Once the cheers finally subsided, the roar of the Trident River gradually faded as well.
The great flood that had swallowed tens of thousands of Lannister soldiers had already rushed toward the mouth of the river.
But the water beneath Galon's feet was still turbulent.
The icy current carried corpses, broken timber, and torn banners downstream. Like a giant serpent lazily rolling after a meal, it blocked the route to the southern bank.
The floodwaters that had spilled beyond the riverbed were still spreading across the southern plains.
Galon gazed into the distance, but all he could see was murky water.
'The current is too strong, and there are logs and stones mixed into the water.'
'It will be difficult to cross by boat for some time.'
'Sigh. Every gain comes with a loss. For now, we can only watch Tywin escape.'
He sighed and reluctantly shook his head.
After standing there for a moment, Galon turned around and looked toward the soldiers cleaning up the battlefield.
Although they had just won a great victory, exhaustion was written across every face.
"Pass down my orders!"
Galon sheathed his greatsword and calmly issued his commands.
"All troops are to rest as quickly as possible!
Move the wounded to higher ground and treat them immediately. Count all arrows and horses, and record our losses.
Also, send someone back to camp and inform His Grace of the situation here. Have the cooks start preparing food immediately.
I want every soldier to have a hot bowl of meat stew waiting for them when they return!"
Several guards immediately accepted their orders and departed.
Galon did not go to rest.
Instead, he walked among the exhausted soldiers lying on the ground, inspecting their condition like a concerned father.
"Bear with it a little longer, everyone!
I've already ordered fires to be lit and food prepared. Once we return to camp, you can all rest properly.
And everyone who distinguished themselves in today's battle will be rewarded.
I will report your achievements to the King and see that you are generously compensated!"
Galon's words of reassurance and his promises immediately lifted the soldiers' spirits.
"Long live the Hand!"
Someone shouted.
The others quickly joined in.
At that moment, Lord Royce and Edmure approached with the Vale and Riverlands nobles.
Behind them came Randyll and Ser Ponos.
Unlike the triumphant expressions of everyone else, the two prisoners could not conceal their dejection.
"Haha!"
Edmure's exhausted face was filled with smiles.
After this battle, the gloom that had weighed upon him was swept away, and his old spirit returned.
"Lord Hand, we won!"
Galon smiled and nodded.
"Yes. We won."
His gaze swept over Randyll and Ser Ponos before he spoke meaningfully.
"After this battle, the lion is like yesterday's flower. It can no longer stir up any waves.
Once the river settles, we can advance south and take King's Landing in one decisive campaign!"
His words once again delighted the Riverlands and Vale commanders.
"It is just a shame that Tywin escaped."
Lord Royce sighed.
"If we had captured him as well, our victory would have been completely decisive."
The others nodded, sharing his regret.
Galon encouraged them.
"Tywin may have escaped, but he no longer has the strength to fight another battle.
Once we cross the river and march on King's Landing, he will eventually become our prisoner."
Edmure eagerly said,
"Then what are we waiting for? We collected and built plenty of boats beforehand. I'll have the men drag them out immediately so we can cross."
Galon shook his head.
"The current is still too strong, and there is too much timber and debris in the water. Crossing now would be too dangerous."
He looked up at the sun before giving the next order.
"It will take at least four or five hours for the river to settle. By then, it will be almost dark, and crossing at night would be even more dangerous.
So, we will return to camp today and let the soldiers rest properly. Tomorrow morning, we cross by boat."
No one objected.
Everyone nodded in agreement.
Then Galon's eyes fell on Tarly and Ponos.
When he noticed the family sigils on their chests, his smile grew slightly wider.
These two men were important bannermen of the Reach and the Stormlands.
If he could win their allegiance, the situation in both regions would essentially be settled.
Galon's thoughts raced.
After this victory, the Stormlands, as sworn bannermen of House Baratheon, had little choice left.
They could only bend the knee to Gendry, the most legitimate and senior claimant.
The Reach was another matter.
If House Tyrell chose to resist, its vast manpower and resources still gave it the strength to fight.
But was House Tyrell truly willing to fight to the bitter end?
The answer was no.
"Lord Tarly, Ser Ponos, I've long heard of you."
Having reached his conclusion, Galon deliberately adopted a courteous and approachable attitude as he spoke with the two men.
Randyll and Ponos were both somewhat flattered.
While being escorted here as prisoners, they had already imagined Galon mocking and humiliating them.
They had never expected him to be so amiable.
"No need for formalities."
"We are defeated commanders. We hardly deserve such praise."
Randyll smiled bitterly and shook his head, showing that he understood the situation perfectly.
He knew the Lannisters no longer possessed the strength to fight another battle.
King's Landing would eventually fall into the hands of the man standing before him.
At that point, given Lady Olenna's temperament, she would most likely choose political surrender once again.
Rather than resist pointlessly, it was better to show goodwill now and preserve the strength of his family.
Ser Ponos held much the same attitude.
His brother Cortnay Penrose had been killed because of Stannis, and Ponos had been forced to swear allegiance to Joffrey.
Several days earlier, while serving in Tywin's army, he had heard that Gendry, King Robert's legitimate bastard, had been crowned.
At that time, he had already begun considering whether he should change sides.
But with the outcome of the war still uncertain, he had not dared to make a move.
Now, however, the situation was perfectly clear.
For Ponos, bending the knee was the natural choice.
"Haha, the two of you should wait here for the moment.
Once I've finished dealing with the affairs of the army, I'll take you to meet King Gendry.
When the time comes, there will be many matters concerning Harrenhal and King's Landing on which I will need your assistance."
Galon's warm attitude finally eased the heavy burden weighing on Tarly and Ponos.
Both nodded.
Galon then turned toward Lord Royce and the others and ordered them to speed up the cleanup of the battlefield.
Fortunately, because of the flood, most of the corpses from both Galon's army and Tywin's army had already been swept away.
There was therefore little left to clean up.
After treating the wounded and recording their losses, Galon left some soldiers behind to monitor the river before ordering the rest of the army back to camp.
On the way back, he found Randyll and Ser Ponos and asked them about the situation in King's Landing and the Crownlands.
When Galon learned that the Crownlands were virtually undefended and that King's Landing itself had only the Gold Cloaks and roughly a thousand soldiers from the Reach and Westerlands, his mind immediately settled.
Once he returned to the camp at the ford, he first arranged the troops before bringing everyone to the command tent to meet Gendry.
Gendry had already received the news of the victory. He was practically glowing with excitement.
When he saw Galon and the others enter, he could not stop laughing.
"Galon, I knew you could do it!"
In his excitement, Gendry even called Galon by name.
Galon's expression remained calm, his gaze deep and steady.
"This victory belongs entirely to the soldiers from every region who fought bravely.
Your Grace, I ask that you reward them generously.
Many of the lords and soldiers who died were swept away by the flood, and their bodies will be difficult to recover.
Their families should receive appropriate rewards.
Furthermore, I hope Your Grace will have a monument erected here to commemorate their sacrifices and honor their service to the Seven Kingdoms."
The moment he said this, every lord in the command tent, including Randyll and Ser Ponos, looked at Galon with admiration.
If goodwill could be measured, Galon's gesture would have raised his standing in the eyes of these men considerably.
Gendry did not think much about it.
He simply waved his hand.
"Very well. I'll leave this matter to you... By the way, when are we going to King's Landing?"
Galon nodded and accepted the order before answering.
"King's Landing and the Crownlands are practically undefended.
Tomorrow morning, we will cross the river and march south.
Within a month at the latest, we will take King's Landing and destroy the rebels."
Gendry immediately burst out laughing.
"Haha!"
"Good! Good!"
"Someone prepare a feast! Tonight, I want to celebrate properly!"
The others laughed as well.
The command tent instantly became filled with celebration.
After the laughter subsided somewhat, Galon introduced Randyll and Ser Ponos to Gendry.
But when Gendry learned that both men had previously served the Lannisters, his expression immediately became perfunctory.
In the end, it was only after Galon repeatedly urged him to do so that Gendry reluctantly pardoned their offenses and accepted their renewed allegiance.
"Do not take it personally.
King Gendry grew up in a blacksmith's shop, so his personality is somewhat... He simply has a very clear sense of love and hate.
Given time, he will come to understand both of you."
Galon escorted the two men outside the tent, smiling as he reassured the visibly displeased Randyll and Ponos.
At the same time, he subtly allowed them to understand Gendry's character and his lack of experience in ruling a kingdom.
"Well, I hope so."
"Lord Hand, please excuse me."
Randyll gave a bitter smile, shook his head, and turned away.
Ponos merely snorted before leaving without looking back.
Galon watched the two men disappear.
Then he suddenly smiled.
After standing there for a moment, he turned and returned to the command tent.
That evening, while Gendry was still drinking and celebrating with everyone, Galon was dealing with affairs inside his own tent.
"This letter is to be sent by raven to Lord Brynden at Riverrun.
Tell him of our victory and inform him that we will soon march on King's Landing.
This letter is for Lady Catelyn.
Tomorrow, have a Northern soldier ride after her and deliver it directly into her hands.
Also, feed all the warhorses tonight.
Have Captain Harlaw transport the soldiers and horses across the river tomorrow."
Galon handled every detail of the camp and made complete preparations for the crossing the following day.
Only after finishing all the miscellaneous affairs did he have time to consider what came next.
'Tomorrow, we cross the river and head to Harrenhal first, then advance on King's Landing.'
'Now that Tywin has been defeated, he doesn't have many options left.'
After thinking for a moment, Galon realized that Tywin could either drag the Reach into a desperate last stand or choose to surrender.
But whether he surrendered or tried to fight another battle with the Reach, Tywin would have to return to King's Landing as quickly as possible.
He would need to secure Joffrey and Lady Olenna and make preparations accordingly.
'If Tarly's information is accurate, King's Landing has the Gold Cloaks, along with six or seven thousand surviving soldiers from Tywin's army.'
'Taking the city won't be easy. On top of that, they can still escape by sea.'
'Hmm... We need a way to open the gates.'
Galon's eyes flashed. He immediately thought of using Jaime to force Tywin into surrender.
He decided to bring Jaime with him to King's Landing tomorrow.
The decision was made.
Night gradually deepened.
Gendry and the others had already drunk themselves unconscious and were sleeping soundly.
Galon cleaned up the mess they had left behind before inspecting the camp one final time.
Only after confirming that everything was in order did he return to his quarters to rest.
The night passed without incident.
The next morning.
The camp at the ford was filled with shouting men and restless horses.
Countless soldiers gathered near the Crossroads, where boats for the river crossing had already been assembled.
Just as Galon was organizing the soldiers for the crossing, the fleeing Tywin finally reached Harrenhal after traveling day and night.
After exchanging only a few hurried words with Tyrion, the two immediately led their remaining forces toward King's Landing.
In the North, Winterfell received news brought by Samwell that Castle Black had fallen.
A raven spread its wings and flew toward the Riverlands.
Ten days later.
Brynden at Riverrun received the letter from the North.
He immediately sent a messenger toward King's Landing to inform Galon.
And at this very moment...
Galon was encamped beneath the walls of King's Landing. And there, he encountered someone he never expected to see.
Asha Greyjoy.
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