"During my absence, command of the army will be temporarily managed by Earl Roose Bolton, assisted by Earl Cerwyn, and Earl Maege will continue to oversee military law enforcement within the army."
Previously, Robb's reallocation and arrangement of personnel for the main force had greatly displeased Greatjon and Rickard Karstark, as they felt their abilities had not received Robb's full recognition.
However, they did not publicly contradict Robb, having learned to uphold their lord's authority in front of outsiders.
So, after the meeting, the two privately sought out Robb.
Greatjon gasped, "I don't understand, My Lord. Roose Bolton is a schemer; how could you entrust the army to him!"
Rickard Karstark remained silent, but his expression clearly indicated he agreed with Greatjon.
Robb poured them both a cup of ale: "What do you think of Countess Maege?"
Greatjon replied without hesitation: "Loyal, short-tempered, and a bit stubborn and willful."
"Then do you think she is competent as the leader of the military law enforcement team?"
Greatjon hesitated, then honestly said: "Of course, her personality is most suited for such an unlikable job."
Robb took a sip of ale: "What if I promoted her to overall commander? Do you think she could do that job well?"
Greatjon and Rickard Karstark both remained silent. They were intelligent men and had understood the hidden meaning in Robb's words. After a while, Rickard Karstark reluctantly said:
"I know we aren't suitable, but you can't let that flaying pervert be the overall commander. He's a complete schemer. From what I know, he's kept quite a few cavalry in his Dreadfort, probably harboring ill intentions."
Robb reassured them: "Green Fork River water is clear, The Neck water is stagnant, but both types of water have their own uses. Green Fork River irrigates the soil, and The Neck obstructs enemies. Can I only favor Green Fork River and dislike The Neck?"
"If Green Fork River overflows, I will do my best to repair it. If The Neck becomes increasingly stagnant and affects the inhabitants, I will also lead people to manage it. Although there is a distinction between good and bad, in my eyes, there is no good or bad, only whether the two can be appropriately utilized."
"In a distant land of wisdom, there is a saying I like very much: clouds hover in the sky, water settles at the bottom of a bottle. Each of you has your own place. If you are a cloud, I will let you be in the sky; if you are water, I will let you be at the bottom of the bottle."
Greatjon and Rickard Karstark were dumbfounded, not knowing what to say for a moment.
A large part of the reason was that they didn't understand what their lord was saying, but they could still grasp the general meaning: Roose Bolton is more suitable for this position than you, but I trust you more, and you will have your chance to prove yourselves later.
As for expecting them to understand those metaphors and some obscure proverbs from distant lands, it would be more enjoyable to just kill them.
This half-understood confusion made the two feel that Robb seemed smarter than them, much smarter.
If an ordinary lord dared to quibble with them like this, speaking such obscure words, they would have long since impatiently drawn their swords to silence the other party.
But they both understood Robb's terror and mystery, and no one had the guts.
Rickard Karstark reluctantly stood up: "Alright, we obey your decision."
Having settled Greatjon and Rickard Karstark, Robb immediately ordered the troops to set off.
The main force, led by Roose Bolton, advanced along the King's Road, their primary objective to intercept Tywin's army, which was plundering and burning along the King's Road.
Robb himself, with less than three hundred Wolf Cavalry, prepared to head to the Ferry at Riverrun, to cross the Green Fork River and reinforce the besieged Riverrun.
...
The Ferry at Riverrun was not far from Robb's position, and since the Wolf Cavalry were all cavalrymen, their travel speed was incomparable to that of the main army. In less than an hour, Robb could see the Ferry at Riverrun on the horizon.
Theon Greyjoy looked around, his tone relaxed: "These people tied to the signposts are all Lannister scouts. It seems Earl Frey of the Ferry at Riverrun is on our side."
Blackfish's expression, however, was more solemn: "That doesn't prove anything. The Ferry at Riverrun has assembled a force of four thousand men, but Lord Frey did not go to Riverrun when Tully summoned his vassals. Defending one's own territory is one thing; fighting the Lannister for honor is another."
Robb was noncommittal in his heart. He knew that Earl Frey had no honor to speak of; only sufficient profit could move this fellow.
But this fellow wouldn't realize that he and Robb were actually the same kind of person.
The army quickly arrived outside the Ferry at Riverrun. This was Robb's first time seeing the castle where the later 'Red Wedding' would take place.
It had two fortresses, spanning both banks of the Green Fork River, forming a mutually reinforcing position, making it easy to defend and difficult to attack. Even if Robb attacked with his main force, twenty thousand against four thousand in the city, it would still take a lot of time.
Of course, the premise was that the current Robb would not go all out.
Looking at the closed city gates, Blackfish gnashed his teeth in anger: "This old man, he doesn't take his vows seriously at all! No wonder my brother never trusted him!"
Robb said calmly: "I hear Lord Frey is advanced in age, possessing both the caution of an old man and the ambition of a young one, and he is certainly not lacking in meticulous calculation. Therefore, such a person will surely side with whoever wins."
"That old turtle!" Blackfish cursed, "Lannister's army is burning fields and plundering farms within his territory, yet he hides inside and doesn't come out."
From a distance, the walls of the Ferry at Riverrun were dotted with the gleam of spears and swords and large ballistae. Archers were deployed at every merlon and arrow slit. The drawbridge had already been raised, and the gate lowered.
Clearly, Lord Frey had gathered all four thousand of his summoned soldiers into the castle.
Just as everyone was observing the castle, a side gate suddenly opened, extending a wooden bridge across the moat, and a dozen knights rode towards them.
They carried banners with a silver-grey field and deep blue twin towers, and each of them looked like a weasel.
A rider at the forefront came before Robb's company. He looked especially like an old and tired weasel, but he was quite polite: "My father sent me to greet you all. May I ask who leads this formidable force?"
Robb rode forward: "You should have heard my name, Robb Stark."
Grey Wind followed by Robb's side, his eyes revealing a savage glint, staring at the other party's horse.
A glint of interest flashed in the old knight's watery grey eyes, but his mount snorted uneasily twice, shying away from the Direwolf. "If you would be so kind as to join my father for dinner in the castle and state your intentions, I believe he would be greatly honored."
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