Chapter 133: Rockborn and the Ocean Project

The collusion between the Rock King Samlo Crowl and the King-Beyond-the-Wall Mance Rayder is the most realistic threat to the North.

Whether it is Samlo Crowl or Mance Rayder, they are both ambitious, highly charismatic, and capable, and they hold great prestige within their respective groups.

Just as Maester Luwin said, once the wildling forces of the King-Beyond-the-Wall Mance Rayder infiltrate Skagos, there is no guarantee that the Rockborn clans who surrendered to Winterfell in the past will not follow the Rock King again and raise the banner of rebellion.

In the study, Eddard pondered this problem and told Maester Luwin, "Eastwatch and Green Guard both have our Winterfell soldiers, and the longships of Winterfell and the Night's Watch control Seal Bay. Winterfell's longships go out to sea every day to fish and patrol, so even smugglers with fast ships find it difficult to complete a crossing in the nearby waters."

"As for the wildlings, they lack the technology and tools for shipbuilding. The wildling smugglers in Seal Bay can only make canoes and rafts; relying on such boats, they clearly cannot contend with the longships of Eastwatch. Facing the vast ocean, Mance Rayder can only be at his wit's end."

Maester Luwin nodded heavily, "Even if Mance Rayder cannot smuggle a large number of wildlings to Skagos, the Rock King has been roaming Skagos for a long time, and there is no guarantee that the Rock King cannot turn one or two Rockborn tribes. Each Rockborn tribe has sent wards to Winterfell as hostages, but in the face of interests, hostages may not necessarily be effective."

Eddard spread out a map of Skagos, and the island's topography was laid bare; this was the largest island in the North, with an area five times that of Bear Island, and even the subsidiary islands to the east were no smaller than Bear Island.

"Skagos has too little arable land, and when winter comes, the lives of the Rockborn will be even more difficult. How about this: the Rockborn are brave and skilled in battle, so I intend to recruit thousands of warriors from the Rockborn tribes and relocate them to the territory of Winterfell. They will farm and train in peacetime, and follow us to war in wartime."

Maester Luwin smiled, "Lord Eddard, this is a brilliant strategy! In this way, Winterfell recruits the elite of the Rockborn, strengthening the power of Winterfell, and the Rockborn lose so much young and strong labor that they also lose the power to rebel. Even if the Rock King and the King-Beyond-the-Wall want to use the Rockborn tribes, it will be difficult for them to stir up any major trouble."

"However, there is still a hidden danger. For thousands of years, Winterfell has implemented a maritime ban on Skagos, forbidding the Rockborn from going to sea. Now that Lord Eddard has lifted the maritime ban and allowed the Rockborn to go to sea, and also allowed passing ships to go to Skagos, there are many ships from the Free Cities, Ibben, the Stepstones, and even the Summer Islands, and there is no guarantee that foreign forces will not collude with the Rockborn."

"Lord Eddard, do not forget that the Rock King's rebellion in the past was able to stir up such a storm on the east coast of the North largely because the Rock King colluded with the Iron Bitch Helene Pyke. Now, Helene Pyke has submitted, but there is no guarantee that the next Helene Pyke is not already setting sail for Skagos!"

Eddard smiled, "Risk and opportunity always coexist. Now that the Rockborn have returned to the rule of Winterfell, I must find a way to improve the lives of the Rockborn; should I let the Rockborn stay on the island and fend for themselves? There are some ambitious people who might have designs on Skagos and incite the Rockborn to oppose the North, but the North's maritime power is growing."

"Our White Harbor shipyard and the shipyard on the upper reaches of the White Knife are building ships continuously. The financial advisor Klar helped me find several shipbuilders from Braavos and Ibben, and they are heading to Eastwatch. Winterfell will also have a shipyard at Eastwatch, and there will be more and more warships, fishing boats, and whalers."

Maester Luwin nodded slightly, "Since Brandon the Shipwright, the North has never had so many ships. Lord Eddard, according to letters from the Winterfell garrison on Bear Island and the Wall, the North's fishing boats can catch plenty of seafood every day from the Bay of Ice and Seal Bay—salmon, crabs, and shrimp—making the North's winter reserves increasingly sufficient."

In the dawn of the morning, Eddard left Winterfell with Catelyn, the guards Dawson, Syrio Forel, Helene Pyke, Domeric, Jon, Robb, Theon, Sansa, Arya, and Bran, heading to Barrowton to attend the wedding of Lady Barbrey and Fellan.

Also accompanying them were thirty Winterfell guards and twenty attendants from Barrowton. The direwolves Summer and Shaggydog also appeared in the crowd.

A few days ago, Maester Luwin had already released ravens to invite the nobles from all over the North to go to Barrowton to attend the wedding of Barbrey and Fellan.

Riding on horseback, Catelyn smiled and said, "Lady Barbrey, you are getting married; you won't still hold a grudge against me for taking Brandon away back then, will you?"

"I will always remember it." Lady Barbrey revealed a wicked smile, "You and Eddard have had so many children; I am jealous of you. If you want me to forgive you, it will only happen when the number of children I have with Fellan exceeds yours."

Catelyn laughed, "Since I cannot obtain your forgiveness, I can only make compensation in other aspects; you can ask me for advice on pregnancy and raising children."

Lady Barbrey raised an eyebrow, "Catelyn Stark, you are indeed better at having children than I am, but there is one thing you will never be better than me at. Do you dare to race horses with me?"

Lady Barbrey burst into wild laughter, and she began to gallop her horse.

They passed through long wildernesses, villages, rivers, and hills, heading south all the way, and entered the Barrowlands, which was once the territory of the Barrow King. Seven days after leaving Winterfell, they finally arrived at Barrowton.

Barrowton is one of the most important towns in the North, with a population second only to White Harbor and Winter Town. The mud-built pigsties, sheep pens, and stables gave off the scent of animal manure, and from the nearby market drifted the aroma of onion beef, chicken, and soybeans. The people of Barrowton stopped to pay their respects when they saw Eddard and Lady Barbrey.

Helene Pyke rode on her horse, looking at the bustling market, "I always thought Barrowton was a graveyard; I didn't expect it to be a town! If I had known, I would have come here to raid more often when I was a pirate."

Lady Barbrey heard this, "Iron Bitch, you'd better behave yourself! The people of Barrowton hate the Ironborn Pirates to death. Near Barrowton is the source of the Barrow River; following the river down, one can reach Salt Spear, which is an inland sea of the North, connecting to Blazewater Bay. Once out of Blazewater Bay, it is the vast Sunset Sea, yet few fishermen dare to go out to sea to fish, all because of the damned Ironborn."

Helene Pyke pouted, "You Northerners don't dare to challenge the sea yourselves; you can't blame it all on the Ironborn!"

Eddard frowned, "Are there still not many fishermen at the mouth of Salt Spear?"

Lady Barbrey shook her head, "Only Lord Eddard's Saltpans; there are very few fishing villages, and fishermen try to live in the upper reaches of the Barrow River."

Eddard already had a plan in his heart.

(End of chapter)