Game of Thrones: King of Harrenhal, starting with a blue hand stat panel

"The world is going to the dogs," Sir Lucas finally acknowledged after a long pause.

The political infighting in Westeros is accelerating relentlessly, becoming increasingly bloody and dark.

In the past, feudal lords always emphasized knowing when to stop, and even in war, they paid attention to using etiquette to cover up their actions.

After the Blood Dragon Frenzy, everyone went home after fighting to the death, and the feudal lords were basically safe.

The Blackfire Rebellion intensifies the punishments imposed by the Iron Throne.

Blackfire supporters are generally second-rate or small-to-medium-sized lords, such as the Brecken, Baker, Bartway, and Rostan families, while the larger, top-tier lords are usually unscathed.

The Rostan family chose to betray Blackfire during the war.

The ones who were punished the most were Baker and Bartway, while Brecken and Ellenwood are still alive and kicking.

By the time of Tywin, the massacre of Reyes and Tarbeck had taken place, and he was seeking revenge against the Targaryens and Martell. Even the top twenty great lords were no longer safe.

"Some people are pessimistic, some are optimistic. Warriors and politicians need to be ruthless and consider the big picture. Sir, you should know about the Battle of the Red Fork River, the battle between trout and lion." Arthur placed his palm on the Red Fork River.

Sir Lucas nodded. "I know. Duke Jason of the Green Party tried to cross the Red Fork River with eight thousand men, but failed three times and even died in the crossing battle."

"That was a war that lasted over a hundred years. Now, the Western Frontier has far more troops and cavalry available than back then. With the destruction of the Reyes and Tabek families, Tywin has been constantly expanding his forces and buying horses. He can't just stand by and watch forever."

Times have changed, and the strength of the Western Territory has increased significantly, not to mention the Reach.

The western border relies on centralized power, while the river bends rely on marriage alliances.

Of course, the fundamental condition is still the long-term peace of the Seven Kingdoms, and the population recovery of the Greenlands is faster than that of Dorne and the North.

The Hejian region is now fragmented and disorganized. The Western Hejian region is laughing at the Eastern Hejian royalists, seeing them weakened.

Even worse, they lacked outstanding leaders like the Kermit Tully brothers, Mrs. Frey, Black Ariel, Red Robb, and the Bloodlust Clan.

"Tywin can't possibly be insane, can he? Nor can Horst, Stark, and Arryn, and King Robert either." Ser Lucas pondered.

He has become increasingly convinced of Arthur's views.

A cruel person, an arrogant person, a petty person.

Given Tywin's situation, it's normal to be cautious and wary of him.

Those who are good at using troops first plan the overall situation and should not place their hopes on others.

"Everything changes, Sir. Just like what Rhaegar did, are these great men absolutely rational? No, it is their little whims that have accelerated the course of history." Arthur laughed heartily.

With Joffrey's birth, the situation in Westeros was already spiraling out of control.

According to the original story, the first person to go mad in the Riverlands was not Tywin Lannister, but Catelyn Tully.

"Even Horst, the strategist touted by the Riverlands lords, couldn't escape the Riverlands' trap and was eventually exposed?" Sir Lucas looked at the location of Riverrun, lamenting that war always brought suffering to the common people.

Beyond the location of Golden Tooth City, Flowing City is not safe either, as Flowing City is a defensive stronghold located in the western part of the city.

Sir Lucas had to figure out the coldest, most ruthless game of power.

The land between the rivers is scarred and the east and west are trying to protect themselves.

In extreme cases, support from the North and the Vale may not be sufficient.

Tywin Lannister struck again, leaving the Riverlands with virtually no room to escape.

"Even the wisest strategist grows old. Horst, despite his many schemes, has two major flaws. These flaws will eventually cost him his life." Arthur smiled gently and confidently.

"I know the first one: Horst is too superstitious about marriage alliances and peace, and neglects his own strength. So what's the second one?" Sir Lucas was quite looking forward to the second answer.

"Secondly, the Tully family's power is too scattered, and the quality of their personnel is uneven. Hoster was severely wounded and near death by the Griffin in the Battle of Stonehall, and his spirit was greatly broken. His brother 'Blackfish' was also expelled from the family. As for my cousin, Edmure, he is kind-hearted and multi-talented, but he lacks the talent of a warrior. Duke Hoster also dotes on his young son and has never sent Edmure away to be a servant or adopted son of another family. The Tully family will understand that what they need is Kermit, not Edmure." Arthur pointed out the second loophole.

Horst's strategic miscalculation lay in his overconfidence in the power of peace and marriage alliances, while he struggled to expand his own power.

"As you said, the Trout may seem powerful for a time, but the Duke of Horst is not without flaws, and Tully, though strong, is also weak. You are not without opportunities," Sir Lucas said, his eyes lighting up.

"Host is old and useless. His future depends on himself." Arthur's words were sharp as knives.

He valued Horst, but he valued Tywin even more.

Optimists forget war, while pessimists prepare for it.

"I want security, the security of surviving on the chessboard. Security, supreme security, security that transcends the fate of the Three Rivers."

"Let's start with the soldiers," Sir Lucas said thoughtfully.

Arthur spoke seriously, "Knights have five skills: swordsmanship, spearmanship, hammer and axe fighting, archery, and horsemanship. Even if some people wield unusual weapons, they are still within these five skills. Sir Lucas, in your opinion, which type of soldier should we develop first?"

Based on their skills and equipment, soldiers are divided into infantry archers, infantry, lancers, and horse archers, and can also be classified as light and heavy cavalry and light and heavy infantry.

"Perhaps we should develop longbowmen first," said Ser Lucas Dayne. "Cavalry requires money to equip with armor and horses, which is extremely costly. Although the valley has fine horses, the Valley Knights cherish their horses and rarely sell them. Relatively speaking, it's better to form a longbowmen group first."

Although the Dane family are Dornish nobles, they reside in Starfall City, which has its own port and fertile land.

Beyond Dorne's unique light cavalry tactics of "crossing the line" and "scorched earth".

The Dane family also retains many characteristics of knightly families and is no stranger to heavily armored knights with a strong sense of style.

"Tywin has been developing his cavalry very well, not only raising horses in the Westerlands but also buying them at sea," Ser Lucas remarked.

Regardless of Tywin Lannister's personality, his centralization of power and massive military buildup greatly enhanced the strength of the Westerlands.

"Castles have blacksmiths and workshops. But good horses are hard to find," Arthur remarked.

Cavalry and knights both meant money and horse farms.

The three strongest lords in Westeros today—the Westerlands, the Reach, and the Vale—possess large cavalry forces and have a numerical advantage.

Although there were cavalry in the Hejian region, they were too disorganized.

Moreover, if others consolidate power and form alliances while the Riverlands remain stagnant, then it can be considered a decline in the quality of the army.

In poorer regions like the North, the proportion of cavalry is much lower.

Robb led nearly 20,000 troops south, with an infantry-to-cavalry ratio of three to one. The number and equipment of the cavalry were significantly weaker than those of the western army.

Tywin's main army has an infantry-cavalry ratio of 1.6 to 1.

This was due to the hasty southward advance of the North, coupled with the fact that the Leswell family of Mayuan was not putting in enough effort, but it also shows the scarcity of cavalry in the North.

"So, Arthur, let's start with the longbowmen. Don't forget the Blackwood family; they're famous for their longbowmen and sharpshooters. Harrenhal can definitely learn from the Blackwood family's experience," Ser Lucas emphasized. "Red Robb, Black Ari, Blood Raven—they're all world-renowned sharpshooters."

These are all legendary figures from the Blackwood family, still talked about by the people of Three Rivers, and Arthur is very familiar with them.

"Make Harrenhal's muscles more robust, and start with longbowmen," Arthur said to Sir Lucas.

In addition to a large yew bow, a longbowman also needs excellent training and good nutrition.

"Your career begins here." Sir Lucas had already noticed the differences between the two Arthurs.

The Dawn Sword is White Arthur, the light of knights.

Arthur Hoan is Black Arthur, who, in addition to his exceptional knightly talent, also harbors a burning ambition to set the world ablaze.

The fact that White Arthur is dead while Black Arthur is still alive is something that brings him comfort.

"Let's start with my courage right now. Will you help me, Sir?" Arthur poured Sir Lucas a glass of Dornish Summer Red, the wine as bright as blood.

"To the great!" Sir Lucas raised his glass.

"To madness!" Arthur swirled his glass.

Perhaps every player in a power game is a mad gambler.