The Mountain of Ice and Fire

Chapter 427: Fight! (5,000 words seeking subscription)

Littlefinger was shocked. Tywin's 100,000 gold dragons were not to be feared, and the promised reward of 200,000 gold dragons behind them was even less powerful. The Mountain had money, and the soldiers' salaries had always been high; but Tywin elevating all the knights to barons was deadly, very deadly; and even more deadly was granting knighthood to all centurions, which was like a chain blade, aimed straight at the vital point; and the truly morale-destroying blow was to allow all soldiers to become property-owning citizens.

Property ownership was the greatest temptation, one that no one could resist!

Many people joined the army and risked their lives for the sake of owning property. It should be known that half of the knights and almost all of the free riders were propertyless.

As long as he, Tyrion, and Maester Qyburn took a boat to the Mountain's flagship and told those generals about the terms of the negotiation, the words would quickly spread to every Clegane soldier, and begin to invisibly erode morale. Soldiers would probe each other, and the morale to fight to the death would quickly collapse.

Among the Mountain's bandits, the direct line rogue legion, nine out of ten people were 'propertyless'. Because they were propertyless, they had no choice but to fight in the streets, earning a commission with blood and lives to survive.

On a large scale, the final result of a war still came down to the 'territory' cake, which was the ultimate property; on a small scale, becoming a property-owning citizen was the ultimate dream of all citizens: owning a piece of land that belonged to them, private land independent of the lord, something that soldiers could not resist.

When the Mountain recruited two thousand new soldiers from the refugees, one of the most attractive promises he gave them, and the encouragement to boost morale and fighting spirit, was that they would be given land in the future.

When the soldier Norris sneaked back to the refugee camp in Cobbler's Square to see his wife, she advised him not to return to the army, fearing that he would be killed in the siege. He disagreed, and what he said to his wife was that Lord Mountain would give them land in the future, so he had to ensure the glory of a warrior, and advance and retreat with the Lord and his comrades, fighting to the death.

Tywin released the ultimate price, 'property ownership'. He understood the soldiers, knew what they wanted in their hearts, and wanted to disintegrate the Mountain's morale first. Tywin's ruthlessness and experience were evident!

In the past forty years, all those who had been enemies with Tywin had died quickly and miserably!

As long as the news spread, even if the Mountain's legion was made of steel, cracks would appear!

Tywin had said - everyone has a price, and if he doesn't agree, it's just because the price hasn't been reached!

Tywin offered his price: the absolute highest price!

Littlefinger glanced at Tyrion and Qyburn. Neither of them could be trusted. He had to get the message out, to the Mountain.

Tywin didn't care about the lives of Tyrion, Littlefinger, and Maester Qyburn. What he really needed was to use their mouths to tell the soldiers around the Mountain his offer. As for the Mountain himself, he didn't give him a copper, not a single copper.

His determination to kill the Mountain had never wavered!

The highest price he offered included all of the Clegane's army, but deliberately excluded the Mountain alone.

As long as Tyrion, Littlefinger, and Maester Qyburn, these three 'silver-tongued' people, arrived at the Mountain's flagship, as long as the Mountain let them speak, the Mountain would lose, undoubtedly lose this battle.

When the Mountain conquered Claw Isle, what he swore was: he would bring salt and water, cloth and iron to Claw Isle; the glory of warriors and wealth and glory. Tywin had now given all of this salt and water, cloth and iron, the glory of warriors and wealth and glory. The wording was different, but the essence was exactly the same.

The soldiers didn't have to risk their lives and bleed. As long as they put down their swords, all of this would be within reach!

Among the Mountain's legion, the Westerlands soldiers whose families had been killed by Tywin were a very small number in the entire legion. Out of the 12,000 soldiers, no more than 2,000 soldiers' families had been killed! A considerable number of the Westerlands rogue soldiers were bachelors.

Paper and pen were no less powerful than swords; and so were mouth and lips. A knife kills one person, a warrior; but a word kills thousands of people, a hero!

Tywin was inspired by Qyburn and came up with such a plan, which made Littlefinger, who had a hypocritical smile on his face, break out in a cold sweat.

Once the Mountain died, Littlefinger's 'letter of confession' for instigating Lysa Arryn to poison former Hand Jon Arryn would be made public. Littlefinger's ultimate dream of marrying Lysa Arryn through the identity of the Duke of Harrenhal and thus controlling the Vale of Arryn would collapse, and his life plan and bright future would be not far from destruction.

Tywin sat upright, expressionless and indifferent. His talent was not only reflected in military affairs - strategy, politics, military affairs, taxation, and trade, Duke Tywin was proficient in everything.

Grasping people's hearts, controlling the overall situation, decisive in killing, daring to act, and ruthless were all concentrated on him.

Littlefinger looked out from the narrow window of the Hand's Tower. He couldn't see the little birds, he could only see the layers of red-robed guards in the courtyard of the Hand's Tower. Tywin's prudence and meticulousness were also admirable. He was not afraid of others mocking him for being cowardly. A lion would not consider the thoughts of a lamb, which was another of Tywin's famous sayings. It was just that this time he was not dealing with a lamb, but a very violent mad dog.

*

Littlefinger said, "Alright, Lord Hand, I accept your order. With the eloquence of the three of us, it will be easy to spread your words to the Mountain's soldiers."

"I'm not optimistic," Tyrion said, "The current Mountain has not only force, but also strategy. His mind is no worse than any of us here. Whoever underestimates him will be unlucky."

"Lord Hand, as you command!" Maester Qyburn lowered his head, bowed, and paid his respects. Among the three, he had always been humble.

Tywin was expressionless, and the golden threads in his green eyes emitted a faint glow: "Varys Lannister, escort the three lords to see the Mountain."

"Father! I have Bronn and Podrick to protect me!"

Tywin looked at Tyrion without saying a word.

Tyrion took a step back and bowed his head: "Yes, Father."

His heart was cold. Even Bronn and Podrick, Father didn't trust. He wanted his own people to escort him. Of course, to be precise, Father didn't trust Tyrion.

"The old man doesn't trust me, afraid that I will send a message to the Mountain midway." Tyrion looked at Littlefinger and Qyburn. Were these two guys trustworthy? He didn't trust Littlefinger from head to toe! Although Littlefinger had put in a lot of effort in helping him and Shae to meet in secret.

The three traveled together, wary of each other and supervising each other. No one dared to play any tricks in the negotiations with the Mountain, otherwise, when they came back, without anyone informing, the Lord Hand would definitely ask about the results of the negotiations one by one. Once they confirmed each other, if anyone did anything that made the Lord Hand feel close to the enemy, or said anything inappropriate, even if Tyrion was the Lord Hand's son, he would be beheaded immediately.

Captain Varys Lannister led twelve red-robed guards to escort the three out of the city. The route they chose was to exit King's Road, walk through Hook Alley, pass Mud Gate Square, exit Mud Gate, walk along the riverside avenue, and enter the Royal Fleet port.

Along the way, Littlefinger saw several little birds. Bennie's little birds were all over King's Landing, and his business was booming. This was thanks to Varys' solid foundation, the Mountain's generous gold dragons, and Bennie's incorporation and management of street thugs.

There were several little birds in Mud Gate Square! They were beggars, dirty vagrant boys who scavenged rotten vegetables in the vegetable market, and street hooligans who fought and showed off.

"My lords, excuse me, I have to pee." Littlefinger reined in his horse and looked around. "I need to go to the privy. Anyone want to join me?" He jumped off his horse and quickly crossed the square. Next to the barracks, there was a row of privies.

The sound of hooves sounded behind him. Two red-robed guards followed Littlefinger.

Just before Littlefinger was about to enter the privy, the soldiers jumped off their horses and stopped him. The two soldiers ordered Littlefinger to raise his hands and carefully checked his whole body, from hair to boots, but found nothing.

Littlefinger cursed and entered the privy, reached into the dirty hole in the wall of the privy and took out paper and pen, and wrote a word: Do not speak. He rolled it up, stuffed it into the wall crevice that 'looked like it was smeared with something indescribable', and gently restored everything to its original state.

This place, this method, was used once.

Littlefinger finished his business, came out, and the two soldiers carefully searched again, from hair to boots, but found nothing.

After Littlefinger got on his horse, his face was pale: "Tyrion, to this day, I only admire one person."

"Who?"

"You!"

"Me?"

"You have such a powerful father, and you can still live so well, with wine and prostitutes. I can't help but admire you."

"Are you talking about my father behind his back? Aren't you afraid he'll cut off your tongue?"

"Every word I say is praise, not slander."

"I can hear your sarcasm, Littlefinger."

"That's your problem, it has nothing to do with my intention."

The group opened the city gate, walked onto the riverside avenue, and arrived at the Royal Navy port at a leisurely pace. They wanted to requisition a large ship, but the captain knelt down and begged for mercy, refusing to go out, and the sailors also knelt on the ground, saying that Lord Mountain had ordered that any ship, regardless of size, would be sunk as soon as it left the water, and everyone on board would be killed.

Captain Varys Lannister drew his long sword to threaten, but was stopped by Tyrion. In the end, the three asked for a small boat. There were no sailors or boatmen, and even if they threatened to kill them with swords, they would not dare to go out.

Tyrion did not allow Varys Lannister and his guards to beat the boatmen and kill the sailors. Both he and Littlefinger had grown up by the sea since they were young, so the two acted as oarsmen, Maester Qyburn sat at the bow of the boat, and Varys Lannister, relying on his bravery, wanted to board the boat together, but was stopped by Tyrion.

"Varys Lannister, if you want to die quickly, go with the three of us. If you don't want to die, wait on the shore."

"What do you mean?" Varys Lannister said in a deep voice. He looked very fierce, strong and majestic.

Littlefinger smiled: "General, what Tyrion means is, as soon as you get on the Mountain's ship, the Mountain will kill you, just like he chopped off the Kingsguard Meryn Trant. Of course, I don't believe he will chop you, you can bet your life on it, I'll bet a copper coin that you will win!"

"I'll bet two copper pennies." Maester Qyburn spoke for the first time. The tall man was wearing a maester's robe, hunching over, and smiling kindly. "The maester is poor, I'm sorry, two copper pennies, no more."

Varys Lannister felt cold in his heart, his face changed again and again. Under Tyrion's gaze, he stopped bravely: "Okay, the three lords go, don't be afraid of the Mountain, I'll wait here for you to come back!"

Tyrion, Littlefinger, and Qyburn rowed a small boat out of the port and rowed towards the Mountain's fleet, which was blocking the Blackwater River area not far away.

Before the three's small boat could reach the front of the flagship, it was smashed by a large ship. The three flew up beautifully, but their postures in the water were neither graceful nor neat. In the brave fight with the rapids, the three were hooked one by one with iron hooks, lifted onto the ship, and then burly soldiers, two serving one, tied the three into rope cakes, and a black and dirty rag was stuffed into their mouths.

On the shore of the Royal Navy fleet's port, Captain Varys Lannister was dumbfounded, his face turned yellow and then green, green and then yellow...

The three were carried by the soldiers and thrown onto the deck of the Mountain's flagship. There was a singer on the Mountain's flagship, playing the harp and singing "The Rains of Castamere". Among the fifty warships, many soldiers were humming this famous song of the Seven Kingdoms.

The low and murderous music of "The Rains of Castamere" filled the entire fleet.

Littlefinger's heart suddenly landed. Tywin was very powerful, but the Mountain was not bad either. "The Rains of Castamere" could make any stupid warrior understand that they had no way to retreat except to advance... Once they were defeated, Duke Tywin would kill any of them...

He looked at Tyrion, and Tyrion was indeed smart, and had already understood the Mountain's intention.

Tywin was using his mind, but the Mountain was also prepared: put them in a desperate situation and then live!

They were evenly matched, and met a good talent!

*

Night!

Tyrion woke up from hunger and cold. Someone was untying his rope. He couldn't see who it was in the dark.

"I want to see your Lord Duke," Tyrion said.

The rope was untied, and a warm bread was placed in Tyrion's hand. The aroma of the bread was an irresistible force, grabbing Tyrion's head and desperately biting the fragrant and warm bread.

Tyrion was very hungry!

A bowl of hot water was handed to Tyrion's hand again, when Tyrion choked and couldn't swallow.

Tyrion was a very practical hero, and immediately drank hot water and ate bread to solve the hunger problem first.

After eating and drinking, it was only about ten heartbeats: lightning speed!

"I am a friend of your Lord Duke," Tyrion said, "Please take me to see Lord Duke."

A pile of clothes was thrown on Tyrion's body.

Tyrion's eyes gradually adapted to the darkness. He quickly took off his soaked clothes and put on clean and warm clothes and pants. What made him very grateful was that these clothes were tailored for him, and there were also good boots: very fitting combat boots!

"I want to see..."

Pa!

A whip was drawn over, hitting Tyrion's face, hurting him so much that he almost fainted. Just as he was about to burst into curses, a pile of armor was thrown over and thrown at his feet.

"Put it on, or die!" a voice said coldly.

The little devil very straightforwardly chose to put it on, and immediately someone came from the darkness to help him. The little devil didn't want to die, and if he didn't wear it, the other party would definitely kill him without the slightest hesitation.

Clang! A short axe was thrown at the feet of the little devil, who was now clad in armor: "The Lord says you are good at using axes."

The little devil picked up the axe: "My axe has split many people's heads. Would you like to try yours?"

"Chop if you want." The other party turned around, not even looking at the little devil, "Keep up with our pace. The enforcement team is behind us. If you fall behind or try to desert, you will find that at least three spears, two longswords, and an axe will be hacking at your little body."

"Attack!" A voice beside him, suppressing its tone, was transmitted over. "The Lord has ordered, attack!"

Suddenly, from the darkness around him, the sound of footsteps rang out, and many people were running forward. The little devil didn't want to run, but someone was pushing him from behind, and someone was coercing him from the side. He had no choice but to run. So many black shadows, so many swords, so much frightening cold light flashing, densely packed, as if there were thousands of troops and horses...

The little devil tried hard to keep up with the pace of running. If he stopped, he knew he would be trampled to death. There was no doubt about it.

In a great battle, the number of people pushed down and trampled to death often exceeded the number of people killed by swords.

With so many people, life is so fragile!

The little devil was a person who cherished life. He had great respect for his little life!

"Where is this, brother? Where are we?" The little devil asked the black shadow beside him as he ran.

"Little devil, if you talk again, I'll chop an axe into your mouth!" The voice that had threatened to kill him earlier suddenly sounded. That guy was following him without saying a word. With this realization, the little devil discovered that there were several other guys with very dangerous auras running beside him.

The little devil knew that he was being watched closely. A slight carelessness, and his head would fall to the ground.

He shut his mouth tightly.

Ahead, there appeared firelight that could not illuminate the darkness, and the dark, tall outline of the city wall appeared. There were not many soldiers on the city wall, and hardly any figures could be seen.

The little devil's heart sank: Heavens, this isn't the Iron Gate! This isn't the Iron Gate! This isn't the Iron Gate! This isn't the Mud Gate either, not the Mud Gate!!! The heavily guarded Iron Gate and Mud Gate, the Mountain hadn't attacked at all.

The Mountain didn't launch the attack three days later either. He launched the attack two days early.

This was unbelievable, because the Mountain, in the early hours of the previous day, was still robbing the Tyrell family's grain convoy in the two-hundred-mile-away Kingswood. After only one day, he launched a night attack on King's Landing.

This was too fast!

Which gate was the Mountain attacking? King's Gate, Lion Gate? Dragon Gate or Old Gate? Gods Gate? How did he manage to detour? My God! He must have arranged for the army to detour early on, and the fleet in Blackwater Bay was deliberately attracting attention! That was just a decoy!!!

The little devil tried to widen his eyes as he ran. Which city gate was this? He couldn't tell.

What schemes and intrigues, negotiating conditions, diplomatic maneuvering, great talent and grand strategies, all the tricks, in front of the Mountain, were reduced to dust. No matter how changeable you are, how flowery your tongue is, how you manage to please everyone, how you move with emotion and reason, I only have one response: Fight!

*

ps: Wouldn't it be fun to drop this here? ^_^ Guessing wrong about whether Tywin dies gets a 1 yuan lottery or a full subscription.

Special thanks to [Son-Giving Ahong, Jin Xiaoyanei] for the rewards, more updates will follow.

Thanks to [When the Sun Meets Our Time] [Jin Xiaoyanei] [Son-Giving Ahong] [xiaoyu.wd] for the reward support, thank you, handshake!