Eagle of the Valley of Ice and Fire.

Chapter 331 Borrowing a Knife
"Your Majesty should have waited until my troops arrived before making a decision," Jon Connington frowned slightly and spoke harshly. When no one was around, he advised, "The lords of the Marches have been fighting the Dornish for many years. Even when Westeros was at peace and enjoying a long summer of abundant food and honey, they were still raising their swords to fight against the Dornish's poisoned spears. Many famous knights came from the Marches."

Aegon listened to Clinton's narration quietly. Judging from the sharpness of his words, it could even be said that Clinton was complaining and blaming the king. Aegon smiled. When he was aliased as Clinton, he was taught a lot by this teacher who taught by example. Whether it was swordplay, riding skills, or the geography and culture of Westeros, Jon Clinton had very high requirements for little Aegon. The latter did not complain about it. As the king of men, the burden of Targaryen's revival and restoration fell on his shoulders at the same time, and he should endure things that others could not endure.

As both a teacher and a father, Jon Connington's loyalty is witnessed by the gods.

And I have my own testimony, Aegon thought.

He pointed at the map. "The Prime Minister may have forgotten something." His eyes were sharp, and his fingertips circled around Storm's End. "We don't know the exact composition of this army, but according to the foreseeable intelligence, Artys Arryn and the main force of the Vale are stationed in Harrenhal to guard against the Ironborn advancing along the Three Rivers. There are unusual movements in King's Landing, and it is difficult to carry the distant armor on the shoulders. We can't provide timely support in a short time, and the borderlands..."

Jon Connington said nothing. He watched little Aegon's lively description, knowing that interrupting at this moment would only discourage the boy.

"And the borderlands mainly gather their military forces at Nightsong and Horn Hill. Most of Nightsong's troops were taken to the North by the Bastard. Bryce Cullen certainly doesn't have enough troops, and Horn Hill is on guard against Dorne and the Ironborn. So far, there has been no movement, and there won't be any movement. The only thing we need to be on guard against is Stonehelm in Redwatch. But Prime Minister, you have almost taken over half of Cape Windwrath, but the Swann family is still cowering in the castle. I think he is timid. Facing the elite warriors of the Golden Company, I'm afraid he doesn't even have the courage to open the city gate. If all the knights in Westeros are like him, it will be just a matter of time before we can recover our homeland and ascend the Iron Throne."

A newborn calf dares to use its young horns to fight a lion, let alone a dragon. Jon Connington's mouth curled up. In his heart, if he wanted to be a king, he would be doomed to fail without this kind of ambition.

However, he would not let the little king, who had taken the initiative when he first arrived in Westeros, be too complacent. Jon Connington knew how this rainforest, these castles, including the Griffin's Roost under his feet, were taken.

It was not difficult to catch the lords off guard and win these victories with the strength of the Golden Group.

He smiled and gave little Aegon some pointers: "Stonehelm has thousands of soldiers, and the Swan family is the best in the borderlands, known for their bravery and caution. Gullion was in his prime ten years ago, and when the spider was still around, he told us that he could no longer lift a sword or a staff. When Stannis was recruiting troops, including now when the borderlands united to siege Storm's End, he was nowhere to be seen. I'm afraid the rumors are true."

Young Aegon noticed the hidden meaning and frowned, "The Prime Minister means that Gullian Swan still has thousands of troops to deploy."

Jon Connington replied: "If Stonehelm is willing to bend the knee, that would be best. Remaining neutral is not a bad idea, but things don't always go as planned."

Little Aegon sat down slowly, his calves felt numb, "But I heard."

"Donnel Swann is in King's Landing," Jon Connington said, taking up the king's words. "He may be with the army heading south at this moment."

Aegon clasped his hands and said, "It doesn't matter. The most urgent thing is to take over Storm's End and ensure we have a foothold."

Jon Connington nodded and asked, "It may be dangerous for Ser Harry Strickland to lead his troops first. I am willing to follow closely behind him to ensure a safe march."

Aegon did not show off his bravery. He nodded. Taking Storm's End was indeed the most important task at the moment.

He is the king. He would not wield sword and hammer like Robert and Robb, or charge into the battle in armor himself. This is irrational. Aegon also knows his own swordsmanship skills.

Jon Connington withdrew, intending to regroup for a day before marching out to battle.

Can't wait, can't wait.
Elwood Maydo did not see the military tent, and he did not even eat the bread and salt brought by Bryce Cullen. The moment he stepped into the camp, he was hit on the back of the head, dizzy, and collapsed to the ground.

When I woke up again, I was tied up, there was no one around, and there was no equipment to hook my legs and feet.

"I am an envoy, I am an envoy. I am here to negotiate on the orders of Lord Gilbert Farling. I am..."

After a few blows with the sticks, the tent was silent. "Big Eyes" Dylan was trembling with fear. He clearly saw that Bryce Cullen had not yet opened the hidden letter to read it, so why did he act so quickly?

Bryce Cullen heard no movement in the tent and nodded to the soldiers. Dylan was quickly controlled, his head held by a sword, and he collapsed to the ground.

Astan Selmy watched all this happen, and opened his mouth slightly, but saw Bryce take out two letters from the letters handed to him by Dylan, and then he came forward and asked, "What are you planning to do? Don't take the first credit for Storm's End?"

Bryce Cullen opened the letter, glanced through it, and handed it to Astan: "Gilbert wants us to kneel in exchange for the head of Elwood Maydo."

Astan's eyes were as big as copper bells, and he whispered anxiously: "Then why don't you do it?"

Bryce smiled slightly, turned to look at Dylan who was controlled, and said, "Gilbert must have just come up with this trick, trying to kill someone with a borrowed knife, but..." He snorted coldly and continued, "Just a moment ago, he raised his sword to demand my head and swore to live with the castle forever. Now he sends an envoy, and he is a traitor who once betrayed me, King Renly. I don't need him to tell me, I will kill him too."

"Then you." Astan glanced at the servant Dylan and kicked him. "Tell me! What tricks does your lord have?"

Bryce shook his head. "What does he know? He's just a poor abandoned creature." He strode forward and waved his hand gently. "Close the tent."

Astan followed behind him and walked into the big tent.

"What do you mean?" He was still confused.

Bryce Cullen took the clay cup handed to him by the waiter, drank the beer in the cup in big gulps, and slammed it on the wooden table with a "bang".

He explained: "Gilbert Farring would never betray Stannis. I know him well."

"What do you mean?" Astan repeated.

"Killing Elwood Maydo, an earl, is not an easy task for Gilbert Farling, a general of an isolated city," said Bryce Cullen. "There must be many soldiers in Storm's End that Elwood brought from the Reach. They must account for a large proportion." He narrowed his eyes and mentioned the servant. "Look at that servant. He handed over a secret letter without telling Elwood Maydo. The secret letter was to kill Elwood and offer it to Storm's End. It must be Gilbert's people. Gilbert must have prepared to kill after he got the information that Elwood had ulterior motives from this servant."

"Just kill it yourself, why send it out and put on this show?"

"I told you," Bryce Cullen replied, "In addition to the Storm's End garrison, there must be Ewood's followers. Their number is not small, and they are a great help to the Storm's End garrison. Killing their earl in the city will definitely cause a lot of unrest. So Ewood was given the task of negotiating peace. He wanted to borrow our swords to chop off the heads of his enemies. He underestimated us, the people of the border."

Arstan Selmy nodded in a matter-of-fact manner.

"But," Astan's expression suddenly changed, "Bryce, this man can't be killed."

Bryce nodded and said appreciatively, "We should do the opposite and make him uneasy inside Storm's End."

"But," the Border Commander stood up, his eyes never leaving the topographic map around Storm's End, "I always feel that he is not the kind of person who would come up with this plan in normal times. Something must have happened."

(End of this chapter)