After a long time, Tywin suddenly spoke, "First, let Tyrion go to King's Landing."
Kevan was stunned to hear the name and asked in disbelief, "What?"
"Let Tyrion go to King's Landing," Tywin repeated, his tone flat. "He has a bit of quick wit. During the years he grew up in Casterly Rock, he handled economic affairs well. Moreover, he knows how to deal with Cersei, and he can use his little tricks to delay the Targaryens. So, I have decided to let him serve as the acting hand of the king and preside over the defense of King's Landing."
Kevan looked at Tywin in disbelief. "Tyrion has never commanded a war, and he is still a..."
"No matter what he is," Tywin interrupted him, speaking firmly. "At least he is still a Lannister for now. And I never expected him to command a war; I just want him to stabilize the situation and buy time. We can return to King's Landing once we have dealt with the Northmen."
He looked at Kevan and continued, "The power in King's Landing is currently controlled by Cersei. You can't handle her, and neither can Jaime. Only Tyrion can deal with her."
"What if King's Landing cannot be held?" Kevan asked hesitantly.
Tywin was silent for a moment, then said, "Then we will retreat from the Goldroad back to the Westerlands and hold Casterly Rock tightly. Casterly Rock is easy to defend and hard to attack, and it's supported by gold mines. If the Targaryens want to take the Westerlands, they will have to pay ten times the price."
Kevan looked at him, suddenly feeling that the brother before him was somewhat of a stranger.
"You want to abandon King's Landing?" he asked.
Tywin shook his head, looking at Kevan, and said word for word, "It's not abandoning, it's a choice. House Lannister is more important than King's Landing. As long as we are still here, the Lannisters will still exist."
He paused, his voice turning colder. "But you must not tell anyone else this, especially not those in King's Landing."
Kevan took a deep breath and nodded.
He wanted to say more, but Tywin had already stood up and walked toward the door.
"Bring Tyrion here," he said to the guards at the door.
This time, Tyrion had been ordered by Tywin to accompany the army, but this was only because Tywin wanted to take the opportunity to find a chance to completely erase this stain on the family's reputation. If he died on the battlefield like that, it might even improve the family's reputation a bit.
However, looking at the current timing, he still had some use. Tywin thought of letting him make one last contribution to the family.
Half an hour later, the door opened, and Tyrion Lannister walked into the study.
He wore a well-tailored black velvet coat with a dagger hanging at his waist. His hair, so blonde it was almost white, was neatly combed, and his beard was trimmed short. If one ignored his stature and features, he was actually quite a decent-looking man.
However, he was much shorter than his father and uncle; he was a dwarf. His legs were short and uneven, making him limp when he walked. But his head was large, and his eyes—one black and one green—shone with a shrewd light and the sharpness characteristic of the Lannisters.
Since he had followed Tywin on the campaign, he had been sidelined like an optional burden. However, Tyrion knew very well that Tywin only brought him along to keep an eye on him at all times and also because he didn't want him staying in the Westerlands.
After all, if anything were to happen to Tywin and Jaime in this war, he would be the first heir to House Lannister.
But he also knew clearly that even if Tywin gave the inheritance to Kevan Lannister, he would never give it to this dwarf who he felt was a disgrace to the Lannisters. In Tywin's heart, the honor of the Lannisters was above all else.
After entering, he looked at Tywin with wariness in his eyes. But at this moment, Kevan, who was on the side, was also looking at him, and that strange gaze made him feel a bit uncomfortable.
"Uncle Kevan, hello. Father, did you send for me?" Tyrion bowed slightly to them, speaking first, and then, without waiting for Tywin to speak, he climbed into a chair and sat down on his own.
Kevan nodded kindly at Tyrion and greeted him, but did not speak.
Hearing the voice, Tywin put down what he was doing and looked up at him. Those green eyes held no emotion as he directly commanded, "Tyrion, you are going to King's Landing next."
Tyrion raised an eyebrow and didn't speak. Tywin showed him several letters about the Targaryens that he had just organized.
While Tyrion was reading the letters, Tywin continued, "The Targaryens have landed, right on the Crabs Claw Peninsula. King's Landing needs someone to preside over the defense, and you are very suitable. I am now appointing you as the acting hand of the king, with full authority to handle all affairs in King's Landing."
Tyrion read the letters carefully. He was momentarily stunned by Tywin's words, then he smiled. In that smile was surprise, irony, and a hint of smugness that he hadn't even noticed himself.
"Father, you're finally willing to use me. It's truly an honor," he said with a smile, his tone teasing.
Hearing this, Tywin looked at him coldly. "Don't disappoint me."
After finishing the letters, Tyrion's smile faded, and he asked seriously, "Father, how many troops have you arranged to go with me to support King's Landing? That Viserys has over fifty thousand men."
"Except for five hundred men to protect you along the way, there are no others. Once I deal with the Northmen, I will rush to King's Landing as soon as possible. However, King's Landing itself has three thousand men, and with those to be conscripted, it should be possible to scrape together ten thousand."
"Once you arrive, the first thing is to continue conscription. Mobilize all men who can hold a weapon, give them weapons, and send them to the city walls. The second thing is to stabilize Cersei; she is too impulsive and needs someone to stop her from doing anything stupid."
As Tyrion listened, the expression on his face became more solemn, and he asked again, "What if I can't hold it?"
Tywin was silent for a moment, then said firmly, "You will hold it."
Tyrion looked at him, complex emotions flashing through his mismatched eyes.
He understood.
Tywin had no intention of saving King's Landing at all; he was buying time for the Lannisters. It would be best if King's Landing could be held, but if not, so be it. As long as the Targaryens could be delayed long enough, Tywin would have time to deal with the Northmen and then retreat safely back to the Westerlands.
He, Tyrion, was just a pawn, a pawn that could be discarded at any time. Cersei and her children were the same; their existence was also a stain on the family.
Except for Jaime, his father could only ever see Jaime, even though he had joined the Kingsguard and was constantly obsessed with Cersei's legs. Perhaps, once he reached King's Landing, Jaime would be recalled by his father to the Westerlands, or Harrenhal.
But Tyrion did not show it.
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