Chapter 172 Contradiction

Lord Eddard Stark, Hand of the King, was riding a horse and following the large army along the narrow mountain road, but he was a little distracted.

The army passed by the Tower of Bliss yesterday and found that there were actually more than a dozen Dornish guards in the tower. Of course, this small tower held on for less than an hour before being captured.

Although this was a small battle worth mentioning, Duke Ed was still thinking about the tall tower made of blood-red rocks.

It was in that tower that he discovered his sister, Lyanna Stark, at the end of the Reaver War.

At that time, she was so angry that she lay on a bed covered with roses and blood.

In her arms, there is a baby.

That is the child of Prince Rhaegar Targaryen, the child of Lord Eddard’s enemy!

He launched a war and overthrew a dynasty, but in the end he discovered that his sister had risked her life to give birth to a son for her enemy.

"Promise me. Ed, promise me."

He has been unable to refuse his sister's request since he was a child, and it was the same that time.

Duke Eddard, who regarded honor as his life, finally brought the child back to Winterfell, claiming that he was his illegitimate son, and named him Jon Snow.

Time, like leeches, has long since sucked up this unbearable memory, but the sudden glance just now reminded Duke Ed of this painful memory.

It's so lifelike, as if it's right in front of you.

I need wine.

Just as Duke Eddard turned around to get the wine from the attendant, a white horse ran over in the opposite direction of march.

Duke Eddard recognized the knight at a glance as Garlan, the second son of the Tyrell family.

"Lord Ed!" Garland reined in his horse and asked with a slight breath, "Didn't you say in your battle plan that Wangzhong City should be besieged but not attacked?"

"Yes, what's wrong?"

"Then why are the vanguard attacking Wangzhong Castle?"

"What? This is not an order from me!" Duke Ed was startled and didn't care to drink. He quickly clamped the horse's belly and accelerated forward with Garland.

After running forward for a while, Duke Eddard heard the faint cry of killing.

This made him angrier.

There are actually more than a dozen fortresses and castles along the route of Prince's Pass, but the only thing that can really hinder this 70,000-strong army is to hold Tianji City at the southern end of Prince's Pass. This is what Duke Ed planned in his battle plan.

Determine the key points of attack.

The other large and small fortresses and castles along the way can either be removed without any effort, or there is no need to conquer them at all.

The Wangzhong City of the Manwudi family belongs to the latter, because it does not block the marching route of the army. Unless the defenders in the city dare to leave the castle and march seven or eight miles to actively attack, they will not be able to attack the army and logistics.

Transport routes pose a threat.

Duke Ed's plan is to leave a force of three to four thousand men to monitor Wangzhong City. As long as the opponent dares not come out, there is no need for them to attack by force - because in that case, they will probably need to kill or injure three to four thousand men to attack.

Got off.

And even if it is captured, an army must still be left to garrison. Otherwise, based on Duke Ed's understanding of the Dornish people, there is a high probability that they will rebel once the army leaves.

So, it's really better not to attack.

He came to avenge Jon Arryn. His only enemy was the Red Viper. Duke Eddard did not want to cause more unnecessary killings.

Unfortunately, not everyone thinks so.

"Who ordered the attack?" Duke Eddard asked angrily.

As he spoke, he had already recognized the coats of arms of several families.

The golden antlers on the blue background spotted fur pattern, this is the Bookwell family of Antler Castle.

The blue net on a white background and the three silver fishes represent the Bywater family of King's Landing.

A group of black wings on the black and gray checkered pattern, this is the Staunton family of Crow's Roost.

…

Duke Eddard took a quick look and found that all those involved in the attack were from the royal family.

"Who gave the order to attack!" Duke Eddard shouted loudly as he rode among the queues.

"Lord Ed, it's your Majesty's order." A knight with a brown bear claw printed on his chest replied.

"Your Majesty's order?" Duke Ed became even more angry, "But I am the commander of this army!"

The knight of the Bren family shrugged and said: "Sorry, sir, we thought you had discussed it with Your Majesty..."

"No!" Duke Eddard shouted, "Stop the attack immediately!"

After saying that, he turned his horse's head and ran towards the crowned stag flag flying behind.

Not long after, he heard the sharp voice of King Joffrey:

"What happened? Why didn't they fight? Who asked them to stop?"

"It's me!" Duke Eddard slowed down his horse speed and tone, not wanting to appear too aggressive.

But even so, in the young king's opinion, he was still offended.

I saw him waving his riding crop and shouting at the King's Hand:

"Edd Stark! How dare you deny my order!"

"Your Majesty, the command of this army is in my hands. You are not allowed to give orders without authorization."

"Of course I can! I'm the king!"

Duke Eddard's head ached as he looked at the messy king.

Robert, how did you give birth to such a son?

When he thought about his daughter Sansa being engaged to such a person, Lord Eddard became even more worried.

Just when the two were in a stalemate, the curtain of the Wheel Palace car parked by the road was lifted, revealing the beautiful face of Queen Mother Cersei.

"Sir Ed, even if you are the commander of this army, you don't have to be so overbearing, right? Xiao Qiao just wants to help you clear the obstacles on the road."

"Your Majesty, Wangzhong City neither hinders us nor poses a threat to our retreat. There is really no need to waste the lives of the soldiers in attacking. I made this very clear at the pre-war meeting.

"

"You are cowardly!" Joffrey shouted, "Unless the Dornishmen in the city surrender, we should attack them and kill them all!"

"You can't make the Dornish surrender by killing!"

"Then kill all Dornishmen who refuse to surrender!"

"Then I'm afraid you will only kill more and more."

"Impossible! People will only kill less and less!"

"Lord Eddard." Queen Mother Cersei interjected, "Although you are now the commander of this army, don't forget that I am the regent and guardian of the entire territory. I have the title to command the entire territory's army, and I also have the authority to revoke your command.

Qualifications."

Duke Eddard was so angry that he turned blue. He really wanted to throw the prime minister's badge on the mother and son's face, and then leave with the Northern Army.

But in the end, he didn't do it.

He also wants to avenge Jon Arryn, and Robert Baratheon, and he also wants to seek justice for him.

He can't just walk away.

Seeing that Duke Eddard had nothing to say, Joffrey smiled proudly, and then said to the herald next to him:

"Go and issue the order to attack! I want to have dinner at Wangzhong Castle today!"

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Duke Ed's mouth moved, but he didn't stop it after all.

Soon, the siege horn sounded again.

After Duke Eddard left, "Kingslayer" Jaime Lannister came to the window of the Wheel Palace and whispered to his sister:

"Didn't father tell us not to let Joffrey interfere in military affairs?"

Cersei glared at her younger brother: "Father still wants me to marry again! If you don't take this opportunity to let Xiao Qiao establish military merit and prestige, so that he can be qualified to intercede for me in front of his father, do I still expect you?

"

"I can help you tell your father."

"What did you say?" Cersei looked disdainfully.

James' eyes were sincere: "Say we really love each other..."

"You're crazy!" Cersei exclaimed, then lowered her voice, "This will make people doubt Xiao Qiao's legitimacy!"

"Then make it public." Jaime said nonchalantly, "We can officially get married, just like the brothers and sisters of the Targaryen family."

Cersei looked at her brother in disbelief, as if she didn't expect him to actually make such a suggestion:
To be continued...