Robb chuckled and said, "It seems that Aunt Lysa is very doting on my Uncle Robin Arryn."
Catelyn did not expect that her son would actually have the heart to make such a joke. "Be more serious; that's your aunt after all! Although she didn't come, Uncle Blackfish followed me."
What the two were talking about was related to the marriage relationship between nobles. During the reign of the Mad King, the lords and heirs of the Stark family once went to King's Landing to ask for an explanation, but unexpectedly, the two of them were killed directly by the Mad King.
When the lord and his eldest son died suddenly, the second son Ned Stark took over the title of Duke of the North. Rebellion wars broke out as a result.
At that time, the Eagle Lord of Arryn Valley adopted Ned. That Eagle Lord was Jon Arryn, the Hand of the King who died suddenly.
It can be said that this Jon Arryn is Ned's adoptive father, but this Duke married the sister of Ned's wife Catelyn, who is Robb's aunt Lysa Tully.
So Robin Arryn, the current lord of Arryn Valley, is both uncle and cousin to Robb, and the relationship is complicated.
Robb stopped joking with his mother and started talking about business. "I have been prepared for Aunt Lysa not to come. Your relationship with her is not good to begin with."
Catelyn was heartbroken by her sister. "I didn't expect her to be so heartless; after all, Ned is also her family."
Robb comforted, "It doesn't matter; it's enough that grandpa and uncle's family are willing to help us."
Then Robb told his mother all about the recent war situation.
Catelyn still doesn't know the status of the Tully family's war, so when she heard her son say that the Tully family was being beaten and retreated, her face turned pale, not to mention that Tywin was leading the army in the river, the tragic retribution of massacre in all directions.
She asked with a trembling voice, "What...are you going to do?"
Robb looked into his mother's eyes, "I told my men that we would gather all our forces to confront Tywin's army and prepare for a decisive battle on the King's Road."
"What about your grandpa and Uncle Edmure?"
Robb told others his true intentions for the first time, "This is another plan. I haven't told anyone. Everyone will think that we are going to fight with Tywin decisively, but I will take three hundred cavalry to Riverrun to support, and I want to capture the Kingslayer."
Robb said, taking out a map, and said to Catelyn, "After we cross the swamp, the army will continue to confront Tywin along the King's Road, and I will cross the Green Fork to support Riverrun."
"Three hundred cavalry?!" Catelyn was a little stunned. "How can you defeat the Regicide with only three hundred cavalry in support? James, he is a knight who has experienced hundreds of battles!"
Robb looked firm, "If you don't fight, how do you know you can win? And this is my military order; I will not change my mind."
Seeing Robb's stiff expression and confident demeanor, Catelyn could understand to some extent why those lords were respectful to their sons.
Before he knew it, his son had become a tough man.
Catelyn continued to ask, "If you leave the army, who will lead the main force? Tywin is not a kitten; he is an old and cunning lion. He has more soldiers than you, and the cavalry is far beyond. Your main force is at risk of being eaten at any time."
Robb answered patiently, "The only choice is Old Skinner. I don't like that guy, but the characters of Greatjon and Rickard Karstark are too reckless. I need someone to hold Tywin back, not some idiot who will rush in to fight Tywin."
"However, I am also planning to let Meiqi Severn serve as the deputy commander. Although he does not have much military talent, he is equally cautious in character and will not use radical tactics to conflict with Lao Paipi. The key is that he can help me monitor Lao Paipi."
Catelyn actually knows these lords very well, and her ideal candidate is Roose Bolton. She is very happy that her son is not only tough but also has the ability to recognize and employ people.
Catelyn looked at the map and immediately saw a key that hindered Robb's plan, "Now there is another problem. If you want to cross the Green Fork River, you must go through the only ferry, Luanhe City, where is Frey, the territory of the Marquis, the late Marquis Frei. Although this man swore allegiance to your grandfather, your grandpa never trusted him."
Neither of them discussed the capture of Luanhe City because this castle is easy to defend and difficult to attack. The situation in Riverrun is in crisis again, and there is no time to waste on this hard nut now.
Catelyn thought for a while, "Let me go and talk to him. No matter what the conditions are, we can talk to him."
Robb smiled, "No, when I meet this Marquis Frey, I'll make him an offer he can't refuse, and you should go..."
In Robb's view, Catelyn's political negotiation skills are actually very impressive, so asking her to talk to a mere Marquis Frey is really overkill. So he expressed his long-planned thoughts.
However, Catelyn misunderstood and thought that Robb was going to send her back to Winterfell.
"I'm not going back to Winterfell," she heard herself say, and was surprised to find that the tears that suddenly burst out of her eyes were blurred. Her sight. "Your grandfather is lying dying in Riverrun, and your uncle is also surrounded by enemies."
Robb quickly took out a handkerchief to wipe his mother's tears, "Of course not, I have a big thing for you to do, and I need you to go to Highgarden, negotiate with them about a matter."
"Highgarden?" Catelyn was a little confused. Although the Stark family and the Tyrell family were both dukes, they had very little interaction.
Robb's expression remained unchanged, "I heard that many of the Roses of Highgarden are getting married. I think we should get married to increase our relationship."
"We don't have a deep relationship with Highgarden. This matter..."
Robb spread his hands slightly, "The Tyrell family sits in the rich Highgarden, and our team is almost running out of food. Marrying into their family can greatly alleviate our food problem.
I also heard that they are interested in marrying Robert. As long as we don't support the Lannister family, we can fight for the marriage of the king's third brother. But King Robert's third brother likes men, so I think their marriage will definitely not succeed.
I know that our family is not familiar with them, so I need you, mother, to go there in person. When you arrive, I will also fight a perfect battle to enhance my prestige.
The Tyrell family has no ambition to dominate the continent and only wants to make their daughter the queen. When they see that we have hope of replacing Joffrey, they will naturally agree to our marriage."
Robb said a lot, and Catelyn felt that what her son said made sense. It would be a good thing to have an extra ally at this time, so she agreed.
The two problems Robb wanted to solve at the beginning were the obedience of the northern lords and the food and fodder needed by the army to start the war.
Now that the first problem has been solved, the second problem can be solved through marriage with the Tyrell family.
Of course, as Robb said, only the Tyrells can see that the Starks win and continue to win until they ascend to the Iron Throne, and they will bet on Robb.
Then the next battle to support Riverrun City will be crucial.