Chapter 180: So You're Using This to Test the King?

Red Keep, Small Council Chamber.

Aside from the King, Earl Aurane Waters, Earl Tristan Rivers, Earl Randyll Tarly, and Marquess Innes Frey were discussing matters with Dickon Tarly, who had just returned to King's Landing leading one thousand soldiers of the New Army.

This place was originally the office of the Hand of the King, meaning Mace Tyrell would usually be stationed in the Small Council Chamber.

But after searching the entire Red Keep, Arthur found that he could only handle official business in the Throne Room.

The layout of Maegor's Holdfast was too domestic and was a living area for the royal family, making it inconvenient for those seeking an audience with the King to enter and exit frequently; meanwhile, the Tower of the Hand, which was more suitable for office work, was the residence of the Tyrell family, and it would not be appropriate for the King to go there and find a room to stay in.

Thus, Arthur drove Mace to the meeting hall of the Tower of the Hand to work, and this place became the venue for the King to handle state affairs and meet with vassals.

The reason was simple: Arthur claimed that the King, considering Duke Mace was old and frail and unable to climb the stairs of the Tower of the Hand, permitted him to manage affairs from home.

"... Deep Den is temporarily under the control of Earl Karyl Vance, and Silverhill in the south is held by Ser Saeas Rowan. These two cities and their territories are firmly under our control. The Westerlanders seem prepared to hold the mountainous region west of Hornvale; if we were to attack from the Golden Road, the casualties would be immense."

Dickon reported the situation as he knew it to the King and the gathered great lords.

Tywin had been too ruthless during the Usurper's War, so Kevan also knew that House Lannister and the Westerlanders would not fare well this time, hence their firm stance on resistance.

Previously, both sides had proposed a prisoner exchange, but the Lannisters demanded the return of Jaime, while the Reachmen wanted all their lords and landed knights back; the two sides failed to reach an agreement, so they only exchanged Stafford and his son Daven for Garlan's father-in-law, Earl Bryan Fossoway.

As for the Westerland nobles in Riverrun, they were still locked in the water cells, and the Blackfish was still flying the banner of the King in the North and the Trident; the Tullys did not recognize Arthur as King.

On the Westerlands side, the experienced Kevan did not waste troops trying to retake Deep Den and other locations, but instead dispatched a large number of soldiers to actively construct obstacles and traps along the Golden Road, appearing ready to defend the mountains to the death.

Because he had been recently appointed Master of War, the bald Innes seemed very attentive to the kingdom's military affairs and suggested:

"Perhaps we could have Lord Garlan Tyrell lead a portion of the Reach Army north along the Ocean Road. The southern part of the Westerlands is either plains or forests, which is much easier to attack than the mountains. Once the Westerlands Army defending west of Deep Den turns back to reinforce, our main force can then slowly push in."

Including the four thousand Reach soldiers who had been released, the Riverlands-Reach coalition in the Westerlands salient now numbered seventeen thousand.

In terms of pure troop numbers, the Westerlanders could no longer withstand this army.

But there are always accidents, and being cautious is never wrong.

The semi-bald Lord Randyll was much more experienced than him: "Even if most of the Westerlanders retreat to the vicinity of Casterly Rock, our march along the Golden Road will still not be smooth. I recall Your Majesty once entered the Westerlands via the River Road; although that route is a bit of a detour, it is much safer."

Since Dickon arrived in King's Landing, Earl Tarly had him act alongside himself and had taken back the ancestral sword "Heartsbane."

While these men were discussing the problems of the Westerlands, Arthur I was conferring with several members of the Dragon Party about the royal standing army.

Harrenhal was Queen Sansa's private property, and after she became Arthur's wife, this largest man-made castle in the Seven Kingdoms had become royal territory.

As far as Arthur knew, after Miss Stark lost most of her family, she held everything from the North in high regard.

For instance, regarding Winterfell, on several occasions when the King and Queen exercised their marital rights, Sansa would emphasize that she wanted to manage that castle herself.

But Harrenhal and Riverrun were different; she did not have deep feelings for these two places and allowed her husband to do whatever he wanted with them.

According to Arthur's current plan, he intended to recruit soldiers from the territories of the Riverlands Dragon Party families—such as Willow Wood, Darry, Harrenhal, and Maidenpool—as well as from the Reach families, including the Merryweather family's Longtable, the Rowan family's Goldengrove, and the Oakheart family's Old Oak.

Combat capability and physical fitness were secondary; the primary requirement for this army was loyalty to the King.

As for the number of soldiers, it was tentatively set at eight thousand to ten thousand, with the base being Harrenhal, which was originally built as a military fortress and would serve perfectly as a barracks.

After chatting with Lord Randyll for a while, Marquess Innes joined the conversation between the King and his vassals.

"Your Majesty, is ten thousand too many? Can Harrenhal support this army? The tax revenue from the Crownlands and the north shore of the Gods Eye won't be enough, right!" the bald man asked skeptically.

Earl Tristan Rivers had not expected to be chosen as the Commander of the King's Landing City Watch, nor had he expected to be able to enter the Small Council.

One must know that during the Usurper's War, Duke Hoster, the Riverrun Protector, had sent troops and even his daughter, yet he hadn't even secured a seat on the Small Council.

Lord Rivers' loyalty to Arthur I increased by a few more points because of this.

So he explained for the King: "Since families like the Lannisters, Hightowers, and Tyrells can all possess ten-thousand-strong armies, why can't the King? Could it be that the King of the Seven Kingdoms is inferior to a liege lord, or even inferior to a mere lord of Oldtown?"

The other few favored earls nodded silently; during the Targaryen Dynasty, they had held a slightly higher status than other lords, and since Arthur I returned to the Iron Throne, these Jiaodu clearly felt the King favored their families.

This small-scale meeting was proof of that.

Arthur carefully observed the several great lords present to see to what extent they supported his ideas.

Actions to strengthen royal power had historically been met with opposition from the lords.

Therefore, Arthur was prepared to take it one step at a time: first, establish a standing army, and then, once the dragons grew large enough to fight continuously, bring the several Dragon Party families into the Crownlands to be under direct royal jurisdiction.

This was the arrangement for Westeros; once the territories in Essos were conquered, the King planned to directly administer the lands across the Narrow Sea by turning them into provinces.

"Then it is settled. Once the operations in the Westerlands conclude, I think we can begin this matter. As for the maintenance of the army, it shall be sourced from the mines in the Westerlands."

Gold mines were not only under the name of House Lannister; there were also quite a few in the territories of the now-extinct Red Lion, House Reyne.

At that time, the Jiaodu of House Lannister, Tytos, was quite weak, so House Reyne, along with another earldom, openly defied the orders of their liege lord.

But subsequently, Tywin Lannister led the Lion's army to quickly suppress the rebels and ruthlessly wiped out both houses, completely destroying Castamere and Tarbeck Hall. A singer later composed a song to commemorate this event, called "The Rains of Castamere."

Young people might not be familiar with House Reyne, but the song about their destruction was popular throughout the Seven Kingdoms.

Especially at happy and auspicious weddings, "The Rains of Castamere" could be considered a must-play song.

Whenever lyrics like "And who are you, the proud lord said, that I must bow so low? Only a cat of a different coat, that's all the truth I know... And so he spoke, and so he spoke, that Lord of Castamere..." rang out, the guests knew that trouble was coming.

Either the target was completely wiped out, or the groom was poisoned by the second most potent poison in the Game of Thrones world, the "Strangler."

Back to the point.

As punishment for the Usurper's period, a portion of the Westerlands' mineral resources had to be handed over as compensation to the impoverished royal family.

Arthur I looked around, then extended two index fingers from his clasped hands and pointed at Dickon.

"Lord Dickon shall be responsible for establishing the royal standing army. The army's name is tentatively set as the Kingswood Battalion, and you will be its first Commander."

Dickon, who was as serious as his father, glanced at Earl Tarly, and after seeing him nod in confirmation, he accepted.

Lord Randyll had already sensed that the King was courting his family, and he responded positively to it.

Having his heir serve as the first Commander of the Kingswood Battalion meant that the Tarly family of Horn Hill was completely bound to the royal family; no earl could resist such a temptation.

Thump, thump, thump!

The several great lords were still discussing details when the Hand, Duke Mace, suddenly stomped his way in.

Perhaps to attract attention, the sound of the Pufferfish Lord's stomping was exceptionally loud, and all six people in the Small Council Chamber turned their gazes toward him.

"Your Majesty, one piece of good news and one piece of bad news. Which would you like to hear first?"

The palm-sized Hand of the King badge was pinned to Duke Mace's chest; recently, whether standing or sitting, he kept his chest puffed out to make the badge easier for people to see.

After Arthur I ordered the youngest, Dickon, to pull up a chair for his father-in-law, he said with a resonant voice: "Let's hear the bad news first; I am prepared."

Lord Tyrell sat down gracefully, and after searching the faces of several counts for what he considered to be expressions of envy, he cleared his throat and said:

"The Night's Watch at Castle Black has sent a raven; the Wildlings beyond the Wall have been united by Mance Rayder, and one hundred thousand Wildlings are marching south toward the Wall; the vanguard has already reached the Ghost Forest."

Wildlings is the collective term for the tribes of Free Folk north of the Wall; there are tens of thousands, perhaps even hundreds of thousands, of Free Folk beyond the Wall, divided into hundreds of different cultures, tribes, clans, villages, and raiding parties, some possessing a certain degree of civilization, while others are savage and hostile.

These people call themselves Free Folk to distinguish themselves from the "kneelers" south of the Wall who bow to lords and kings. The Free Folk believe "kneelers" lack freedom, while the people of the Seven Kingdoms believe "Wildlings" are lawless, uncivilized thieves, rapists, and murderers.

The original purpose of the Night's Watch at the Wall was to protect the living and defend against the Others, but apart from an attack by the Others during the time of the thirteenth Lord Commander of the Night's Watch, the army of the dead has never appeared at the foot of the Wall again.

Thus, the Night's Watch began to guard against the Wildlings, making it their primary objective.

Not long after the main story began, the ranging expedition organized by the Old Bear Jeor Mormont was meant to deal with the King Beyond the Wall, Mance Rayder, find the missing ranger Benjen Stark, and search for traces of the Others.

Arthur nodded, indicating he understood.

According to his knowledge of the game of thrones, this Wildling offensive was quite massive, and it would not do to not send a rescue.

Moreover, they had to go quickly, otherwise the Wildlings might really find a way to bring down the Wall.

The King looked at Lord Randyll, "Tell me, how many soldiers should be sent?"

Among the seven people present, he had the highest military literacy and the best eye.

"One hundred thousand... Wildlings..." After pondering for a moment, Count Tarly gave a precise number, "Five thousand well-trained soldiers in Iron Armor will be enough. The seven-hundred-foot Wall is high enough; our soldiers only need to defend."

As War Minister, Innes felt he should also play a role, so he proposed:

"The soldiers should be drawn from the Reach Army stationed in King's Landing; we currently have thirteen thousand men, and sending five thousand will not affect the defense of the capital. As for the commander, I propose the Kingsguard Balon Swann, who has clearly surrendered; he is still a decent commander."

The Reachmen on the south bank of the Blackwater River followed their Jiaodu to support Arthur I, and their home, Stonehelm, was under the threat of the Golden Company, so Balon Swann easily pledged loyalty to the Iron Throne.

Currently, Count Mathis Rowan, one of the two heroes of the Reach, has already gone to the station of this army; he will take over those ten thousand-plus men and specifically command the operations against the Golden Company.

Meanwhile, Balon Swann, along with several great lords of the Stormlands and the red priestess Melisandre, who represents Storm's End in surrendering to the Iron Throne, traveled north to arrive at King's Landing before the King's wedding.

Arthur thought for a moment and said: "Let it be done. Lord Randyll has commanded this Reach Army before, so you shall select the soldiers to reinforce the Night's Watch."

These ten thousand Reachmen are composed of soldiers from the four houses of Merryweather, Tarly, Peake, and Red Apple Fossoway, as well as soldiers from other minor houses; the first two are confirmed Dragon Party families and naturally would not go to the Wall to die in vain, so it is obvious who will be chosen to go.

Count Tarly nodded and accepted the task.

After a signal from Arthur I, Duke Mace began to announce the good news.

"The Conclave of the Citadel has agreed to our proposal; Maester Qyburn has officially had his status restored and will soon become the Maester of Harrenhal. As for the new Grand Maester, the Conclave has also heeded our reasonable advice, and they have selected a Maester Gormon."

There was an irrepressible smile on the face of this new Prime Minister as he continued to introduce:

"After considering and ignoring Maester Quinn, the son of a cobbler, and Maester Aeric, the bastard of a wandering knight, the Conclave chose Maester Gormon to succeed the dismissed Pycelle as the new Grand Maester. I hear he is in the prime of his life, and I trust he will serve the King and the royal family for many years to come."

Arthur looked at him, not knowing where his father-in-law's smile came from, until he caught a glimpse of the strange expressions on a few Reachmen.

"Lord Aurane Waters, is there a problem with this Maester Gormon?"

The Lord of Longtable, called by name, answered awkwardly: "I recall that Maester Gormon Tyrell is Duke Mace's uncle."

Saying this was easy to offend the liege lord of the Reach, so Lord Aurane Waters spoke in a low voice.

But as soon as Arthur heard it, he knew why his father-in-law was so smug.

Mace's father-in-law, Leyton Hightower, not only agreed to his son-in-law's request but also chose for him the maester who could best represent the interests of House Tyrell.

Arthur looked at Mace and mused: Both are fathers-in-law, why is this blowfish so useless?

Although this made the King dissatisfied, there was nothing to be done about it.

A Tyrell maester was still better than Pycelle, who was loyal to the Lannisters.

The daylight hours passed just like that, and at night, after exercising his marital rights twice in Sansa's room, Arthur returned to the King's bedchamber.

The reason for sleeping in separate rooms was that he was about to have two wives, and Arianne also frequently snuck over for a late-night snack.

But the person sneaking in tonight was not the Princess of Dorne.

As soon as Arthur I walked in, Margaery, wearing a silk nightgown and sitting barefoot on the feather bed, gave him a charming smile.

At this moment, the young lady of Tyrell had her fragrant shoulders half-exposed, and her beautiful collarbones were completely displayed before him.

"You use this to test the King?" Arthur asked in return.

PS: Seeking recommendation tickets and monthly votes.

(End of this chapter)