That white-robed estate owner sent a guide to Aegon, and under the guide’s leadership, Aegon’s army marched towards Ghoyan Drohe.
At the same time, mule carts were dispatched to bring the army more than half a month’s worth of food, and the estate owner stated that there would be food replenishments later.
Along the way, Aegon and the others saw the castle of the Thoxor Family.
The scale of that castle was not small at all, and according to Connington’s evaluation, it was more than enough to support the dignity of an earl.
Stockpiling two thousand soldiers inside would not be a problem.
It was said that they specially invited craftsmen skilled in building castles from Westeros to build it for them.
Not only the Thoxor Family, but several other families holding vast lands also built castles and other paramilitary fortifications to control the land.
“Lord Connington, which is larger, Pentos or the Crownlands?” Young Griff asked with some curiosity, as he had only recently started studying geography.
“Pentos is a bit larger,” Connington said.
In fact, judging from the controlled land area and population scale, Pentos could be said to be second to none in the Seven Kingdoms, save for The Reach.
The Nine Free Cities did not just control a single city; they also occupied vast lands.
After walking for a few more days, the group waded across the Little Rhoyne and entered the lands of Ghoyan Drohe.
Ghoyan Drohe was a very nice place, with the Little Rhoyne to the west, the Upper Rhoyne to the east, and mountains to the north.
Not only was it safe, but its river system was well-developed, making it extremely suitable for agricultural production.
It was just a pity that the Rhoynar had declined, and such a fertile land had been ravaged almost alternately by the Dothraki and Pentos, leaving nothing to be seen except scattered wisps of smoke.
Aegon knew that the enemy held the geographical advantage and knew the terrain of these mountains and forests like the back of their hand.
If he searched blindly, he did not know how many days it would waste, and it might even lead to advancing deep into enemy territory alone and falling into an enemy trap.
Therefore, he deliberately slowed down his marching speed along the way, intending to draw the snake out of its hole.
He came with the early-warning cheat ability “Single-Minded Focus,” which could detect danger in advance and prepare defenses.
But Connington did not know about this matter.
In his eyes, the army’s marching speed was slow, and coupled with Aegon’s slack and casual appearance like he was sightseeing, they would be ambushed sooner or later.
Especially since he could always see people watching them around.
After thinking over and over again, Connington braced himself and went forward to find Aegon once more.
But the soldiers around Aegon were exceptionally loyal to him.
Not only did they not think about how to exploit them like previous commanders, but they even spent their own money on them.
Not only did they help pay off debts, but they also shared weal and woe during training.
How could such people not risk their lives for him?
Previously they had also learned that Connington and Aegon had a conflict, so when Connington wanted to approach Aegon, someone immediately stepped forward to separate him from Aegon.
Seeing him speak, the soldiers cleared the way.
“Cyrus, I think we should speed up our march and search for the traces of Lucci’s gang as soon as possible.”
Facing Connington’s urging, Aegon remained unmoved: “Lord Griff need not trouble himself with this matter; I have my own arrangements.”
Seeing that Aegon was impervious to reason, Connington grew more and more anxious inside.
It didn’t matter if this bandit-suppression operation was defeated; his only worry was that Young Griff would be implicated and fall into danger.
“How about we send more scouts to explore the surroundings? This can also avoid encountering enemy sneak attacks or ambushes.”
Aegon glanced at Belwas behind Connington and said: “A sneak attack? A mere band of outlaws, what do they have to sneak attack us with? I rather wish they would take the initiative to attack. All right, you don’t need to worry too much about this place; if you feel uneasy in your heart, you can turn back early.”
After hearing these words, Connington’s heart turned icy cold.
What he worried about most had come to pass after all.
He suddenly had an illusion: back then, when he asked the ‘Mad King’ Aerys to give him another chance to suppress the rebellion, Aerys was unwilling to trust him again, and he finally left in dejection until receiving the tragic news.
Aegon watched Connington leave out of the corner of his eye.
If anyone was to be blamed, blame Illyrio.
Now Illyrio and Varys were closely cooperating.
After accumulating huge wealth in just over a decade, he became an object of competition for courtship by the Prince of Pentos and others.
For now, he could still be an aid for himself to gain higher power.
If Aegon wanted to get more rewards through this bandit suppression, he could not get too close to Connington to arouse his vigilance.
He had become a commander by borrowing Illyrio’s power, and next he wanted to climb higher by borrowing his power.
Aegon had always behaved very arrogantly in front of Illyrio, but that was based on the nominal father-son relationship between the two.
Once he felt the risk of his plan being disrupted again, there was no telling what he might do, and Aegon needed to maintain a delicate balance.
Connington did not know Aegon’s concerns, and with no other options left, he could only temporarily withdraw.
He arranged for the personnel sent by Illyrio to search around the surrounding mountains and forests.
Not long after, the sky gradually darkened, and Aegon’s party planned to make camp right by the river.
Connington hurriedly ran over again to dissuade him: “Cyrus, camping near water is a major taboo in military strategy. Only a large army heavily guarded is suitable for stationing by the river, and a large number of scouts must be dispatched for vigilance. With our mere three hundred people, once we are ambushed, it is highly likely that our entire line will collapse. I propose that we move to the mountains to camp.”
“If they want to sneak attack, let them come. We have more numbers and better equipment, I don’t believe we will lose.”
Seeing that Aegon still obstinately clung to his course, Connington truly had no other choice.
At this time Belwas found Connington and whispered: “Lord Griff, the master has given orders that in a critical moment, all of us will obey your command.”
“What do you mean by that?” Connington asked with a strange expression, looking Belwas up and down.
“You mean to seize Aegon’s military power? He is the officer officially appointed by Pentos!”
“Didn’t you see how loyal his soldiers are to him? Forcibly seizing power will only trigger a mutiny!”
“Send all our men out to patrol.”
Seeing others leave, Connington seized the opportunity to lecture Young Griff: “For cavalry, the best campsite is a hillside with an open view…”
…
Inside a thatched cottage, an olive-skinned, black-haired youth was reading a book.
Next to him lit a dim oil lamp, and by this lamplight, the youth read with great relish.
The youth was named Lucci, and he was the ‘bandit leader’ Aegon was going to subjugate.
He was holding a tattered copy of fires of the freehold, which recorded the history of the Valyrian people and was snatched by him after raiding an estate.
The civilization of the Rhoynar had long since perished completely, and he could only glimpse the former glory of his ancestors from the historical books left behind by the Valyrians.
The Valyrian Empire had long since fallen, and even the surviving Targaryen Family had long been overthrown.
Lucci no longer harbored resentment towards the Valyrians in his heart; his only thought now was to lead the surviving kinsfolk to live in peace.
To the west were the Pentoshi who did not treat people as human beings, and to the east were the Dothraki who treated people as grass.
The surviving Rhoynar lived extremely difficult lives, but Lucci knew very well that his own power was too weak, and the things he could accomplish were ultimately very limited.
Usually, he would just raid the estates of those Pentoshi to ‘rob the rich and give to the poor’.
At this moment, a brown-haired subordinate rushed into the tent to report: “My lord, the Pentoshi army is coming.”
This subordinate was rescued by him from that terrible estate in Pentos.
In his team, there were not only Rhoynar, but also pitiful people of Pentos.
“Where have they reached?”
“They have already reached the vicinity of the Little Rhoyne.” The subordinate paused and continued: “The one leading the troops this time looks like a good-for-nothing who doesn’t understand military affairs, actually camping right against the riverbank.”
“Oh?” Lucci uttered an inquisitive sound.
“It seems he really is an outsider. Don’t rush into a frontal attack yet; harass them continuously for ten days and a half month, and don’t let them sleep peacefully.”
“Rest assured!” The subordinate responded excitedly.
Relying on this exhaustion strategy, they had defeated the enemies coming to encircle and suppress them several times, firmly believing that there would be no mistakes this time either.
“Don’t underestimate the enemy; what if the enemy is doing this on purpose? From our previous few clashes, I estimate that they are almost figuring out the location of our mountain stronghold, and we must drive them out before they find us, otherwise so many of us won’t be able to survive.”
Hearing him say this, the excitement on the subordinate’s face faded away, turning solemn.