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Chapter 87: Imperial Conference (Part 1)
Chapter 87: Imperial Conference (Part 1)
??Chapter 87 Imperial Council (Part 1)
??As the capital of the Seven Kingdoms, King's Landing is located on the east coast of Westeros, overlooking Blackwater Bay.
??Three hundred years ago, Aegon Targaryen landed here, took three giant dragons with him, and started the road of conquest.
??After the War of Conquest ended, Aegon was crowned in Oldtown as "King of the Andals, the Rhoynar and the First Men, Ruler of the Seven Kingdoms and Defender of the Realm".
?? It is said that the Hightower family had humbly expressed their willingness to dedicate Old Town to the Targaryen family as the capital to rule the Seven Kingdoms, but Aegon finally rejected the proposal due to unknown considerations.
??He did not choose the most prosperous city in Westeros at that time as his capital, but built a new city—King's Landing—at the mouth of the Blackwater River where he landed.
?? means the place where the king comes.
??Three hundred years have passed. The once small fishing village at the mouth of the river has now become the largest city in Westeros with a population of 500,000.
??After the War of the Reavers, the Targaryen Dynasty fell, but the Baratheon family still used King's Landing as the capital to rule the Seven Kingdoms.
??This not-so-old city is still prosperous, but it is also faltering under the pressure of population beyond the limit of the times.
??On the hill of Aegon in the southeast corner of the city, there is the royal castle—the Red Keep.
??This majestic castle made of light red rocks is like a sleeping dragon, quietly crawling among the rocks, watching everything silently.
??Petyr "Littlefinger" Baelish, Chancellor of the Exchequer, rode through the tall bronze gates of the Red Keep, the mockingbird clasp of his cloak glinting in the sun. He seemed to be in a good mood today, smiling and nodding to every guard and servant he met along the way.
?? Walking into the meeting hall, Petyr found that Lord Jon Arryn, Hand of the King, had arrived.
??The Hand of the King, also known as the Prime Minister, is the king's chief adviser and order executor, responsible for managing the daily operations of the Seven Kingdoms.
??The seventy-year-old king's hand is showing his old age. His once dazzling blond hair has now turned gray, and his broad and thick shoulders are gradually weakening in the process of handling various complicated government affairs.
?? Only those blue eyes are still as sharp as before.
??After seeing Petyr, Duke Jon nodded to the Minister of Finance who had been picked up by himself, and then leaned over his desk again to look at the documents in his hand.
??Petyr bowed and saluted, came to his seat and sat down. He knew that the old duke didn't like to be disturbed when he was thinking about problems, so he sat quietly, his eyes wandering aimlessly in the hall.
The furnishings of the conference hall are quite luxurious, the floor is covered with Myrish carpets with exquisite patterns, the walls are covered with exquisite paintings from all over the world, and on both sides of the door are a pair of Valyrian sphinx statues, His piercing eyes seemed to be staring at the bored Chancellor of the Exchequer.
?? While waiting, the rest of the cabinet ministers also entered the chamber one after another.
??Secretary of the Sea Stannis Baratheon, Head of Intelligence Varys, Grand Maester Pycelle.
??Hand of the King, Duke Jon finally raised his head and asked, "Is everyone here?"
??The intelligence chief Varys, known as the "Octospider", smiled softly and said:
?? "Everyone is here except for Lord Renly, the Minister of Justice who is away on vacation, and Lord Barristan, Captain of the Kingsguard who accompanied His Majesty on the hunt."
??In fact, Varys has one less person to say, and that is King Robert Baratheon.
??But it is normal for His Majesty the king to be absent from the imperial meeting. If he really appears here, the sun will come out from the west.
After winning the throne, this brave king is like a child who snatches a toy and loses interest in it in an instant. To his adoptive father, Lord Jon Arryn, Hand of the King.
??It seems that the old duke is not just the "hand of the king", but also the head, eyes, and ears of the king... and the king himself only has a mouth for drinking and a **** for playing with women.
?? "Okay, let's get started." Duke Jon tapped on the table lightly, and said, "Let's discuss the dispute between Reach Bend and Dorne first. You all know about this, right? Do you have any comments?"
?? After a moment of silence, Intelligence Chief "Octospider" Varys said in a sweet voice:
?? "Didn't Lord Petyr just come back from the Eagle's Mouth Isle, so he must be very clear about the reason for this matter."
?? "Littlefinger" Petyr looked at the meaningful gaze cast by Varys, cursed the dead **** in his heart, then smiled slightly, and said:
?? "I just went to investigate the silver mine found in Yingzui Islet, and arranged for the casting of Silver Deer. I don't know anything about this dispute."
??Varys pretended to be surprised and raised his hand to cover his mouth: "I didn't expect that such a small silver mine would require Mr. Petyr to go there in person."
?? "This is the duty of the Minister of Finance, and the kingdom's finances are indeed a little tight now. I finally found a new silver mine. Of course, I have to go and see it myself."
??Varys seemed to want to say something more, but Duke Jon coughed lightly and brought the topic back:
?? "Okay, Petyr, then tell me what you think about the knight who pioneered Eagle Mouth Island."
??Petyr nodded towards the old duke, and said, "Sir Caesar is an outstanding knight, but he is also a knight who refuses to suffer."
?? Duke Jon nodded silently, as if he understood something.
??Afterwards, he looked at Chief Intelligence Officer Varys and asked, "Master Varys, what's your opinion?"
??Varys twisted his fat body, and said with a coquettish smile:
"My lord, I have inquired a lot of new news. This dispute is no longer limited to Yingzui Island and Starfall City. Almost all the lords in the west of Dorne have sent troops. As for the river bend, the Tully family, The Florens family, the Redwyne family, the Mullendoll family, and the Cooy family have also sent troops. Oh, the posture is not small."
?? Duke Jon frowned suddenly: "Have the Martell and Tyrell families issued a war order?"
"That's not true." Varys shook his shiny bald head, "However, Princess Arianne Martell is now in Starfall City, and she issued a call-up order to the nearby Dorne lord. As for the mention The Lear family has remained silent."
??Hearing this, the Minister of the Sea, Duke of Dragonstone Stannis Baratheon, who had remained silent all this time, said:
?? "The Tyrell family hasn't moved? Then why are there so many river bend lords participating in the battle?"
The eldest brother of the king is not tall, but his body is strong, and his skin is as hard as iron due to years of exposure to the sun. Although he is not yet thirty-five years old, his hair is about to fall out, leaving only a black circle Thin hair, like the shadow of a crown.
??His tone was dry and hard, speaking to anyone as if he was interrogating a prisoner.
?? Fortunately, Varys has long been used to Stannis' temper, knowing that he is not targeting himself, and said with a smile:
?? "The Tyrell family did not move. As for why the river lords sent troops to support Yingzui Island, I don't know."
??Petyr sneered: "Didn't your little birds tell you why the lords of the river bend sent troops?"
??"My little birds only have eyes, ears, and mouths. They will only tell me what they hear and see. As for the hidden things behind these, we need to analyze and speculate by ourselves."
?? "I didn't expect the little birds you trained to be so stupid..."
?? "Enough." Duke Jon patted the table, interrupting Petyr and Varys' bickering again.
??He sighed, turned his head to look at Grand Maester Pycell sitting at the end of the long table, and asked:
?? "Master Pacelle, what's your opinion?"
??Pycelle remained silent.
?? "Master Pycelle? Master Pycelle?"
??(end of this chapter)