Game of Thrones: Lord of Winter

"Bao Wei, I asked you to pay attention to some people who behave strangely, but you also have to think about it with your brain. Will this enemy scout bring a child?"

Konoe Bowie hurriedly explained, "Sir, we were alone just now. We noticed that he was hiding and avoiding gathering here in the square, so we were going to step forward to question him, but he ran away when he saw us."

"Really?" It seemed that Cole had wrongly blamed him.

Cole walked in. He was an unshaven man with dirty hair, tattered clothes, and a piece of rag tied to his leg. He walked hobblingly, with a boy following behind him.

There is no priest or church in this village, but there is a highly respected village elder. He has studied in the school city, so he is literate. Unfortunately, he did not get the title of bachelor in the end.

In the school city, bachelors also have their own level certification. If you want to serve as a bachelor in a noble castle, you must be at least above the bachelor's level. Bachelor's apprenticeship, bachelor's degree, doctorate, bachelor's degree.

"Is this person a farmer in your village?" Cole asked the village elder.

He is indeed not young, his speech is trembling, and his breath is sometimes strong and sometimes weak, but you must forgive him, he has tried his best. "Maybe I'm too old, but I really can't remember that there is such a person in the village."

Cole just asked casually, which can be regarded as a step up. After all, his men arrested the person.

"Let the person go, it seems to be just a misunderstanding."

Cole noticed that the man breathed a sigh of relief. He took a closer look, and the more he looked, the more he felt that this man looked familiar. He felt like he had seen him somewhere before. He said casually to them, "There are a lot of bandits and robbers around now, and His Majesty Stannis can't spare the energy to deal with them for the time being, so don't run around."

He turned to the village elder and said, "If you still want to transport food, it's best not to go alone. This time the food collection is not free. We promise you double the return and we will not miss a penny."

For the subordinate villages of Storm's End, this is already the third time to collect food. The first time was when the Stormlands responded to Renly, and the second time was when Stannis captured Storm's End, but it had no effect. Very little. Because the food had long been collected into Storm's End by the acting city lord Cortanai Penros, and then burned completely by him.

If you want to get the effect for the third time, the general method has to be forced. If it were Tywin Nacor, he would do it even if he didn't say it. This method is fast and labor-saving.

As for using Stannis's name to borrow grain, and the farmers would choose to believe it, then we have to talk about the credibility of the nobles. These are a group of guys who attach great importance to reputation, how could they go back on their word? What's more, this is Stannis.

"Sir, may I ask, are you from Stannis?" The lame man, who lowered his head, suddenly asked.

"I am Cole Julius, currently serving His Majesty Stannis Baratheon. Sir, it is not polite to address His Majesty by his first name. Please be careful."

"I need to see your Majesty, son," the man continued. "I am Eddard Stark from Winterfell."

Cole was stunned for a moment when he heard him say his name.

Eddard Stark? Cole counted the time silently in his mind. He should have been chopped down by Emperor Qiao by now. How could he appear in Stormland?

Cole is not an eight-clawed spider. He knows very little about the information from other parts of the Seven Kingdoms. He has no idea how the North is fighting now. All his speculations were based on his knowledge of the future. Like Storm's End, he knew that only Sir Cortanai Penros, the acting city lord, would stand strong against Erlu.

So as long as Cortanai Penros is killed and the castle is cornered, they will surrender easily.

"Ed Stark? Duke of the North? Hand of the King?" Cole asked three times in succession.

Ed nodded, thinking that the person in front of him knew about him. And Ed didn't know this young knight at all. Even though he thought he knew most of the nobles of the Seven Kingdoms, he had only seen the family emblem of the fire-breathing white bird in his life, although it reminded him of the long blue sky in the Arryn Valley. Eagle, and the spread-winged silver eagle of House Mallister.

Cole looked a little complicated.

Although he had doubts about Ed's identity, Cole still gave the father and daughter a horse. Yes, there was a girl next to him. Cole admitted that he was blind, but who would see this dirty look? .

If Ed hadn't called out Arya, Cole wouldn't even think about the girl at all. You say she's not pretty, she does look like a stable boy shoveling horse manure, but if you take a closer look, her facial features are pretty good and she's definitely not ugly.

Cole looked at him frequently, but Arya was keenly aware of it, and she glared back at him.

Well, he was just out of curiosity. If this is really Erya, then how can he join the Faceless Men in the future when he and her father are in the Storm Land now, or is this actually an experience that is not recorded in the book.

It was already dark when we rode back to the castle, and the city gate was still wide open. Occasionally, convoys transporting grain could be seen entering.

The soldier standing guard outside the gate saw the fire-breathing white bird flag and shouted at people to get out of the way. This was his immediate superior.

After Cole entered the city, he led Ed Stark to meet Erlu.

As expected, lights were still shining in the study room of the castle. Cole knocked on the door. Attendant Davon opened the door. When he saw it was Cole, he greeted, "Sir Julius."

"Daifeng, I want to see His Majesty."

"Come in, I'm not asleep yet." Stannis's voice came from inside.

Cole walked into the door frame and saw him standing in front of the window sill. Without even turning his head, he said, "The scouts ahead reported that Renly has led his army into the King's Forest."

"His army was originally stationed at Bitterbridge, not far from here. Did the scouts see how many people they are?" Cole walked in, followed by Stark.

"About 20,000. He also sent a letter to invite me to meet him in Bronzegate. Ralph Buckler is following Renly now, and that is his territory now." Stannis turned around and was surprised to find someone following Cole.

Ralph Buckler is the Earl of Bronzegate. This castle is built on the bank of the Wend River, outside the King's Forest, blocking the path connecting Storm's End to the Rose Avenue. It can be regarded as a strategic fortress.

Unless Renly wants to launch a surprise attack from the mountains of Summerhall, he will definitely lead his army from the direction of Bronzegate.

If there is enough time, Cole even suggested that Stannis take Bronzegate.

Well, Lord Eddard has been standing for a long time. Stannis asked in confusion, "Is this your new squire? If you don't have enough manpower, I can ask Duran Bar Aemon to help you."

Thinking of the fat little earl of the Pointed City, Cole still shook his head, although he had spoken to him several times at the dinner table.

"This is Lord Eddard Stark of Winterfell, Your Majesty." Cole was quite helpless that he mistook the Duke of the North for a squire. In fact, when he first met him, he didn't think of him as a dignified guardian of the North.

Stannis looked at the person behind Cole carefully in the light of the candle, "Eddard Stark? I heard that you are dead."

He finally saw the person clearly in the weak light. It had been ten years since they last met, when they were both fighting for Robert.

"It's good news to see you alive, but how did you become like this?" Stannis sat down at the table.

Cole went to get a chair and gave it to Eddard, while he stood on the side of the king like a servant.

Eddard sighed, this is a long story. Davan took the wine jug and poured wine for them.

Storm's End does have some good wine.

Eddard thanked him, he didn't know how long he hadn't drunk wine, the last time he drank was when Varys brought it to him in the dungeon. "I sent you a letter, hoping that you could bring someone to King's Landing to inherit the throne, but Cersei didn't even let the letter leave the city.

"While in King's Landing, I have been investigating the cause of Jon Arryn's death,"

"What did you find out?" Stannis asked.

"Joffrey is not Robert's blood." Eddard said affirmatively. "I will not admit that an incestuous bastard sits on the Iron Throne. You are the legitimate heir to the Iron Throne, my lord."

"I know, before you came to King's Landing, I already knew that Joffrey was the result of Lannister incest. I asked the maester to tell the lords of the Seven Kingdoms through ravens, but now there are few responses.

"I even sent my most trusted men to lobby the lords in person, but no army has come. They are even willing to honor Renly as king."

Eddard was a little stunned. He thought of what Renly had said to him in King's Landing. Although Renly did not say that he wanted to seize the Iron Throne at that time, he said that he could gather 100 soldiers and wanted to take Joffrey from Cersei.

Now it seems that he is asking for a lot.

"His inheritance should be after you." Eddard said.

"But the nobles in the south don't seem to think so." Stannis said angrily, "Do you know how I sit here?

"To capture Storm's End, I sacrificed a thousand people. Ten knights even died. Now Renly is leading his men to the King's Forest. "

"The North will be with you, my lord. As long as you send someone to send me to White Harbor, I will lead the army south. "Edard assured him.

Speaking of the Northern Army, Cole couldn't help but touch his nose.

"Your son is leading the army in battle, and Tywin Lannister is trapped in the riverlands by him and can't get out." Stannis told him the news he knew.

This is the first time Eddard has heard news about his son in a while. Robb is only fifteen years old, how can he convince others. He must return to the north and take over this stall.

"He did a good job, and Tywin seemed to have suffered a lot under him." Stannis rarely praised people, but he always said what he had to say.

Hearing someone praising Robb, Eddard couldn't help but feel relieved. But he still felt that Robb must be inexperienced, and he still had too many things to teach him.