There is a common rule in Westeros that a lord cannot be the lord of two territories.
Even the king and the royal family generally do not rule large areas outside the royal territory. There are very few territories belonging to the royal family outside the royal territory. Only a few small villages such as Tongfenshu Village in the River Land are registered.
.
Therefore, in order to convince the nobles, Winterfell should be handled tactfully.
Sansa's brother, Rickon Stark, is still in a northern castle near the Shivering Sea. After Winterfell is captured by the Valemen and the North is safe for members of the Stark family, Rickon is sure
Will show up.
But Arthur didn't want this kid to get Winterfell, so he came up with a compromise plan.
"The Knight of the Nine Star City in the Vale, Simon Temperton has Stark blood. In fact, he and Yohn Royce, the late husband of Lady Anya Waywood, are your only Duke Rickard Stark.
The closest relative outside of offspring.”
The king first revealed to his foolish wife her relationship with Sir Simon Temperton.
"I have met this old knight, and I have a pretty good impression. Moreover, he only has the title of knight, and will never claim the inheritance rights of the family names and territories of top nobles like the Stark family. He will be in charge of Winterfell on your behalf.
It’s the most suitable choice.”
After Arthur and Margaery's wedding, some rumors spread to the king's ears.
Someone is testing whether the ministers of the royal council and the king support the Royce family and the Waynwood family to inherit Winterfell and the Warden of the North.
But how could Arthur agree?
The Stark family is the top noble family, and in layman's terms, they are one of the three great emperors of Westeros.
Use Sansa's identity as the only surviving Stark mainline to first lock down the Duke of Winterfell, wait until Rickon shows up, and then seal him to the Dreadfort, which has no owner. This is Arthur's
Intend.
Sansa listened to her husband's words very seriously, and then asked: "When one of our sons reaches adulthood, he can inherit the North, right?"
She was very satisfied with this arrangement.
"That's right." Arthur gave an affirmative reply. "According to tradition, when he inherits Winterfell, he will change his surname to Stark so that this ancient bloodline can be passed on."
Theoretically speaking, except for newly promoted families, basically all noble families can trace their origins back thousands of years.
"You are truly a qualified husband and father!" Sansa combed her maroon hair, then sat up and gave Arthur a sweet kiss who was sitting beside the big feather bed.
The king gently stroked her pregnant belly a few times. She was already several months pregnant.
"Pack on more clothes when it gets cold...let your Harrenhal maids be smarter...only let familiar people into your room..."
In a rare moment of tenderness, Arthur whispered a few words of caution.
Sansa agreed one by one, and then said casually: "Actually, the maids can't do much. You know, there are ladies and noble ladies around me, and they do most of the things."
After the wedding of Arthur and Margaery, most of the ladies and ladies returned to their territories, but many stayed in the Red Keep and King's Landing.
Among them were Margaery's aunt, Jaina Tyrell, Lady of Blackcrown City, Alexa Bulwer, Arlan Tyrell, Menedith Crane, and seven or eight others.
These people are nominally the female companions of Queen Margaery, but in fact they are equivalent to maids who can talk to the queen when they are around her.
The distance between the northern castles is too long, so there is no habit of holding gatherings in the lord's castle as often as in the Reach, and Sansa does not use her female companions as maids.
But after the Riverbend people brought their traditions to King's Landing, the influenced Queen Stark soon did the same.
After all, she didn't want to bow her head in front of Margaery.
"By the way, what happened to that Miss Riverbend? She is from the Red Lake Klein family, right? How come she got mixed up with the people from the Riverbend?"
Arthur thought of Menedith among the group of female companions he saw earlier, and asked this question.
"Why, can't I establish a deep friendship with a lady from the Reach?" Sansa did not answer directly.
His wife's appropriate stupidity left Arthur speechless, and he decided to ask Brienne, who served as a bodyguard, to keep an eye on the Reachers.
It is essential to be on guard against others.
The two chatted for a long time, and Sansa, who became stupid after entering her pregnancy, finally remembered another more important thing.
"What do you think of Dickon Tarly? I want to find a fiancé for Miss Elano Mouton who is worthy of her status as the eldest daughter of the Lord of Maidenpool."
Elano is the eldest daughter of Earl William Mouton. At the age of thirteen or fourteen, she has indeed reached the age to discuss marriage.
Arthur thought about this proposal and thought it was feasible.
He has decided to support the Tully family and the Tyrell family in the conflict in the hinterland of the Riverbend. The Mouton family has always supported the Targaryen family, so it is a wiser choice to bring the Tully family into this marriage circle.
"Yes, William Mouton is loyal enough, and her daughter deserves to be the heir son of the Minister of Justice."
The king agreed to this matter, and as for the subsequent development, it was left to the two married women around Sansa to contact and promote it.
After comforting Sansa, Arthur returned to the king's bedroom on the third floor to rest.
This is the largest room in Maegor's House. Two independent fireplaces are burning brightly. As expected, the feather bed that can accommodate seven or eight people lying side by side is already occupied.
"You're such a busy king!" Arianne Martell, lying on the bed, complained coquettishly.
"Of course, I not only have to worry about the kingdom's affairs, but also the woman I love."
Arthur took off his robe and began a new night of battle.
…
Red Fort, Traitor's Corridor.
Before the Royal Council was held on the new day, Tristan Legge, the commander of the King's Landing Guard, suddenly found the king and claimed that there was someone more important that the king needed to meet in person.
"He first called himself Ser Parmen Crane, and then admitted that he was just a young knight of the Reach, but he had a message from Lord Matus Rowan that he wanted to personally convey to His Majesty."
In the dark corridor leading to the red envelope dungeon, Tristan, holding a torch, introduced it this way.
Originally, Tristan did not want to trouble the king with such a trivial matter, but Yuri Urmis, who was caught by the garrison soldiers, insisted that his matter was very important, and pointed out very clearly that the king had his own lord, Count Rowan.
The Valyrian dagger given as a gift to verify his identity.
Tristan had only heard that the king had such a dagger, but had not actually seen it, so he took the matter seriously and asked the king to deal with it.
"You have to prioritize things. If I have to do every little thing personally, then I will be busy to death?"
Arthur was a little dissatisfied with this. He was about to arrange some important matters at today's royal meeting. But Matus was in charge of the ten thousand troops in the river bend in the south. If he really sent someone to report something to the king, the king would not
So neglected.
"The main thing is that he accurately told you about your dagger. I think what he said next should be the truth."
Tristan led the king to his destination, and then pointed out Yuri to the king who was beaten black and blue.
Although his facial features were so beaten that it was hard to identify, Arthur still recognized that this person was indeed the knight beside Matus.
"What do you want to tell me, Matus?" The king looked condescendingly at the fallen knight whose hands and feet were shackled.
"Your Majesty, can you please ask this gentleman to go out first? Lord Matus said that this matter is very important and I must tell you alone." Yuri said hurriedly when he saw that the king really appeared in front of him.
"No need, Lord Tristan is a person I trust very much. You can say it with confidence."
Arthur waved his hand and asked the man to speak quickly.
Seeing this, Yuri had no choice but to pass Matus' message to the king honestly.
"My lord asked me to report to Your Majesty that the intelligence dealer Varys the Eight-clawed Spider is not dead. He is still alive and active in King's Landing, connecting allies with the Golden Company and Little Aegon..."
Yuri told the king the complete story.
It turned out that the Riverside Army led by Matus captured several Little Birds and Golden Company sergeants from King's Landing. Earl Rowan personally worked to pry out the purpose of their southward journey from the captives:
Get next steps from Aegon Jr. and Harry Strickland, leader of the Golden Company.
"Spider's activities have been fruitful, and one of the courtiers is willing to cooperate. These are the exact words of those little birds. My lord speculates that the eunuch Varys has contacted a certain member of the Royal Council and is preparing to go south to fight after you leave King's Landing.
Making trouble in the process." Yuri added.
This information surprised Arthur a little, but at the same time, he was glad that this trip was not in vain.
"Who are the members of the Imperial Council? Did Matus ask who it is?"
asked the king.
"My lord guessed that it was Count Landau Tully." Yuri was very honest and directly let Count Rowan express his thoughts. "He felt that Varys would probably use Brightwater City and half of the territory as a promise to let Lord Landao
Certain agreements have been reached with the Golden Company."
Arthur nodded, "It's very reasonable, I will consider this possibility."
In the Imperial Council, there were only a few people from the River Bend who could be related to the Golden Company.
This is because the main senior officers of the Golden Company are descendants of nobles who were exiled during the Blackfire Rebellion, and these people are more or less related to the nobles of the Reach.
After receiving the information, the king turned to leave, but heard Yuri's last words:
"Your Majesty, my lord said that if you lead your army south as soon as possible to defeat Little Aegon and the Golden Company, any conspiracy will be nothing more than a moon in the water."
These words made Arthur very excited. If he could defeat the Golden Company quickly, or even drive them out of the Stormlands without defeating them, his rule would be greatly stabilized.
After leaving the dungeon, the king and the attendants waiting outside returned to the meeting hall.
Tristan Ryge heard the entire conversation, but he remained calm during the royal council meeting with Randyll Tarly in attendance.
When all the attendees were present, Paxter Redwin, who wore the King's Hand emblem on his chest, first recommended the successor to the Sea Lord to the King.
"Your Majesty, Baelor Hightower of House Hightower is wise and intelligent, and he has performed very well in dealing with the Ironborn. I think it is a very good choice for him to serve as Sea Lord."
The lord of the Arbor Island recommended the heir to Hightower, one of the three great families in the Reach.
"Is it the Laughing Baelor? I think it's okay. We can start sending ravens to invite this knight to come to King's Landing." Arthur, who was sitting in the main seat, was smiling, as if he was very satisfied with this proposal.
In fact, the king is indeed very satisfied. Membership of the Royal Council does not necessarily mean power. Just like the Mad King took James as a member of the Kingsguard in order to use him as a hostage, as long as Baelor Hightower comes to King's Landing, he can also have it.
The identity of the hostage.
Paxter smiled and flattered Arthur I that he was a wise king, and then the royal council began to formally discuss the matters to be dealt with today.
"The war in the south is the most urgent matter right now. I propose to gather another army and set off from the Reach to attack the Golden Company and Little Aegon from both sides with Count Matus' army."
Minister of War Inis made a small display of his presence.
The other members of the Royal Council had no objection to this, and Arthur also felt that this should be the case.
"Then let Ser Loras Tyrell lead some people and recruit an army of about 10,000 to 15,000 people in the east of the River Bend in my name, preparing to attack the Golden Company huddled in the south of the Stormlands.
"
The king ordered.
The war potential of the Reach is large enough. The standing army and levied troops can be mobilized to the maximum extent. The number of soldiers that can be mobilized is between 100,000 and 120,000. In addition, after a long summer, the population has increased a lot, and it can summon
More soldiers will come.
The Knight of Flowers, who had already put on his white robe, was quickly called to the meeting hall. After listening to the king's order, Loras, who had curly hair on his head, immediately pulled out his sword and knelt down on one knee:
"I will definitely rush to Storm's End Castle with the troops requested by Your Majesty, and work side by side with Your Majesty to defeat the Golden Company and the rebellious Little Aegon."
Apart from the label of being gay, the Knight of Flowers is kind and righteous, and does not have much of a philandering streak. He is considered a very useful member of the Tyrell family.
After Loras left with the parchment with the three dragon crests printed on it, the royal meeting continued.
"The war in the south must advance, the construction of the royal territory must also proceed, and it is time for the royal standing army to take the stage."
Arthur looked around at the courtiers and slowly stated his plan.
"Previously, in terms of compensation for the Western Territory, I asked for 10,000 sets of armor as punishment for rebellion. My Lord Lannister, you can have someone go to Steel Street to build some samples."
The king said to Tyrion, who was holding a wine glass.
"No problem, there are a lot of iron ore in the western region."
The Iron Throne has recognized his status as the Duke of Casterly Rock. Tyrion has been very happy recently. The compensation from a batch of iron armors will be divided among the major families with mines in the West.
"As for our Minister of Intelligence, Prince Oberyn, you have to take people to recruit troops for me. Starting from Maiden Spring, we will go all the way along the Lake of the God's Eye to select farmers who are strong and loyal to the Iron Throne."
Red Viper has worked as a mercenary in the Essos continent for several years, and even formed a mercenary group of his own. He has rich experience and is quite suitable for this kind of thing.
Oberyn, who crossed his arms on his chest, nodded slightly. He took status and power very lightly, and did not think that conscription was not worthy of his status as a prince.
"Your Majesty, I have a question. Ordinary soldiers can be chosen, but who will serve as officers and generals? You can't choose from peasants who don't know anything, right?"
Lord Randyll Tarly expressed his doubts at the right time.
"You don't have to worry about this, there is a ready-made solution."
Arthur smiled confidently and said calmly: "I have a plan called the Second Son Act, which perfectly solves this problem."
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