The inheritance system in any region is an important tool for maintaining social stability. For example, the eldest son inherits the political identity and sacrificial rights, and the other sons share the property with the eldest son.
Obviously, this kind of system will make the family strength weaken a lot during the transition period, or even collapse, thereby strengthening the authority of the government, the emperor, etc.
Since the ancient times, the lords of Westeros have tried their best to avoid the situation where the second son or youngest son comes to divide the family assets and territory and is taken advantage of by rival families. Therefore, one heir usually gets all the family resources.
When the Andals came across the Narrow Sea with their faith in the Seven Stars and iron weapons in hand, the Andal inheritance method in which the eldest son takes all began to become popular in Westeros. Quite a few families of the ancestors were affected by this.
Begin to lower the eldest daughter's line of succession.
The Dorne region joined by the Rhoynar were not affected by this, and they still retained the inheritance method without distinction between the eldest daughter and the eldest son.
But no matter in Dorne, the five central countries, or in the north, the second sons can't get family resources. They can only lose their status as backup heirs after the birth of the eldest brother's child, and are kicked out of the family to survive alone.
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Of course, the second sons of the great nobles do not have to be so embarrassed. Their families can provide positions to the second sons who have received aristocratic military training so that they can continue to serve the family. However, Westeros only has six hundred non-repeated noble surnames.
There are only fifty or sixty big noble families, and the remaining second sons of the family can only go out to work as wandering knights or mercenaries.
A slightly wealthier and more generous family can give their second sons a suit of iron armor and even a war horse, while a less wealthy or more iron-blooded family will simply kick them out without even decent clothes.
Jules Bracken is a less standard example, because his martial arts are not worthy of his status as an armed nobleman, but his rich wandering experience is worthy of any second son.
The nobles are like this, but the second sons of wealthy knight families are even more cruel. They are born to fight and fight for the superior lords.
But fortunately, the second son of a wealthy knight will not threaten the inheritance rights of the eldest son, so he usually does not need to travel too far from his place of birth and can just find a position in the guard team of a nearby lord.
For example, Sandor Clegane, the hound, joined the Lannister family's army after his brother inherited the family fortune from the Mountain. He achieved great success at the age of fourteen in the Usurper's War, and was therefore recognized by Tywin.
The Duke was sent as Cersei's bodyguard, and was later assigned by Cersei to her eldest son, Prince Joffrey, as her personal bodyguard.
"The second sons, youngest sons, and illegitimate sons of small families and wealthy knights often have good military training, but because of conflicts with the eldest son's inheritance rights, they are kicked out of the family and go to the Eastern Continent to work as mercenaries. They spend their entire lives away from their hometown and relatives, living in a different country.
It is difficult to survive under the hands of the people of the city-state with strange customs. As a king, I cannot stand this cold-blooded and ruthless tradition."
Arthur first expressed his regret for his second son and his illegitimate son wandering around, and then changed the subject and emphasized that incorporating the second sons into the royal standing army would be a win-win situation for both parties.
"So the second sons over the age of fifteen, the illegitimate sons of nobles, must come to King's Landing to join the royal standing army in accordance with the kingdom's laws. The Iron Throne will generously provide them with salary and officer positions, as well as the opportunity to advance to the territory based on military merit.
"
"Of course, some second sons are still the heirs of their elder brothers. The royal army will consider this situation and provide these people with easier civilian or logistical positions."
"This bill will be implemented from next month, which is the first month of the 300th year of Aegon's conquest. Let's name it the 300-Year Second Son Act!"
Arthur explained the details of the second son's bill one by one, and the expressions of the courtiers also changed accordingly. The most obvious change was that of the little devil.
The new Duke Lannister is obviously wise enough. The king's move will definitely attract a large number of outstanding warriors who received military training from childhood but were low in the line of succession.
The strengthening of the king's power meant the reduction of the lord's power.
Lord Redwyne, who has just put on the badge of the king, does not have Tyrion's wisdom. He only cares about one thing:
"Your Majesty, does my son Hopper also need to abide by this law?"
Whether his son stays in King's Landing or not is secondary. What Paxter is concerned about is that because of this bill, his younger son Hobb has lost some of his freedom.
For example, you cannot control where you want to go.
Sitting on one side of the round table, Prince Oberyn, Tyrion and others looked at the king with their necks crooked, wondering to what extent this bill would be implemented.
In order to win the support of the Redwyne family, Hobb might not be bound by this, Tyrion thought to himself.
But Tyrion was disappointed.
The king made an unequivocal announcement: "As Hand of the King and Prime Minister of the Royal Council, Lord Paxter must take the lead in setting an example. Your second son, Hob Redwine, must join the royal standing army."
Earl Paxter's face was uncertain, and he couldn't tell whether this was good or bad.
Arthur noticed this and gave him some comfort: "But don't worry, as a member of the top nobility, Hobo will naturally not be as strictly required as members of small families. He only needs to express his stance to join, and the follow-up will be as follows:
In the name of protecting his cousin Queen Margaery, Sir Hopper is allowed to stay in the Red Keep."
After hearing this arrangement, Paxter finally felt relieved.
"You are really a wise king!" After his own interests are protected, Earl Redwin will never be stingy with his compliments.
He has established his eldest son, the terrifying Sir Horace, as his heir, so Hopper's mission is to consolidate the family's various rights and interests.
As the queen's cousin, Hobo is the most suitable choice to stay in the Red Keep. Firstly, he can consolidate his relationship with the Tyrell family. Secondly, he can become familiar with the royal family and lay the foundation for his smooth entry into the Royal Council when he is older.
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Tyrion raised the inseparable wine glass in his hand and casually echoed: "Cheers to the wise Arthur I!"
The king glanced at him sideways, feeling that the Lannister Lord wanted to take the opportunity to drink more than he wanted to flatter him.
The matter of the Second Son Act came to an end, and War Minister Aenys took the lead in talking about the war in the Stormlands.
"Your Majesty, Count Matus' advance is a bit slow. His military camp has only reached the edge of the territory directly under Storm's End, and there is no sign of going south to siege the castle. The big families in the northern part of the Stormlands, such as Hay Hall,
Bronze Gate City, Fort Felwood and other places did not send soldiers to participate in the war."
Countess Sheila Errol of Hay Hall, Lord Heywood Fell of Felwood Castle (also translated as Wooden City), Earl Ralph Buckler of Bronzegate City and others, as well as the Lord of Dusk Advent Hall, Dusk
Star Selwyn Tarth basically supports Renly first and then turns to Stannis.
After the death of Stannis, these people returned to the Iron Throne, that is, Arthur I, who has "orthodox" Targaryen blood. The northern families of the Stormlands basically swore an oath before and after the wedding of the king and Queen Margaery, but
It seems that they don't support going south to attack the Golden Company.
The more stringent Earl Randyll Tarly expressed his opinion, "Your Majesty, I suggest that you directly send an envoy from the Iron Throne to sternly warn these families that if they do not send troops south, after we have eliminated the Golden Company, we will lead our troops to
They charge shield money."
Arthur pondered that the shield money in Landao's mouth was slightly different from the "shield money" in England in his previous life.
The shield money in Count Tully's mouth is the protection fee collected by the Iron Throne. According to the oath sworn by the lower-level lord when he is loyal to the upper-level lord, the main military interaction between the two sides is that when the upper-level lord is summoned, the lower-level lord has to lead the army to fight; when the lower-level lord is in trouble,
The superior lord has to step in to solve the problem or lead troops to help.
The ancient British shield money was used to exempt the king from the forty-day military service, allowing knights who were unable to participate in the war to spend money to exempt themselves from the length of service.
This reminded Arthur that in the future, if the second son of a wealthy family does not want to join the royal standing army, he can use money to reduce the cost of service.
It is also a way to increase income.
"A reasonable proposal. These families must either send troops or provide food. Anyway, it cannot be the same as now." Arthur looked around and asked, "Do you have any suitable candidates to go to the northern part of the Stormlands?"
The commander of the garrison, Tristan Legge, who was basically silent, cleared his throat, and then suggested: "Your Majesty, Queen Sansa's bodyguard, Brienne of Tarth is the most suitable choice. She is the only one in the Evening Star."
My child, the Tarth family’s influence in the Stormlands is not low.”
The successive governors of the Tars family are called Evening Stars.
Tyrion also agreed with this proposal, "Yes, Your Majesty. As far as I know, Selwyn and Brienne are of Targaryen blood, so they are perfect representatives of the Iron Throne."
Marquis Aenys Frey, who didn't read much, was obviously a little surprised. He widened his brown eyes and asked, "When did the Tarth family also have true dragon blood?"
This is also the doubt of the other semi-literate nobles.
Prince Oberyn, the only scholar in the royal council, answered this question, "During the time of Aegon V, there was a Targaryen princess who married into the Tarth family in the Hall of Evening. I remember that this princess was Aegon V.
Daughter of his eldest sister, Daenerys Targaryen."
Danila was once engaged to Aegon V, but after Aegon V traveled half of the Seven Kingdoms with the legendary knight Duncan the Tall, he fell in love freely with Bess Blackwood, so Danila married an unknown person.
character (most likely tall Duncan).
The Red Viper himself has Targaryen blood, and has read a lot of books, so he can say something about these twists and turns of relatives.
The king was also surprised by this remote and unpopular blood relationship, "That's Brienne. When she succeeds in getting the Stormland family to provide food and troops this time, I will specially order to have a knight with a very good reputation seal her."
For a true knight."
Arthur himself was not a knight, so he could not make others knights. Even if he was made a knight by force, other knights would not recognize it.
The royal meeting continued. Regarding the fact that Matus sent someone to remind Landao that there might be a problem, the king has not yet decided how to deal with it, but before he leads his army south, he will definitely find excuses to eliminate all unstable factors.
…
The Reach, Oldtown.
Even though it has been many months into late autumn, the green land is still full of harvest scenes, especially in the bustling old town.
As the sun rises, the morning fog begins to disperse, and the second largest city and largest port in Westeros begins to glow with vitality.
Farmers drove oxcarts to transport crops that were redundant and could not be stored for a long time to the city in exchange for a few spare coins. Vendors carried burdens and hawked along the mead river that passed through the old town. Monks and bachelors held their heads high.
Apprentices walked through the crowd from time to time, heading to the Starry Cathedral or the Academy from the courtyard or tavern. Wealthy merchants and sailors from major trading ports carried their wallets in the streets and alleys looking for the services they wanted.
The long winter is coming, but Old Town is like a knight taking off his armor, showing off his impressive achievements in the long summer to anyone who comes here.
The war has been going on for almost a year, but it has not been affected much here. The only thing that can show the elements of the war is the large iron chain across the mouth of the Mead River.
The iron cable crossing the river is one of the main means for Westeros to deal with the enemy's attack from Shanghai. King's Landing, hundreds of miles away, also built a winch tower to lock the Blackwater River when necessary.
The freckle-faced Pate glanced coldly at the Hengjiang iron chain shining with metallic luster in the early morning sun and the towering tower standing at the mouth of the Mead River, and then staggered towards the school city with the remaining energy of the cider.
And go.
In the night that just passed, he and several apprentices he knew drank the last half of the night at the "Quill Wine Bottle" on a small island in the Mead River.
He went to this tavern that had existed for six hundred years to fulfill an agreement with the alchemist, so that he could exchange old Dr. Wargrave's key for a golden dragon.
"Exchange the black iron for the golden dragon, exchange the black iron for the golden dragon..." The parrot's voice sounded, and when it reached the guilty ears of Pate, it automatically turned into this sentence.
His purpose for asking for the golden dragon is also very simple. As long as he has a golden dragon, he can get the first night of the youngest maid of the "Quill Wine Bottle", Rosie.
That was Rosie, the Rosie who could let him play with her tender feet.
Pat fantasized about the beautiful life he would have when he elopes with Rosie, "A donkey can carry us both."
But he didn't notice that he bumped into someone.
"Good morning, Pate!" the person who was hit took the initiative to say hello.
Pate, who was sorting out the mud on his only robe, raised his head and saw a tall figure wearing a brown hooded cloak.
Although the sunlight in front of him prevented him from seeing the person's face clearly, the voice allowed him to recognize that this was the "alchemist".
"You broke your appointment!" Pate was a little angry, but he didn't dare to show his anger in his tone of voice.
After all, he still needs this golden dragon.
"I got there early. I just saw you partying with your companions, so I didn't bother you."
The former "Jia Kun", now the alchemist, stared at Pate with a casual but firm look. Without waiting for the apprentice to speak, he turned and walked towards the deep alley beside him.
Pate, who was anxious to use the golden dragon, had no choice but to follow.
If he misses this time, he will never have any chance to get a real golden dragon. And Rosie's flowering period is approaching, and there is another apprentice that Pate hates. Leo Tyrell also claims to take down Rosie's
First night.
The two of them walked into the deepest part of the alley, one behind the other.
"Here is the key, where is the golden dragon?"
After all, Pate, who was still eager to get the golden dragon, couldn't hold his breath and broke the silence between the two first.
The alchemist who took off his hood reached into the money bag at his waist, took out the largest coin, and then threw it to the apprentice who was watching eagerly.
Pat caught the gold coin that crossed a perfect curve, "This is not theft, this is just exchange, exchanging black iron for gold."
He comforted himself with poor excuses, and then began to identify the authenticity of the gold dragon coins.
Like all gold dragon coins in Westeros, this gold coin also has three dragon crests printed on one side and the upper body of a tall and handsome Targaryen king on the other side.
Among the existing gold dragon coins, the ones with the upper body pattern of Jaehaerys I, who reigned the longest, are the most numerous, while those of other kings are much less.
Although Pate had seen the portraits of all the Targaryen kings, he could not figure out whose upper body portrait was printed on the golden dragon coin in his hand.
Of course, Pate would not know that the owner of this portrait, Daemon I Blackfyre, had never sat on the Iron Throne.
The coin in his hand is the commemorative currency issued by the Golden Company on the continent of Essos.
Feeling that the alchemist was staring at him again, in order to pretend to be very experienced, Pate had no choice but to learn how other people identified gold coins, put it into his mouth, and took a hard bite with his big teeth.
When I took out the gold coin, there was indeed a bite mark.
"Real gold coins!" The golden dragon was obtained, but Pate suddenly hesitated, "Are you going to steal the book?"
Old Dr. Wargrave's key opens a crypt that contains some of the last remaining Valyrian scrolls in the world.
"None of your business!" the alchemist said coldly.
After getting the golden dragon coin, Pate just wanted to play with Luo Xi, "Oh, then it's a deal!"
He handed the stolen keys to the man and turned to leave.
But the cobblestone road under my feet suddenly floated, "What's going on, I don't understand."
"You'll never understand," someone replied.
After a few breaths, Pate fell down in the deep alley, and then the alchemist walked over quickly, put the hooded cloak on Pate, and then began to peel off the poor apprentice's face.
Before the early morning fog completely dissipated, the new Pate reappeared on the streets of the old town. He imitated the previous Pate's shaking movements after drinking cider, and slowly moved towards the large building complex in the school city.
"New Pate", who has been exploring the city for two months, is far more familiar with the place than the previous owner of this face. He entered the residence of old Dr. Wargrave with ease.
The old doctor was elected as the general manager of the school this year, but due to his old age, a middle-aged doctor named Theobald was appointed as the general manager.
New Pat quietly approached the door of the old doctor's bedroom and listened to the conversation inside.
"Yes, Marwin is not trustworthy. He is full of magic, which completely violates the ideals of our school." A deep voice said.
"I also support Dr. Ryan. He is a staunch demon-free sect. It is most appropriate for him to go to King's Landing."
The second panting voice was clearly Old Wargrave.
After the people in the bedroom ended their conversation, New Pate quickly left.
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