The Mountain of Ice and Fire

Chapter 53: Cersei Falls into the Trap

(First, an extra chapter for the new Alliance Leader, [Delivering Children Ahong]'s reward, a 6000-word chapter!)

*

At dawn, the sound of horses' hooves shattered the tranquility of King's Landing.

The Mountain led his heavy cavalry out of the Iron Gate, taking the Rosby Road after leaving the city.

When the Mountain returns to the Westerlands, he should take the Kingsroad.

The Dragon Gate and the Old Gate lead to the Kingsroad.

Exiting the Iron Gate can also lead to the Kingsroad, but it's not the most convenient route.

Or he could take the Gate of the Gods, take the Golden Road, and after reaching the Westerlands, cross the Red Fork tributary and enter the Riverlands, passing through Riverrun.

But the Mountain took none of these routes; instead, he took the Rosby Road.

Kevan received the news. He had eyes following the Mountain out of the city, clearly seeing that the Mountain was taking the Rosby Road.

Taking the Rosby Road leads to the territory of Lord Gyles Rosby, and to the territory of House Stokeworth—currently ruled by Bronn and his wife, Lollys Stokeworth. Lollys is about to give birth; Bronn, the Knight of the Blackwater, is about to become a father—and to the Claw Isle.

Did the Mountain go to Claw Isle?

Did he go to Claw Isle to gather the tribal warriors of Claw Isle?

Kevan received news that on Claw Isle, the Mountain's horse soldier, Thomasman, was responsible for training warhorses, Ser Jekko Rock was responsible for training cavalry and infantry, and the island's blood witch, Daolty Quentina, was the legion's priest. Was the Mountain going to gather the tribal warriors of Claw Isle?

To take Riverrun, no amount of soldiers would be effective; force is useless. The city is built into a triangle based on the delta, like a huge ship. The city walls face the river on three sides, making it impossible to set up any siege equipment except for ships. Randyll Tarly's twenty thousand soldiers surrounded Riverrun on three sides, but they were all surrounding it across the river. It would be useless for the Mountain to gather more soldiers from Claw Isle, unless he had other plans.

This made Kevan feel deeply uneasy.

He didn't like the Mountain doing things outside of his plans.

But the Mountain had already led his troops out of the city, and Kevan could only wait and see what happened.

Once the Mountain leaves King's Landing and goes outside, who can persuade him to change his route and go straight to Riverrun? No one can.

Two of the people traveling with him were from Kevan's side: Royal Scholar Peggi and Earl Odd.

Earl Odd had five hundred cavalrymen, following the Mountain on the expedition.

As they traveled the Rosby Road, Scholar Peggi said on horseback, "Duke, it would be more convenient to turn onto the Kingsroad."

"This is the Kingsroad," the Mountain said.

Scholar Peggi was stunned.

The Mountain was also surprised: "Scholar, don't you know we're on the Kingsroad?"

Peggi didn't dare to respond, because it was too absurd. This was clearly the Rosby Road, but the Mountain insisted it was the Kingsroad and wouldn't allow any argument.

What did this mean?

Peggi's heart sank.

He knew the Mountain was evil, tyrannical, unmatched, and had achieved great military exploits, with his authority growing daily. But what did this mean? Clearly, everyone exited the Iron Gate and took the Rosby Road, but the Mountain said they were on the Kingsroad and looked at Peggi with a surprised expression.

Peggi smiled awkwardly: "Duke, this is not the Kingsroad; this is the Rosby Road. I'm not mistaken. Earl Odd is here; let Earl Odd say whether this is the Kingsroad or the Rosby Road."

"Good!" Amidst the sound of hooves, the Mountain and Peggi both looked at Earl Odd. The Mountain said, "Earl Odd, we are clearly on the Kingsroad now, but Scholar Peggi says we are on the Rosby Road. You be the judge and say something fair. Is this the Kingsroad or the Rosby Road?"

Earl Odd's heart trembled. What did the Mountain mean by this?

Along this road with thousands of cavalrymen, who didn't know they were on the Rosby Road? But why did the Mountain insist on saying it was the Kingsroad?

Could it be that under heaven, any road is the Kingsroad?

Odd didn't quite understand, but since the Mountain was blatantly lying, he would just treat it as a prank.

"Scholar Peggi, we are on the Kingsroad, not the Rosby Road."

Peggi was even more embarrassed. Fortunately, it was early morning, and the sky wasn't very bright, so Peggi's blushing face couldn't be seen clearly.

"Earl…" Scholar Peggi said.

"Scholar Peggi, why don't you ask any of the accompanying cavalrymen and see if you're wrong or I'm wrong?" the Mountain said calmly.

The captain of the guard, Erin, didn't wait for Scholar Peggi to ask and interjected, "Lord Mountain, this is clearly the Kingsroad. Why does Scholar Peggi say it's the Rosby Road?"

Another captain of the guard—Joyce Farca, the young tribal chief of the Farca tribe from Claw Isle—said with a fierce expression, "Lord Mountain, this kind of muddle-headed scholar who can't even recognize the road should be killed with one slash."

Peggi's heart jumped, and cold sweat poured down his back.

There were rumors that the Mountain killed people based on his mood. Could it be that he would face death just after leaving King's Landing?

"Lord Mountain, I was just joking with you. We are on the Kingsroad, not the Rosby Road."

The Mountain looked at Earl Odd and at his attendants, and said in a deep voice, "Scholar Peggi, this is clearly the Rosby Road. Why do you say it's the Kingsroad? Hmm!"

Peggi was educated in the Citadel to be upright and unyielding. Scholars only serve justice and fairness, don't take sides in politics, and are like the Night's Watch on the Wall, only fulfilling their duties and not becoming vassals of great nobles. Scholars have their own pride and honor.

Scholar Peggi was following the Prime Minister's orders for the first time, with one goal: to manage the Mountain's tax situation and record it. Before this work could even begin, he encountered this 'positive-negative reversal'. What did this mean? It meant that in the future, whatever the Mountain said would be the truth? Otherwise, his life would be in danger?

Peggi wanted to curse, but his full belly of knowledge and the honor of a scholar wouldn't allow it. Scholar Peggi was a man of principle: "Duke, it's early morning, and the sky isn't very bright. I mistakenly said the Rosby Road was the Kingsroad. Please forgive me, Duke, and warriors." Besides honor, there was something more worth cherishing: life. Peggi's new choice was undoubtedly the most suitable, just like the mathematics he was proficient in—there was only one standard answer.

"Forgive? No, Scholar Peggi, we are clearly on the Golden Road, but you say it's the Kingsroad? I don't understand. Are you a road idiot or are your eyes not working well?" the Mountain said.

"Duke, I am both a road idiot, and my eyes aren't very good," Scholar Peggi said.

The Mountain grunted, his voice full of sympathy: "Komm Werner, help the scholar carry his paper, pen, and ledger."

Scholar Peggi's paper, pen, and ledger weren't carried on his person but hung on his horse in saddlebags that were tied securely, so there was no need to worry about them falling off.

But the Mountain had spoken, and Scholar Peggi, who had already learned the 'essence of doing things' from the 'road name studies' class, untied the saddlebags and handed them to the Mountain's attendant, Komm Werner.

The sound of hooves thundered, four thousand iron hooves pounding the ground, causing the ground to tremble wherever they passed.

"Earl Odd, what road are we on now?"

*

Odd Lannister felt a chill. Why did the Mountain keep asking this question over and over? Scholar Peggi followed the Mountain, and in a short time, he had become the Mountain's man. In the future, the Mountain could fill in the accounts however he wanted, and Scholar Peggi already understood the way. Between mathematics and life, between scholar's honor and life, Scholar Peggi had made the wisest choice: life!

This was the first time Earl Odd had gone on an expedition with the Mountain, and in the short time since they had set out, Earl Odd had profoundly realized one thing: cherish life, stay away from the Mountain!

If you can't stay away, then follow him closely, walk under the banner of the Red Viper's Ice Sword, and listen to the Mountain's words.

*

Earl Odd laughed: "Duke, we are walking on the road of unity and accord."

The Lannister family doesn't lack good collaborators, like Earl Odd.

"Unity and accord?" The Mountain looked at Earl Odd. He was very certain that Odd and Peggi's hearts were on Kevan's side before leaving the city. This was absolutely not allowed. A warning was an act of kindness; not warning and directly drawing a sword was the act of a villain. "The Prime Minister insisted on keeping you in King's Landing, but I forcefully took you away with military power. Earl, why did the Prime Minister insist on keeping you in King's Landing?"

"Uh, the royal forces are weak."

"The Commander of the City Watch is Benlont Blount, Duke Tywin's drillmaster, and the City Watch are all royal forces; Her Grace the Queen Mother has always been careful to maintain her own legion, and the garrison of Maegor's Holdfast has increased to one thousand, making it the strongest protection of the royal family in years; the Kingsguard has sworn allegiance to the royal family, and the seven guards have been filled one by one; Her Grace the Queen Mother will also remarry into House Tyrell soon, gaining the allegiance of three thousand Reach warriors; there is a Royal Navy fleet at sea; now Storm's End has been pacified; three hundred Dornish hostages are in the Red Keep of King's Landing; the Reach has been pacified; the Crownlands are full of loyal subjects. Earl, why do you say the royal forces are weak?"

Earl Odd laughed, his laughter able to relieve his tension and relax him: "Duke, there are some things I can't say on horseback."

The sound of hooves clip-clopped. On the eastern seashore, a bright cloud layer appeared, and the sun's light shot out from below the horizon, illuminating the first cloud. Soon, the sea sun would rise.

"I think it's best to talk on horseback, just like snow salt, Westerling noodles, Arbor wine, and the Iron Islands fleet are easy to talk about."

*

Cold sweat seeped from Earl Odd's back. The Mountain was speaking like this in front of Scholar Peggi, and Scholar Peggi was ordered to send raven letters to the Prime Minister on a regular basis!

The cut-off of Arbor wine caused much discussion in King's Landing. Earl Odd and the Mountain weren't actually conspirators; everything was done by the Mountain, but the Mountain's mention made it impossible for Earl Odd to explain. Wine was still a matter of money and profit, but the Iron Islands fleet was a sensitive topic of power and politics. Prime Minister Kevan wouldn't allow Earl Odd to manipulate it.

The Mountain had once said that the Iron Islands fleet would attack the Westerlands, and he predicted correctly. However, the true target of the Iron Islands wasn't the Westerlands but the Mountain's legion. When Earl Odd told Prime Minister Kevan the Mountain's 'fragments of prophecy', Prime Minister Kevan dissuaded Earl Odd from returning to the Westerlands and joining forces with the Mountain to fight the Iron Fleet, because the Iron Fleet had joined forces with him in secret to deal with the Mountain in the Westerlands.

The Mountain hadn't slept all night, thinking it over and finally sorting things out.

Earl Odd would definitely tell his words to Prime Minister Kevan, because they were both Lannisters. If Earl Odd had to choose a side, he would definitely stand with Kevan, not the Mountain. Once he understood this, the remaining things were easy to explain. They had discussed it very secretly—Earl Odd, who had agreed to return to the Westerlands to deal with the Iron Fleet, was suddenly kept in King's Landing by the Prime Minister. Why? Unless the Iron Fleet wouldn't really attack Lannisport because of some benefit or agreement.

The brain is a good thing. Fortunately, the transmigration into the Mountain came with a bit of it!

Now was the moment of verification. Perhaps the Mountain's deduction was wrong?!

*

Earl Odd decided to throw out a real secret to cover up the secret of the Iron Fleet attacking the Clegane legion in the Westerlands. This secret was planned by the Prime Minister, and Earl Odd knew it at the last moment. He kept silent. Of course, he couldn't say it now, but how could he hide this secret that would enrage the Mountain without revealing another secret?

"Duke, the Prime Minister kept me because he is going to do something that will shock the Seven Kingdoms."

"What is it?" As expected, the Mountain's attention was drawn by Earl Odd's words.

Scholar Peggi's mind also went cold. After he knew these secrets, would it be a blessing or a curse? He was uneasy. Before leaving, the Prime Minister ordered him to swear allegiance to the Lannisters and to Kevan. He swore. Now it seemed that the oath made in the name of the Seven Gods and the scholar wasn't as powerful as the direct threat to life.

Scholar Peggi made a decision: abandon Kevan and submit to the Mountain.

The Mountain's oppressive aura and unparalleled ferocity were too much for many battle-hardened warriors to bear.

*

"Prime Minister Kevan wants me to escort Her Grace the Queen Mother to the Reach to inspect the people's conditions," Earl Odd said with a twisted expression. His painful performance of violating the oath was very realistic.

"Escort Her Grace the Queen Mother to the Reach to inspect the people's conditions?" Scholar Peggi's mind was still slow in politics, but in mathematics, he was a genius.

But the Mountain immediately understood.

For political gain, to prevent Cersei from making bad moves and disrupting the country, and to stabilize House Tyrell, Prime Minister Tywin had proposed to marry Cersei to Willas Tyrell, a cripple whose leg was broken by the Red Viper in a tourney.

It seemed that Prime Minister Kevan and Duke Tywin were really brothers and had thought of the same thing. Tywin used coercion, while Kevan used secret delivery, under the guise of inspecting the people's conditions. Duke Tywin's plan failed; he himself angered the Mountain and was defeated by the Mountain's Westerlands army, and Dye-White was captured alive, ultimately leading to his death. So what about Prime Minister Kevan?

The Mountain said in a deep voice, "Prime Minister Kevan wants to send Queen Mother Cersei out of King's Landing, and then King's Landing will truly become his world. He will control King Tommen, issue royal decrees, abolish Queen Mother Cersei's titles of Regent and Protector of the Realm, and then issue them to himself by royal decree."

"Yes, Duke," Earl Odd said in a gloomy tone. He covered up one secret with another, successfully diverting the Mountain's attention.

Scholar Peggi felt a chill all over his body.

Without a doubt, the complexity of political officialdom exceeded the calculations of mathematics.

*

King's Landing, the Red Keep. Maidenvault.

Prime Minister Kevan and Minister of Justice Tyrell.

"The Mountain has left, through the Iron Gate, taking the Rosby Road," Kevan said with a calm gaze, a calm expression, and a calm tone.

"He's going to Claw Isle? To gather barbarians?" Mace said in surprise.

Storm's End could not be taken not because of the small number of troops, but because of the geographical environment. The catapults of Storm's End on the city walls could project stones to the opposite bank of the river, high above, but the opposite bank could not project into the city. If they were to bombard each other, the siege catapults would only become targets.

“I don’t know,” said Prime Minister Kevan.

“It must be a gathering of barbarians. Besides training, the Mountain’s legion allows soldiers to participate in battles. Battle is the best training method the Mountain believes in. The survivors are all veterans. Those with poor physical condition and weak courage are naturally eliminated in battle, and he can also save military pay.” Mace said with a sour tone.

“I don’t want to discuss the Mountain’s affairs. Cersei the Queen Dowager appreciates his loyalty.” Kevan said in an icy tone.

“Okay, let’s not talk about the Mountain. Earl Oakheart was summoned away by the Mountain with a military order. Who will escort Cersei the Queen Dowager to the Reach?” Mace stared at Kevan.

Letting Earl Oakheart escort Cersei the Queen Dowager to the Reach was Prime Minister Kevan's plan.

“Let Ser Balon Swann of the Kingsguard escort her. Once in the Reach, kill Ser Balon Swann, control Cersei, and then let her marry Willas Tyrell. Let Willas work hard to get Cersei pregnant as soon as possible. She loves children. Once she has children, she will be more cautious in her actions.”

“Prime Minister, everything will be arranged according to your instructions. However, Margaery hopes to be engaged to King Tommen as soon as possible.”

“After Cersei is sent away, King Tommen and Queen Margaery can be betrothed and married at any time.” Kevan’s indifferent tone sent chills down one’s spine.

“Good!” Duke Mace Tyrell agreed.

*

Prime Minister Kevan came out of the Maidenvault and arrived at the western gate of Maegor's Holdfast.

The east side of the Maidenvault is Maegor's Holdfast.

In the Queen Dowager's Ballroom, the Prime Minister met Her Majesty the Queen Dowager.

Cersei saw that the Prime Minister was unhappy.

“Uncle, what happened?”

“The Tyrell family’s affairs.”

“What does Mace want to do?”

“Mace Tyrell just told me that the Reach's food reserves are not much anymore, and they can hardly continue to provide King’s Landing with wheat, corn, potatoes, rice, milk, and the sweet wine of the Reach.”

Cersei's face immediately turned cold and hard: “Is Mace threatening us with food again?”

“Yes, Your Majesty the Queen Dowager, I suggest you reject the Mountain’s matchmaking proposal. Margaery is not worthy of King Tommen. Her reputation has already been damaged. First she married Randyll Tarly, then Joffrey Baratheon, and now she is marrying Tommen. We should reject her.”

“Uncle, rejecting Margaery is easy, but how do we solve the food problem?”

“Is the Master of Coin here? How long can we last without relying on the food from the Mace Tyrell family?” Kevan looked grim.

Cersei didn't know how long they could last. She couldn't see the big picture, and she never cared about the small things.

Cersei signaled with her eyes, and the maid went out. Soon, the Master of Coin arrived.

Prime Minister Kevan’s face was as hard as iron: “Master of Coin, how long can the Red Keep’s food last?”

“Ten days, Prime Minister.”

“Ten days?” Cersei couldn't believe it. “Wasn't the Reach constantly transporting food to King’s Landing?”

“The transport stopped long ago, Your Majesty the Queen Dowager.”

“Why didn't you report it beforehand?”

“Ten days ago, I reported the food problem in King’s Landing to Your Majesty the Queen Dowager, the Prime Minister, the Grand Maester, and Duke Mace himself.”

Cersei's face stiffened.

She remembered that ten days ago, the Master of Coin did mention it to her, but Cersei didn't take it to heart, because now there was a Prime Minister, and when the Master of Coin reported, King’s Landing's food reserves could still last for twenty days.

Cersei looked at Kevan: “Uncle, we have to buy food from the Free Cities across the Narrow Sea.”

“We have no money!”

“The Mountain persuaded the High Septon to pay us 600,000 gold dragons. Use it to deal with the emergency first.”

“Your Majesty the Queen Dowager, the Iron Bank’s manager has already taken away 600,000 gold dragons.”

Cersei's face looked very bad: “Prime Minister, I said not to repay the interest first, let the people of the Iron Bank get out.”

“Your Majesty the Queen Dowager, I cannot anger the Iron Bank. If the Iron Bank supports Dorne, supports the North, supports the Vale, we will not be able to keep the Iron Throne at all. If the Iron Bank supports Daenerys, we will all be burned to death by dragon fire.”

Cersei sneered: “Uncle, you are the Prime Minister, the Hand of the King, I want to hear what you are going to do next?”

“Mace has a proposal, but I sternly rejected it.” Prime Minister Kevan tried hard to put on Tywin Lannister's expressionless face, but Cersei still saw the struggle in the Prime Minister's heart.

“What does Mace want to get before he is willing to transport food again? I am really fed up with him using food to blackmail us. We will get one million gold dragons from the Bank of Baelor in a month, and first go to the Free Cities of the Narrow Sea to buy food.”

“Your Majesty the Queen Dowager, one million gold dragons must be used for military equipment, people’s livelihood, and royal expenses, and it will take half a year to get the remaining two million gold dragons. Food cannot rely on purchases, but on self-sufficiency. Money must be invested in the farmers in the Riverlands and the Crownlands to help them restore production.”

“Hehe!” Cersei sneered, “Uncle, according to your plan, we will starve to death before we can wait for the farmers to grow food.”

“I will find a way to solve the food problem, I will go to persuade Lord Mace.”

Cersei kept thinking about 'Mace has a proposal' that Kevan said, but was rejected by the Prime Minister. So, what was Mace's proposal? Although it was another exchange of benefits, Cersei really wanted to know since Kevan didn't say it.

“What is Mace's proposal? That made my uncle resolutely reject him.”

“He wants to get glory.”

“Glory?” Cersei snorted, “Glory and chivalry are all illusory things. The royal family has no shortage of giving out glory and knightly honors. What does he want? Titles? Commendations? Titles? Official positions?”

“He wants Her Majesty the Queen Dowager to take a trip to the Reach, so that the people of the Reach can admire Her Majesty’s majesty and show the glory of the Tyrell family.”

“Inspect the people’s conditions in the Reach? Let the people of the Reach know that the Tyrell family is respected in the palace?” Queen Dowager Cersei knew these tricks. In fact, it was all about eating, drinking, and having fun. When Robert was alive, what he liked to do most was to inspect various places, and then plant his bloodline in various places.

“Yes, Your Majesty the Queen Dowager. The Tyrell family is demanding too much. He first proposed to let His Majesty the King go out for inspection, and I scolded him severely. King Tommen is still young, how can he be allowed to go out to other places? He is prone to illness due to acclimatization.”

“Tell Mace, I will go to the Reach, but he must immediately transport food to King’s Landing, day and night, and threatening us with food is only allowed this once, and there will be no exceptions.” Queen Dowager Cersei said.

“Your Majesty the Queen Dowager, no!” Kevan stopped her loudly.

“Uncle, don’t forget, I am the Regent, Protector of the Realm.” Cersei said lightly, “For the guards, I want Ser Balon Swann and Osmund Kettleblack of the Kingsguard to be the left and right captains of the guards.”

Kevan was silent for a while, he looked at Cersei, their eyes met: “...Cough cough... As you wish... Your Majesty the Queen Dowager...“

*

ps: There is still a guaranteed chapter today. I didn’t update yesterday, I will make it up, credibility is not guaranteed ^_^ ^_^ ^_^ ^_^

Thanks to [Sending Children Ahong] [Being for People] for the reward support, thank you, handshake!