Chapter 41: Betrayal on the Iron Throne
When Eddard Stark returned from the Godswood to the Tower of the Hand, his face ashen, he finally realized what a foolish mistake he had made.
Cersei's reaction had already made everything clear.
She would not flee, nor would she ever relinquish power.
A life-and-death struggle was now inevitable.
"Now, do you believe me?" Lin Hao was already waiting for him in the study, his expression terrifyingly calm.
Eddard Stark slumped into a chair, not speaking, just closing his eyes in pain.
"My Lord, it has come to this; regret is useless now," Lin Hao's voice was like cold steel. "We only have one last path left to take."
"What path?"
"Seize the iron throne before them!"
A chilling glint erupted in Lin Hao's eyes!
"Cersei must be mobilizing House Lannister's private army and attempting to bribe the City Watch. We must act before she completes her deployment: in the name of the Regent, with the King's will, enter the Throne Room, and in front of all the ministers, announce Joffrey's disinheritance!"
"At the same time," he paused, revealing the most crucial part of the plan, "we need someone—someone with military authority who can control the situation—to clear the room for us."
"Who?"
"The Master of Coin, Lord Petyr Baelish."
"Littlefinger?!" Eddard Stark cried out in disbelief. "Hodor, are you mad?! How could he possibly help us?!"
"He will," Lin Hao's gaze was as deep as an abyss. "Because I have already calculated the benefits for him."
"His biggest backer is Lysa Arryn. And you are Lysa's brother-in-law. As long as you are alive and hold legitimate authority, he would not dare openly betray you."
"More importantly," Lin Hao's lips curved into a cold arc, "I have already promised him that if he can command his City Watch to help us capture Cersei and Joffrey this time, after the deed is done, the new City Watch Commander will be one of his men. Furthermore, half of the Harbor Affairs Committee's future revenue will be allocated to the Treasury."
"He is a clever man, and a merchant. He knows how much profit standing on the side of the victor in this power reshuffle can bring him."
Eddard Stark listened, his heart pounding.
He hadn't expected Lin Hao to make such a devil's bargain with Littlefinger behind his back!
"You… you are playing with fire!"
"My Lord, we have no choice now," Lin Hao said gravely. "Do we choose to trust a fierce tiger that is temporarily willing to cooperate, or do we choose to be bitten to death by a group of venomous snakes that have already bared their fangs?"
Eddard Stark fell silent again.
Ultimately, his damned sense of honor bowed its noble head to cruel reality.
"Good," he squeezed out a single word through gritted teeth. "Do as you say."
... The next day, at the first hint of dawn.
The Throne Room of the Red Keep was already filled with nobles and ministers, all with various expressions.
They had all received an urgent summons from the Hand to attend an important meeting that would determine the future of the kingdom.
Joffrey Baratheon, dressed in a magnificent black prince's attire trimmed with gold, sat proudly on the enormous and grotesque iron throne, his face filled with an arrogance and cruelty unbefitting his age.
His mother, Cersei Lannister, stood by his side, coldly looking down at the crowd below, like a true Queen.
Around them were dozens of fully armed House Lannister guards and members of the Kingsguard.
The atmosphere was tense.
Just then, the doors of the hall were pushed open.
Eddard Stark, holding King Robert's will, strode in, escorted by a contingent of North Territory Guards.
Lin Hao and Littlefinger, Petyr Baelish, followed behind him.
"Joffrey, get off that chair," Eddard Stark's voice was authoritative and cold. "You are not worthy to sit there."
"You dare command me?!" Joffrey shrieked. "I am the King! Guards! Seize this traitor!"
The House Lannister guards immediately drew their swords.
The North Territory Guards, not to be outdone, raised their shields.
A bloody conflict was about to erupt!
"Everyone stop!"
Eddard Stark held up the parchment in his hand. "I have the royal decree of the late King Robert! Until his legitimate heir comes of age, I, as Regent, shall protect the realm!"
He looked at Littlefinger standing beside him and said in a deep voice: "Lord Baelish! Now, fulfill your promise! Command your City Watch to seize these traitors who dare defy the late King's last wish!"
This was the final, decisive moment!
Everyone's eyes were fixed on Littlefinger!
Petyr Baelish's face still bore his trademark, benevolent smile.
He slowly stepped forward and bowed deeply to Eddard Stark.
Then, in a tone filled with regret and pity, he softly said:
"Oh, my esteemed Lord Hand. I truly wish I could help you."
"But…"
He suddenly turned around and shouted loudly towards outside the hall:
"City Watch, heed my command!"
"Seize them!"
The direction he pointed was not towards the Queen and the Prince.
But towards his erstwhile ally—Eddard Stark!
Before his words faded, hundreds of Gold Cloaks, armed with spears, surged into the hall from all directions like a tide!
Together with the House Lannister guards, they instantly surrounded Eddard Stark and his mere dozens of North Territory Guards, cutting off all escape!
Eddard Stark's face was filled with incredulous shock!
He abruptly turned his head and stared fixedly at Littlefinger, his gaze as if he wanted to devour him alive!
"You… you betrayed me!"
"Oh, no, no, no," Littlefinger's face showed the triumphant and cruel smile of a victor.
He slowly walked to Eddard's side and placed a dagger against his throat.
"I warned you long ago, my dear Eddard."
"I told you not to trust me."
"And yet, you still did."
Betrayal!
The most fatal betrayal, from an ally!
In this moment, Eddard Stark finally understood.
He had lost.
Lost utterly and completely.
Chapter 42: Blood-Splattered Throne Room, Final Instructions
"Kill them! Kill these traitors of the North!"
On the iron throne, Joffrey let out an excited and shrill roar, his childish face contorted by bloodthirsty desire.
Littlefinger's betrayal, like a gunshot, instantly ignited the powder keg that had been taut in the Throne Room!
"For Lannister!"
"For the King!"
House Lannister guards and Gold Cloaks, like sharks smelling blood, surged madly from all directions towards the surrounded North Territory Guards!
"Protect Lord Eddard!"
Jory, captain of the North Territory Guards, let out a tragic roar.
He was the first to block in front of Eddard Stark, using his shield to fiercely knock away a Gold Cloak, then swung his longsword, slitting the throat of another Lannister guard!
Blood stained the cold marble floor of the Throne Room.
The battle instantly entered its most brutal and intense phase!
Though every North Territory Guard was an elite warrior capable of fighting ten men,
Their numbers were simply too few.
Facing enemies several times their number, their small circular shield formation was like an isolated island in a raging storm, liable to be completely submerged at any moment.
The clash of swords, the dying screams, and the furious roars intertwined in the hall, forming a bloody symphony of death.
One loyal North Territory Guard after another fell in a pool of blood.
Their bodies were pierced by spears, cut down by swords, but until the last moment of their lives, they fiercely protected their lord, not a single one retreating half a step!
Eddard Stark's eyes were splitting with rage!
He watched as these good men he had brought with him died tragically before his eyes, and the heart of the Warden of the North bled!
He drew his greatsword "Ice" and wanted to rush forward to fight alongside his men.
But Littlefinger's dagger, like the fangs of a venomous snake, was still pressed firmly against his throat.
"Don't move, my esteemed Hand of the King." Littlefinger's voice softly echoed in his ear, yet it was more vicious than a devil's whisper, "If you move, I can't guarantee that my hand won't tremble."
Meanwhile, on the other side of the battlefield, Lin Hao's situation was also extremely perilous!
The moment Littlefinger shouted that word of betrayal, he had already realized something was amiss!
He didn't go to protect Eddard like the other North Territory Guards, because he knew that was already a death trap.
The first thing he did was to rush towards an inconspicuous side door at the side of the hall at the fastest possible speed!
He had to survive!
As long as he was alive, House Stark still had hope of turning the tables!
"Stop him! Don't let that Snow run away!"
Cersei's shrill voice rang out.
She obviously hadn't forgotten this bastard who had foiled her plans time and again.
Immediately, four Kingsguard abandoned their siege of the North Territory Guards and turned to pursue Lin Hao!
Leading them was none other than "the Valiant" Ser Meryn Trant!
"Die, you Northern bastard!" Meryn Trant's face showed the pleasure of torture, and his longsword aimed directly for Lin Hao's back!
Lin Hao didn't look back, but instead drew the Valyrian steel dagger from his waist and swung it sharply backward!
"Clang!"
A crisp sound!
The dagger precisely parried Meryn Trant's certain strike!
Using the force of the counter-shock, Lin Hao's speed increased even further!
He moved like a nimble cat, covering several twists and turns to reach the side door!
However, just as he was about to escape to safety!
A black, mountain-like colossal figure blocked his path!
The Hound, Sandor Clegane!
He had been guarding here at some unknown point.
No expression could be seen on his burned face.
His eyes, filled with brutality, merely stared coldly at Lin Hao.
Lin Hao's heart instantly sank to the bottom!
Could it be... even The Hound had betrayed him?!
"Get out of the way!" Lin Hao growled.
The Hound said nothing, but slowly raised the greatsword in his hand.
Behind him, Meryn Trant and the others had already caught up, completely sealing off all of Lin Hao's escape routes.
Lin Hao was in a desperate situation!
However, just as Meryn Trant, with a sinister grin, raised his sword to stab Lin Hao again!
"Pfft—!"
A muffled thud of a blade entering flesh!
Meryn Trant's movements suddenly froze.
He lowered his head in disbelief, looking at his chest, which had been run through from behind by a greatsword, his eyes filled with confusion and fear.
He slowly turned his head and saw The Hound's expressionless, grim face.
"Wh-why..."
"Because..." The Hound slowly pulled out his greatsword, letting Meryn Trant's body slump softly to the ground, and said in a hoarse voice, "I... I hate you weak-willed, so-called 'knights' the most!"
After speaking, he suddenly turned and used his massive body to firmly block the entire side door!
He stood alone with one sword, facing the remaining three Kingsguard!
"Go!"
He let out a deafening roar at Lin Hao behind him!
"Don't you dare die in this damn place! Go and fulfill what you promised me!"
Lin Hao looked at The Hound's resolute, demon-god-like back, his heart shaking violently!
He knew that The Hound was using his own life to buy him a chance to escape!
He no longer hesitated!
"I promise you!"
He took a deep look at Eddard Stark, who was being firmly held down by Lannister guards, his face filled with despair.
He then looked at The Hound, who was blocking the doorway, fighting madly with three Kingsguard.
Finally, he buried all his unwillingness and hatred deep in his heart!
He turned and rushed into the darkness beyond the side door, quickly disappearing.
Inside the Throne Room, the battle was nearing its end.
All the North Territory Guards had fallen in battle.
Eddard Stark was disarmed and forced to kneel on the ground by the Gold Cloaks, looking disheveled.
He looked at the corpses of his men strewn across the floor, and tears of blood flowed from his gray eyes, the eyes of the Wolf King of the North.
He had lost.
In the last moments of his life, he seemed to see his wife and children far away in the North.
"Catelyn... Robb... Sansa... Arya..."
He murmured, his eyes filled with endless regret.
"If... if only I had listened to Hodor then..."
Alas, in this world, there are no 'ifs'.
Chapter 43: The Fury of the North and the Rise of the Young Wolf
The news of blood staining the Throne Room in King's Landing spread throughout the Seven Kingdoms with the speed of winged ravens.
Eddard Stark, hand of the king and Warden of the North, was branded a traitor and imprisoned in the dungeons of the Red Keep!
All the North Territory Guards who accompanied him south died in battle!
His eldest daughter, Sansa Stark, was placed under house arrest in Maegor's Holdfast, becoming a hostage!
His second daughter, Arya Stark, was missing!
His illegitimate nephew, Hodor Snow, broke through the encirclement under the cover of Sandor Clegane, The Hound, and disappeared without a trace!
When this series of news reached the distant North, the entire North was shaken!
Immediately, an unprecedented, volcanic eruption of towering rage burst forth!
Inside Winterfell, acting lord Robb Stark, after hearing the news brought by the raven, slammed his fist onto his father's desk!
The sturdy oak table cracked with a resounding sound!
"Lannister!!!"
His handsome face was flushed crimson with anger, and a fierce, vengeful flame burned in his blue eyes, capable of incinerating everything!
He was no longer the youth who would bicker over trifles.
His father's downfall and the crisis of House Stark forced this young Young Wolf to grow up overnight!
He immediately summoned all the vassals of the North.
From Karhold of House Karstark to Last Hearth of House Umber; from Deepwood Motte of House Glover to White Harbor of House Manderly... all the Northern lords, upon receiving the Young Wolf's summons, gathered their armies without hesitation and converged on Winterfell!
The North had not been so united and shared such a common hatred for decades!
In just half a month, a Northern army of over twenty thousand men was assembled outside Winterfell!
They wore heavy leather armor and wielded battle-axes and longswords.
Their banners bore the gray direwolf of House Stark, symbolizing winter!
"Winter Is Coming!!!"
The roar of twenty thousand Northern men, drawing their weapons simultaneously, echoed through the sky, changing the very color of heaven and earth!
Robb Stark rode his warhorse, reviewing his army, which resembled a torrent of steel.
Beside him was his direwolf, Grey Wind, who had grown into a giant beast.
"My father, Eddard Stark, was falsely accused of treason by the villains of House Lannister!"
Robb's voice, amplified by a magic horn, spread throughout the entire army formation!
"My sister, Sansa Stark, is held hostage by them!"
"My family, the honor of House Stark, is being trampled upon by the snakes of the South!"
"Now, tell me, do you agree to this?!"
"No!!!"
"No!!!"
Earth-shattering roars answered him.
"Very good!" Robb drew his longsword and pointed it south!
"Then, follow me south!"
"We will wash away the shame of our family with Lannister blood!"
"We will use our swords to go to King's Landing and rescue my father! Rescue my sister!"
"We will let those southerners know that the North's fury will burn everything to ashes!!!"
"The North Remembers!!!"
"Awoo—!!!"
The giant wolf, Grey Wind, as if sensing his master's fighting spirit, let out a long howl filled with wildness and killing intent!
The lion of the North had awakened!
At this moment, a bloody civil war that would sweep across the entire continent of Westeros, historically known as the "War of the Five Kings," officially began!
Meanwhile, on the outskirts of Riverrun, a black-haired young man, covered in wounds and looking disheveled, finally shook off the last of the Gold Cloaks pursuing him.
He raised his head, gazing in the direction of King's Landing, and in his deep, dark eyes burned a flame of revenge colder and more deadly than the North's fury.
"Cersei, Joffrey, Littlefinger..."
"You wait."
"I, Hodor Snow, will return soon."
"Bringing death and destruction you cannot imagine."
Chapter 44: The Gift of Riverrun and the Blackfish's Promise
The Riverlands, Riverrun.
House Tully's castle, surrounded by water on three sides, was easy to defend and difficult to attack.
When Lin Hao, covered in blood and accompanied by a dozen scattered Northmen who had narrowly escaped King's Landing, appeared before Riverrun, it immediately drew the heightened vigilance of the castle's defenders.
"Who goes there?!"
"Hodor Snow of the North, on the orders of the Hand, I have urgent matters to discuss with Lady Catelyn Stark!" Lin Hao's voice was hoarse and urgent.
Soon, the castle's drawbridge slowly lowered.
Lin Hao met Catelyn Tully, who had just returned to Riverrun from the Eyrie and was consumed with worry for her husband and daughters.
"Hodor?" Catelyn saw his disheveled appearance, and an ominous premonition immediately rose in her heart. "King's Landing… what exactly happened in King's Landing?! How is Eddard?!"
Lin Hao did not answer immediately.
He simply knelt on one knee, presenting a heavy package, tightly wrapped in oilcloth, with both hands.
"My Lady, this is a 'gift' the Hand entrusted me to bring to you."
Catelyn's hands trembled as she untied the package.
When she saw what was inside, this strong heir of House Tully let out a piercing, inhuman shriek, and her entire body collapsed.
Inside the package were two items.
One was Eddard Stark's valyrian steel greatsword, "Ice," symbolizing his authority as Warden of the North.
The other was a letter.
A will written by Eddard Stark in the dungeon, with his own blood, on a piece of prison uniform cloth.
The content of the letter was simple, just a few words:
"Catelyn, my love.
I have lost.
Take care of our children.
Do not seek revenge for me, live.
Also, Hodor Snow is not my bastard son, but the son of Lyanna and Rhaegar, his name is Aegon Targaryen, the legitimate heir to the iron throne.
Protect him."
Lin Hao received this blood-soaked letter through Varys's secret channels after escaping King's Landing.
Clearly, The Spider did not wish to see House Lannisterdominate.
He was playing another game for the future.
And Lin Hao, in a gesture of presenting a borrowed treasure, used this letter, along with the greatsword "Ice" (which The Hound had snatched during the chaos), as his token of allegiance when meeting "Wolf Mother" Catelyn.
"No… no… this isn't real…"
Catelyn clutched the blood-soaked letter, sobbing heartbrokenly.
Her brother, Edmure Tully, heir to Riverrun, and her uncle, Ser Brynden Tully, the "Blackfish," also looked pale, their eyes filled with shock and fury!
Especially when "Blackfish" Brynden saw the revelation about Lin Hao's true identity at the end of the letter, a terrifying glint erupted in his weathered eyes!
He stared intently at the black-haired young man kneeling before him, as if trying to see through him!
Lyanna's son… Rhaegar's son… Targaryen… The "Blackfish" was an old general who had lived through Robert's Rebellion, and he knew better than anyone what kind of terrifying storm this identity would unleash across the Seven Kingdoms once it became public!
"My Lady, please accept my condolences."
Lin Hao waited until Catelyn's emotions had somewhat calmed before saying in a deep voice: "The Hand is not yet dead, but King's Landing has become a den of dragons and tigers. Lord Robb has already marched south, but the army's movement is slow, and I fear distant water cannot quench a nearby fire."
"We must now find a way to rescue the Hand before Lord Robb's army arrives!"
Catelyn slowly raised her head, her swollen blue eyes filled with helplessness and a last glimmer of hope.
"Do… do you have a plan?"
"One word: chaos!"
In Lin Hao's eyes, a cold, vengeful glint flickered!
"House Lannister's greatest reliance now is their wealth and the armies of the Westerlands. And their army, currently led by Lord Tywin Lannister himself, is stationed at Harrenhal, preparing for a decisive battle with my cousin Robb's army."
His use of "cousin" sounded so natural that it stirred the hearts of the Tully family members present.
"And what we need to do is make Lord Tywin… have a fire in his backyard!"
Lin Hao stood up and walked to the military map, his finger pressing firmly on one location—Golden Tooth.
"Golden Tooth is the gateway to the Westerlands and House Lannister's most important gold mine. If we can send an elite squad to bypass Harrenhal's front lines and launch a surprise attack on Golden Tooth, even if we only burn a few of their mine shafts, it will be enough to throw Tywin Lannister into utter disarray!"
"Once he divides his forces to reinforce, cousin Robb's pressure on the main battlefield will be greatly reduced!"
"Then, we can take advantage of the chaos, and fish in troubled waters…"
This strategy was not only daring but could even be called insane!
Edmure Tully shook his head repeatedly: "Impossible! Golden Tooth is heavily guarded, and getting there from Riverrun means crossing hundreds of miles of enemy-occupied territory. This is simply a suicide mission!"
"I'll go."
An old yet firm voice interrupted him.
Ser Brynden Tully, the "Blackfish," slowly stepped forward.
He walked in front of Lin Hao, sizing him up, his gaze like that of someone examining a drawn sword.
"Lad, you have much of your mother's spirit from back then."
He paused, then turned to his niece Catelyn, and said in a deep voice:
"Catelyn, summon all the bannermen of the Riverlands! Robb is your son, and our nephew! The blood of House Tully will never bow to a lion!"
"As for the surprise attack on Golden Tooth…"
In the "Blackfish's" eyes, the unique, intimidating battle spirit of an old general erupted!
"Let this old bone of mine accompany our… 'True Dragon' Prince, for one mad venture!"
Chapter 45: The Night Fury's First Cry and the Blood Crow's Gaze
The alliance with Brynden, the Blackfish, finally gave Lin Hao his first truly significant and powerful military ally in the Riverlands.
That night, within the secret chambers of Riverrun.
For the first time, Lin Hao revealed his greatest secret to the Blackfish, Catelyn, and a few of House Tully's most core members.
He cut his finger and, with his blood, drew a simple rune in the air.
Then, he let out a low call in Dragon Tongue.
"Dragonkin... heed my command!"
With his call, a black, shadow-like figure silently appeared on his shoulder.
It was Night Fury, the young dragon he had kept hidden in the "Dragon Nest Space" he later acquired!
After this period of growth, Night Fury had grown to over half a meter long, covered entirely in scales as hard as obsidian, with dark red patterns on its wing membranes and spinal ridges that resembled flowing magma, exuding a chilling aura of power.
It affectionately rubbed its head against Lin Hao's cheek, its obsidian-like dragon eyes curiously and warily surveying the dumbfounded humans in the room.
"A dragon... it's really a dragon!"
"The Old Gods be praised!"
Even an old general like Brynden, the Blackfish, who had seen his share of storms, was too shocked to speak when he saw this legendary creature with his own eyes!
Catelyn Tully, meanwhile, looked at Lin Hao with an extremely complex gaze.
Fear, awe, and... a glimmer of hope.
She finally understood why her husband had left such a world-shattering last will in his letter.
And she finally understood why this young man dared to propose a crazy plan like ambushing Golden Tooth.
Because he possessed power capable of overturning the entire world!
"With it," Lin Hao gently stroked Night Fury's smooth scales, his voice calm and confident, "crossing enemy lines will no longer be difficult."
Brynden, the Blackfish, took a deep breath, recovering from his shock.
He looked at the remarkably majestic young dragon, his eyes blazing with an unprecedented light.
"Good!" He slammed his hand on the table. "For this dragon alone! I will gamble the honor of the entire House Tully with you!"
The plan was thus finalized... Just as Lin Hao and the Blackfish were busily preparing the plan to ambush Golden Tooth in Riverrun.
Far away in the North, beyond the Wall.
In a vast, boundless haunted forest covered in ice and snow.
An old man dressed in black, with hair as white as snow and a large red birthmark on his face, sat beneath a giant weirwood tree.
One of his eyes was blood red.
Bloodraven, Brynden Rivers.
The former hand of the king, now the Three-Eyed Raven.
He slowly opened his closed, normal eye, a deep light, as if having seen a thousand years of time, flashing within it.
He extended his withered hand, which had merged with the tree roots, and gently stroked the bleeding, human-like face on the weirwood in front of him.
"The wind... is starting to turn."
His voice was ancient and hoarse, as if from the end of the world.
"Ice and fire, finally meet again in this generation."
"The lions of the West, the direwolves of the North, the stags of the Stormlands, the roses of The Reach..."
"And... that black true dragon reborn from the ashes..."
He slowly raised his head, his blood-red single eye seemingly piercing through the spatial barrier, seeing the scene in the secret chamber of Riverrun.
He saw the black-haired young man and the pitch-black young dragon on his shoulder.
"Aegon Targaryen..."
"No... your name is not Aegon."
"Your destiny has long been written in ancient prophecies."
"Go, child."
"Go and stir up your storm."
"Go and ignite your flames."
"Go and fulfill... the mission you were born to complete."
"The long night is coming, and the dead... are marching."
After speaking, he slowly closed his eyes, merging once again with the weirwood beneath him.
As if falling into an eternal slumber.
And in front of him, on the ancient weirwood, the human face weeping blood seemed to curl into a subtle, eerie smile that no one noticed.
Chapter 46: Surprise Attack on Golden Tooth City (Part 1): Dragon's Shadow
Three days later, a commando unit of three hundred elite Riverlands knights and archers, led by Ser Brynden"Blackfish" Tully, quietly departed Riverrun under the cover of night.
Their banner was the House Tully's silver trout leaping from the water.
But their true core was Lin Hao, who was disguised in ordinary leather armor among the troops, and Night Fury, whom he had hidden in the "Dragon Nest Space."
The mission of this unit was like a sharp dagger, to bypass the main force of the Lannister army at Harrenhal, penetrate deep behind enemy lines, and strike directly at the heart of the Westerlands—Golden Tooth.
This was a gamble that was almost suicidal.
The team traveled west, resting by day and moving by night, avoiding all major roads and villages as much as possible.
For the first two days, the journey went smoothly.
Brynden "Blackfish" knew the terrain of the Riverlandslike the back of his hand.
He led the team through dense forests and swamps, successfully evading all the reconnaissance units Tywin Lannister had stationed on the periphery.
However, when they entered the hilly regions of the Westerlands, trouble still arose.
The density of House Lannister's patrols here far exceeded their imagination.
Almost every hilltop and every pass had scouts monitoring day and night.
"We've been discovered."
In a hidden valley, the "Blackfish" looked at the fleeting glint of armor on the distant ridge and said to Lin Haowith a solemn expression.
"In no more than three hours, Ser Amory Lorch's cavalry, 'the Mountain's' lieutenant, will pounce on us like a pack of mad dogs that have smelled blood."
"Three hundred men against at least a thousand of his heavy cavalry, in this open hilly terrain, we have no chance of winning."
A heavy shadow of solemnity fell upon the faces of all the knights.
"Ser," Lin Hao, however, remained exceptionally calm, "Do you trust me?"
The "Blackfish" looked at his black eyes, which were still astonishingly bright in the darkness, and without a moment's hesitation, nodded heavily: "I trust you, Your Highness."
"Very good." Lin Hao swung himself onto his horse, "Then, please lead half of the men and horses to continue west, attracting the enemy's main force. As for me, I will lead the rest here to buy you enough time."
"What?!" The "Blackfish" was greatly startled, "You want to use over a hundred men to block a thousand heavy cavalry? That's impossible! That's suicide!"
"Who said... we only have over a hundred men?"
A mysterious yet confident smile played on Lin Hao's lips.
He raised his head and looked at the bright moon above.
Then, in Dragon Speech, he let out a long roar full of battle intent that pierced the clouds!
"Power... awaits you!!!"
"Roar—!!!"
A tender yet supremely majestic dragon's roar boomed from the shadows behind him!
The black hatchling "Night Fury" leaped out of the "Dragon Nest Space"!
To everyone's astonished gaze, its body, which was only about half a meter long, rapidly expanded and grew like a balloon the moment it touched the moonlight!
One meter!
Three meters!
Five meters!
In just a few breaths, a juvenile dragon with a wingspan of over ten meters, a body as black as ink, and exuding the scent of sulfur and flames, appeared in the valley!
It let out a roar to the sky, spewing a small stream of scorching dragonfire with black smoke from its mouth, making a rock in front of it sizzle!
The "Dragon Growth" function of the dragon king systemcould, in a short period, allow the hatchling to unleash combat power far beyond its physical size by consuming Lin Hao's bloodline strength!
Although this state wouldn't last too long, it was more than enough for an ambush!
All the Riverlands knights present were stunned by this miraculous sight, dismounting and kneeling on one knee, their eyes filled with fervent worship and awe!
They finally understood why Ser "Blackfish" trusted this young man so much!
Brynden "Blackfish" looked at the black giant dragon circling above Lin Hao's head, feeling the terrifying pressure from ancient times, and trembled with excitement.
"Targaryen... true dragon... has returned..." he murmured.
"Ser," Lin Hao's voice roused him from his shock, "Now, do you still think we are going to our deaths?"
"No..." The "Blackfish" shook his head, an unprecedented, fervent battle intent erupting in his eyes!
"They are going to their deaths!"
Chapter 47: The Raid on the Golden Tooth (Part 2): The Lannisters' Wail
An hour later, Ser Amory Lorch, leading his thousand heavy cavalry, arrived at the valley entrance with murderous intent.
He had been ordered by Lord Tywin to wipe out these "Riverlands rats" who dared to penetrate the Westerlands.
In his opinion, this was nothing more than an easy, one-sided slaughter.
"Charge!" he drew his longsword and ordered with a sneer, "Leave no one alive! Bring me all their heads and build a Jingguan!"
A thousand heavy cavalry, like a black tide of steel, thundered with hooves as they charged into the narrow valley!
However, just as they rushed into the heart of the valley, their formation stretched to its longest!
"Fire arrows!!!"
On the valley walls, countless torches suddenly lit up!
Lin Hao and the one hundred and fifty archers he led had already laid a death trap here!
"Whoosh whoosh whoosh—!!!"
Dense, rain-like arrows rained down from above!
The Lannister cavalry at the forefront instantly fell in swathes, like wheat being cut down!
Men and horses tumbled, screams and wails echoed throughout the entire valley!
"An ambush! Hold steady! Shields up!" Amory Lorch was both shocked and enraged; he never expected the enemy to dare set an ambush here!
The Lannister cavalry were well-trained; after the initial panic, they immediately raised their shields, attempting to block the attacks from above.
However, at that moment!
A nightmarish roar, one they would never forget, reverberated from the depths of the valley, piercing the clouds!
"Roar—!!!"
Immediately after, a massive, black shadow descended from the sky!
It was Night Fury!
It opened its huge dragon mouth and unleashed a destructive stream of Dragon Flame, wreathed in black smoke, upon the dense, huddled cavalry formation below!
"Boom—!!!"
The scorching flames, like the Grim Reaper's scythe, instantly swept through the middle section of the entire cavalry formation!
Steel melted in an instant, and flesh evaporated in a flash!
That area was directly cleared into a vacuum!
Countless Lannister soldiers, without even time to scream, turned into charcoal in the Dragon Flame!
"What… what the hell is that?!!!"
"A dragon! It's a dragon! It's the Targaryen's demon dragon!!!"
"Run!!!"
The Lannister army completely collapsed!
In the face of a "dragon," a legendary creature capable of crushing any mortal army, all courage and discipline seemed pale and powerless!
The soldiers frantically turned their horses, trying to escape this living hell engulfed in fire and death!
But there was only one entrance to the valley.
They trampled each other in utter chaos!
Amory Lorch looked at the apocalyptic scene before him, scared out of his wits!
He no longer cared about military orders, reined in his horse, and was the first to lead the charge in fleeing!
"Trying to run?"
On the valley wall, a cold killing intent flashed in Lin Hao's eyes.
He drew his longbow, and a specially made, poisoned armor-piercing arrow was nocked to the string.
The Dragon King's Blood within him circulated wildly, and a powerful force drew the bowstring into a perfect full moon!
"Die."
He released his fingers.
"Buzz—!!!"
The arrow, like a black grim reaper, tore through the night sky, carrying a sharp whistle as it traversed hundreds of meters!
With pinpoint accuracy, it pierced Amory Lorch's heart from behind, as he desperately galloped away!
Amory Lorch's body stiffened abruptly; he incredulously lowered his head, looking at the bloody arrowhead protruding from his chest, his eyes filled with resentment and fear.
Immediately, he fell from his horse and was instantly trampled into a bloody pulp by the chaotic hooves behind him.
The commander was dead!
The Lannister army completely lost its last command, becoming a flock of lambs waiting to be slaughtered.
This ambush ultimately ended with Lin Hao's side suffering fewer than thirty casualties, completely annihilating nearly a thousand of the Lannister's elite cavalry!
This was a miraculous victory, one worthy of being recorded in the annals of Westeros' war history!
...Two days later.
When Ser Brynden Tully, the "Blackfish," appeared with his almost unscathed assault team beneath the unsuspecting Golden Tooth.
The remaining Lannister soldiers, having heard the terrifying legends of the "black demon dragon" brought back by deserters, were already scared witless.
With almost no decent resistance, the "Blackfish" successfully captured this key gateway town of the Westerlands!
They did not occupy the city, but instead, according to Lin Hao's plan, set fire to all of House Lannister's mines and smelters within the city!
The towering flames dyed the entire night sky of the Westerlands blood red.
House Lannister's biggest money bag was burned clean by Lin Hao with a great fire!
Tywin Lannister, the Warden of the Westerlands known for his calmness and cruelty, crushed the wine cup in his hand when he received this news at Harrenhal.
For the first time, his perpetually placid face revealed an undisguised, towering rage, like that of a lion!
He knew he had encountered an unprecedented, most formidable enemy!
Chapter 48 Tywin's Fury and Robb's Victory
The news of Golden Tooth's destruction, like a super earthquake of magnitude twelve, instantly detonated the entire Westerlands and completely disrupted all of Tywin Lannister's strategic deployments.
Golden Tooth was not only a symbol of House Lannister's wealth but also the most crucial military stronghold in the Westerlands.
Its fall meant that the entire hinterland of the Westerlands would be exposed defenselessly to the enemy's advance!
Inside the main tent of the Lannister army at Harrenhal.
Tywin Lannister looked at the battle report in his hand, and for the first time, a trace of uncontrollable ferocity appeared on his face, which was usually as cold and stern as a sculpture.
"Dragon...?"
He squeezed out the word, which was both incredibly familiar and incredibly hateful to him, through gritted teeth.
"Lord Hand, according to the descriptions of the soldiers who escaped, that... that was indeed a giant dragon, entirely black..." The messenger, who had come to report, knelt on the ground, trembling with fear.
"Useless!"
Tywin suddenly kicked him, sending him sprawling to the ground.
Of course, he didn't believe that dragons still existed in this world.
In his opinion, this must be a despicable psychological tactic used by the enemy to shake his army's morale!
"That old eel from House Tully, Brynden Tully..." His eyes gleamed with cold killing intent, "When did he acquire such an elite unit under his command? To be able to bypass all my defenses and strike directly at my heart?"
"My orders!" He no longer hesitated and immediately made a decision, "Kevan Lannister!"
"Here, brother." His equally shrewd and capable younger brother, Ser Kevan, immediately stepped forward.
"You will immediately lead five thousand elite soldiers to reinforce Golden Tooth! I don't care what sorcery the enemy used, you must crush all those Riverlands rats on the soil of the Westerlands! Bring me Brynden Tully's head!"
"Yes!"
"Jaime!" He then turned his gaze to his eldest son, whom he had just "exchanged" back from Riverrun after a brilliant victory.
"Father." Jaime Lannister stepped forward.
"You will lead fifteen thousand men and immediately march on Riverrun! Raze that castle to the ground! I want that old eel from House Tully to know what happens when you dare to provoke the majesty of the lion!"
"As you command, Father." A bloodthirsty smile appeared on Jaime's face.
Tywin Lannister, the most formidable military commander in Westeros, made the most rational and ruthless deployment even in his rage.
He intended to fight on two fronts: on one hand, to reinforce his stronghold, and on the other, to completely destroy the root of House Tully—Riverrun—with an overwhelming numerical advantage, in retaliation for their audacious sneak attack!
However, in all his calculations, he overlooked one crucial point.
That was, his greatest enemy was not just that "old eel" from House Tully.
There was also a "Young Wolf" from the North, who had quietly bared his fangs!
...Just three days after Tywin Lannister divided his forces and moved his main army to Riverrun.
A perfect opportunity, one that could change the entire course of the war, appeared before the Young Wolf, Robb Stark.
Whispering Wood.
Robb Stark and two thousand of his most elite Northern cavalry had been lurking here for two days and two nights.
Guided by intelligence sent by Lin Hao through secret channels, Robb accurately intercepted Jaime Lannister's marching route.
"They've arrived."
Robb's great-uncle, Brynden "the Blackfish," returned from the forward reconnaissance point, his face flushed with excitement.
"That fool Jaime, in his haste, actually chose to take a shortcut through Whispering Wood! And he only brought fewer than two hundred personal guards; his main army is still at least half a day's journey behind him!"
A startling battle intent instantly erupted in Robb Stark's eyes!
He knew this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!
Strike the snake's head first!
"My orders!" He suddenly stood up and drew his sword!
"All troops mount up!"
"Tonight, we will capture the Kingslayer alive here!"
...In the deep night of Whispering Wood, all was silent.
Jaime Lannister was leading his personal guard, leisurely marching along the forest path.
He was completely unaware that the shadow of death had already enveloped him.
"Awoooo—!!!"
A wild and murderous wolf howl suddenly pierced the night's tranquility!
Immediately after, the ground began to shake!
Countless torches suddenly lit up from both sides of the forest!
Two thousand Northern warriors, as if crawled out of hell, riding warhorses and wielding battle axes and longswords, burst out of the darkness!
Leading them was the Young Wolf, Robb Stark, riding the direwolf Grey Wind, his eyes like eternal ice!
"Jaime Lannister!"
Robb's roar echoed through the forest!
"Pay the blood debt you owe House Stark!"
Jaime Lannister was both shocked and enraged! He never dreamed that Robb Stark's main force would appear here!
"To arms! To arms!" He drew his longsword, attempting to organize a resistance.
But it was all too late.
The Northern cavalry, with a ten-to-one numerical advantage, used a perfect pincer movement to instantly overwhelm their small personal guard!
It was a massacre with no suspense!
Although Jaime Lannister was unmatched in bravery, cutting down a dozen Northern soldiers one after another.
But two fists are no match for four hands.
Finally, under a fierce lunge from the direwolf Grey Wind, his warhorse's throat was bitten through.
He fell to the ground in a disheveled heap.
Dozens of cold Northern longswords were instantly pressed against his neck.
Jaime Lannister, the Kingslayer, was captured alive!
The Battle of Whispering Wood ended with a complete victory for the Northern army!
This news, like a bolt from the blue, instantly crushed the morale of the Lannister army still marching in the rear!
Robb Stark, the young Young Wolf, announced his rise to the entire Seven Kingdoms with a thrilling, textbook ambush!
And he delivered the most deadly return gift to his enemy, Tywin Lannister!
Chapter 49 The Identity of the True Dragon and the King of the North
The victory in the Whispering Wood completely reversed the war situation between the North and the Westerlands.
The capture of the commander-in-chief caused the Lannister army to lose morale, allowing Robb Stark to pursue them. He then fought a brilliant encirclement and annihilation battle outside Riverrun, eliminating nearly ten thousand enemies!
Tywin Lannister's plan to divide his forces to reinforce Riverrun was completely ruined!
On the other side, his brother, Kevan Lannister, whom he sent to reinforce Golden Tooth, was constantly harassed and ambushed by the Riverlands army led by Brynden"Blackfish," who used his familiarity with the terrain to hold him back, preventing him from ever getting close to Golden Tooth.
In just one month, Duke Tywin, who was originally aggressive and confident of victory, found himself in an awkward position of fighting on two fronts, failing on both, and even struggling to protect his homeland!
The turning point for all of this stemmed from that seemingly insane surprise attack on Golden Tooth!
...Inside the great hall of Riverrun, shouts of victory echoed through the sky.
All the Northern lords and Riverlands lords gathered there, surrounding their young, invincible leader—Robb Stark.
"Long live the Young Wolf!"
"King in the North!"
In the face of such a great victory, these rough-hewn Northern men were eager to bestow the highest honor upon their leader!
However, at this moment of celebration, Robb Stark made a decision that surprised everyone.
He stepped down from the high seat, walked through the cheering crowd, and went directly to one person.
A black-haired young man wearing ordinary leather armor, with traces of gunpowder still on his face.
Hodor Snow.
"Hodor," Robb looked at him, his blue eyes filled with gratitude, admiration, and a hint of inquiry, "Tell me, what exactly happened at Golden Tooth?"
He was no fool.
He knew that Brynden "Blackfish" alone, with his mere three hundred men, could never have achieved such astonishing results.
Behind this, there must be a secret he didn't know.
And this secret was hidden within this cousin, whom he had once envied but now trusted implicitly.
The hall instantly fell silent.
Everyone's gaze focused on Lin Hao.
Lin Hao looked at Robb's sincere eyes, then at Catelyn Stark and Brynden "Blackfish" standing nearby.
He knew it was time.
It was time to reveal the secret that could overturn the entire Seven Kingdoms.
He slowly knelt on one knee.
But this time, he wasn't kneeling to Robb.
Instead, he knelt before all the Northern and Riverlandslords present.
"My Lords," his voice, clear and steady, echoed throughout the hall, "Before I answer my cousin Robb's question, please allow me to first reveal my true identity to all of you."
"I am not the bastard son of Lord Eddard Stark."
"My name is Aegon Targaryen."
"My father was Prince Rhaegar Targaryen. My mother was Lyanna Stark."
"I am the first in line, the rightful heir to the iron throne!"
Boom—!!!!
These words were like ten thousand tons of dynamite exploding on a calm lake!
The entire hall instantly fell into a deathly silence!
Then, an unbelievable clamor of gasps and discussions erupted like a mountain collapsing and a tsunami roaring!
"A Targaryen?!"
"Rhaegar and Lyanna's son?!"
"How... how is this possible?!"
Everyone was stunned and dizzy by this shocking news!
Just then, Catelyn Stark slowly stepped forward.
She took out the will written in blood by Eddard Starkfrom her embrace.
"This is Ned's personal letter." Her voice trembled slightly with emotion. "The letter proves the identity of Hodor... no, of Prince Aegon!"
Brynden "Blackfish" Tully also drew his longsword, propped it on the ground, and said in a deep voice: "I, Brynden Tully, swear by the honor of House Tully! I saw it with my own eyes! Prince Aegon, he has a dragon!"
A dragon!!!
If the previous news was a bomb, then the word "dragon" was a nuclear weapon capable of destroying everything!
The hall once again fell into a deathly silence.
Everyone's breathing stopped.
They looked at the black-haired young man kneeling on one knee, their eyes filled with awe, fear, and an uncontrollable, fervent hope!
Just then, the most hot-tempered lord in the North, JonUmber, was the first to react.
He dropped to one knee with a "thud," held his greatsword horizontally in front of him, and with his booming voice, was the first to pledge his fealty:
"To hell with Targaryen or Stark! All I know is that he led us to defeat the Lannisters! He can summon dragons! He is our destined King!"
"I, Jon Umber, pledge myself to you! From today onwards, you are my only King!"
His words were like a match, instantly igniting the blazing fire in the hearts of all the Northern lords!
"King in the North!"
"King in the North!!!"
One by one, they knelt on one knee, drew their swords, and offered their highest respect and most fervent loyalty to the black-haired young man!
Robb Stark looked at the awe-inspiring scene before him, not with a hint of jealousy, but with a heartfelt, relieved smile.
He also stepped forward and knelt on one knee.
"I, Robb Stark, in the name of the Duke of Winterfell and Warden of the North, swear fealty to you."
"My King!"
At this moment, within the great hall of Riverrun.
With all the Northern and Riverlands lords as witnesses.
A new king was crowned amidst fire and blood!
He was not a restorer of the Targaryen dynasty.
Nor was he an heir of House Stark.
He was—
The King in the North!
Chapter 50: King's Landing's Response and Tyrion's Journey to Prime Minister
News from Riverrun quickly reached King's Landing.
"The Northerners have crowned a new king!"
"They've crowned Rhaegar Targaryen's bastard!"
"And that bastard has a dragon!!!"
When this series of messages exploded like thunder in the Red Keep's Small Council, everyone's faces were filled with shock and fear.
Especially the word "dragon," which, like an invisible needle, deeply stung every descendant of the usurpers present.
"Nonsense! Utter rubbish!"
The new King Joffrey was the first to leap up.
His youthful yet cruel face was somewhat distorted by fear.
"The dragons are all dead! This must be a trick by the Northerners! It's their despicable lie!"
Queen Cersei's expression also became incredibly grim.
Others might not know, but she was very clear about how sinister and terrifying that bastard named Hodor Snowwas.
If there truly were dragons still in this world, then it must be in that man's hands!
A complex light flickered in the eyes of Littlefinger, Petyr Baelish.
He hadn't expected that the Northern bastard he had always viewed as a pawn would suddenly transform into a descendant of Targaryen and become the King in the North.
This game had completely spiraled out of his control.
And the only one who, upon hearing this news, not only didn't panic but instead showed a thoughtful expression, was the Master of Whisperers, Varys.
A mysterious smile hung on his plump face, and no one knew what he was plotting in his smooth head.
"Enough!"
Just as everyone was discussing and panicking, an old yet authoritative voice echoed through the entire hall.
Duke Tywin Lannister!
After the disastrous defeat in the Westerlands, the Warden of the West had finally rushed back to King's Landing in person to clean up this mess.
He wore dark red armor with gold-embroidered lion sigils, and though his face showed the marks of hardship, his pale green eyes were still as sharp as a hawk's, filled with undeniable authority.
The moment he appeared, the entire throne room instantly fell silent.
"Just a bunch of Northern rebels and a charlatan who popped up from nowhere claiming to be a Targaryen, and you're all scared like this?"
His voice was cold and full of contempt.
"Dragons? If dragons were truly that powerful, how did the Targaryen dynasty fall in the first place?"
"My command!" He no longer paid attention to the trembling ministers, directly ordering the messenger beside him.
"First, immediately send someone to bring that foolish Eddard Stark, who is locked in the dungeon, before the Great Sept of Baelor! I want him to confess his treasonous crimes in front of all the people of King's Landing! Then, cut off his head!"
"Father! No!"
A voice urgently interrupted him.
It was Tyrion Lannister!
He limped out from the crowd, his face filled with anxiety.
"Father, we cannot kill Eddard Stark! We still need him as a hostage! As long as he is alive, the Northerners won't dare to act rashly! Once he is killed, there will be no room for negotiation in this war!"
"Moreover, we still need Sansa Stark. She is our only bargaining chip with the North!"
Tywin Lannister gave his most despised dwarf son a cold glance.
"Room for negotiation?" He sneered, "When they crowned a Targaryen as king, there was no room for negotiation left in the war!"
"As for hostages..." A cruel, cold glint flashed in his eyes, "A dead Stark will deter those Northern fools far more than a living Stark!"
"I will use Eddard Stark's head to tell those rebels! This is the consequence of daring to defy House Lannister, of defying the iron throne!"
Tyrion shivered under his father's cold gaze.
He knew he could no longer change his father's decision.
"Second!" Tywin continued to command, "From now on, I will personally serve as hand of the king, taking charge of all military and political affairs of the kingdom!"
"Joffrey," he glanced at his eager grandson on the iron throne, a flicker of unnoticeable disgust in his eyes, "You are still too young; the matters of war will be handled by us adults. You only need to properly be your king."
His words, though polite, were filled with an undeniable tone of command.
He was, in effect, sidelining Joffrey's power!
Though Joffrey was unwilling, he didn't dare to utter a single word in front of his authoritative grandfather.
On his first day back in King's Landing, Tywin Lannisterswiftly seized control of the entire court with thunderous force.
His gaze finally fell upon his youngest son, Tyrion.
"As for you," he looked at Tyrion with a complex expression, "Though I don't want to admit it, your'speculation' at the tourney this time was well done. At least, it saved some face for House Lannister."
"Jaime is captured, Kevan is tied up on the front lines. I now need someone smart enough, and knowledgeable enough about our 'King in the North,' to stay in King's Landing for me, to handle the dirty trivialities I don't have time for."
He paused, then, in a tone that seemed like a concession, announced an appointment that surprised everyone:
"From today, you, Tyrion Lannister, will serve as acting hand of the king, and during my absence leading the army, you will govern King's Landing for me."