The sunlight was intense, making the spacious tents bright and warm, as if radiating a golden light.
Everyone present stood ramrod straight.
"The Rowan and Oakheart families will not submit, even if this is the price they should pay."
Ser Stafford Lannister was the first to speak.
Everyone looked at Stafford.
He was not only Lord Tywin's cousin, but also the younger brother of the Duke's beloved deceased wife, Lady Joanna. Because of this, he received a lot of leniency in his daily life and spoke with less restraint than others.
"To carry out His Majesty's will," Ser Stafford Lannister continued, "there can be no mercy for the rebels!"
"That is natural." Ser Daven Lannister, Stafford's son, picked up the thread.
"The question is, what is the best way to do it?"
Garlan felt several gazes subtly sweeping over him, seemingly wanting him to speak. But Garlan did not open his mouth. The meeting had just begun; it was not yet time.
"With His Majesty's divine grace and might," Ser Daven Lannister looked at the three Royal Guards, "Old Oak naturally has no power to resist. We can take it at any time..."
"Exactly!" Ser Robar Royce said with a confident look.
"With just one military order, His Majesty's 10th Regiment can secure victory for our army, and only the city gate will be destroyed; the castle can remain intact!" Ser Robar Royce smiled and gestured towards Garlan.
Garlan could only return a friendly smile.
"That's not the key." However, Ser Harys Swyft of Cornfield retorted, "The trouble is not the outcome of the battle or the losses, but the aftermath. We absolutely cannot damage His Majesty's reputation."
Garlan looked at this person. The wrinkled old man seemed to have exposed the true intention of the meeting, whether intentionally or unintentionally.
There was a slight stir in the tent because of this sentence.
"How could His Majesty's reputation be damaged!?" Lord Damon Marbrand of Ashemark questioned fiercely, "It's merely a just punishment for a few traitors. What decent family would criticize His Majesty for this?!"
"I think so too."
"Yes, yes, what does this have to do with His Majesty?"
"That is indeed the logic."
"..." For a moment, many people voiced their agreement.
"We certainly won't." Lord Roland Crakehall of Crakehall snorted a few times, reminding them with deep meaning, "But don't forget whose territory we are standing on, to whom the farmers have paid taxes for generations, and which castle is praised and worshipped."
As soon as he finished speaking, dozens, even hundreds, of gazes looked towards Garlan, either openly or subtly. Garlan of Highgarden.
Garlan's face remained calm.
"No matter what, the commoners still respect the King," Lord Quenten Banefort of Banefort said to ease the atmosphere, "As long as we carefully distinguish and show more leniency to the soldiers and commoners who were misled by the ambitious, and govern fairly in the future, the commoners will genuinely accept it."
Govern fairly. Garlan would certainly do that.
"But we cannot let any true traitor go!" Lord Andros Brax of Hornvale declared sternly, "Not just the Rowan and Oakheart families. On the lands the scouts have passed through, more than half of the castles refused our army entry! They are clearly full of hostility!"
"Exactly! They cursed us in very unpleasant ways."
"Even the scout teams sent out, which were over a hundred strong, have suffered casualties more than once."
"Although the small villages and towns didn't dare to refuse, a lot of the supplies they provided were deliberately damaged."
Lord Brax's sons provided strong corroboration.
However, Garlan did not dare to believe it all.
It was normal for various castles to defend themselves strictly. But the others...
How could weak castles and powerless commoners resist the King's army for no reason? Unless they had no choice.
Garlan looked at Lord Brax. Was it a lie, or a bloodbath?
"In any case, His Majesty has ordered us to take Old Oak, today." Lord Lymond Lydden of Deep Den reminded them, "Besides, the grain and supplies that are continuously being transported cannot be left in the wilderness forever." He was in charge of the army's logistics and supplies.
"Let's discuss the matter of Old Oak first," Lord Serrett of Silverhill agreed, "It's not too late to talk about other places after we enter the city."
"His Majesty only wants us to retake Old Oak and Goldengrove," Ser Daven Lannister said.
"The question now is, how should the family members of the Rowan and Oakheart families be dealt with? How should the other traitors be dealt with? Should they all be spared, or should the ringleaders be executed?"
There was no option for collective punishment. Yet Garlan knew that this would inevitably be the outcome.
"Those who surrender will not be killed." It was Lord Tywin's voice.
The tent fell silent for a moment, and everyone looked at Lord Tywin in the main seat.
"The rebels' terms for peace cannot be accepted," Lord Tywin said, "We will launch an attack. But this is not a massacre. The Gods are merciful. Anyone whose sincere surrender can be confirmed will have their lives spared."
No one objected further.
Garlan, of course, would not either. He merely silently chewed on Lord Tywin's words. Sincere... surrender. What does sincere mean? How is it confirmed? By whom?
Clearly, this was not true forgiveness.
And Garlan was far from the only one who understood. The smile on Lord Brax's face proved he was one of them, and so was Lord Crakehall...
The attitude of most of the lords in the southern Westerlands was even tougher.
Garlan had already seen King Joffrey's map, and naturally understood why. These Westerlands lords bordering the Reach territories had the best chance of profiting.
The bright red streak added to the new map didn't look particularly conspicuous.
But it represented hundreds of villages, dozens of castles, and endless fields under the jurisdiction of the Reach.
These would all become the property of the Westerlands and be bestowed upon the knights or soldiers who had rendered meritorious service in the war, with a larger share going to the loyal lords in the vicinity.
Sweet fruits.
And the best way to accept these rewards with peace of mind, without worrying about them being taken away again every day, was naturally to — completely destroy the original owners.
Old Oak and Goldengrove were huge threats.
The more prominent and powerful the Oakheart Family and the Rowan Family were, the more they were resented and worried about at this time.
The more people wanted to wipe them out.
Garlan looked at Lord Tywin, who was the only one seated. Such horrifying acts as extermination were always unacceptable among nobles, but this proud Lion of Lannister was different; he would gladly allow it.
The Rains of Castamere was not just a terrifying ballad, but also Lord Tywin's resolve.
For any offense, disrespect, or covetousness, Lord Tywin would respond with the most cruel and thorough powerful blow, staining the Lannister banners and badges with blood.
Highgarden had escaped. But Old Oak and Goldengrove would not be forgiven.
...
After the tone was set, the war council quickly reached a consensus: the Royal Guard 10th Regiment would act as the vanguard, with the main army and artillery corps bringing up the rear, to read out the decree and crush the Rebel Army in one fell swoop.
Only the final resolution remained.
Lord Tywin stood up: "Governor Garlan, Old Oak is already under your command, and this campaign will be the same. What is your decision?"
Everyone looked at Garlan, waiting for the Governor's order.
What else could Garlan do?
"Proceed as planned." Garlan even provocatively sat in Lord Tywin's original seat.
Lord Tywin showed no displeasure.
Garlan sighed silently, calmed down, and then stood up again, "Act immediately. I will personally go and read out His Majesty's decree."
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