Chapter 224

In the ordinary days of the North, Lord Eddard often patrolled the North, and would usually bring his own children along—mainly his sons.

Whether it was Xī'ēn, Luóbó, or Qiongen, they had gone on patrol with him many times, from Winterfell to White Harbor and Fort Huòwǔdé, occasionally heading east through the mountains into the Dreadfort, the Widow's Watch, and Oldtown, finally looping back and crossing the river to return.

Each patrol took over a month; after returning to the city, Qiongen would gesture their heights, then eagerly tell her where they had gone and what strange things they had seen. Some places even Luóbó had never visited together, such as the Dreadfort.

Qiongen did not realize that Lord Àidé did this because he did not want him and his heir to be in danger at the same time, and actually took it as Lord Àidé's favor toward him.

He told these to Meiyī, not to show off to her, but to make up for her regret of not being able to accompany them. To avoid hurting the sensitive younger brother's enthusiasm, she always listened patiently, which seemed to encourage him more, and each time after the patrol he would specially inform her.

He spoke in all earnestness, and this way of speaking with regret also influenced Lord Àidé's decision, which gave her the chance to go out on patrol with Lord Àidé's sons.

Meiyī had only accompanied Lord Eddard on patrol twice: once they went deep into the forest to the ancient wooden stronghold of the Glover family in the Wolfswood valley, during which they also visited the various clans great and small in the Wolfswood; the other time was via White Harbor to reach Hoare Town situated by the stream.

After Lord Àidé hunted together with Marquis Huòwǔdé and those young men, Meiyī left the city and wandered through all the lovely spots between the streams and valleys.

Her focus was entirely on the beautiful scenery of the valley.

Dreamlike forested ridges, perilous paths, giant trees with wild vines, and endless golden wheat fields and lush orchards were all vividly before her eyes.

The water of the White Knife River was drawn in from layer upon layer of mountains, flowing through the heart of the valley, irrigating the entire territory of Fort Huòwǔdé; in the river east, surrounded by swamps and shielded by mountains, it carved out a uniquely advantageous corner.

Now thinking about it, Hoare Town and the Hoare family naturally form a corner where the Starks have inserted themselves into the River East to check many powers, and naturally they are also the Stark garrison's stronghold in the River East and a forward base for controlling the Boltons.

In her memory, Hoare Town was not as dilapidated or ancient as Winterfell; the fortifications and objects inside were mostly new and clean, overall it was one of the few castles she thought was not bad, appearing more like a livable dwelling than a defensive tower or bunker.

No castle that can stand on this continent is easy to take, and she was quite certain of that.

After close observation, she felt that Hoare Town could at least remain safe for a considerable time, and she also thought there was still time to wait for the following troops to catch up to her pace, allowing her to calmly face the Bolton army in this valley she was somewhat familiar with.

According to White Harbor's intelligence and her own scouting, the Bolton and Tyrell forces besieging the Hoare territory numbered about seven or eight thousand, a formidable force, but this was clearly not the entirety of the Bolton's strength.

Compared to an ordinary castle, such an army could already be called intimidating.

Even before she attacked the stream lands, the Hoare and Manderly forces that had organized troops and strongholds in the key passages outside the city were swallowed up and swept away one by one by the enemy army, fierce as floodwaters; in the repeated struggles in the valley, Hoare and Manderly gradually fell, and now under the Bolton army's blows they could only hold out in their isolated castle, awaiting reinforcements.

Everyone thought White Harbor was the most powerful family in the River East, but now it seems the Boltons have always been the most powerful.

She could not guess the exact reason why the Boltons chose to expend military force to attack this passage. If it was to gain more land, then before summer arrived, annexing Hoare would only drain White Harbor's strength and could not affect the Starks; if it was to issue a proclamation and intimidate the River East families, then choosing to strike at the Widow's was clearly not wise, and in the North it would actually be foolish.

Compared to attacking Fort Hoare, the Boltons should have led their great army to storm the White Knife River crossing, ultimately leading to a decisive battle between the two sides on the west bank of the river—a script often seen in the histories of the two houses, and also the correct choice the stronger Bolton side ought to make—sufficiently aggressive, but at least the victory or defeat would be decided quickly. For the North, this is the best method.

Clearly, the Boltons chose a more secure advance, namely to gradually strip away the Starks' foothold in the River East.

She could almost imagine that after the Boltons easily took Hoare Town, their next move would be: from the north and east to encircle White Harbor, and seek an opportunity to cut off the passage from White Harbor to Winterfell, or at least occupy an upstream ford, continually destroying White Harbor's ships, so that the Starks' North would gradually lose its capacity for throughput.

This is a slow strategy but with a higher chance of success, and also the strategy that inflicts the greatest harm on the North.

Meiyī had originally thought this way, but after suddenly learning from a Tyrell captive about the Frey troop movements, she felt that the Boltons also had an ambitious, aggressive side, and for a moment she even found herself admiring them.

She shook her head. Admiration aside, if the region west of the river north of Winterfell were threatened, it would undoubtedly be a catastrophe for their Stark army. She had already tasted the bitter fruit of beheading Xī'ēn's head; if she also had to eat the bitter fruits sent by the Frey remnants at her doorstep, she might……

Her hand quietly touched passion, dispelling the negative emotions unseen.

Looking across the Seven Kingdoms, now it is nothing but feudal lords warring, commoners and bandits rampant, people's hearts in chaos, utterly shameless; to this day, besides her, who could mend this nearly unsolvable situation to settle hearts and spirits, and reestablish morality and honor?

Relying on the Mother of Dragons who gathers foreign barbarians, that mad king's daughter Daenerys Targaryen? She admits that freeing slaves in the eastern continent is a small thing she has done well, and opposing slaveholders is commendable, but that is not her reason for leading the barbarians to invade Westeros—the Targaryen crown began with three dragons, but since she, Meiyī, also lives on this land, this story will not repeat—the First Men and Andals have already entered here enough, there is no need to invade other peoples.

The present little king of the Iron Throne? Meiyī couldn't even be bothered to discuss whether the little king was the true legitimate line of King Robert, but since he bears the Baratheon surname, Meiyī could tolerate…… he is nothing more than a puppet of the regent and kingslayer, a political mouthpiece for the wealthy regions of the Riverlands and the West, and moreover, whether it is the red wedding or the purple wedding, these two houses are mostly entangled; they are both the originators and the maintainers of the corruption in Westeros today—how could they pull the Seven Kingdoms out of decline?

Stannis? She admits he has some appeal. When she initially offered a gift to King Robert, if not for certain people meddling, she could have gained a fief in the Stormlands. If that had been the case, during the War of the Five Kings she might have leaned toward Stannis…… but he was defeated in the Battle of the Blackwater, and now even Storm's End has been lost, making a comeback unlikely.

The hills and wilderness are desolate, no longer the bustling scene of summer.

She had already seen many soldiers with worry on their faces. This is easy to understand, whether they are guard cavalry or other soldiers, their homelands are in the River West, which cannot afford to be lost.

Meiyī remounted her warhorse, calmed her emotions, and organized or concealed her recent feelings. She was the least person who should have made such an expression.

"Sir, I have no time, nor do I want to expend energy to send you to White Harbor……" Meiyī said to the prisoner.

"You promised me!" he exclaimed, his face changing instantly.

"Listen to me finish," Meiyī whipped her lash, looking toward the direction of Peace Peak City, hoping her great army had already arrived there, but this was obviously just a fantasy,"I have no one to escort you, so you are free, sir, you can make your own way back to the Bolton camp or the Tyrell's."

Meiyī did not wait for him to speak, she clamped her legs, and the warhorse easily descended the steep slope, following the road between the hills.

She caught up with her guard cavalry at the foot of Peace Peak City.

Harrold hurried forward to greet, about to say something, but Meiyī stopped him with an outstretched hand.

"Please, Viscount of Peace Peak City, deliver this letter to the Wall; I hope his household lacks no ravens that fly to the Wall, and if not, please have him send the letter to Winterfell, so that Maester Roland can forward it."

"Your Highness……"

"Tell him, hurry!" Meiyī interrupted Harrold.

"Your Highness, we brought ravens that fly to Winterfell and the Wall."

"Then just send it out." Meiyī handed the prepared scroll to Harrold, "Can you send it?"

"I once helped Maester Luwen and Brother Chail maintain the ravens' quarters, learning from them." After he nodded and accepted the order, he swiftly acted, appearing even more reliable than his brother Halwen.

Meiyī smiled, feeling that perhaps it was not Halwen who could revive the House Hearth.

"Your Highness, what is written in the letter?" Rica leaned forward to ask.

Hoat stared at Rica with dissatisfaction.

Meiyī felt helpless; in this troop, the only one who dared to rashly question her was Rica.

"It's fine to tell you. I order that the mountain forest clans of the Wall and Lord Royce immediately lead their troops south along the King's Road, cutting off the Freys' retreat; if possible, I also hope that Qiongen can bring along willing wildlings. I have heard that he has also captured a giant, and if a giant were to come south as well, that would be even better."