The Mountain of Ice and Fire

Chapter 52 Bank

(Guaranteed chapter, 5000 words)

*

Kevan knew he had overstepped his bounds in this matter.

Since the kingdom had an intelligence minister, he should not have openly maintained his own intelligence system. Having his own people to gather intelligence in secret was acceptable to everyone, but openly having another intelligence system and receiving state military pay was indeed inappropriate.

This was a humiliation to Bronn!

The Mountain's counterattack was merciless, simple, and effective: kill!

Kevan suddenly realized that a prime minister without the support of an army was nothing.

He thought of Eddard Stark.

The Northern army was thousands of miles away in the North, Eddard's men in King's Landing were all killed, and Eddard was imprisoned, left to be slaughtered without any power to resist.

The Mountain didn't have many troops at the moment, just over six hundred heavy cavalry, but the Master of Ships' navy with its three thousand warriors seemed to all be on his side. Claw Isle was right in the Crownlands, and Dragonstone blocked all waterways to King's Landing...

Kevan felt ants crawling on his back, a tingling sensation, which was cold sweat.

He suddenly felt that if the Mountain was doing this intentionally, then the Mountain's meticulous thinking, perfect layout, and far-reaching planning far exceeded his imagination. Even Tywin, if he were alive, would never have imagined that the Mountain had such wise plans.

What did the Mountain want to do?

Kevan met the Mountain's gaze, not losing out to the Mountain's aura, but his heart was truly cold, like winter.

The Mountain's face was equally calm, but his heart was as cold and hard as iron.

Military power was strength, and his fist was the biggest now. The troops from Claw Isle could reach King's Landing in less than half a day. The Royal Navy's warriors could start killing with weapons at a moment's notice, and he didn't need to read Kevan's face at all.

If Kevan wanted to have another public intelligence system, he would definitely have to defeat him. The Prime Minister didn't give the Intelligence Minister the power he deserved, taking the lead in breaking the rules of royal power, and the Mountain didn't need to give the Prime Minister any face.

Since everyone was an understanding person, then let's all work silently!

As long as Kevan didn't stop, he would kill all his people. After the backbone was killed, he would kill the Lannister family branch leaders. In any case, those who took action were all street gangsters, and had nothing to do with the Mountain and Bronn. Let the City Watch Commander, Bronn, investigate the case.

Kevan and the Mountain met eyes, and in an instant, Kevan thought a lot, but he didn't dare to speculate what the Mountain was thinking. He suddenly thought of Littlefinger Tyrion Lannister, who tried everything to hire a mercenary group to protect himself. Now he understood Littlefinger's urgent thoughts at the time... Littlefinger finally secured the support of the treasury's money, allowing Bronn to hire a mercenary group to protect the Tower of the Hand and himself...

The Mountain also thought of Littlefinger, because if Kevan didn't stop, he would soon know that beside the Dragon Mother, there would be a dwarf Prime Minister, who was the Tyrion Lannister he beheaded.

Littlefinger's matter would eventually be exposed, but not now.

When the Mountain's wings were fully grown, and Littlefinger and Daenerys were coercing the Westeros continent, the Mountain didn't mind anyone knowing of Littlefinger's existence. At that time, the truth about Eddard Stark's matter, Tywin's murder, and Sansa Stark would all be made public...

Everyone would no longer have any secrets, all swimming naked, leaving only one form of existence: a contest of strength!

*

Kevan remained calm and said lightly: "Today's meeting of the Small Council has an important government matter. We don't know when Petyr Baelish will return, and we may need to elect a new Master of Coin. The expenses of the royal court and national affairs need someone to control."

"Elect a new Master of Coin to borrow money from all over?" The Mountain said indifferently, "Borrow from the Great Sept of Baelor? Borrow from the Lannisters of the Westerlands? Borrow from the Iron Bank of Braavos across the Narrow Sea? Borrow from the wealthy great lords?" The Mountain looked at Mace, Qyburn, Bronn, Bronn, Kevan... looking at every member of the Small Council, and said lightly, "If it's just to find someone to borrow money, I don't think it's necessary. Let the court steward take on the role."

Everyone looked at each other.

Kevan stared at the Mountain: "Duke Gregor, I don't understand what you mean."

"What I mean is that we need to find someone who can make money to serve as Master of Coin. This person must know how to make money, not how to borrow money. If he doesn't have his own way to make money, it's better to leave the position of Master of Coin vacant."

Mace, Qyburn and other important ministers all nodded.

"Lord Mountain, do you have a suitable candidate?"

"I don't, but I think that no matter who is recommended to be the Master of Coin, he must tell us in front of us how he makes money. If the method of making money is not feasible at all, he is not a qualified Master of Coin."

Kevan said: "It is difficult to find someone who can make money. Littlefinger is the most capable person in the kingdom, but he still cannot meet the needs of the national treasury."

"That's because he met a king named Robert Baratheon. The palace's current debt of millions of gold dragons was all owed by King Robert. King Robert never attended court and squandered money. He always looked down on 'counting coppers', but in fact, the true strength of a country lies in 'counting coppers'. He never asked how a country should 'count coppers', only caring about spending coppers lavishly. For sixteen years, the national treasury was completely squandered by him, and he also owed high interest loans everywhere, owing the Great Sept of Baelor more than one million gold dragons, owing the Lannisters of the Westerlands more than one million gold dragons, owing Storm's End hundreds of thousands of gold dragons, owing the Iron Bank across the Narrow Sea more than three million gold dragons, and owing small loans from other nobles that are negligible. Now that the debt to the Great Sept of Baelor has been completely waived, can the million gold dragons owed to the Lannister family be waived first?"

Kevan's eyes flickered: "Lord Gregor, the royal family owes the money of Lord Tywin Lannister."

"Yes, then who is the heir to Casterly Rock? Jaime? Queen Cersei? Jaime is a Kingsguard, who does not marry, have children, inherit, or own any territory, and dedicates his life to the royal family; Queen Cersei is a member of the Baratheon family, and she is no longer a Lannister in the true sense, so only you, Lord Kevan, are left?! Prime Minister, are you the heir to Casterly Rock?"

Kevan was speechless!

He wanted to, but Queen Cersei would not agree. Letting Cersei inherit Casterly Rock would not be recognized by him and the direct line and branches of the Lannister family.

"Okay, let's put aside the debt owed to the Lannister family for now, then what about the debt owed to Storm's End? King Tommen is the heir to Storm's End, and I think the Prime Minister should persuade the Queen Mother and His Majesty the King to first waive all the hundreds of thousands of gold dragons that the royal family owes to Storm's End."

"I will advise the Queen Mother and King Tommen," Kevan said.

Mace said slowly: "If the Lannisters waive the million debt of the national treasury, and Storm's End waives the hundreds of thousands of debt of the national treasury, then only the more than three million debt of the Iron Bank will be left."

The Mountain said: "Then how should the gold dragons owed to the Iron Bank be repaid? As far as I know, the manager of the Iron Bank will come to King's Landing next month to demand repayment. If we can't repay, Prime Minister, do you have a way to deal with the Iron Bank?"

"Not for now."

Grand Maester Qyburn said with concern: "If we can't repay the Iron Bank's money, our kingdom will be in danger. No one has ever dared to owe the Iron Bank money without repaying it. A king of an island across the Narrow Sea didn't repay the money, and his kingdom was overthrown by the Iron Bank within three months. The new king took over the debt, and the kingdom was only at peace after finally paying off the debt."

"If the Iron Bank turns against us, I estimate that their way of dealing with us is to support Dorne, the Vale, and the North to overthrow us. This is their usual method of revenge," Mace said in a deep voice.

Qyburn sighed: "For hundreds of years, no governor, king, or grand duke has dared to owe money without repaying it. There are rumors that they have cooperation with the Faceless Men of the House of Black and White on the Isle of Faces. Without exception, the governors, kings, and grand dukes who don't repay the money have all had their families destroyed and their clan leaders assassinated."

"The people of the Iron Bank are too good at counting coppers," the Mountain said, "This is the absolute power of people who Robert looked down on. With money, the Faceless Men can also be used by them. With money, our enemies can buy the best weapons, hire the best warriors, and bribe the most powerful nobles to overthrow our kingdom."

"Maybe the Iron Bank will even run to support Daenerys Targaryen," Bronn said suddenly, "I received news that Daenerys Targaryen's three dragons have grown up and have combat power. Relying on the three dragons, she burned the slave masters of Astapor and seized the Unsullied army of nearly ten thousand out of thin air. In a short period of time, Daenerys has taken the entire Slaver's Bay and liberated all the slaves. The three major cities of Slaver's Bay, Meereen, Yunkai, and Astapor, have all fallen into her hands."

The Mountain said indifferently: "If the manager of the Iron Bank comes next month and we can't repay the money, the Iron Bank may well spend money to fund Daenerys to seize the Iron Throne. This is their consistent method."

The meeting room fell silent. The atmosphere became heavy.

Kevan said: "We currently do not have the ability to repay more than three million gold dragons."

"Can't we pay the interest first?" Bronn said.

"The interest is also hundreds of thousands of gold dragons. How many gold dragons are currently in the national treasury?" Mace asked.

"There are only about less than fifty thousand gold dragons," Qyburn said worriedly, "I wanted to apply for some gold dragons for medical research, but half of the money was deducted by the finance department."

"Fifty thousand gold dragons?" Mace said in surprise, "We supported a large sum of gold dragons when we entered King's Landing."

"Lord Mace, the Royal Navy needs money from scratch. King's Landing has been in repeated wars, and the repair of the city walls, the soldiers' salaries, and the pensions all require huge support. The food distribution and resettlement of hundreds of thousands of refugees is also a huge expense. During this period, after the war began, the royal family only had expenses and almost no income," Kevan said.

"Electing a Master of Coin now will not solve our financial problems," the Mountain said.

"The Great Sept of Baelor has money," Kevan looked at the Mountain, "Lord Gregor, you have just eliminated the evil High Sparrow for the Great Sept of Baelor. The Great Sept of Baelor is grateful for your action, and I think the High Septon will definitely be willing to lend you a sum of money."

"Lord Gregor, borrow a sum of money first and pay off the interest of the Iron Bank," Mace said.

"The Great Sept of Baelor will not be willing to lend money to me," the Mountain said, "My personal reputation is not good. If I default in the future, the High Septon will have no choice. I will not borrow money from the Great Sept of Baelor in my personal name either. If I borrow money in my name, I will use it myself."

"Lord Gregor, you come forward and borrow money in the name of King Tommen," Kevan said.

The Mountain slowly shook his head: "The Great Sept of Baelor has waived the royal family's million gold dragon debt, and the royal family is asking the Sept for money again? This damages the royal family's honor, and I will not do such a shameless thing. Prime Minister, the royal treasury is empty, you should think of other ways. If you have to borrow money, you should come forward to borrow it yourself."

The Mountain wasn't stupid!

"The interest of the Iron Bank must be paid," Qyburn said with a serious face, "This is the bottom line. We cannot push the Iron Bank to our enemies. Once the Iron Bank has no hope of getting money, it will support our enemies."

Everyone was silent again.

"How about this, I will first recommend someone to be the temporary Master of Coin: Earl Gyles Rosby of the Crownlands," Kevan said.

"Earl Rosby is old, not in good health, and has a cough," Qyburn said.

"He is very loyal and has excellent character. He has no direct heirs and will probably not seek personal gain," the Mountain said.

"Earl Gyles has hired stonemasons and goldsmiths and is building a statue for Lord Tywin Lannister, to be erected in front of the Lion Gate of King's Landing," Mace said, "If he comes to be the temporary Master of Coin, the nobles of the Crownlands will have no objection, and the Queen Mother and King Tommen will also agree."

Building a statue for Tywin, this flattery is well done.

No wonder Kevan proposed Earl Gyles Rosby as the Master of Coin. This old earl could lose his life at any time because of a cough, but he still does not forget to please the royal family.

"Okay, if we must find a new Master of Coin, I agree that Earl Gyles Rosby will serve. His qualifications, status, loyalty, and character are all top choices," The Mountain agreed to Gyles to be the Master of Coin, mainly because of Gyles's昏庸wastedness and incompetence, he would not become Kevan's pawn, nor could he become the royal family's accomplice.

Old Gyles, who was about to die and could barely walk, was also a kind old man without fangs. As for the financial difficulties of the country, the Mountain did not care.

Next month, the manager of the Iron Bank will come to King's Landing to demand repayment.

In previous years, when Littlefinger was there, he always had a way to borrow from the east and west to pay the interest and send people back. This time Littlefinger was not there, and Kevan recommended an incompetent puppet earl to be the Master of Coin. The Mountain decided to wait and see how Prime Minister Kevan would perform. When Kevan was desperate, he would either use the underground treasury of Casterly Rock, or come to the 'bank' that the Mountain and the High Septon cooperated with.

*

"Bank?" Kevan looked at Tyrus Lannister.

"Yes, Prime Minister."

Prime Minister's intelligence chief Tyrus Lannister has returned. The original official intelligence system controlled by Kevan was revoked, and the intelligence personnel who received the national treasury's military pay were merged into Bronn.

The Mountain won the dark war, clearing the way forward for Bronn.

"Where is the bank located?"

“The crossroads of Steel Street, Silent Sisters Street, Gods Street, and King's Road, next to the Pyromancers' Guild's two shops.”

“Opened by the Great Sept of Baelor?”

“Yes, but the mercenaries hired by the monks are Clegane men, under the Mountain. On the shop's door, on the left, there's a small flag with a red smoke beast and an ice sword, and on the right, the seven-pointed star flag of the Great Sept of Baelor.”

The Mountain again?

Did the High Septon come up with the idea for the bank, or was it the Mountain?

Kevan felt a wave of unease.

“Does the bank store gold dragons?”

“Lord Hand, I heard there are gold dragons, silver stags, copper stars, and copper pennies.”

If you put money in the bank, you have to worry about being robbed.

“How many Clegane soldiers are responsible for guarding the bank?”

“Two at the front door, two inside, and two at the counter.”

“Six swords?!” Kevan felt it was obviously too few. If there was a lot of money, a sudden raid by a dozen foreign mercenaries could rob the bank. However, the Mountain's reputation was too great, and the Great Sept of Baelor represented the Faith of the Seven, with believers all over the Seven Kingdoms. There were also many commoners and nobles across the Narrow Sea who believed in the Seven.

“The bank lends money to anyone and accepts anyone depositing money in it?” Kevan found it unbelievable.

“Yes, Lord Hand, I didn't believe it at the time, and many people didn't believe it. I was in the tavern when a monk came to promote it to me.”

“A monk promoting a bank?” Kevan felt like he was listening to a very absurd story.

The white-robed monks of the Great Sept of Baelor were considered pure and sacred in the hearts of the commoners, knights, and nobles.

“Lord, when the white-robed monk promoted the bank to me, I was completely dumbfounded. Then I went to find out more about the situation and saw refugees lining up inside the door to apply for loans from the bank.”

“Did the bank lend money to refugees?”

“Yes!”

“How much did they lend?”

“The most was one silver stag, the least was two copper stars.”

“Did they make a written agreement?”

“Yes, but most refugees can't write.”

Kevan's heart was filled with confusion.

The Sept lends money to refugees, can they recover the principal?

“The bank also lends money to refugees who can't sign?”

“Yes, but they must be followers of the Seven Gods. The person at the counter asks the commoners who want to borrow money to swear in the name of their family honor and the Seven Gods, and then they can get the coins by drawing a circle on the agreement.”

“What if they are not followers of the Seven Gods?”

“There are monks next to them who tell them how to go to the Great Sept of Baelor to become believers first. After becoming believers, they can borrow money from the bank.”

The loyalty of most believers is beyond doubt. Once they have money, they will only give more and will never default on their debts. It is a normal part of life for believers to donate money to the Sept.

“What is the interest rate on the loans?”

“From three percent to thirty percent.”

A maximum interest rate of thirty percent?!

The highest interest rate for borrowing money from underground casinos reaches one hundred percent.

Kevan quickly estimated that no matter what the interest rate was, what money could be made by lending money to refugees?

“What about depositing money?”

“If you put extra money in the bank, the bank will give interest. The more money you deposit and the longer the time, the higher the interest. The monk who promoted it to me thought I was a mercenary, and he advised me to divide the money I earned into two parts, one part to deposit in the bank and one part to keep on hand to spend. If I get injured or die in battle, I can specify on the deposit slip who should inherit the money. The bank will send monks to find my heir and personally deliver the money to the heir's hands.”

Kevan pondered for a long time: “Tuers, go and invite Lord Mountain over, and tell him I'm inviting him to dinner.”

*

ps: There is one more chapter.