Chapter 100: Opposition Invalid

Originally, the Dreadfort, the Rills, and Barrowton had agreed to take the opportunity of celebrating Domeric's name day to gather at Winterfell and protest the Winterfell Salt Ban to Eddard.

The absence of Lord Roderick Ryswell of the Rills clearly disrupted the plans of Roose Bolton and Lady Barbrey.

The representative sent by the Rills to Winterfell was Rill Ryswell, the second son of Lord Roderick, a man of little influence.

In the study at Winterfell, Eddard said to Lady Barbrey and Roose Bolton across the table: "I know that the Dreadfort and Barrowton both have many minor lords who collude with smugglers and use the salt depots to cheat Winterfell out of money. My Master of Coin, Klar, tells me that in just a few months, Winterfell has spent thousands of Gold Dragons to repurchase salt from the salt depots; such a large sum of money has undoubtedly fallen into the pockets of those smugglers and greedy lords."

"I punish smugglers severely, confiscate their wealth, and exile them to the Wall to serve. Many of the common people have demanded that I strictly investigate the lords who collude with smugglers, and it is only out of consideration for you that I have not pursued it. If you pull up a radish, the dirt comes with it; if I were to investigate strictly, do you dare guarantee that the people of Bolton House and Dustin House are all innocent?"

Lady Barbrey and Roose Bolton exchanged uneasy glances.

Eddard raised his voice, "If you continue to defy my will and oppose the Winterfell Salt Ban, then I will have no choice but to strictly investigate the Dreadfort and Barrowton to see exactly how much money you have embezzled from the salt depot smuggling."

"This is a policy my brother Brandon thought of back in the day, with the goal of uniting the North. I will not compromise with you just because you are leading the opposition."

The name of Brandon had an effect. Lady Barbrey smoothed her cloak with her fair hands, "Lord Eddard, since the Salt Ban is Brandon's policy—and he was my first love—I will not oppose it."

Lord Wyman of White Harbor supported the Salt Ban, Lord Roderick Ryswell of the Rills was absent, and Lady Barbrey announced her acceptance of the Salt Ban. Now Roose Bolton understood that relying solely on the power of the Dreadfort to oppose the Salt Ban was impossible.

"Duke Eddard, since so many vassals have accepted it, I can only accept the Salt Ban," Roose Bolton said helplessly. "However, I still worry that this will harm the interests of the Dreadfort and the common people."

Eddard touched the Ice-River Wolf Emblem on his chest, "I swear by the honor of House Stark and by the gods that Winterfell will never use salt to exploit the property of its vassals and commoners. In fact, I have already promised in my letters that vassals do not need to invest another Copper Coin into the salt depots or salt pans. House Stark guarantees that vassals can eat free salt forever, while also being able to share in the profits of the salt depots."

Of course, how much they get to share is up to Winterfell. Roose Bolton nodded resignedly and stood up: "I will go spend more time with my son Domeric; Lord Eddard, please allow me to take my leave."

Lady Barbrey also left, leaving only Lord Wyman and Eddard in the study.

The Dreadfort, Barrowton, and White Harbor—the most powerful vassals in the North—had all accepted Eddard's Salt Ban. From now on, House Stark of Winterfell could firmly control the production and management of salt in the North, controlling the dining tables of both nobles and commoners, and through this, Eddard strengthened his control over the North. In the future, Eddard would process Fine Salt and earn vast wealth.

Lord Wyman's large belly wobbled violently like pudding. After the door closed, he said softly: "Lord Eddard, Roose Bolton united with the Rills and Barrowton to oppose your Salt Ban; such a person cannot be trusted! In fact, a few days ago, Roose Bolton even sent people to White Harbor hoping to reconcile with me and oppose the Salt Ban together, but I sternly refused. For the sake of profit, there is nothing Roose Bolton wouldn't do."

Eddard reached out and grasped Lord Wyman's hand, "Lord Wyman, you supported me at a critical moment, and I will not forget it."

Lord Wyman smiled, "Lord Eddard, the salt from the Dreadfort salt depots is all settled in White Harbor. The Dreadfort salt depots could not possibly produce so much salt; Roose Bolton collected too much salt from the common folk and mixed it into the salt depot salt to defraud money. If Lord Eddard needs evidence, I can provide it."

"Let this matter end here." With Winterfell now mastering the production and management rights of salt in the North, Eddard did not intend to pursue the matter of noble vassals using the salt depots to defraud money. Eddard said, "Roose Bolton claimed that you used the White Harbor customs to smuggle outside salt into the North; I don't believe a word of it. However, White Harbor has indeed caught many smugglers, hasn't it?"

Lord Wyman nodded solemnly, "The dungeons of the Wolf's Den have already captured over a hundred people. We confiscated their property, which amounts to nearly a thousand Gold Dragons. I will hand this money over to Winterfell without missing a single coin. Lord Eddard, the smugglers colluded with customs officials to transport salt from the Vale and the Three Sisters to White Harbor. We of Manderly are innocent."

Eddard was somewhat angry, "Are these harbor officials really so arrogant?"

Lord Wyman said helplessly: "They are all customs officials sent from King's Landing."

People from King's Landing—in other words, people belonging to Littlefinger.

Littlefinger, Petyr Baelish, once served as a ward to Duke Hoster Tully at Riverrun. He grew up with Catelyn, Lysa, Edmure, and other members of the Tully family, and their relationship was close. Petyr Baelish was a suitor of Catelyn, and back then, he did not hesitate to challenge Brandon Stark to a duel to woo her.

Now, Littlefinger, under the promotion of Jon Arryn, serves as the Master of Coin in King's Landing. His professional ability is outstanding; in just a few years, he has filled the customs offices of the Arbor, Oldtown, White Harbor, Gulltown, King's Landing, Duskendale, Maidenpool, Dragonstone, Driftmark, and other places with his own people. Littlefinger will undoubtedly use these customs personnel to frantically amass wealth and line his own pockets.

Eddard felt nothing but utter disgust for this sinister and cunning fellow. Littlefinger was like a Sea Monster, extending his tentacles toward the mouth of the North—White Harbor—and cultivating his own forces in the White Harbor customs. Eddard decided to eradicate him firmly.

Eddard calculated in his heart and said to Lord Wyman: "Now that the White Harbor customs officials are using Winterfell's salt depot policy to resell illicit salt in the North, I must punish them severely. Lord Wyman, after you return, arrest these customs officials and replace them with people from Winterfell and White Harbor to take control of the customs."

Lord Wyman was somewhat surprised, "Lord Eddard, the White Harbor customs personnel were all sent by King's Landing. If they are arrested, and in case King Robert or Prime Minister Jon Arryn asks..."

"Rest assured, I will write to King Robert and Prime Minister Jon Arryn to explain."

Eddard believed that when Littlefinger received the news that the White Harbor customs officials had been arrested, he would certainly protest to Jon Arryn and Robert at the Small Council. However, Eddard's personal friendship with Robert and Jon Arryn was far deeper than anything Littlefinger could compare to.

Robert spent his days singing and dancing in brothels and would not care at all about the arrest of White Harbor customs officials. Even if Jon Arryn wanted to investigate the matter of White Harbor customs, it was a fact that those customs personnel sent by Littlefinger had colluded with smugglers to smuggle salt and commit corruption.

"As long as King's Landing can collect taxes from the White Harbor customs on time, they will not mind a few customs officials being replaced."

Eddard's Salt Ban not only allowed Winterfell to control the salt, but also incidentally wiped out Littlefinger's influence in the White Harbor customs; it could be called killing two birds with one stone.

Thanks to book friend "Li Binjie" for the monthly ticket, thank you for the support!

(End of chapter)