The Mountain of Ice and Fire

"Chopsticks?"

"Yes, chopsticks."

"What do they look like?"

"They're simply two small bamboo sticks of equal length, round at the bottom and square at the top. They're indeed more convenient for eating noodles and picking up vegetables from soup. Ser Hallyne said Gregor is planning to have chopsticks and other tableware made of silver."

"Silver chopsticks? If we use chopsticks, will we still use knives to cut roast meat? Do you have a picture of the chopsticks?"

"...Uh... Ser Hallyne only mentioned chopsticks in his letter to me, there's no picture..."

"Hallyne's private letter to you?"

"Yes, my lord."

"Show me your private letter."

"Yes, my lord!"

*

Casterly Rock is a city built inside a massive rock formation, about twenty miles long, fifteen miles wide, and seventy meters high. Calling it a rock is not as accurate as calling it a stone mountain.

To ensure the interior of Casterly Rock receives enough light, many 'giant skylights' were cut into the outer shell of the giant stone. Countless giant glass panels were also installed on the top of the stone. However, even on a sunny day, the city center still requires blazing torches at corners and remote places.

These torches are tended to by dedicated people and burn all year round.

Inside Casterly Rock, a spiraling avenue connects to the Lion's Mouth. This spiraling avenue is connected to many major roads, large and small, like a spider web, forming the city's transportation network. At the end of the spiraling avenue are the Lannister family's Great Yard and main castle, the Citadel, the cavalry barracks and stables, and the kennels. Continuing up the small road behind the Great Yard leads directly to the high watchtower on the mountaintop.

Gregor led his cavalry of sixty-three men eastward from Clegane's Keep, onto the coastal road, passing by the high walls of Lannisport, and heading north along the coastal road. After an hour, the cavalry thundered into the Lion's Mouth section of Casterly Rock.

The Lannister soldiers guarding the city gate saw Gregor riding towards them from afar—he was too tall, and his warhorse was a carefully selected steed, a head taller than ordinary horses. Behind Gregor, the banner with three hounds was held by the burly mine worker Black Stone. The gate soldiers dared not be negligent and hurriedly opened several city gates that normally didn't need to be opened.

The Lion's Mouth has three large city gates side by side.

Gregor and his six riders rode abreast, thundering into the Lion's Mouth and straight up the spiraling avenue inside the city. The city gate guards and patrolling soldiers quickly stood at attention and saluted Ser Gregor. Gregor used to ignore them, and he still does. He didn't even bother to hum, not even a glance, and roared past. Whether they were soldiers, captains, centurions, or knight generals, Gregor didn't care about them.

His subordinate officers and soldiers were equally arrogant and disdainful. The six riders rode abreast up the spiraling avenue, which became steeper and narrower as they advanced. Because the spiraling avenue was the city's main thoroughfare, connecting other important roads radiating throughout the city, the avenue was crowded with people, some driving horse-drawn carriages and ox carts, and many carrying burdens.

Casterly Rock has a natural small harbor inside. Many people do business in the small harbor. High-end silks and exquisite porcelain from across the Narrow Sea are imported through the small harbor next to the Hall of Heroes. Because seawater has eroded a very deep depression at the bottom of the giant rock over thousands of years, some cargo ships can directly sail into Casterly Rock through the depression to unload their goods.

This small harbor also supports many small vendors and porters. The horse-drawn carriages, ox carts, and workers carrying burdens on their heads and shoulders mostly come from the western harbor. They use the avenue to deliver goods to the city's large and small shops and thousands of households.

Gregor crashed all the way through, and the coachmen and others hurriedly abandoned their horse-drawn carriages and ox carts and fled down the spiraling avenue.

Both sides of the road were shops and residential houses, and there were many adults and children coming and going on the road. Gregor and his party did not care at all, yelling and cursing loudly from afar. People dodged one after another, hurrying like stray dogs and scurrying like fish escaping the net. From afar, people hurried to avoid them.

The knight Raff the Sweetling even blew the military whistle, directing the cavalry to recklessly gallop closely behind Lord Gregor.

This arrogant cavalry team, without slowing down on the city's avenue, kicked over many roadside stalls. Those who were slow to dodge, or who stood by the road to avoid but did not flee far, were whipped severely by the cavalry's horsewhips. Amidst the screams of those poor people falling down, the cavalry laughed and rode away.

For the common people, being arbitrarily beaten by Gregor's officers and soldiers was quite normal. If they were to blame, they could only blame themselves for being slow to dodge.

On the viewing platform of the Great Yard, Tywin Lannister saw a banner with three hounds waving high, galloping from the spiraling avenue.

A glimmer of appreciation flashed in Tywin's eyes.

He actually liked Gregor as a blade, but Tywin never said it and had no words of praise. The rewards he gave Gregor were never much, not comparable to other nobles. He did this intentionally.

A vicious dog must not be fed too full!

Gregor's blade is terrible, sharp, and loyal.

When Gregor caused trouble outside, even slightly bigger troubles, he would tell Tywin Lannister the whole truth after seeing him in person, and would never lie. Tywin had always been very satisfied with this. Many great nobles didn't know why Tywin had always protected a scumbag like Gregor, re-used him, and protected him when Gregor tarnished the honor of some noble women. What they didn't understand was that Gregor's loyalty and frankness to Tywin far exceeded theirs.

Gregor, who suddenly became smart, produced snow salt, military whistles, and chopsticks. Gregor also took the initiative to have Ser Hallyne report these pieces of information to Duke Tywin. Gregor's loyalty had never changed.

This vicious dog knows who his master is.

But even if Gregor wanted to hide it, he couldn't. Ser Hallyne by his side was one of Duke Tywin's eyes.

Gregor galloped into the Great Yard. The five cavalry centurions of the yard had already lined up neatly to greet him.

Gregor is the general of these five centurions.

Tywin Lannister has always maintained five hundred family cavalry. The centurions are all named Lannister. The Lannister family branches are numerous in the Westerlands, concentrated in Lannisport, the largest city in the Westerlands. Some of the cavalry come from Lannister branches, and some are direct or collateral relatives of the Lannister family and its branches.

This elite and loyal cavalry of five hundred men is commanded by Gregor. In peacetime, this most powerful guard cavalry regiment simply has no chance to show its strength.

"Lord Gregor!"

The five centurions shouted in unison, saluting Gregor on horseback.

This most loyal cavalry team rarely goes out in daily life. Usually, when Gregor patrols the border, arrests criminals, and cracks down on disobedient nobles, he takes Raff the Sweetling and his gang of commoner desperado soldiers.

Gregor ignored the polite greetings of the five Lannister family centurions. He always looked down on the Lannister centurions, thinking they were cowards and weaklings, disgusting dog spawn who pretended to have false noble upbringing in front of him.

In addition to the family direct cavalry regiment, Tywin also has a professional free folk army of one thousand men, a mixed cavalry and infantry army, which is also under Gregor's command and jurisdiction in case of emergency.

Raff the Sweetling and others come from the junior officers in the mixed cavalry and infantry army. They share the same cruel and bloodthirsty nature as Gregor and admire and worship Gregor's large and small misdeeds, taking them as examples.

Gregor opened his visor and raised his hand to Tywin Lannister on the viewing platform. His voice was like thunder: "Duke, please watch Knight Raff demonstrate the cavalry using the military whistle."

Duke Tywin nodded in agreement! He already knew from the letter that Gregor had knighted Raff and given him the Clegane surname.

Gregor's voice being like thunder is not an exaggeration.

All the generals in this world have a set of techniques specifically for training their shouts. They practice almost every day, just like the wandering singers in this world practice their voices, the cavalrymen practice riding horses every day, and the archers practice archery every day.

Thank you '太上至道元一无极至尊' for the small reward of support, thank you.