The Mountain of Ice and Fire

"Long live Cliffrock City!" a citizen shouted.

In this world, people would shout "Long live So-and-so City" to express the highest respect for their lord when they became emotional. On the battlefield, when launching an attack, the general would also shout "Long live So-and-so City" to boost morale.

In a short period of time, shouts of "Long live Cliffrock City" echoed over Cliffrock City, lingering for a long time.

This was a first for the Westerling family in generations.

People had never supported Cliffrock City so wholeheartedly.

The crowd was surging with excitement!

Being a professional soldier was a good job.

Tax reductions and even exemptions were a gift.

And in a season when milk outbreaks caused disease, it was an even greater favor for the lord to spend money to buy the citizens' milk.

None of the citizens thought about a very simple question: the Westerling family was a family without money, fallen on hard times, where did so much money come from to support the army? Where did so much money come from to buy milk? In order to improve their status and become true nobles, Lady Sybell and her brother Rolph Spicer had given up running the lucrative spice business.

Being a spice merchant was looked down upon by the nobles.

In order to no longer be 'looked down upon' by the nobles, the Spicers had given up their spice business in Lannisport, the business that had made their ancestors rich.

The citizens did not think about the lord's problems, and the men in the family with surplus labor were already inquiring with Reynard Westerling about the time of conscription.

Reynard's guard immediately ran upstairs to ask Lord Mountain.

But Mountain did not decide to strike while the iron was hot. He said, "Five days later, begin recruiting the first batch of 300 soldiers. Ten days later, begin recruiting the second batch of 300 soldiers. Fifteen days later, begin recruiting the third batch of 300 soldiers. Ages 15 to 40, those who are particularly strong, have basic swordsmanship and horsemanship, or have special skills, such as blacksmiths who can forge iron, stonemasons who can quarry stone, carpenters who can make furniture, horse breeders who can calculate and are literate, will have relaxed age restrictions."

*

At noon, the atmosphere in the restaurant was very unusual.

The knights and lords ate in the restaurant, while the soldiers ate at long tables in the large room outside the restaurant. A long table could seat two hundred people. There were seven such long tables, showing that the Westerling family had more than a thousand people eating at the table when they were at their peak.

"Lord Mountain, I am very curious, you want to recruit nine hundred soldiers, may I ask where your money comes from?" Earl Damon asked cheerfully. He held a fork in his left hand, not chopsticks. After losing his right hand, the Earl vowed never to eat with chopsticks again. Using his unaccustomed left hand to hold chopsticks, the Earl's chopsticks would fall to the ground.

"Weapons and armor are barely enough," Earl Gavin said sullenly.

The Westerling family still had an old armory, although the weapons were covered in dust. Pull them out, repair what needs to be repaired, mend what needs to be mended, grind what needs to be ground, there was still a stockpile of a thousand sets of armor and weapons.

Mountain said, "Earl Damon, don't you know about Duke Tywin's policy of using wood instead of iron? Now even the slightly wealthier citizens can afford to buy good swords and armor."

"Hehe, okay. I believe the ancient Westerling family's arsenal can turn up some rusty armor and some rusty swords, so, how many months can you support these people's food, clothing, marching training, and even military pay?"

"I can't support them for even a month," Mountain said lightly.

Earl Damon raised his eyebrows and said to Earl Leo, "Earl Leo, are you prepared to lend money to Lord Mountain to support the army?"

"Yes, two gold dragons!" Earl Leo said seriously.

The Earl was naturally joking. The two gold dragons he spoke of were naturally mocking the silly thing Mountain had done this morning by giving two gold dragons to a clumsy woman who moved logs.

"Oh, if Lord Mountain needs to borrow money, I am also willing to generously give Lord Mountain two gold dragons, and without repayment," Earl Damon laughed loudly.

Earl Gavin's face turned liver-colored.

Lady Sybell bit her lip, opened her mouth, glanced at Jeyne, and ultimately said nothing. There were too many things Lady Sybell wanted to say, but with two annoying earls here, it was best not to say anything to avoid humiliating herself.

This made Earl Gavin even more pleased. It also made Earl Leo feel very good.

Earl Leo said, "Earl Gavin, Lady Sybell, Lady Jeyne, Ser Gregor's policy announced this morning was impulsive! Ill-considered, poorly planned, I now feel like I'm dreaming."

Mountain laughed, "Earl Damon, Earl Leo, I have no money, and my parents-in-law have no money, but I want to ask a question, do you know that Duke Tywin has money?"

Damon held a piece of beef in the air with his fork, "Mountain, do you mean to say that Duke Tywin will give you money to train soldiers? You're fucking dreaming."

"I don't know, Earl Damon, you are Duke Tywin's cousin, you should ask Duke Tywin this question yourself."

Earl Damon's face immediately stiffened.

In the air, it was as if someone had slapped him with an invisible ear.

His right hand had been cut off, Adam Marbrand had returned to Ashemark in good spirits, the letter complaining to Duke Tywin must have been sent long ago, but Tywin Lannister in Casterly Rock had not sent a raven to Cliffrock City to rebuke Mountain.

Why?

This was a very delicate question.

Earl Leo was also a shrewd person, and immediately realized that Mountain's words would not all be false. Perhaps Duke Tywin would not give Mountain much money, but since Mountain said so, then the Duke would definitely help Mountain establish this army in some way.

As for why?

Earl Leo was not qualified to ask why about the things the Duke wanted to do.

Earl Leo laughed, "Ser Gregor, my joke about lending you two gold dragons just now was purely a joke, Earl Gavin, Lady Sybell, since Ser Gregor dares to announce the policy so boldly, he must have received some kind of support from Duke Tywin. Earl Gavin is Ser Gregor's father, and Duke Tywin is also Ser Gregor's father. Ser Gregor is really clever, saying nothing, then suddenly announcing it, and finally secretly watching our surprised reactions. Hahaha, hahaha!"

Earl Gavin and Lady Sybell also smiled slightly, their awkwardness containing a relieved expression. Sybell's eyes questioned her husband, Gavin's eyes responded, he did not know how Mountain would solve the problem of supporting the army. As for Duke Tywin giving Mountain money in the capacity of Mountain's father, Earl Gavin did not believe it at all.

Earl Damon, however, suddenly felt a bitter taste in his mouth, he threw his knife and fork down with a clang, and cursed, "Damn it, this food is so unpalatable, Earl Gavin, your chef should have his head chopped off!"

*

In the afternoon, the sun was setting.

On the northeastern official road of Cliffrock City, Cow and Bernie walked together.

Bernie looked around and saw that there were no familiar people from the same village. The official road was full of strangers. He asked Cow for money.

"Give me the gold dragon," Bernie shouted at Cow.

But Cow did not take out the gold dragon, "Bernie, the lord is recruiting soldiers, professional soldiers, you come to be a soldier, I will farm at home, I want to use this gold dragon to buy a pony, and then I can come to Cliffrock City to see you at any time."

"Being a soldier is also three days later," Bernie said rudely, "Give me the gold dragon first."

"You come to sign up to be a soldier, and I will give you the gold dragon," Cow insisted, "This way our family can raise dairy cows with peace of mind. We will not have to pay taxes or grain for the land we cultivate this year. After a year of hard work, our family will have money and grain."

Bernie was furious, seeing that there were more people coming and going around, he restrained his violent temper, "Quickly give me the gold dragon, you stupid woman."

Cow looked into Bernie's eyes, "Lord Gregor said that those with special skills will be given preferential treatment. You can imitate all kinds of sounds and can be Lord Gregor's personal guard."

"You don't know anything, he won't want me to be a guard, he needs people who are proficient in swordsmanship."

"Yes, when Ser Gregor is tired, when the knights and lords of Cliffrock City hold banquets for festivals and birthdays, they will need your wonderful performances. Bernie, your special skill is unique, Ser Gregor will be amazed by your skills. Come and sign up to be a soldier in three days and show your special skill to the recruiting officer."

"...Okay..." Bernie stretched out his hand to Cow.

Cow took out a gold dragon from her bosom and placed it in Bernie's hand.

Bernie put the gold dragon into his purse and stretched his hand out to Cow again.

Cow earned not one gold dragon, but two, for moving a log.