On the east bank of the Red Fork, atop a slightly elevated mound, was Tywin's "Command Center."
Although the Duke of Casterly Rock looked calm, the beads of sweat constantly oozing from his bald head betrayed him. The enemy across the river, relying on the river and fortifications, had firmly blocked him on the east bank of the Red Fork.
"Damn it, the river again—"
Tywin faintly heard a complaint but continued to stare silently at the enemy across the river.
He saw the banner across the river—the trout banner of House Tully of Riverrun.
The Tully army had ample arrows. Their archer formations hadn't stopped raining arrows since the battle began, causing heavy casualties for Tywin.
At this moment, a slightly chubby noble, bearing a strong resemblance to Tywin, rode up to him.
"My Lord, Marbrand's men have retreated. What do we do now?"
Tywin looked at the portly noble; it was his brother, Kevan Lannister.
"Let Gre—"
Tywin intended to say let Gregor, The Mountain, try attacking, but suddenly remembered The Mountain was dead.
Right, The Mountain is dead.
Tywin turned to look east. He had originally planned to have The Mountain attack the Northern and Riverlands armies while their forces were dispersed.
Unexpectedly, The Mountain fell into an ambush.
And the one who ambushed him was Jon.
He felt he understood Eddard's bastard less and less.
Later, through some channels, he deepened his understanding of Jon.
The more he learned, the more he felt Jon was extraordinary.
Daring to oppose Robb's kingship in public, and opposing the Riverlands nobles reclaiming lost territory.
Such political and military foresight could already be considered top-tier in the Seven Kingdoms.
Not to mention the "Green Fork Water Attack" he orchestrated before, which was said to have been done against the pressure of almost everyone.
Suddenly, Tywin thought of his son.
Jaime Lannister.
His "Golden Son."
Jaime and Cersei were known as the "Golden Twins" of the Westerlands.
Tywin sometimes thought that if Jaime had half of Jon's strategic mind, he wouldn't be without a suitable heir.
Just then, a blond squire hurried to Tywin's side and presented him with a letter.
"My Lord, a letter from King's Landing." Kevan stepped forward in two strides, took the letter from the squire, and respectfully handed it to Tywin.
Tywin opened the letter. His green pupils contracted slightly. In just a moment, his face radiated an even stronger resolve.
He turned to Kevan and said, "Order the entire army to turn east again and support King's Landing!"
"Brother?"
Kevan didn't understand. They had already made so many sacrifices; why leave suddenly?
Tywin didn't explain anything but handed him the letter.
Kevan took the letter, eyes widening, craning his neck forward as if wishing to dive headfirst into it.
"Tyrell wants an alliance with us?"
"Do they have a better choice?" Tywin's green eyes shone brighter.
Renly was dead; House Tyrell's "Queen Dream" was shattered.
Margaery was only fifteen. Stannis's wife wasn't dead yet, and he only had a daughter.
Anyway, House Tyrell's goal was to make Margaery Queen. They didn't care who the King was.
As to whether Joffrey was truly a bastard, it became increasingly insignificant. Now, only by immediately turning back and repelling Stannis, who sought to capture King's Landing, could the Lannisters turn the tide.
As for the Westerlands, let Robb and the others fuss over it.
Northerners on a distant expedition—unless they sprouted wings, could they really capture Casterly Rock? Casterly Rock was carved out of a stone mountain two hundred feet high.
Casterly Rock would never fall!
At this moment, Tywin seemed to remember something and said to Kevan, "Send out all scouts immediately. Tell the Tyrell army they must get to King's Landing as soon as possible, or at least send cavalry to let the vanguard pressure Stannis. I'm worried Eddard's bastard might intervene—"
"That Snow? But what right does he have to move troops without orders? Robb won't agree."
"He dared to oppose Robb's kingship in public. Do you think he really cares about Robb?"
Kevan thought for a moment, nodded, and went to make arrangements.
Soon, the crimson-dominated Westerlands army retreated rapidly, leaving only a small number of men to delay.
Seeing the enemy retreat, the Tully army across the Red Fork cheered. Edmure, in command, also revealed a proud smile.
After all, in his first battle, he had defeated Tywin! He had to send a "victory report" to Robb immediately.
Bang—
The young king slammed the so-called victory report onto the table and sat somewhat irritably on a wooden stump.
"Robb."
Seeing her husband in a bad mood, his wife approached him with a cup of hot tea.
"Didn't Ser Edmure repel Tywin? Why are you unhappy?"
Looking at the Queen he "traded" an army for, Robb felt somewhat depressed.
"You don't understand. I thought Edmure was no match for Tywin. As long as Tywin crossed the river, I could annihilate his army in the Westerlands. Now that Edmure's army blocked him back, this... this is really, sigh—"
Robb's queen was Jeyne Westerling.
Robb had been injured in a previous siege, and Jeyne was responsible for caring for him.
Perhaps due to hormones or other messy reasons, the two ended up in bed.
Afterward, Robb remembered he should take responsibility for the girl, so he announced his marriage to her.
But Robb had already made a deal with House Frey. This was a breach of contract.
Furious, Black Walder led the Frey soldiers away from Robb's command and returned to the Twins.
Perhaps House Frey's departure felt manageable to Robb, but Edmure blocking Tywin completely disrupted his plan.
Fortunately, the Iron Islands army had landed in the southern part of the Westerlands a few days ago.
This relieved some of his pressure.
Listening to Robb's explanation, Jeyne felt confused. Since he wanted Tywin to cross the river, why didn't he tell Edmure in advance?
However, Jeyne didn't dare say much or ask much.
In her eyes, her husband was the King in the North, an invincible commander. Perhaps he had other concerns?
"It should be fine, Your Grace. Isn't your brother still in the east? Maybe they can pincer Tywin?" Jeyne said half-comfortingly, half-suggesting, using her shallow military knowledge.
"You mean a pincer attack?"
Seeing his beloved offering ideas, Robb felt slightly relieved.
He pinched Jeyne's cheek, feeling a stirring somewhere in his body again. Two pairs of hot lips soon pressed together.
After a moment of passionate kissing, Robb wanted more, but Jeyne, who was melting into a puddle, pushed him away.
"Your Grace, I... I'm pregnant."
"Pregnant!"
Robb looked at Jeyne's abdomen with surprise and joy, simultaneously feeling somewhat at a loss.
"Ah, by the gods." Robb half-knelt before Jeyne, holding her waist.
A name surfaced in his mind—Eddard.
If it were a son, he planned to name the child Eddard to commemorate his father.
Just as Robb was immersed in the joy and excitement of impending fatherhood, a message from Harrenhal pulled him back to reality.
"Mutiny!" Robb stood up abruptly, gripping the letter tightly with both hands, feeling a thunderclap explode in his brain.
He read the letter from start to finish again. Harrenhal, Jon, mutiny, King's Landing—
These words condensed into a fact he found hard to believe no matter what—Jon had actually seized Roose Bolton's military command and led the army straight for King's Landing.
Jon! What exactly are you doing? Just because I wanted to take away your command?
Unknowingly, Robb felt his breathing become heavy. Grey Wind in the tent seemed to sense his mood, standing up alertly and pacing back and forth.