Chapter 78: Cooperating with the Night's Watch

In the Night's Watch hall, facing the suggestion from Lord Commander Jeor Mormont of the Night's Watch, Eddard shook his head.

"No, our Northern soldiers have just finished the war on Skagos; the North has just conquered the Rockborn, and we will not rashly go Beyond the Wall to attack the Wildlings."

Lord Commander Mormont was somewhat disappointed. "Understandable. However, sitting by and watching Mance Rayder's Wildling army grow stronger Beyond the Wall—once the Wildling army attacks The Wall, these old bones of mine and my brothers in the Night's Watch will find it hard to hold. I hope Lord Eddard will rebuild the castles on The Wall as soon as possible to help the Night's Watch defend it."

The Night's Watch faced reality and could no longer afford to haggle over terms with Winterfell.

Eddard said, "Winterfell has sufficient manpower in the military colonies at Queenscrown; when I return to Winterfell, I will mobilize men from Queenscrown and send them directly to rebuild the castles."

Lord Commander Mormont laughed. "Lord Eddard, I have heard that in the Queenscrown military colonies, some are thieves, poachers, and the like. In the past, weren't such scum sent directly to The Wall? In the future, if there are criminals, leave them to me!"

Eddard agreed in words, but he did not intend to send lawbreakers to The Wall. Once these people put on the black, they became soldiers of the Night's Watch; it was better to keep them in the military colonies to serve as soldiers and work to atone for their crimes for Winterfell. Many criminals did not want to be in the Night's Watch; after all, once one joined the Night's Watch and took the vows, one could never have children for the rest of one's life. Serving as a soldier for Winterfell in the military colonies at least offered the hope of gaining freedom.

Moreover, Eddard was rebuilding castles on The Wall, and these castles required Winterfell garrisons; Eddard needed more manpower.

Once Winterfell rebuilt Green Guard, Nightfort, and Westbridge on The Wall, Eddard would use these places as icehouses for Winterfell to store seafood, meat, and grain, and would open up manors and establish military colonies to the south of these fortresses, sharing food with the Night's Watch.

In this way, Eddard would solve the problem of food preservation, winter reserves would be more sufficient, and at the same time, he would strengthen his control over The Wall and his influence over the Night's Watch.

Commander Mormont looked at the Haunted Forest on the map. "Benjen and I will send out skilled Rangers to increase the frequency of patrols into the Haunted Forest, lest Mance Rayder assemble a large army in the Haunted Forest while we remain in the dark."

"Commander Mormont, it is best if the Rangers do not go patrolling Beyond the Wall." Mormont and other Night's Watch officers could not foresee the threat of the Others, so Eddard advised, "It would be better to strengthen patrols on The Wall; in any case, when Wildling Raiders cross The Wall, they always have to climb the wall."

Commander Mormont's crow landed on his thick shoulder, and the crow called out, "Climb the wall! Climb the wall!"

Commander Mormont said, "Lord Eddard, nowadays the number of times Rangers go out to patrol is becoming fewer and fewer; Rangers are in danger when they enter Beyond the Wall, but if we abandon patrols entirely, the Wildlings might be digging tunnels at the base of the wall outside The Wall, and we might not even know."

Subsequently, the Old Bear asked about his sister, Lady Maege Mormont, and Eddard said, "Lady Maege Mormont and her daughter Dacey performed bravely in the war against the Rockborn and the Ironborn with the warriors of Bear Island. She has now returned to Bear Island with the warriors of Bear Island."

The Old Bear sighed. "If my son Jorah had not done things to bring shame upon the family, it should have been Jorah leading the Bear Island army on the expedition."

Sir Jorah Mormont had sold poachers to slavers years ago, and after the matter was exposed, Duke Eddard decided to punish him severely—this was what the Duke Eddard before the transmigration had done. Sir Jorah fled to the Free Cities across the Narrow Sea and had been unheard of since.

The current Eddard would not be so rigid and inflexible. He said, "Sir Jorah has been drifting outside for so long; he has already been punished. If he is willing to return, I will allow him to take the black. If he is unwilling to take the black, I am even willing to let him go to Winterfell to serve me."

The Old Bear smiled. "If Jorah knew that Duke Eddard had pardoned his crimes, he would likely be happy. It is a pity that I cannot contact him at all."

After the Night's Watch officers left, Eddard sat and drank with his brother Benjen.

Because The Wall was the northernmost defensive line of the North, since ancient times, members of House Stark had served in the Night's Watch, and it was not uncommon in history for members of House Stark to serve as Lord Commander. By Eddard's generation, Benjen had joined the Night's Watch and become the First Ranger of the Night's Watch.

Ever since his eldest brother Brandon was burned to death by the Mad King Aerys, Eddard had inherited Winterfell and the North, while what Benjen received was the black of the Night's Watch and The Wall. However, Benjen had never complained and remained loyal to his brother Eddard and the Night's Watch.

Benjen patted Eddard's shoulder. "For thousands of years, the Rockborn on Skagos only nominally submitted to Winterfell; our ancestors of House Stark could hardly make the Rockborn truly submit, yet you have done it."

Eddard said happily, "The blueberries on Skagos taste exquisite; I also brought back spirit grass and a unicorn, as well as dragon bone. People all think Skagos is barren, but in fact, there are many products there."

"I heard that you are carrying out large-scale construction in Winter Town." Benjen smiled. "Many people say that Winter Town has built smithies, barracks, stables, and a large market, and has undergone earth-shaking changes. Next time I go home, will I get lost?"

"Benjen, Winterfell is your home; how could you get lost?" Eddard gripped Benjen Stark's hand. "Benjen, promise me, try not to go patrolling in the Haunted Forest; you might run into the Others!"

Benjen Stark let out a hearty laugh. "Are there really Others? That would be great! Then we Rangers would become the saviors who save all of humanity."

Benjen took Eddard, Jon, Theon, Domeric, Helen Pyke, and others, and they rode the cage up to the top of The Wall.

Eddard stood on top of The Wall, gazing Beyond the Wall. He saw the Milkwater shining with golden light under the sun, saw the Haunted Forest above the white snow, and the snow-covered Fist of the First Men in the distance.

This was a vast, boundless land waiting to be conquered. Eddard believed that one day, when Winterfell was free of debt and became wealthy and powerful, he would certainly lead the Northern Army, together with the Night's Watch, to wipe out the King-Beyond-the-Wall Mance Rayder and annex the lands Beyond the Wall.

By destroying the Wildling army of the King-Beyond-the-Wall Mance Rayder, Eddard could expand the territory for House Stark and obtain the resources of the Haunted Forest, the Fist of the First Men, and the Milkwater. Once he could persuade the Wildlings to serve Winterfell, Eddard would have expanded his own power.

The Free Folk were undisciplined, and their weapons and equipment were very poor. Because there was a lack of forges and smiths Beyond the Wall, and the Night's Watch strictly prohibited smuggling items Beyond the Wall, it was difficult for the Free Folk to possess iron weapons and armor. Some Raider leaders relied on old, notched longswords stripped from the corpses of Rangers to become local tyrants Beyond the Wall.

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

(End of chapter)