"During my absence, the command of the army was temporarily taken over by Lord Roose Bolton, assisted by Lord Maege Severn, while Lord Maege Mormont continued to be in charge of internal military supervision."
Previously, Robb mobilized and arranged personnel for the main force, which angered Greatjon and Rickard Karstark. In their view, their abilities were superior. However, they did not contradict Robb in public, knowing how to maintain the lord's authority in front of outsiders.
So the two found Robb privately after the meeting.
Greatjon exclaimed, "I don't understand, my lord. Roose Bolton is a conspirator, how can you hand over the army to him?"
Rickard Karstark did not speak, but his expression indicated agreement with Greatjon.
Robb poured a glass of ale for the two of them. "What do you think of Countess Maege?"
Greatjon answered without hesitation, "Loyal, bad-tempered, a little stubborn, and willful."
"Then what do you think of her? Is she competent as the captain of the Military Law Corps?"
Greatjon hesitated for a moment, then said honestly, "Of course, her personality is most suitable for handling such offensive matters."
Robb took a sip of ale. "What if I promoted her to Commander-in-Chief? Do you think she can handle this job well?"
Neither Greatjon nor Rickard Karstark spoke. They understood the hidden meaning in Robb's words. After a while, Rickard Karstark said angrily, "I know we are not suitable, but we can't let that pervert who likes skinning be the commander-in-chief. He is a complete conspirator. As far as I know, he has kept a lot of cavalry in his Dreadfort, fearing that he may have evil intentions."
Robb comforted him, "The water in the Green Fork is clear, and the water in the swamp is erosive, but both sources of water are useful. They have their own uses. The Green Fork River irrigates the soil, and the swamps deter enemies. Can I just prefer the Green Fork River and despise the swamps?"
"If the Green Fork River floods, I will try my best to repair it. If the swamps become more and more eroded and affect the people's lives, I will also lead efforts to manage them. Although there are differences between the two, there is no good or bad in my eyes, only whether they can be used appropriately."
"In a distant wise country, there is a saying I like very much. It goes: 'Clouds hover in the sky, and water sits at the bottom of the bottle.' Each has its 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 stunned, not knowing what to say.
A large part of the reason was that they didn't understand what their lord was saying, but they still grasped the meaning: Roose Bolton is more suitable for this position than you, but I trust you more, and you will have a chance to perform better in the future.
As for expecting them to understand in detail those metaphors and proverbs from a distant country, it would be better to just kill them.
This half-understanding confusion made them feel that Robb was smarter than them, much smarter.
If ordinary lords dared to speak to them in such a manner and say such nonsense, they would have impatiently drawn their swords to silence them.
But they all knew the horror and mystery of Robb, and no one had the courage to do so.
Rickard Stark stood up helplessly. "Okay, we obey your decision."
After dealing with Great Jon and Rickard Stark, Robb immediately ordered the troops to move out.
The main force followed Roose Bolton and advanced along the King's Road. The main goal was to block Tywin's army, which was burning, killing, and looting along the King's Road.
Robb himself, with less than 300 wolf cavalry, was preparing to go to Luanhe City Ferry and cross the Green Fork River to support the besieged Riverrun City.
...
Luanhe City was not far from Robb's location, and the wolf cavalry were all mounted. Their speed differed from that of large troops. It took less than an hour for Robb to reach the destination. Luanhe City could be seen on the skyline.
Theon Greyjoy looked around and said in a relaxed tone, "The people tied to these road signs are all spies of the Lannister family. It seems that Earl Frey of Luanhe City is standing with us."
Sir Blackfish's face was more solemn. "This doesn't mean anything. Luanhe City summoned a force of four thousand, but Lord Frey did not join when the Tully family called their vassals. Guarding one's territory is one thing; going to war with the Lannister family for honor is another."
Robb was hesitant. He knew that Earl Frey had no honor at all, and only enough benefits could impress him.
But Earl Frey wouldn't have thought that he and Robb were actually the same kind of people.
The team soon arrived outside Luanhe City. This was the first time Robb saw with his own eyes the castle where the 'Red Wedding' later took place.
It had two fortresses, straddling both sides of the Green Fork River, forming horns with each other. It was easy to defend but difficult to attack. Even if Robb brought the main force to attack, it would still require 20,000 people to fight against 4,000 in the city, and plenty of time.
Of course, the premise was that the current Robb would not exert his full strength.
Looking at the closed city gate, Sir Blackfish gritted his teeth angrily. "This old guy doesn't take the oath he swore seriously at all. No wonder my brother never trusted him!"
Robb said calmly, "I heard Lord Frey is very old. He has the caution of an old man, the ambition of a young man, not to mention careful calculation. Therefore, such a person will help whoever wins."
"This old turtle!" Sir Blackfish cursed. "The Lannister army burned farmland and looted farms in his territory, but he hid inside and didn't come out."
From a distance, the walls of Luanhe City were filled with the light and shadow of guns, swords, and large-scale bows and crossbows deployed by archers at every battlement and arrow port. The drawbridge had been raised, and the gate lowered.
Obviously, Lord Frey had gathered all the four thousand soldiers he had into the castle.
While everyone was observing the castle, a side door suddenly opened, a plank bridge stretched out across the moat, and a dozen knights came towards them.
They carried the flag of twin towers of dark blue on a silver gray background, and all of them looked like weasels.
A rider rode at the forefront and approached Robb's team. He looked especially like an old and tired weasel, but he was quite polite. "My father sent me to greet you. May I ask who is leading this powerful team?"
Robb rode forward. "You should have heard my name, Robb Stark."
Gray Wind followed Robb, his eyes revealing a savage and fierce light, staring at the opponent's horse.
There was a flicker of interest in the old knight's watery gray eyes, but his mount grunted uneasily and avoided the direwolf. "If you are willing to have dinner with my father in the city and express your intention to come, I believe he will be greatly honored."