Chapter 63: 1 Year and a fat Oaf
Chapter 63: 1 Year and a fat Oaf
It had been 1 year since Alexander's return from his short travel. Things have been smooth. 300 ships have already arrived and commissioned into Northern Naval service. 12,500 men serve on the ships as of then. They were all contract bound. The captains were Godroids for now, although they had already started to train their First officer to become a captain.
As only one fleet of 250 ships was completed. He had assigned 10 Godroids as Commodore, 5 as rear admiral, 2 as vice admiral, and 1 Wolf's sword as the Admiral. The ship models he brought from Doremon word had been made big and real with Big light and Upgrade light. Magic cannons and other things were installed and then commissioned into the navy.
The steel warship was currently under construction in the Navy's shipyard at the Sea Dragon Point, though it was all an illusion. He already had them fully complete. It was going to be officially introduced to the navy later. The shipyard was also heavily guarded by constant patrol ships and magic cannons on guard towers.
He gave away the remaining 50 ships of 300 to coast guard for securing the borders. They also had a Wolf's sword as commissioner. His current fleet was already the biggest fighting fleet in Westeros and many big Lords had heard the news of North's new mighty fleet.
Currently, his fleet worked in some escorting work for big merchant ships of the north. He had also given Manderlys a new design for trading ships and they were too happy to make it.
He was to have another delivery of 100 ships in some time, but that was for later. As for today, Alexander was going to be at another Lord's meeting.
...
"How have all of you been?" Alexander asked while sitting in his chair in the meeting hall.
"My lord, the last time we met here. You gave us the wonderful means to make food. Now, not only do we have enough to feed ourselves but we also sell to the east with Manderly's new merchant fleet. We are richer than ever, my lord" Greatjon Umber respectively spoke.
Manderly stood up and started speaking. "That is also due to Lord Stark. He gave me the new design for the trade ships. They are faster and store more, there's also the Northern Fleet which provides us the safety of travel. I am afraid, so much money is coming, I'll have to create another big vault""Hahaha... I might have a solution for that. All of you must have seen the new great city on Ramsgate, now called Norgold. It is due to open in a week and you are all invited. It's going to be the biggest trading city in the world. I also talked to the officials from the Iron Bank. They have accepted my proposal to open their branch in Norgold. You will all be able to store your money there, the city will also be safeguarded by a huge amount of police and Navy. The Northern Naval headquarters will be there so it's going to be quite safe. All of you are also gifted a manor there to live. House Manderly's White Harbor will become a manufacturer and industrial hub from now on. So, no one will lose anything." Alexander informed.
Alexander was also going to start Merchant's guild in the city. It will work under the jurisdiction of the city Mayor who will work under the Lord. A proper chain of command was going to be established to make sure that the city flourishes.
"My lord, my sale of Vodka has been bringing a lot of money to my house as well, but I've recently come across a problem. I received a raven from my biggest buyer in Reach that they are not allowed to buy my Vodka if I do not buy their crops." Lord Dustin spoke.
"Yes, my Lord. I received the same threat for my rice and rice wine." Howland Reed spoke. It was rare for him to come out of the neck.
Many other Lords also voiced their problems coming from the Reach.
"Silence... I've heard you all. I will deal with Reach. Do not stop your production. When Norgold opens. You can open your shops there and sell it from there to the rest of the world. We must have put a big dent in Reach's coffers by not buying their overpriced food. They are foolish to think that the threats will work. All of you, send ravens to every big house in Westeros. If they do any kind of business with the Reach, we will not sell them our drinks, crops, and other products. If all they want is food, they can buy it from us at a lower price than Reach. Also, If they still do business with the Reach, we will stop protecting their vassals from pirates." Alexander loudly proclaimed.
Reach could have found hundreds of other ways to deal with their food. Sell them to Asshai, they always need food there. But no, they wanted to pressurize the north.
"My lord, what if they still keep on doing business with Reach. Won't we lose money?" Roose Bolton spoke up.
"What do you want then? We bend ourselves to cater to Reach? Buy food from them even when we don't need it? Don't forget we are hardened, northern warriors. Those flower lovers have nothing on us. We have the mightiest Navy, we have money, we have strong armies too. Why should we fear anyone? Also, have you forgotten who Robert's best friend is? Crownlands will not do business with Reach. Vale too, I have helped Lord Jon Arryn to get rid of some pirate problem. Stormlands might side with Reach. I have good relations with Dorn as well so they might just stay neutral. We still buy some food from Riverlands just to keep them happy, so they will not go against us. We have nothing to lose but much to gain."
Alexander's words silenced any voice against his decision and the hall erupted in loud cheers. They all happily went away to prepare to go to the opening of Norgold.
...
Highgarden, Reach
"Mother, did you read this? Such audacity. I say they want war with us." Mace Tyrell showed a letter to his mother Olenna, sitting in the garden.
"Shut up, you stupid oaf. If they wanted war they would have already done so. No one in Westeros can fight their Navy. Lord Stark also has a firm grip on each house in the north. Even the Boltons are afraid of doing something wrong. It was you who declared war by sending those letters. Why did you think you could force them to buy food from us when they do not need it? Sometimes I really wonder if you are my real son but then I remember giving birth to you... *Sigh* It seems I'll have to go and meet this Lord Stark. Let's see if he is as the legends say" She went into deep thoughts.
"B-But, we can raise an army of a hundred thousand." Mace refuted.
"And? You do know that waging war on another kingdom without the consent of the King is treason. And even if we call for all banners, what then? They have rebuilt the Moat Cailin, even better than before. The same Moat Cailin which protected the north from Andals for thousands of years. Now, they also have a big canal dividing the North from the south. And before you say that we block them near the great bridge(arched bridge over the Great Moat canal). They also have a mighty navy. Now, go and play with some flowers, don't bother me" She shooed him away.
...
Alexander quietly sat in his office talking to his men at the new Iron Bank. They were finalizing all the plans and also the new insurance branch that Alexander was making. Traders could buy the insurance and pay a small amount monthly to secure their trade in the seas from pirates. The Northern navy would protect all those that take the insurance. They would be given a special small flag to put on ships. Whenever they are attacked, the flag would secretly send a signal to the nearest Northern Navy vassal.
He knew that people would not trust them but he had a small trick for that. He was going to remove all the murderers and rap*sts from the pirates and only let the small-time thieves work. Their job would be to terrorize some traders and not harm them, then the northern navy would come and save them.
When the words will travel, they will start taking the insurance. Then he'll hire some more small-time pirates to periodically show some threats. He'll also be getting rid of most pirates except the ones working for him. Ones with low sins will be given jobs and those with high sins will be judged.
He was also going to present other kinds of insurance later but for that, he'll need to have strict control over the whole Westeros.
*Knock Knock*
Elina entered, "Boss, I just received word that the Citadel is burning in green flames. Our men secretly helped them to escape. Marwyn and other Arch Maesters have convinced everyone to come here to Wintercity and establish a new Citadel in the Tower of Knowledge. Another thing, the first batch of 300 doctors and 1000 nurses have graduated. 100 Doctors will remain here and work in the City hospital. 150 will go to the new Norgold city and operate from 3 different hospitals. The rest 50 of them will go to Moat City."
"Good, good. When the next batch of doctors and nurses graduates, tell all the serving members of the government, Police, and Defence, that their health benefits service has started. Also, send a Rear Admiral and 50 ships under his command to Oldtown to bring the Maesters here," Alexander instructed.
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