Chapter 95

Not even young Cassie, barely a man grown and a boy of King’s Landing, could hide his wide-eyed astonishment. And Aegor, who had "served in the army" in another life, found himself equally stunned by the sheer scale of the massive encampment before him.

Compared to this vast assembly of soldiers, Castle Black looked like little more than a modest outpost—though, to be fair, the Night’s Watch truly was meant to be the sentinels of the Seven Kingdoms. Such a stark contrast made sense.

How many men were here? Ten thousand? Twenty thousand? Perhaps fifty or even a hundred thousand?

There’s an old saying: “A thousand men will fill the horizon, ten thousand will block out the sky.” For someone without proper scout training, estimating numbers beyond a certain scale was an impossible task. To the naked eye, the difference between ten thousand and fifty thousand was negligible. This was precisely why rulers of old would often exaggerate troop numbers to intimidate enemies—they could get away with it because it was so hard to tell otherwise.

In truth, Aegor had no idea how many men were gathered here. Still, having learned about the Crownlands’ population and economy from Tyrion, he had a rough estimate of the forces they could muster.

The so-called Crownlands were essentially a directly governed domain, where the Iron Throne itself served as the "duke." This flat expanse of land, south of the Vale, east of the Riverlands, and bordered by the Stormlands and the Reach, had historically been a battleground for neighboring powers. Chaos reigned here until Aegon the Conqueror landed with his dragons, subjugated Westeros, and made this area his foothold and future capital.

Before Aegon’s conquest, this region had a population of less than one hundred thousand. Over three centuries of Targaryen rule, immigration and natural growth transformed it into a fertile and densely populated land, home to King’s Landing, the largest city in Westeros. While the city’s wealth was notable, its sheer population density stood out even more—though, if you removed King’s Landing itself, the remaining Crownlands’ population was barely comparable to the sparsely populated North.

In an era without precise censuses, estimates placed the total population of the Crownlands at around two million. Robert’s current campaign against the Vale was a minor, localized conflict and not a full-scale mobilization. In such cases, rulers would generally avoid disrupting civilian life too much, ensuring the kingdom's continued prosperity after the war. With the productivity of this era, an initial mobilization rate of 0.5% to 1% was typical—between ten thousand and twenty thousand soldiers, not including merchants, laborers, and camp followers. The exact number depended entirely on the ruler’s authority and their control over vassals.

Aegor couldn’t determine the exact number of soldiers here, but he was certain it exceeded ten thousand. To put things in perspective: even when Cersei later descended into madness and frantically conscripted men to defend King’s Landing, she could barely muster a few thousand. This stark difference in response highlighted the very essence of the "rule of man"—where the ruler’s personal authority dictated everything.

“So many people!” Cassie muttered in awe, his wide eyes betraying his youth and inexperience.

Aegor felt the same urge to exclaim but suppressed it. After all, as the Chief Logistics Officer of the Night’s Watch and the boy’s superior, he had to maintain an air of composure. No matter how impressive the sight was, he had to appear calm.

“There are quite a few,” Aegor said nonchalantly. “Let’s see what accommodations the King has arranged for us and how we’re supposed to integrate with the army.”

Cassie, reassured by Aegor’s calm demeanor, instantly felt that his own reaction was childish. Nodding quickly, he spurred his horse to follow Aegor down the hill toward the camp.

If this army marched north to the Wall, they could obliterate the tens of thousands of wildlings beyond it, leaving them unrecognizable. Yet here they were, marching to the Vale to rescue a madwoman accused of murdering her husband. All because she was born a Tully, the mother and guardian of the current Lord of the Eyrie.

...

On the road, Aegor had privately mocked Robert’s plans—thinking about how the King was already fantasizing about granting black cloaks to traitorous families like the Royces after victory. Summoning Aegor, a "Night’s Watchman on campaign," seemed like one of Robert’s drunken whims. But now, seeing this colossal assembly, Aegor understood where Robert’s "mystifying confidence" came from.

Despite his hedonism and utter incompetence as a ruler, Robert’s authority and charisma were undeniably above average. His years of lavish spending and wastefulness had left the Iron Throne drowning in debt, but they also won him unwavering loyalty from middle-tier lords and lesser knights, securing his popularity among them. This "rule by indulgence," where Robert essentially mortgaged the kingdom’s future for stability, was surprisingly effective—whether it was a stroke of drunken luck or hidden wisdom remained a mystery.

Of course, this kind of loyalty, built on gifts and handouts, wasn’t sustainable. But if the one doling out the rewards also consistently won battles, the situation changed. So long as Robert didn’t die or suffer a catastrophic defeat, his authority—however precarious—could ignite a short-term fervor among his forces, rivaling any well-structured army.

And this was just the Crownlands. If the forces of the other six kingdoms joined in, the Vale’s "Alliance of Justice" wouldn’t last beyond a single battle, Bloodgate or not.

...

As Aegor rode deeper into the encampment, he noted the sheer lack of discipline and organization. The army’s cohesion and professionalism were dismal. He’d traveled this far along the King’s Road, yet no one had stopped him, allowing him to ride straight into the heart of the camp. While there were no enemies within hundreds of miles, he couldn’t help but think: what if he were an assassin?

Aegor wondered if, given enough time and directions, he might be able to ride straight to Robert’s tent without being stopped until the Kingsguard intervened. If this era had explosives, assassinating the King would be child’s play.

Finally, he spotted someone he recognized—a nobleman from King’s Landing who had purchased bonds from him. They’d spoken briefly during two meetings, and while the acquaintance was shallow, it was enough to give Aegor an in.

Thankfully, the man hadn’t made a fuss over bond penalties when redeeming them early. At least he wouldn’t pretend not to recognize Aegor now.