The Riverlands, located in the central region of the continent of Westeros, are fertile with numerous rivers.
Thanks to their superior geographical location, the lords and commoners there are prosperous in all fields, whether farming, fishing, or trade.
However, as the saying goes, what makes you can also break you; the geographical location of the Riverlands is simply too critical.
It is a place that every strategist wants to control.
Historically, whether it was small-scale skirmishes or large-scale wars, they basically all took place in the Riverlands.
The lords of the Riverlands could still manage to survive within their own castles, but the commoners could only bleed, weep, and be displaced.
Although the heat of the sun here cannot compare to The Reach or Dorne in the south, for the North, this was already their summer.
Just as Jaime Lannister was heading east along the River Road, having captured Edmure Tully in the skirmish at Riverrun and divided his forces into three to besiege Riverrun, Robb Stark, upon receiving the news, had also arrived at The Twins with his Northern bannermen.
In The Twins, Catelyn Tully reached an agreement with Walder Frey: House Stark and House Frey would form an alliance through marriage.
Robb Stark would marry one of Walder Frey's daughters, and Elmar Frey would marry Arya Stark.
In addition, Big Walder and Little Walder were sent to Winterfell as wards, and Olyvar Frey was arranged to serve as Robb Stark's squire.
Outside The Twins.
"Lord Bolton, you will take these seventeen thousand troops south along the Kingsroad on the east side of the Green Fork to block the main force of Tywin Lannister."
Robb Stark spoke with great authority; at least for the moment, these Northern nobles were willing to listen to him.
Whether he could control these people in the future would depend on the development of the situation.
"According to the letter from Riverrun, Jaime Lannister has about fourteen to fifteen thousand men under his command, so Tywin Lannister should still have about twenty thousand.
Although most of our seventeen thousand men are infantry and it is very likely that many will be killed in a surprise attack by Tywin Lannister, all these sacrifices are worth it," Robb Stark continued, looking at Roose Bolton.
"Yes," Roose Bolton replied.
Roose Bolton was the current Lord of The Dreadfort in the North.
He was of medium build and ordinary appearance.
However, his skin was unnaturally pale, and his eyes were the color of thin ice on a Northern river, which made people feel a chill down their spine.
On the surface, he was gentle and refined, but inside, he was calculating, cold, and cruel—truly a well-dressed scoundrel.
He spoke in a soft voice and never raised his volume; others had to quiet down and listen carefully to hear him clearly.
Roose Bolton was known as the "Leech Lord" because he was particularly fond of using leeches to suck his own blood; he believed this could purge impurities and maintain health.
"I will lead four thousand elite cavalry, use Walder Frey's The Twins, cross the Green Fork to the west side of the river, and then pass through Stone Hedge to strike directly at the fifteen thousand troops of Jaime Lannister besieging Riverrun."
Robb Stark still trusted Roose Bolton a great deal at this moment, believing that Roose Bolton was one of the few rare military talents in the North.
"Lord, you must hold off Tywin Lannister's main force for me."
"I will, my Lord."
Roose Bolton nodded in acknowledgment, then waved his hand, leading his seventeen thousand troops to head south.
Robb Stark, meanwhile, led his bannermen through The Twins and reached the west side of the Green Fork.
To prevent Tywin Lannister from knowing that he had allied with Walder Frey and had split his forces into two at The Twins, Robb Stark also ordered the "Blackfish" Brynden Tully to pick out three hundred archers from the ranks to shoot down all the surrounding scouts and ravens.
It is worth mentioning that House Frey really went all out.
As soon as the marriage alliance was decided, they gave Robb Stark more than three thousand soldiers, which even included over one thousand cavalry.
The seventeen thousand men under Roose Bolton included two thousand infantry from House Frey, and those one thousand cavalry were included in Robb Stark's four thousand cavalry.
And most importantly, Walder Frey also sent out his eldest son and heir, Stevron Frey; this Ser Stevron Frey was now following Robb Stark to the west of the Green Fork.
Just when Jaime Lannister had crushed the enemy forces in the skirmish at Riverrun, captured Edmure Tully and others, and left the Riverlands' defenses empty, Tywin Lannister had already led his army across the Red Fork.
He had successively captured Pinkmaiden, Stone Hedge, and Ravens Tree Hall, and had also captured some important members of these families.
After these battles, Tywin sent some of his men into the hinterlands of the Riverlands to continue killing, burning, and looting supplies, coordinating with Jaime Lannister to completely besiege Riverrun.
Subsequently, after stationing some troops on the spot, Tywin led his main army to continue advancing towards the fords downstream of the Trident.
Before the Northern army reached the battlefield, he attacked Harrenhal and occupied the area near the Ruby Ford and the crossroads.
To prevent a surprise attack from Robb Stark, Tywin also ordered Ser Addam Marbrand to send out scouts to report the situation on the front lines at any time.
Moreover, Tywin's method of stationing troops was very experienced; he stationed a large number of cavalry on the south bank of the Red Fork, using the wide and turbulent river to separate the Northern army from the Riverlands.
This not only ensured the mobility of his troops but also prevented the North and the Riverlands from suddenly joining forces.
At this time, Tywin had already arrived at Saltpans to prepare for the great battle.
In the Trident region, at Saltpans.
Tyrion Lannister led a group of Hill Clansmen, arriving in a grand procession before Tywin Lannister's tent.
He first had Ser Addam Marbrand arrange for this group of people, and then walked into the tent alone.
"My dear father, I have truly missed you to death."
As soon as he entered, Tyrion greeted his father, Lord Tywin, with exaggerated language, even opening his arms to give Tywin a hug, but Tywin stepped back to avoid it.
Tyrion was not embarrassed; he just stepped back two steps, spread his hands, and smiled.
"Tyrion, my good son, to think you didn't die at The Eyrie in the Vale, you truly have a charmed life."
Tywin Lannister looked at this short, dwarf son, and he only felt a monstrous hatred welling up in his heart.
Tywin and Tyrion were truly the model of a loving father and filial son in Westeros.
Whenever Lord Tywin saw Tyrion, he thought of his wife Joanna Lannister, who had died in childbirth because of Tyrion.
She was his only moonlight, and the only person who could enter his heart.
Since she left, his life had fallen into endless darkness.
No one could replace her position, which was why he had never remarried for so many years.
"Thanks to you, I am still living well," Tyrion said with a cheeky grin.
"Then I am truly blessed."
Tywin Lannister's eyes flickered, and he said to Tyrion: "I don't care how you survived, nor do I care what kind of creatures you brought back.
I only know that in this war, which was started because of you, we do not have much of an advantage."
"Tyrion, I hope you can now shoulder the responsibility of a Lannister."
"Your brother Jaime has already gone to Riverrun and has achieved significant results.
Tyrion, I need you now to take your gang of fox friends and wolf brothers to find your uncle, Kevan Lannister, and have him arrange for you to be in our vanguard and left flank units."
In fact, the reason Tywin Lannister sent Tyrion to the vanguard was also in the hope of using the hands of the Northern soldiers to kill his dwarf son.
Whenever Tyrion dangled the lion crest of House Lannister in front of him, Tywin's rage exploded instantly; Tywin truly hated him to the bone.
"Very well, my Lord Father."
Just a moment ago, Tywin Lannister had received news from Ser Addam Marbrand's scouts that The Twins had allied with the North.
Regarding this, Tywin Lannister was only slightly surprised before immediately calming down.
Although this result was not within his expectations, his own total troop strength was still greater than the opponent's.
The advantage is with me!
Because Robb Stark had ordered the "Blackfish" Brynden Tully to clear all the surrounding scouts and ravens.
Tywin Lannister did not know that the army in front of him was just a ruse; Robb Stark had not personally led the main force to the east side of the Green Fork to fight him, but had already split his forces into two at The Twins.
And he was leading more than four thousand cavalry, preparing to outflank the Riverlands and launch a surprise attack on Jaime Lannister, who was besieging Riverrun.
Vada sat on a wooden cart, swinging her legs, silently sulking.
Because everyone was going to the battlefield, but they wouldn't take her with them.
Bronn saw this and seized the opportunity, actively approaching to comfort Vada.
"The battlefield is so dangerous; what if you get hurt? Wouldn't it be a pity if that pretty face of yours got scratched?"
"Hmph!" Vada swatted away Bronn's greasy hand that kept touching her face, turned around, and stopped looking at him.
She had resigned herself to her fate; in any case, everyone wouldn't let a little girl like her follow them to the front lines to charge into battle.
If they wouldn't take her, then they wouldn't! She didn't care anyway!
"This is Kon's axe."
Kon's eyes were fixed on the axe in his hand that he had carefully selected from the armory, his eyes seemingly glowing.
"Yes, it is yours, and that set of armor over there is also yours," Tyrion laughed.
Anyway, his uncle Kevan Lannister had allowed him to pick equipment from the armory as he pleased.
He still had to rely on these Hill Clansmen to protect him, so he wouldn't be stingy about a little equipment; after all, House Lannister had plenty of money.
"Tyrion, son of Tywin, you truly did not deceive us; these weapons and armor are indeed very fine."
Shaga, leader of the Stone Crow Tribe, leaned against a large tree, playing with a sharp blade while speaking to Tyrion.
After Tyrion Lannister's impassioned speech that day, the Black Ears, Burned Men, Stone Crow Tribe, and Moon People Tribe all decided to follow him to the battlefield to seek some benefits.
Among them, the Black Ears and the Moon People Tribe had a closer relationship.
Currently, the Black Ears were led by Chella, daughter of Chek, and the Moon People Tribe was led by Ulf, son of Umar.
However, their relationship with the Stone Crow Tribe was indeed quite ordinary; even when eating, they had to stay far away from each other.
The Burned Men were led by Timett, son of Timett; it was said that the burn marks on their bodies were medals representing their honor.
The Stone Crow Tribe was led by Shaga, which was considered to have a relatively larger number of people among these tribes.
All the people of the Hill Clansmen were, according to Tywin's wishes, arranged by Kevan Lannister into the left flank unit as the vanguard, led directly by Tyrion Lannister.
"Everyone, listen to me!"
Seeing that the war was about to begin, Tyrion immediately climbed onto the carriage and called out to everyone.
Only after everyone's gaze turned to him did he begin his speech.
"The war is about to begin.
Everyone, hurry and pick the equipment you need from the armory; don't just take things that look good, take what is useful!" Tyrion shouted loudly.
"Listen well! The opponent we are about to face is the Stark wolf pups of the North.
They are extremely brutal and kill without blinking, so we must be spirited when we fight them."
Whenever he had the chance, Tyrion Lannister didn't mind smearing the Starks he hated a little.
"If we win, you can get mountains of food, weapons, and armor!
But you must protect me well!
If I lose my life, you won't be able to redeem your rewards!"
The leaders of the several tribes first looked at each other, exchanged glances, and then nodded at Tyrion Lannister on the carriage, indicating that they understood.
Chella of the Black Ears and Ulf of the Moon People Tribe both planned to send some men to protect Tyrion Lannister, this fragile god of wealth.
Shaga of the Stone Crow Tribe even sent his capable assistant, Kon, to protect Tyrion closely, which made Tyrion feel deeply reassured.
This Kon was so big; when the time came to go to the battlefield, he could just hide behind him.