The king on the Great Wall

Is it all that fun to pretend?so interesting?Is this interesting?

If he didn't know that Melisandre really had some skills, Iger would almost want to copy the guy and drive out the pretender in front of him... But in fact, facing an unpredictable witch, he didn't dare not cooperate with the performance.

"All ears, ma'am."

"Food can not only come from friends, but also from enemies." Melisandre sat down again in the chair, "Why don't you go to the north of the Great Wall for an interview?"

"North of the Great Wall?!"

Iger's eyes widened: It was you who told yourself that "people who have killed the other ghosts will be paid special attention by the cold god", and now you are the one who asked me to go to the north of the Great Wall to find food. What a joke.Don't try to trick me out of the fort... No, the Great Wall!

"I don't understand... ma'am, please clarify."

Melisandre shook her head and reminded: "The savages gathered together and went south to attack the Great Wall. Did they come here empty-handed?"

……

Of course not, the savages came here with their families, cattle and sheep, and all their possessions on their backs.

"Ah, you mean... the food in the hands of the savages!" Iger quickly came to his senses: "But the current manpower of the Great Wall is just enough for defense, and there is no way to take the initiative to attack—go grab the opposite side."

The situation is far more than that, the savages are not a complete force, they will not gather food together and send troops to guard it... Instead, each tribe and family will keep their own food and livestock, even if Iger There is an elite and efficient cavalry unit that can be dispatched for looting, and the efficiency of robbing food will be extremely low, and it may not be enough for the dispatched people and horses.

"You don't have to grab it, you can ask them...to obediently offer it to you."

"Give it up yourself?" Iger became more and more confused. This temptress must be out of her mind and talking nonsense.Or, does she have some sorcery that can hypnotize wild people to hand over food?

Meeting the eyes of the night watchman, Melisandre smiled at him inscrutablely, but did not answer.

***

Silence is often more instructive than saying anything. Iger diverged his thinking and quickly came up with the answer: the only way for the wild people to consciously deliver food to their door...is to open the door and let them in.

It's not a novel idea. Letting the savages into the customs and taking them for his own use was originally in Iger's plan, but there are some steps that cannot be skipped: he intends to prolong the defense of the Great Wall a little longer and frustrate the savages. The vigor and the inexplicable pride of "freedom" made those "stab heads" among them who were full of blood and full of male hormones - that is, the rebellious part. Through the battle, the number of people was reduced... and the hundreds of thousands of savages were exhausted and suffered casualties. It has also reached the point where it can no longer persist, and then negotiate.

The alliance under the city will still be formed, but the party that takes the initiative to "seek peace" will change from the night watchman to the savage.Only by completing this exchange of identities can it be possible to subdue the barbarians.

The savages have lived outside the Great Wall for generations, so of course they know the rules of stockpiling grain when winter comes.However, the living environment and products in the northern part of the Great Wall are far inferior to those in the northern part of the country, and the number of residents will be greatly reduced every time they spend the winter... and this time they moved to the south to avoid the ghosts, and there will be a serious shortage of time to prepare for the winter.Their food reserves may be enough for three to five months, but after these three to five months are over, what will they use to continue to feed the six-figure residents?

Melisandre saw Iger's doubts: "Putting the wild people into the Great Wall will greatly reduce the number of enemies that the living camp needs to face in the coming winter, and weaken the strength of our lord's old enemy. Not only that , we can still free up manpower to solve the troubles that the northern border is facing... Why not do it because it serves multiple purposes?"

Free up manpower to solve the troubles facing the North?Indeed, after reaching a settlement with the wildlings, he can form an army of clansmen and warriors among the wildlings, and go south to expel the intruders from the Iron Islands... Not only can he greatly increase his influence in one fell swoop, but he can also restore the northern border to the vigil Human logistical supply.

But Iger has experience in managing the night watchman industry, and his ability to estimate data is obviously higher than that of Melisandre. After a little calculation, he came to the conclusion: all this is just forcibly continuing life, and the population of the northern border is only one million , there is absolutely no ability to support the sudden increase of [-] savages. If the winter lasts for more than half a year, it will be a tragedy.

"Put the wildlings into the Great Wall, and the food they bring may allow us to last for another month or two; hurry up to settle the iron people and restore the logistics supply of the northern border to the land grant, so that we can last for another two or three months." Iger asked: "But then? Ms. Melisandre—you always say that the long night is coming, so let me ask—can this cold winter that you call 'the long night' end within a year?"

There is another question that Iger did not raise: Even if the winter is over, it will take time to replant food!

"R'hllor didn't tell me how long the winter will last." Melisandre admitted frankly, "but that means it doesn't matter—everything goes with your heart, don't lose hope, my lord Chief Logistics Officer. Despair is The sharp weapon of the unspeakable enemy of mortals, no one will starve to death under your rule... The Lord of Light will solve your worries."

"Can the Lord of Light help me grow food in the snow?"

"Do you think my lord is a farmer?" Melisandre glanced at Iger with a reproachful look, seeming very dissatisfied with his cold joke about his belief: "R'hllor will help in other ways. I saw countless ocean-going transport ships transporting grain from across the Narrow Sea and unloading it at a port close to the Great Wall to feed the countless people living close to the Great Wall.”

……

Across the narrow sea?Iger never thought that food could come from there... He stared at Melisandre suspiciously, trying to find out the clues of lying from her expression, but he was not good enough, looked at each other for a while, and had no choice but to give up.

Did the seductress really see the above scene from the fire, or did she make up these things to coax herself?After thinking about it, Iger felt that Melisandre had no reason to deceive him... But it is absolutely impossible for him to make up his mind to let the savage into the Great Wall because it is difficult to guarantee the authenticity of a magic stick.

Not to mention, the matter of the Great Wall was not decided by him alone.

He decided to think about it before making a decision. The opposite side of the narrow sea... Essos continent is obviously less affected by winter than Westeros. There may indeed be surplus food for sale, which can be transported in large quantities across the narrow sea to feed tens of thousands of people. Open your mouth, how expensive is this?Can the night watchman industry survive?

Even if he could afford it, after feeding this group of people, would he still have spare money to carry out other projects?

One possibility occurred to him: a loan from Braavos.Jaqen's nervous look after seeing the ghoul may mean that the Iron Bank is also concerned about the status quo of Westeros...just tell these lenders: If the Great Wall fails to hold, Westeros will become the world Hell, there's no way the Iron Bank's loan to the Iron Throne will ever be recouped.Under the pressure of grim reality, he is very likely to win support from Braavos!

"Madam, thank you for your wise suggestion. I will consider it carefully and discuss it with my colleagues."

Melisandre was obviously not interested in this perfunctory cliché. She smiled lightly and shook her head: "Hurry up, we don't have much time left. The long night is coming, everything is dangerous, and the living... must hurry up." be prepared."

-

Chapter 232 Old Acquaintances

It's not easy to talk to the magic stick. After talking with Melisandre, Iger seemed to get a lot of useful information, but he couldn't tell how much of it was induced by himself.Leaving from the welcome dinner, Iger decided to do something that was planned and actually useful.

……

Sending Arya back to the arranged room, he ran to the guest house to meet the prisoners who had come with Melisandre and his followers.Houguan Town has not yet built a dungeon, even if there is, it will not lock up political prisoners who are already "Night Watch recruits" In the dormitory prepared for ordinary residents, Iger met with two people he could name face.

Warner Buckwell, former captain of the Old City Gate, nephew of the Earl of Antlers Castle.That day when Renly broke into King's Landing, he was the first to lead the trusted soldiers to abandon the city gate they were guarding and take the Red Keep, leaving Stannis with nowhere to retreat, and reluctantly surrendered the Iron Throne to his younger brother Renly.

It's a pity...he had only enjoyed the treatment of a hero for a few months. After Renly's sudden death, this guy fell from heaven to hell again, and was sent to the night watchman in one fell swoop.

Profit and risk are always proportional, and anyone has to be willing to bet and admit defeat.

As one of the important members and heirs of the family, Warner would not have dared to betray the king sitting on the Iron Throne and launch a mutiny without the premise that the king who went to the west to destroy the lion "has not returned to the king for a long time" and the family's acquiescence and support Yes... It stands to reason that the Earl of Buckwell, who is more familiar with Iger, should wear black clothes.But these old king-collar families do things like this: no matter how much Stannis's minister of justice checked, he could never find any evidence that Earl Buckwell "instructed his nephew to betray the king"; "It is true" that there were all kinds of troubles along the way; plus it was decisive and quick enough to change his face and return to Stannis after Renly's death...

In short, the Buckwell family avoided the fate of being uprooted after paying a tragic price by cutting off their wrists, just like standing on the wrong team last time.

Jarman Buckwell didn't fish it out, and sent in another Warner. The Buckwell family is really unlucky... and there are a bunch of other kings and princes who are in the same situation as the lord of Buckhorn Castle.

Another acquaintance... was Egger's cellmate when he was arrested for helping Tyrion escape, Humphrey Hill, an illegitimate son from the West, and an accountant who managed the business in King's Landing for the Lannister family.

In inverse proportion to the situation of the king's territory: after being besieged and returned to the west before and after liberation, he escaped from the vortex by declaring neutrality... After Renly's death, Tywin wrote to Stannis himself, asking for flowers. A large sum of money was used to redeem the nobles of the Western Region who were captured by Ed during the Rebellion of King's Landing.

Stannis, who was planning to lead his army south to deal with the Golden Group and the Tyrell family, agreed to the deal under the huge pressure of military pay.

Judging from the amount of ransom that was significantly higher than normal, Tywin actually showed his favor to Stannis in disguise and paid the protection fee.However, only people with noble backgrounds are lucky enough to return to the Western Territory, illegitimate children like Humphrey or ordinary people are not so lucky.

……

"Who said 'Whoever wants to go to that damned place on the Great Wall'?" Iger joked to Humphrey, "Why did you change your mind and decide to join the Night's Watch?"

"Damn it, everyone with a certain status was ransomed by Tywin, and Stannis didn't want to raise us prisoners, so he actually moved the idea of ​​letting us go to Dragonstone Island to mine." Humphrey said with resentment on his face: "I I also grew up in Lannisport. Is it possible for a miner to live in those days? Dragonstone Island is a place where you can’t even run away. Instead of working hard in a dark mine, and then you don’t know when you will be tired Burying your bones in a barren mountain... It's better to take a gamble and come to the Great Wall, even if you die, you can have a good time." He shrugged and admitted: "Of course I heard that the main reason is that you returned to the Great Wall, brother and I But here you go, you can figure it out."

"Haha...don't worry, I won't treat my former troubled brother badly. I'll ask Mormont's important person later, and I have to get you to the logistics department no matter what."

"If you don't dare to be a talent, I will just manage the accounts."

Donated land, especially Houguan Town, isn't there a shortage of people who can manage accounts?Although Yam is also smart, but after all, he was born in a mine head and has no professional training. Let him take care of many matters in Houguan Town by himself, and have to do this and that for himself. Iger can see how hard it is , I have long wanted to find someone to share his worries.It would be great to have a suitable candidate come to your door now.

"Master Iger has a good eye." Warner said sourly from the side, "I hugged the thigh of the Stark family, and with their support, now I am here to call the wind and rain, just like the king of the land... You knew Stannis was bound to win, why didn't you tell us?"

"The Night's Watch is impartial. I don't understand Sir Buckwell's words."

"Stop pretending. That day you ran into the Red Castle and took away that little attendant in front of me. What's his name 'Aili'? I really think I can't guess who it is!" Warner snorted: I didn’t recognize it at first, but after Renly and Margaret King’s Landing went looking for Duke Ed’s youngest daughter, I became suspicious and wanted to report this matter to the public... But first I said hello to our old man, As a result, he personally spoke and asked me to pretend that this had never happened, otherwise..."

And these inside stories?

Iger's back turned cold, but he immediately realized: Who knows what the other party said is true or not?If this happened, King's Landing should have used it as an excuse to coerce him to give up more profits from the Night Watchman's property, so why wait until today?It is more likely that Warner didn't recognize her identity until he ran into Arya who had run away from home again in the gift land two days ago, and remembered what happened that day, deliberately making up stories to make himself owe favors.

There really is no impenetrable wall in the world, but if it wasn't for Arya, a stinky girl running around, she should have been able to hide it for a longer time... Now, I don't even dare to deal with the River Bend.Thinking of this, the fire in Iger's stomach rekindled again.

"What are you talking about?" Humphrey Hill was confused.

It's useless to talk about these things, Iger is now trying to win over his future sworn brothers, he shook his head: "Okay, don't mention these messy things again, let's get to know each other once, since I came to the Great Wall, I will take care of everything .Sir Buckwell... You were a knight when you donned the black coat. Most likely you will join the Rangers or be the commander of some new fortress. I can't control that. But any difficulties in life on the Wall , you can come to me, if it can be solved, I will definitely help.”

Warner sighed, he did catch Iger, but now that Renly is dead, the Tyrell family can't protect themselves, so what if they get stabbed out, can King Stannis pardon himself for this matter?Not to mention that he is now in someone else's territory, and he will have to rely on him for how he will live in the future... Thinking of this, his shoulders slumped: "Thank you in advance."

"Don't be discouraged, this room is all my own people, I might as well disclose some information to you two." Iger did not forget the main purpose of his trip: "I was shipwrecked while sailing at sea two years ago, and I drifted to Westeros, after going ashore, I was sent to the Great Wall just because I was very hungry and stole two potatoes. Since I put on black clothes, I have been thinking about how to leave the Great Wall in a proper way and get rid of my identity as a night watchman."

"Didn't you already achieve the previous goal, but you still ran back."

"That's right, I have already achieved the first goal. Ordinary people may be satisfied with enjoying a lifetime of comfortable life in King's Landing as the Chief Logistics Officer of the Night Watchman. But I am not an ordinary person. I have ambitions, unfulfilled dreams, and a family. Waiting for my parents and relatives... I am not satisfied with this. I hope that one day I will take off my black clothes in a dignified way, and get a new, strong, ocean-going ship of my own, sail westward in the sunset, and return to my hometown !” Iger ran on the train without blushing and heartbeat: “After working hard, I am now constantly approaching the goal, and I am confident that one day, I will be able to achieve the goal.”

"Wow." Humphrey exclaimed, "What does this have to do with us?"

"What I hope is to establish a complete and universally applicable night watchman exit mechanism. Once this mechanism is established, it means that every night watchman who is forced to wear black will have the opportunity to enjoy..." Iger looked After looking at Sir Bookwell's expression, he continued: "And this point, it is impossible to solve the current defense crisis facing the Great Wall... and I have a plan on how to deal with this crisis, but I need to Support and cooperation Only when everyone cooperates sincerely and tides over the difficulties together can it be possible to achieve the final goal.”

Humphrey shrugged: "I had no choice but to come to you. Of course, I will support and cooperate with you in everything."

Iger nodded to his old inmate, but turned his head to look at Sir Buckwell. Although Humphrey is a management talent in short supply in the land grant, his attitude can only represent him personally, while Warner Buckwell, however, It can affect all the royal nobles who are forced to put on black clothes in this group...more than a dozen future mid-level commanders of the Night Watch.

Warner Bookwell frowned and looked at Iger. He had also been in the mudflats of King's Landing. Of course, he noticed something abnormal. They will swear to join the Night Watch Corps in the future. Once they become "sworn brothers", they will support each other and take care of each other. There is no need to come here and say a lot of things that are just and right, and then deliberately raise this point.

(Iger is recruiting himself. When the "Chief Logistics Officer" is one of the highest levels of the Legion, he has to bypass the commander-in-chief and form a faction, and directly deal with future mid-level and lower-level officers. The other side has a lot of plans!)

……

"Establish a night watchman exit mechanism, to put it lightly, how to do it? We, the unlucky ones who offended the king, have a chance to enjoy it?"

"Temporary confidentiality." In fact, there is no clue at all for the time being, but expanding and increasing influence is not a bad thing.From Melisandre, Iger learned that being mysterious and pretentious at the right time can often have miraculous effects: "But I assure you, this mechanism will be completely applicable to any night watchman, and I am now taking a step forward. step closer to the goal.”

Witnessing Iger's establishment of the night watchman industry from scratch in King's Landing, Warner can't question the other party's self-confidence at all: "Understood... I, and those friends who suffered with me and were exiled here, will be you A staunch shadow supporter of the Night's Watch Chief Logistics Officer."

***

Those who have desires are the best to deal with. Fortunately, not everyone is as determined as James to be a good night watchman, so oil and salt do not enter... Both Humphrey and Warner took the pie drawn by Iger, It was also agreed to distribute it to the same group of fallen royal nobles and Westerners.

So far, Iger's discourse power and influence among the Night Watchmen have just caught up with several other top-ranking officers, and he is finally worthy of the word "chief". It's off to a good start with my own small group.

After completing an important matter, Iger breathed a sigh of relief, bid farewell to the two old acquaintances, opened the door and stepped into the icy land-grant night, walked quickly back to his room against the cold wind, took off his coat, and added a few pieces of firewood to the fireplace , ready for bed.

"Master, where have you been and why did you come back?"

Iger was startled by Arya's voice, turned his head and looked around, but found no one, and finally found that the girl was actually under the bed, with only her head exposed, rubbing her sleepy eyes, as if she had just been woken up.

Are you going to come to sleep with me again?Iger's eyes widened angrily: "Didn't you say that your stomach doesn't hurt, what are you doing?"

"I... the fire in the room is about to go out, it's so cold."

"If the fire is going to go out, add more firewood yourself. Do you need someone else to do everything?"

"But I didn't find Chai in my house."

"Oh...Okay." Iger opened his mouth, it was obvious that Yam didn't arrange things well.But there are already so many things to be busy, it is really hard to blame the mayor of Houguan Town for such a trivial matter.He walked to the bed, tucked the quilt for Arya, reminded himself that in front of him was a little girl who had just lost her father, don't be angry, and be gentle: "Is it warm in the quilt?"

"warm."

"Well, you can sleep here tonight." Iger rubbed the girl's head: "But there are some things we have to agree on now."

"Hmm." Arya's nose and mouth were buried in the bed, only half of her head was exposed, and her big bright eyes were staring at Iger.

"Running away from home is really dangerous. You are happy for a while, and the people who care and love you can't sleep at night. I am very angry, and I want you to promise now that you will never do it again. No matter where you go, who you see, or what you do , must be informed to the family, it is best to send someone to accompany and protect, just like the swordsmanship class in King's Landing, okay?"

Arya also knew that she had gone too far, so she nodded obediently: "I promise."

"Okay, there is the second point. You are a girl, don't go into my... or anyone else's room and bed just to make a big deal, you are not only putting yourself in danger, but also It's really super easy to cause trouble for others, it's real trouble, not a joke, understand?"

"Oh... sorry master, I see."

"Well, if you do it again, don't call me master again." Iger doesn't know how long this brat can remember, so he can only hope that threats will work, and she really understands: "You can sleep here tonight, I will Go find another room."

"Ah?" Arya poked her whole little head out of the bed, as if she felt embarrassed for taking over the magpie's nest: "Don't bother, let's sleep together for the last night."

It is undoubtedly a charming experience to have an aristocratic girl warming the bed, but now that there are so many people in Houguan Town, Iger does not want his career to be ruined for such a ridiculous reason: "Didn't you just say the last night last time? If you are afraid of the cold, just lie down." He walked to the door, put on his coat again, and turned his head to say goodbye: "Good night."

Chapter 233 The more you play, the bigger

Time is running out. Now that it is clear that the logistics supply is facing a crisis of rupture, Iger naturally dare not waste time.Early the next morning, Iger returned north to the Great Wall with reinforcements and recruits from the south.

Arya was left behind in Queenscrown.Iger originally planned to send someone to take her home, but now the road along the King's Road is not peaceful, sending ten or eight people is afraid that they will not be able to protect them, and if there are too many of their own lairs, they will fall into a crisis of insufficient defense.After being in a dilemma for a while, he decided to go back to Castle Black first... use the raven to notify the bear's family, and let the guardian of the girl in Winterfell decide what to do.

The Stark family can't manage their children well, so why should they let themselves wipe their ass?

***

Crown Town is only a few tens of miles away from Castle Black, leaving behind Melisandre's convoy and recruits, Iger quickly returned to the headquarters of the Night's Watch... and reported to Mormont that Stannis sent reinforcements, After the difficulty of the Great Wall's logistical supply, a plan was put forward to solve the trouble.

"Ask for a loan from Braavos and buy grain from across the Narrow Sea?" Mormont asked uneasily. Just enough to amortize the debt owed to it... what will the Night's Watch have in the future?"

"The Commander-in-Chief actually knows about the Iron Bank?"

"What the Brothers of Eastwatch heard from the sailors on the docked ships may be exaggerated, but it is not fabricated. You haven't answered my question-what will the Night's Watch pay for?"

"Using the night watchman's property as collateral." Iger replied without hesitation, shrugging: "Instead of worrying about this, it's better to think about how to persuade the guys from the Iron Bank to lend money to the night watchman... I want to organize another release Operation Wall. Catch a ghoul and send it to Braavos by boat, in order to convince those blood-sucking guys: If the Great Wall cannot be defended, the North and even the Seven Kingdoms will not be safe, and Westeros will be in chaos. , the Iron Bank will never be able to recoup the loan it originally issued.”

"There's no need to go out of the wall. I didn't have time to tell you. There was news from Donghai Watch... a ship from Braavos docked at the port the day before yesterday. Several people came down from it. They claimed to be the investigation team of the Iron Bank." Mo Ermon said: "Cat Pike asked them why they came, but these guys didn't say anything, and said they only talked to the chief logistics officer."

Iron Bank is here?

Melisandre didn't lie to herself!

However, this is fulfilled too quickly, right?

For the second time, Iger personally experienced the amazing skill of the red-robed woman. After being shocked for a few seconds, he felt relieved: Great, someone finally came to share his pressure.The busyness of the past few days gave him the illusion that he was playing the role of the savior, as if only the night watchman and himself, the transmigrator, were busy saving Westeros in the whole world... But how could it be possible to fight against natural enemies and extinctions? Are you in a hurry?

Stannis, wearing the crown, made a completely opposite judgment from the original plot: "Only by solving the war of mankind can we free up our hands to save mankind"... Iger can't say that this is a wrong choice, but it does make the night watchman In trouble.Fortunately: the Iron Throne is not the only force in the world that can put out fires.

The Iron Bank has loaned millions of gold dragons to Westeros, so it is impossible to be indifferent because of their interests... Although the reaction was a bit slow, it is not too late.