a person, but you are still a dog." The Hound sneered.

"I, the Mountain, will never be a dog!" The Mountain turned to the Hound and said, his voice very soft.

The Mountain kicked his spurs hard, the spurs pierced into the warhorse's body, blood dripping, the warhorse neighed wildly, and suddenly darted out, throwing the Hound away. The Hound's warhorse gradually slowed down, and finally stopped, watching the Mountain go away violently like a giant.

The Mountain's last sentence was not a wild roar, his expression was calm, and his voice was very soft, but loud enough for the Hound to hear.

A soft sentence, but it rumbled in the Hound's ears like thunder: I, the Mountain, will never be a dog!

On the Kingsroad, a man galloped, hooves thundering, pedestrians and horses dodging far away on the side of the road, no one dared to compete with him.

*

Night, early morning, the sweetest time for dreams.

The Red Fork River flowed eastward, not affecting the sweet dreams of the soldiers in the riverside camp.

Edmure Tully was awakened from his dream, the sound of killing shaking the sky outside, with firelight everywhere. Countless people's shouts were earth-shattering. As he rolled off the bed and grabbed his sword, he had not yet rushed out of the camp when a group of people rushed in, led by a man in golden armor and a golden helmet, holding a gilded sword, awe-inspiring. In the blink of an eye, he chopped down his three pajama-clad guards, one with each swing.

His guards were like wolves and tigers, chopping down his maid and a young servant, who had already fallen to the ground and stopped moving, but continued to swing their swords, unwilling to stop, as if they were chopping pork into filling.

Edmure, holding a sword in his hand, barefoot and in his underwear, his eyes wide, was surrounded by Jaime Lannister, who was smiling, with his men.

"Lord Edmure, do you choose to abandon your sword and surrender, or are you not convinced and want to duel with me?" Jaime smiled, his gilded sword skillfully twirling a couple of sword flowers. He sat down in a chair, his armor making a crisp metallic clanging sound.

Snap!

Jaime casually placed the golden sword on the coffee table.

Edmure glared at Jaime, the sword in his hand trembling slightly. He wanted to slash the smiling face of Jaime with his sword, but he didn't move.

Jaime raised his eyebrows, his chin raised, signaling Edmure to make a choice: abandon the sword or challenge, choose whatever you want!

Edmure roared and forcefully stuck his sword in the ground.

Jaime and his guards laughed. Jaime stood up, grabbed the sword, patted Edmure's shoulder affectionately, and shouted, "Tie him up!"