The Mountain of Ice and Fire

The Mountain looked at the eyes filled with suspicion, caution, vigilance, doubt, resistance, and unease: "I know everyone has depleted a lot of their family wealth because of the war, so I won't force anyone who doesn't want to contribute money or doesn't have extra financial resources. If everyone wants to be more cautious, House Clegane will take care of it."

The Mountain doing this alone?

An incomprehensible and unbelievable thing.

The Mountain already has three major noble allies who have sworn fealty: House Serrett, House Farman, and House Lydden; and more than thirty minor noble houses. Besides the sixteen houses in the north, including Ronn's town, the minor nobles near Clegane's new village and those around his father-in-law's Casterly Rock have all submitted.

There are more than thirty representatives of the great and small nobles who have submitted to the Mountain, but the Mountain told them beforehand that joining the silk trade was completely voluntary, with no pressure to contribute money, entirely according to their own wishes. Then, the Mountain got what he wanted, seeing the hesitation in the eyes of even those nobles who were loyal to him.

He wanted to see who had the vision and courage! As it turns out, the Mountain's reputation among the non-Clegane affiliated nobles isn't that great!

Silk is the most fashionable, most expensive, and highest-end luxury item to show off status in the Seven Kingdoms. In the long summer, because of the suitable temperature and the silkworms' growth cycle, there can be four harvests a year. As soon as silk is produced, it's like: shiny golden dragon coins! It's not only popular in the Seven Kingdoms, but also in the Free Cities across the Narrow Sea, where silk embroidery, dresses, shawls, ceremonial attire, and so on are in great demand.

Due to geographical reasons and the threat of the Dothraki on the northeastern Great Grass Sea, the scale of silkworm farming and spinning in the Riverlands is very limited. More silk from the East is concentrated in Qarth, selling to three continents: Westeros, Essos, and Sothoryos.

The Mountain and Jeyne had already calculated it – the Mountain's suddenly displayed mathematical ability also surprised Jeyne – they could completely and easily afford this cost.

The gold mines of Castamere and Tarbeck Hall were the richest in the Westerlands. It was precisely because of the abundant gold reserves that the strength of these two families rapidly expanded, giving them the strength and confidence to openly confront House Lannister. Unfortunately, after bullying the old Lord Lannister, they encountered nineteen-year-old Tywin, a first-class expert in marching and fighting. Tywin exterminated these two major families and left their territories desolate for forty years to warn the other nobles of the Westerlands.

Lord Tywin's 'wasteland' policy back then laid the foundation for the Mountain's rise today.

Compared to Lord Tywin's prestige, strategy, iron fist, and cruelty – Cersei appears foolish and short-sighted; Tyrion has no prestige in the hearts of the Westerland nobles, and no one fears him; Kevan has been Tywin's shadow for forty years, and his impression is deeply rooted in the Westerland nobles, making it difficult to win them over; Jaime is brave but lacks strategy, and has no intention of revitalizing the family, only wanting to talk, chat, play, and sleep with Cersei… He is a typical rich second generation addicted to a deformed female body, a handsome man with no interest in inheritance and no ambition in his heart…

Without Tywin in the Westerlands, the Mountain reigns supreme!

……………………

The poverty and chaos caused by war require order, and order inevitably breeds power.

Next, the Mountain authorized Lannister of Lannisport and Lannister of Casterly Rock to participate in the Westerling noodles' foreign trade, port trade, and spice trade. The iron ore business of the Iron Islands is still monopolized by Lannister of Casterly Rock…

After the various cakes were distributed according to what the Mountain said, the Mountain asked Martin Lannister, the representative of Casterly Rock, to stand up.

The child stood up, his face fair, with golden hair and blue eyes, a handsome little boy. There was obvious timidity in his eyes. He didn't know where to put his small hands. He looked at the giant-like Mountain, his pitiful expression unbearable.

"Martin, I hope you can agree to exempt the Westerlands from taxes for two years."

The child stammered, as if he didn't understand what the Mountain was saying.

Taxes?

Indeed, it will soon be 300 AC, a new year, new taxes.

Death and taxes, the two ultimate benefits that no one can escape!

The Mountain suddenly talked about taxes!

Amidst everyone's anxiety, the Mountain showed great patience and no sign of punching the child away: "Martin, the Westerlands have been at war for two years. Every family has contributed people, money, and food. The reserve and militia teams from the common people have also brought their own weapons, food, and money. After two years of war, the Westerlands' food reserves are almost exhausted. Many people and lords have lost their families, and all the great and small nobles have been severely damaged. Jaime's 20,000-strong army and Lord Tywin's 20,000-strong army now have only a few thousand soldiers left. Every family in the Westerlands has suffered heavy casualties. Reducing taxes for two years will allow the people and nobles to recover."

Martin stared blankly at the Mountain. The child may be paying attention to the Mountain's tree trunk-like arms, his giant-like majestic body, and his beast-like eyes… Maybe the child didn't even hear what the Mountain was saying…

But Martin is the representative of House Lannister, representing the remaining power of Lord Tywin and the traditional power of the Westerland lords…

Tax exemption, for two years, all the nobles present felt strange. They longed to reduce taxes, but the Mountain's proposal to completely exempt them exceeded their expectations – but it was beneficial to them and gave the people of the Westerlands a chance to breathe – so they had no mental obstacles and accepted it smoothly – House Lannister is indeed the least short of money. In the Hall of Heroes, hundreds of hero statues of House Lannister are all made of pure gold…

As soon as the Mountain proposed a two-year tax exemption, everyone's mood was immediately stirred up. As long as the child nodded, it would be done… The great and small nobles stared at Martin with eager eyes, full of malicious anticipation, whether the child was the easiest to be persuaded… They thought so!

But Martin didn't nod or speak, just staring blankly at the Mountain!

This may be the most perfect strategy to deal with the Mountain: I don't know, I don't understand, I don't express my opinion, please continue babbling!

The whole place was silent, even the sound of breathing disappeared!

Quickly nod and promise, Martin! You are the best! The great and small nobles yearned in their hearts…

However, hundreds of bright eyes eventually had to dim. Martin didn't say the answer they were hoping for. The child chose not to answer!

"Perhaps we should send a raven to King's Landing to Kevan, to tell him our request," said Maester Bancroft, the acting castellan of Lannisport.

"Yes, Martin is still young. If he agrees to reduce taxes, the news will reach King's Landing, and the Lannisters may not agree," a noble expressed his concern.

"Then who should we make our request to?" the Mountain said. "Cersei is the Queen Mother, but she belongs to House Baratheon and no longer belongs to House Lannister." The Mountain saw that everyone agreed with him on this point.

Cersei married into House Baratheon and cannot be a Lannister. She has no friendship or personal resources among the Westerland nobles, and no prestige.

"The Imp, Tyrion Lannister, is currently the Hand of the King, but he is not the eldest son. If he had inherited Casterly Rock and the title of Lord, then we should all have received his raven decree as heir, but we haven't. Why is that?"

No one answered this question. Everyone preferred to listen, because it was safer!

"I think it must be because Ser Kevan disagrees, and the Queen Mother doesn't allow it; Jaime Lannister has returned to King's Landing, but after taking off the black robe of the Night's Watch, he put on the white robe of the Kingsguard."

The Mountain slowly scanned the audience, his gaze lingering on everyone's face: "We all know that a knight who wears the white robe cannot marry, cannot own land or personal wealth, and has no inheritance rights. Jaime has given up his rights as the eldest son; then there is only Ser Kevan left, Lord Tywin's younger brother. If Cersei, Tyrion, and Jaime all agree that Kevan should inherit Casterly Rock and the title of Lord, then we would have received the decree of the Lord's heir long ago, but the result is: nothing!"

The Westerland nobles looked at each other! The nobles who were close to the Lannisters felt a deep disappointment towards the Lannisters.

The Westerlands are in this state, and the Lannisters are still hindering each other, unable to reach a unified conclusion.

According to the law and inheritance rights, Jaime put on the white robe, then the Imp Tyrion should automatically inherit Casterly Rock and the title of Lord, but the reality is… none of the Westerland nobles have received any decree from the Lord's heir…

"Lord Mountain, King Joffrey's wedding is coming, the Lannisters are busy with the King's wedding," said Maester Bancroft.

But the Mountain knew very well that the King's wedding was not the reason why the inheritance of Casterly Rock could not be implemented. The real reason was that Tyrion Lannister should inherit Casterly Rock and the title of Lord in order, but Queen Mother Cersei and Ser Kevan strongly disagreed. When the family is in disagreement, unless the Imp has an army to enforce it, publicly announce his inheritance of Casterly Rock and the title of Lord, and then return to the Westerlands to be his own Lord…

The reality is that the Imp has no military support, and the vast majority of the Westerland nobles, regardless of size, look down on him…

"In that case, everyone, I, in the name of Lord, Master of War, and Warden of the West, announce that all the knights of the Westerlands are exempt from taxes for two years; all the people under the knights' banner are completely exempt or at least exempt from half of the taxes, for a period of two years," the Mountain said loudly.

"Lord, if the Lannisters blame us in the future… we don't want to see another civil war in the Westerlands. This country has lost its vitality and cannot withstand another civil war!" said Lady Serrett.

"Madam, rest assured, if I cannot persuade the Lannisters to exempt the knights from two years of taxes, then I will pay these two years of taxes for you."

The great and small nobles were all stunned!

The Mountain will pay their taxes for two years?

Where did he get so much amazing wealth?!

When did he change from a robber and tyrant to a helper?

Unbelievable, unbelievable, unbelievable!

The Mountain has to hire ships to go to the Riverlands of Volantis to bring back hundreds of women who can raise silkworms with Westerland handsome men, and also raise an army of more than 10,000 people, and can also pay their taxes for two years? Where does his wealth come from?

The great and small nobles were all shocked after being stunned!

To what extent has the Mountain's strength reached?

How is this possible in just two years?

The Mountain was neither humble nor arrogant, his tone was calm, but beyond doubt: "I have a copy of the tax forms that the knights collect from their people; I also have a copy of the tax forms that you submit to the Lannisters. In the name of the Seven Gods, in the name of the glory of House Clegane, I promise here that your two years of taxes will either be completely exempted, or I will pay them."

"I know you are surprised how I can come up with so much money. Well, my wealth actually comes from winning wars. When I captured Harrenhal in the Riverlands, and when I killed Stannis Baratheon in the Battle of the Blackwater, I obtained a large amount of food and wealth; in the battle of Dragonstone, our Clegane army won another great victory, defeating Stannis's remnants and seizing the huge wealth and accumulated mountains of food that Stannis left on Dragonstone. In addition, I would like to thank the late King Robert for granting me the rich territories of the gold mines of Castamere and Tarbeck Hall."

Hundreds of great and small nobles were silent!

In the two years of war, Lord Tywin was defeated in every battle, while the Mountain won every battle. This is a fact!

War can make a fortune, provided that you win a great victory!

The Mountain looked down at the great and small nobles and made a final decision: "From 300 AC to 302 AC, for these two years of taxes, if the Lannisters insist on collecting them, the Seven Gods are above, I promise to help you pay them."

Looking at the incredulous expressions of the great and small nobles, the Mountain smiled inwardly. Two years of taxes can win the 'favor' of the great and small nobles, without a doubt.

He has another plan that the war-torn Westerlands need more urgently. That plan will shake the foundation of the Lannisters in the Westerlands, and the hearts of all the people in the Westerlands will turn to the Mountain and House Clegane invisibly!

The hearts of the people!

This thing is dispensable!

However, a great man once said: the military and the people are the foundation of victory.

When the people have no choice, such as only one family selling salt, whether your people are happy or not, who they are biased towards, and how boiling the public resentment is, it doesn't matter at all. The status and power of the nobles and lords are as stable as giant mountains!

But if there are two families selling salt, one of which has fair prices and is kind to people, then whether the hearts of the people are happy or not, who they are biased towards, its importance is irreplaceable and subversive!

As long as two families selling salt appear, this optionality appears, whoever loses the hearts of the people is destined to fail and cannot be recovered!

The Mountain, from a higher level of civilization, takes a little bit of business philosophy, political philosophy, and Machiavellian philosophy from his civilized world, which is too far ahead of this semi-pastoral and semi-agricultural world.

What is the most scarce and most urgent need is the most valuable.

Thanks to 【s浩然丶】 for the reward, thank you, handshake!