Chapter 82: Salt Prices Provoke Public Outrage

Over the next few days, on his way back to Winterfell, Eddard kept asking the common folk of the North he encountered about the price of salt; every one of them complained that the price had risen.

When Eddard arrived at Winter Town, the people saw him and immediately stopped to watch, shouting "Long live Winterfell" and "Long live Stark," celebrating Eddard's conquest of the Rockborn and his triumphant return.

Eddard rode on a tall horse, "I went on an expedition to Skagos and was gone for several months. If you have any issues you need to petition me about, speak up!"

A fat woman who sold bread said: "Lord Eddard, the price of salt is too high. I need salt to bake bread, and the price has risen more than fivefold. My bread prices have gone up, so fewer people are buying it. What am I to do?"

An old woman said: "I can't even afford the salt to pickle vegetables. Lord Eddard, where has the salt produced at the salt farms gone? We often see carriages from the West Coast hauling cartloads of salt into Winterfell."

"I reckon all that salt was embezzled by that Braavosi, Klar?" A fat butcher crossed his arms, his face full of anger, "Lord Eddard, you shouldn't have hired a foreigner to manage the accounts; it must be Klar playing tricks."

"Some say it was Lord Wyman of White Harbor who pulled strings," a fisherman said. "I heard the salt from the East Coast salt farms is all hauled to White Harbor to be settled directly with Lord Wyman."

"The ones playing tricks are the damned merchants; those merchants only know how to speculate. Before the salt prices rose, some smugglers were even buying salt from the commoners in Winter Town! Lord Eddard, the unscrupulous merchants must be severely punished! I hope the price of salt comes down!"

More and more people crowded around, growing from hundreds to thousands, blocking the area completely. Jory Cassel, the Captain of the Guard of Winterfell, and the deputy captain, Haris Moran, hurriedly brought a squad of pikemen to maintain order. The financial advisor, Klar, also arrived, and many residents of Winter Town glared at him.

Amidst the clamor, Klar came before Eddard. Eddard frowned, "Klar, the price of salt has risen and the people are incensed. What is going on?"

Klar said helplessly: "Lord Eddard, I have reminded you many times that the Salt Farming Plan was doomed to fail due to a lack of supervision. You promised the various lords that Winterfell would buy back the salt from the salt farms at market price; this is simply a bottomless pit."

"During this expedition to Skagos, many heads of noble houses took troops to Skagos, leaving behind Acting Castellans. Of course, it is entirely possible that the Acting Castellans received instructions from their lords."

"The lords and merchants collude to buy up salt from the commoners at low prices, or they open their own salt pans to dry salt, mixing it with the salt from the salt farms to sell to Winterfell. The market price is being driven higher and higher by these smugglers and local lords. Winterfell is getting poorer, and the commoners can't afford salt—that's what's happening!"

Klar's words made the nearby residents of Winter Town even more incensed.

"Lord Eddard, Winterfell must control the price of salt!"

"Crack down on the black-hearted merchants! Crack down on those lawless lords!"

"Lord Eddard, the Starks must manage the salt. How are the people supposed to live without salt?"

Hundreds and thousands of residents were roaring. Eddard revealed a satisfied smile and raised his fist; the roar of the crowd gradually subsided.

"I heed your wishes. From now on, without the permission of House Stark, it is strictly forbidden for anyone in the North to produce or sell private salt! I will severely punish those black-hearted merchants and lords who hoard goods and make it impossible for the people to afford salt. Anyone who reports others for selling private salt to Winterfell will receive a reward of one Silver Stag upon verification!"

A single Silver Stag could buy almost a plow horse; for an ordinary person, this was a large sum of money.

The people of Winter Town cheered and jumped for joy, while Klar was lost in thought. Amidst the jubilation of the crowd, Eddard rode his horse with his entourage, the female Wildling Osha riding in chains. They passed through the bustling district of Winter Town and headed toward Winterfell.

The barracks, smithy, and stables, overseen by the architect Donnel, were basically completed and put into use. The Smith, Mikken, was working with the Iron-born smith Wote, the smith Karon, and others, leading apprentices to forge weapons and armor. There were more and more warhorses in the stables, as well as many plow horses, and the Breeding Farm Overseer Hullen was busy with a group of grooms and stable boys.

In the pigsties, cattle pens, and sheepfolds of the Breeding Farm Overseer Givon, there were herds of cattle and sheep. Givon had already raised a flock of sheep, and some female workers were shearing wool. Not far from the sheepfold were the unicorns; here they were feeding the unicorn foals brought back from Skagos by the Winterfell soldiers. This little unicorn was a gift to Eddard from the Lord of Floating Driftwood Hall, the leader of the Stern Clan, Billy.

Amidst the cheers, Eddard passed through the gates of Winterfell, where Catelyn was waiting for him with the children.

"Eddard!" Catelyn fell into Eddard's arms, "You're finally back. Every day you were on the expedition, I prayed for you at the sept."

Robb, Sansa, Arya, and little Bran stepped forward one by one to embrace their father. Eddard kissed Rickon Stark, who was in the arms of Septa Mordane. It had been several months since Eddard left, and little Rickon had grown quite a bit.

The Rockborn Nonda Maple brought the children of the Rockborn leaders to welcome Eddard. These were the children of the Rockborn leaders, taken in by Winterfell as wards to ensure the loyalty of the Rockborn.

When Eddard was on his expedition to Skagos, the Rockborn guide Nonda Maple helped Eddard. After Eddard conquered Skagos, Nonda Maple chose to continue serving Eddard, and he brought his whole family to settle in Winterfell along with the Winterfell soldiers.

Eddard shook the hand of his old friend Nonda, "Are you getting used to living in Winterfell?"

"I am now responsible for feeding the unicorns," Nonda Maple said. "Some of my sons are smith apprentices in the smithy, some are grooms in the stables, and my wife works in the kitchen. Our whole family has been properly settled. Your Rockborn wards have also been settled; they receive training from Ser Rodrik Cassel every day, and Maester Luwin gives them lessons, teaching them knowledge and etiquette."

The connection between the Rockborn and Winterfell would become even closer. Eddard spoke with every hostage. Among them, the most notable were the children from Floating Driftwood Hall, Abyss Keep, and King's Hall; these three Rockborn castle clans were the most powerful among the Rock-born tribes.

Eddard entered the study with the financial advisor Klar and Maester Luwin. Eddard took off his wool coat, sat in a chair, and stretched his waist.

"It feels good to be home."

Klar smiled, "Lord Eddard, you are finally home. However, I fear our problems are quite thorny. As you saw, the people of Winter Town are incensed over the rising price of salt. When I went to inspect the market, many merchants spat at me; they all thought I had embezzled the money from the salt farms, causing the price of salt to rise."

"This is pure slander. Even if I wanted to make money, I wouldn't look down on that little bit of money from the salt farms."

Eddard said: "I believe you are innocent. I have already announced that private salt is strictly forbidden from now on."

Klar frowned, "I fear those merchants won't be happy."

Maester Luwin said worriedly: "Lord Eddard, merchant complaints are actually fine. I am more worried about the lords. Winterfell strictly forbidding private salt will infringe upon the interests of the lords. In fact, because of the salt farm matter, Lord Roose Bolton of the Dreadfort and Lord Wyman of White Harbor have both written letters to Winterfell, each accusing the other of using the salt farms to make money."

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(End of chapter)