Chapter 383 decision

In the dense forest, a tall black bear with dark fur fell powerlessly in a pool of blood, surrounded by six roaring hounds.

Amidst the rapid sound of hooves, a group of more than 20 people arrived on horseback.

Sam Weller stopped his horse and said with a smile:

"Yes, it seems that today's lunch has been settled."

After speaking, he got off his horse and directed his men to light the fire.

Lord Randall Tarly also got off his horse and stepped forward to help.

The Tully family uses the hunter as their coat of arms, so they are naturally familiar with how to deal with their prey. Earl Randyll did it himself, and quickly peeled off a nearly perfect bear skin.

Afterwards, he divided the black bear into several large pieces for grilling.

After finishing all this, Earl Randall washed the blood on his hands with mountain spring water, took a few sips from the wine bag handed by Samwell, and said:

"Remember when I took you hunting when you were a kid?"

"Yes." Samwell nodded vaguely, many memories of the original owner have been blurred.

"What is more difficult than hunting is often handling the prey." Earl Landau said meaningfully.

Samwell laughed and said:

"Are you talking about my treatment of Qingting Island?"

Earl Randall nodded and admitted:

"I heard that you named Lucas Dayne the Earl of Arbor Island."

"Yes, after capturing Qingting Island, I am going to confer this territory to Sir Lucas."

"The ancestor of the Redwyne family was 'Vine' Gilbert, son of 'Greenhand' Garth. They have been operating on that island for thousands of years, and the Arbor has long been used to accepting these orange-haired, freckled Redwyne's rule, now you give them a Dane? Do you think they will be convinced?"

Samwell said with a relaxed expression:

"The Stormlands accepted the rule of Baratheon before, and then the rule of the Durandon family, but now, aren't they still subject to the rule of Caesar?

In my opinion, the common people don't really care what the ruler's surname is, nor are they interested in the power games played by the nobles. All they want is to fill their stomachs and live a stable life.

As long as we can guarantee this, no matter whether it is Qingting Island or the stormy land, there will be no problems.

The same goes for all of Westeros. "

Earl Randall glanced at his confident son and said:

"You're right, the lower class people really don't care much about the surname of the lord on the head, but you can't just rely on these lower class people for your rule. You also need knights and small lords. These people still value blood.

The reason why you were able to gain the recognition of the princes of the Stormlands is due to the great dragon. But Ser Lucas has no dragons.

I'm not saying he can't rule Qingting Island, but if you want to avoid trouble, you'd better take some measures

"for example?"

"For example, your younger brother married a Florent, so Brightwater City can accept his rule. You'd better let Sir Lucas also marry Redwyne."

"I will give suggestions, but Lucas can decide whether to marry or not." Samwell said perfunctorily, but he didn't intend to force Lucas.

He knew that his father, like almost all the nobles in this world, cared more about bloodlines and claims, which related to their fundamental interests, so even if the Redwyne family was an enemy, he subconsciously wanted to protect the rights of the other party.

But as an "outsider", Samwell has no such concerns at all, and even wants to challenge the existing aristocratic system.

Of course, he will not act recklessly and make himself an enemy of the Seven Kingdoms.

Marrying Daenerys and hatching dragons are just his efforts to cater to the nobles of the Seven Kingdoms.

But he always wanted to try it out.

Qingting Island is a suitable testing ground.

Lucas Dane has no blood relationship with the Redwyne family, and he was born in Dorne, the sworn enemy of the River Bend. He would not marry a Redwyne because of his vows. Samwell would like to see, the people on this island How would the nobility and the populace react to such a new ruler.

Earl Randall saw his son say this, so he stopped persuading him.

The bear meat on the grill oozes fat under the flames, dripping down and making a crackling sound, and the seductive aroma permeates the forest.

The servants delivered the roasted bear meat.

Samwell took it, not afraid of the heat, and took a bite.

The meat is firm and full of oil.

Earl Randall cut off a piece of meat with a knife, put it in his mouth, and chewed it carefully. Also asked:

"You summoned the nobles of the Reach and Storm this time, not just to celebrate your son's birthday, right?"

"Yes." Samwell didn't hide it either, "I'm going to march into King's Landing."

"I'm in a hurry." Earl Landau commented.

Samwell sighed helplessly:

"I also understand, but there is really no way. I'm afraid you don't know it. The news just came from the north that Ed Stark surrendered. Both he and his son Robb were sent to the Great Wall to be night watchmen. The youngest son Rui Ken inherits Winterfell and bows the knee to the new Lord of the North, Roose Bolton."

"Ed Stark's failure was doomed a long time ago." Earl Landau didn't look surprised at all, "In fact, I was surprised that he could last so long. But, why is his youngest son inheriting Winterfell? ? Didn't he have three sons? Could it be that the second son also went to the Great Wall?

Samwell's eyes flickered, and he said:

"Duke Ed's second son, Bran, is lame and, I heard, disappeared."

Earl Randall obviously didn't care about Bran Stark, and turned to say:

"Although Roose Bolton ruled the North in name, it will take a long time to bring the proud Lords of the North to their knees. Remember, handling prey is harder than hunting.

The same goes for your stormlands. Now rush to mobilize them to fight against King's Landing. It's fine if you succeed, but if you fail, your reputation will be completely ruined.

Therefore, I suggest you not to worry, and confront Lannister across the river for two or three years, and you take the opportunity to gather people's hearts in the stormland, the artificial canal is good, if it is successfully built, it will make the people of the stormland appreciate your kindness, even Even if they failed to march into King's Landing, the fundamentals of the Stormlands would not be shaken. "

"But I can't wait that long. And I decided to fight King's Landing not entirely because of the situation in the north." Samwell shook his head and said, "Do you know Aemon Targaryen?"

"I know, the bachelor of Castle Black. Back then, he voluntarily gave up the throne to guard the Great Wall."

"He came to look for me two months ago. Unfortunately, I had just returned from Slaver's Bay, and he couldn't last long enough to see me. Margaery told me that Maester Aemon and the others met a ghoul who had been resurrected from the dead on the Great Wall. And there are hundreds of thousands of savages marching southward, as if they are avoiding something terrible."

Earl Randall frowned:

"You don't believe in the legends of the White Walkers, do you?"

"I believe it." Samwell said seriously.

Earl Randall and his son looked at each other for a while, then shrugged and said:

"You are the king, you make the decision. However, I suggest that you at least deal with Dorne before marching into King's Landing, otherwise it will be very troublesome if the Martell family comes out to attack our rear while the army is going north."

"The Martell family can't last long." Samwell said with a relaxed expression, "My fleet has blocked the Green Blood River, and they cannot get any food supplies from the outside world. And don't forget, Sunspear City still has a river What about the two great armies of the Midlands and the Vale, if Arianne can't feed them, hum."

"As long as you are prepared." Earl Randall said, "You don't have to worry about the Reach, the Duke of Metz has always been honest, and now that Margaery gave birth to your eldest son, he will naturally have no objections. I estimate that the River Bend can mobilize about 80,000 troops this time."

Samwell said: "The Stormlands should mobilize 40,000, and the 8,000 Unsullied I brought back from Slaver's Bay are coming soon..."

"Are you planning to use slave soldiers to attack King's Landing? The nobles of Westeros hate slaves, so don't be stupid about it."

"I have given them freedom." Samwell laughed, "My Unsullied are all free people."

Earl Randall nodded.

Samwell continued: "Crossing the river is not a problem. The main force of the Qingting Island Fleet has been destroyed. Even if the remaining ones are the United Iron Fleet, my Stormland Fleet can handle it."

"In this way, it is indeed possible to fight."

"Okay!" Samwell threw the gnawed bones on the ground, got up and smiled, "Then let's make a break with Lannister."

(end of this chapter)