Chapter 210

The gates of Winterfell swung open, the crowd parted on both sides of the gate, and loudly cheered the soldiers entering the city; some among them watched the passing faces with anticipation and nervousness, and when a familiar face was recognized they began to cheer, while certainly many would worry about ending in despair...

The list of Winterfell's dead was kept by her guard deputy commander; soon, according to procedure, notifications and condolences would be issued in the established manner.

Just this time, concerning the titles and revenue distribution of the stream lands, it is necessary to post notices and announce in Winterfell and the Winter-avoiding Market, and arrange people to repeatedly repeat it. Among these, the registration of titles is especially crucial; it requires Mei Yi, in the name of Duke of Winter-approaching City, to take the specially made wolf pelt, and one by one issue appointment and confirmation documents, and have the scholar keep records and archive them, just as the ancestors of Winterfell once signed the appointment document with the ancestors of Shasha Boqi.

This is only a small part of the many trivial affairs that a monarch must attend to.

What really gives people headaches are still some arbitrations over trivial matters; she had seen Lord Ed handle these things. Sometimes, to investigate a minor dispute he would have to expend great effort in inquiry and verification, and often he could only, amid sighs, make one mediocre judgment after another that even he himself found unsatisfactory.

She felt that Eddard Stark earned his reputation for fairness precisely through being conscientious and meticulous day after day for decades.

Mei Yi did not intend to handle these matters herself; since she took charge of Winterfell, many judicial affairs and petitions have been completely handed over to the council, which conducts judgments according to votes. The advantage of this is naturally high efficiency, but the drawback is that it is hard to know how much justice there is.

When she returned to Winterfell, several people were lined up outside the council seeking arbitration, and the content of their request was actually to have her take back the council's judgments—while she was urgently trying to gather information and soothe the soldiers' situation, she did not hesitate to drive them away, and then, unsurprisingly, received vicious curses.

Compared to the ordinary people's harsh rebukes, upholding the council's authority is clearly more important. Perhaps she has a way to balance fairness and authority, but undoubtedly this is too exhausting, and she simply does not want to do it.

As for those curses and rebukes, she simply could not lose her temper, because the northerners around her were all the sort who do not respect their ruler and know no courtesy. If someone thinks that punishment can make these people behave more respectfully, then it can only be a case of shouting into the wind: the prerequisite for deterrence is that the punishment's results become quickly and widely known to others, and that fear of the punishment's consequences controls one's behavior. Unfortunately, the North is vast and sparsely populated; if punishment and deterrence cannot be carried out before tens of thousands of people, it amounts to abandoning the 'punishment' publicity.

This is the most speechless point. Unless you are willing to rally people over a trivial matter, or, day after day for decades, establish a reputation for 'requiring courtesy' in your own style.

She lacks that patience, and is even less willing to pay the price for so little effect.

When she proposed to the council that the judicial rules and case system be organized and written out to be carved onto the great stone in Winterfell, she immediately received many opposing voices; the main reason was that they feared petty folk would constantly study it, look for loopholes, and thus only cause trouble, and furthermore no one had researched and organized the judicial records and legal regulations left over the years in Winterfell, and Scholar Luwen also had no habit of recording Lord Ed's adjudication cases.

As for the latter point, that reason is indeed true.

When I entered the city, Gaxia'er and I said, he and the new scholar Roland had returned together to Winterfell? No one raised objections, "If we have a new scholar, these tasks can be completely handed over to Scholar Roland—ah, feeding the ravens, categorizing and arranging all require meticulous work; I intend to strip these from the scholars' daily duties…… In short, professionals should do professional work," rather than shouldering everything, wasting energy and time, "judicial trials need dedicated personnel."

Not only one scholar has come to Winterfell; we have enough personnel to handle this," Halmolan replied with a smile, "Besides Scholar Roland recommended by Scholar Luwen, there are three more scholars who sneaked over from the Academy, the leader named Scholar Oduoli, although Scholar Roland does not like him, considering him an opportunist among scholars."

"What's going on?" Mei Yi somewhat didn't understand, "When did the Academy become so generous?"

"I don't know that either. Scholar Oduoli merely said he is a friend of Scholar Luwen, wanting to visit the place where scholars have lived; of course, he also mentioned that you are preparing to refurbish the first fort……"

"This is most likely the information leaked by Scholar Luwen to him, so this thick‑skinned scholar was not commissioned by the Academy, yet came to Winterfell, and for that reason has been placed on the wanted list of the Iron Throne and the Academy." Sir Morsen interjected to explain.

Ah, Scholar Luwen should have leaked the news to more people, right? Thinking of that large wasteland inside Winterfell that cannot be used, I feel it a pity; I had long wanted to give that plot to the scholars. Also there is enough expandable land around Winterfell; she felt that at least another two layers of walls could be drawn, encircling the Winter-avoiding Market and the surrounding villages entirely, and construction could proceed according to the city's layout. "Since he has already been placed on the wanted list, we obviously cannot send him back, right?"

Your Highness, speaking of those nearby, concerning your sister Sansa Stark…… Youlun sent back a fake one." Sir Morsen pointed to the east of the map, "Ramsay Bolton has already landed in the North; moreover, during the time you were away, Karhold and Hearthome were lost in succession. You have eliminated Ramsay Bolton's forces west of the river, but he also smoothly cleared our forces east of the river."

"They act so quickly? I thought they would need a period of rest after returning to the North before they could act." Sir Robett said.

Those needing rest are the northern troops that Bolton brought back from the south; the armies of the Lannisters, Tyrells, and Freys are not like that: the Lannisters swiftly seized Karhold—damn it, the North has not flown a lion banner for thousands of years, this truly is making history…… The Viscount Baelor and Viscount Rollo joint forces then took Hearthome, likewise with Lannister assistance; the Tyrell family's army marched south, stationed near Wool Mountain, threatening Hollowford; and according to intelligence, the Frey family might be stationed at the White Blade River—I dare not say they don't understand rivers or cannot row." He spoke at length while unfolding the map, "I have already asked your subordinate Xia'er to lead the Winterfell cavalry north, one side to patrol the defenses of the White Blade River, the other side to meet any possible fleeing Karstark and Amber troops."

"Has Xia'er also returned?"

It seems that a lot has happened during this time.

Yes, not only Xia'er, but in a few days the Earl of Deepforest Fort and the young master of Tollensfang City will also return, together with Robett and Great Qiongen Amber…… No need to think, the latter will surely ask you to help him retake Hearthome.

Retaking Hearthome also means engaging in a grueling battle in the north against Bolton's detachment, which is not worthwhile." The North is not her focus; everyone understands this, "What other news do I not know?" Since her officers and the powerful counts will soon return to Winterfell, discussing strategy with these council members now would mostly be a waste of breath and would prematurely reveal her intentions, which is entirely unnecessary.

We received news from the south, actually brought by your scholars: the bitch queen dowager of the capital was assassinated by sparrows, because her brother had previously killed the High Septon of the Seven Gods in an attempt to rescue the queen and her—ah, the story here is too complicated; if you want detailed information, better ask your scholars. This scholar has been here for several days, constantly inspecting his own scholar's tower, refusing to go out.

She had heard some news of the queen dowager's death, but did not pay much attention; instead, the religious armed group provoked by the queen dowager seemed somewhat interesting to her.

Let the south become even more chaotic!

This probably happened only recently, right? How could these scholars have the opportunity to know?" Mei Yi felt a bit strange; if the scholars could bring the news to the North, then their actions would be too fast, considering that Robett and her other troops set out from the Riverlands and still haven't returned to Winterfell yet!

You can ask them yourself," Sir Morsen explained, "These fellows came directly by ship from Old Town, landed at White Harbor, and were escorted by personnel arranged there; it just so happened that they arrived at Winterfell together with your army."

Your Highness, the scholars also mentioned that Aegon Targaryen, leading the Golden Company, has seized Stannis's Storm's End. I think this is also important news," Brother Chael said with a smile, looking more worn than before, "If we combine the news from the Eastern Continent, the situation in the South becomes even more complicated."

"Why?" The name Targaryen made her somewhat uneasy.

Recently the porcelain export business has been affected somewhat, though not seriously; I asked the merchants for the reason. There are many explanations—for example, Stannis suffers from insufficient military supplies, so he needs to raid passing merchant ships; Aegon is stirring rebellion in the Stormlands, making the Narrow Sea unsafe; there are also other overseas reports, which I believe may be the true cause: the Mad King's daughter, Daenerys Targaryen, leading her own consolidated army, has captured Valyris and slaughtered all Valyris people, thereby affecting Eastern trade." He slightly shrugged his shoulders, giving an inscrutable look, "I think this Targaryen girl's aim is not merely the Eastern Continent, especially since another man who claims to be her nephew has already stirred a great resurgence in Westeros."

I am very grateful for the information you provided." She found herself increasingly liking Brother Chael's sort of person. "Just the Eastern Continent is too far away; we can only temporarily set it aside…… Ah, the South is likewise not near, I still have to focus my attention on what's nearby……

Your Highness, speaking of those nearby, concerning your sister Sansa Stark…… Youlun sent back a fake one.