The Mountain of Ice and Fire

Chapter 603: The Game of Thrones in the Vale

Attack Runestone?

Earl Jeralde glanced at the Mountain's expression, noticing that the Mountain didn't seem interested.

The Mountain was thinking about taking care of Seagull Town first.

"Lord Jeralde, I saw many trading ships of the Vale nobles in the harbor. Don't deny it; I recognize the Vale nobles' family crests."

"Yes, Duke. Seagull Town is a port city for the foreign trade of hundreds of thousands of people in the Vale, and it is also a trading port favored by the people and nobles of the eastern Riverlands. To the right of Seagull Town is the Crab Bay, which is connected to the Trident River in the Riverlands, and smoothly connected to many towns in the Riverlands through the inland waterways of the Red Fork, Blue Fork, and Green Fork rivers. Many trade ships of the Vale nobles do business with many towns in the Riverlands, and also run to the Free Trade City States across the Narrow Sea."

"Would there be anything inappropriate if I took all the trading ships in the harbor?"

Inappropriate?

With the Mountain's ferocity to kill Kevan Lannister, there was no question of appropriateness. The Mountain said this only to give Earl Jeralde some respect.

The Mountain's troops had already entered the city, and Earl Jeralde knew he was powerless to stop him if he turned hostile.

Even if he didn't open the city gate, he couldn't prevent the Mountain from taking the ships in the harbor for himself.

"Your Grace already has enough warships, right?" Earl Jeralde said with a smile.

"No, not at all. I want to build the most powerful naval fleet in the Seven Kingdoms. I hope to have at least five hundred main warships, and one hundred logistics, reserve, and supply ships. Earl, I hope you can help me and allow me to take some ships from the harbor." The Mountain was riding on Red Smoke, much taller than the Earl, exuding a menacing aura.

If he could get hundreds of ships with just a few words, it would undoubtedly be the most cost-effective way to 'build ships'.

Earl Jeralde suspected he had misheard. He looked up at the Mountain in shock: The Mountain wanted to build a naval fleet with at least five hundred main warships? And a hundred logistics, reserve, and supply ships? He knew that even the most powerful monarch in Westeros didn't have five hundred warships. During Robert Baratheon's peak martial era, in those most glorious years, the naval fleet never exceeded one hundred warships.

Earl Jeralde couldn't believe that the Mountain even had the mind to strengthen the navy?

The Mountain felt it necessary to add something to give Earl Jeralde a clear understanding: "Earl, I captured more than two hundred and seventy warships of the Iron Islands in Lannisport in the Westerlands. Adding the hundred or so I have here, it's not far from the target of five hundred warships. Please, Your Grace, be sure to help me this time." The Mountain said it politely, but his tone was not polite at all, and there was absolutely no intention of discussing it with Earl Jeralde.

Once he spoke, he would definitely get it!

"Duke Gregor, how about this? You take half of the Vale nobles' trading ships in the harbor. Please let the trading ships from across the Narrow Sea go. I don't want to leave a bad name, which would affect the flow of goods in and out. "

"Alright!" The Mountain said, "I'll choose ships based on their flags. If the same family has two or more trading ships, I'll leave one for them."

The ships originally belonged to others, but in the blink of an eye, they became the Mountain's favor to them!

Earl Jeralde hmm-ed twice, speechless!

In fact, the Vale nobles' trading ships did not belong to the Jeralde family. Their loss had little to do with the Graffson family. The only impact would be a short-term reduction in trade, affecting the Earl and the Arryn family's tax revenue.

Behind the Mountain and Earl Jeralde, the Clegane army slowly entered the city. The first to enter were the Clegane cavalry—heavy cavalry in the front, and light cavalry led by Anguy and Julie in the rear.

In the city, every household closed their doors and windows tightly. The streets were empty, without a single idler. The Mountain had entered the city. His notorious reputation was so great that people feared and avoided him.

"Duke, the Vale has already submitted. If you still take the Vale nobles' trading ships, I'm afraid it will arouse resentment and affect His Majesty's unification."

The Mountain stared at Earl Jeralde: "Earl, without Robert Arryn's oath of allegiance, without the Vale lords' surrender documents, not even a letter with a lord's seal, this surrender that Littlefinger asked you to convey lacks sincerity."

"Duke Robert Arryn's surrender letter takes time, Your Grace."

"Yes." The Mountain scrutinized Earl Jeralde with his gaze. He found that the Earl's 'political wisdom' was limited.

The greater the Mountain's threat to the Vale, the more destruction and plunder he caused, the more powerless the Vale became, the more Littlefinger could gain control of the Vale. This was a 'coordinated effort' where one played the red face and the other played the white face. When the Vale nobles were all helpless against the Mountain's 'unreasonable demands', Littlefinger would step forward. If he was the only one who could 'solve' the Mountain through negotiations, then Littlefinger's prestige would naturally be established.

The Mountain decided to remind Littlefinger's man—Earl Jeralde needed to understand this principle—Littlefinger's marriage to Lysa Tully was not really about marrying that terribly obese woman, but about marrying the Vale.

Earl Jeralde was willing to follow Littlefinger, naturally to protect his Seagull Town and family interests. With the Mountain's strength, even if the Earl didn't open the gate and chose to fight, it would only delay the Mountain's entry into the city.

"Earl Jeralde, I heard that the Vale nobles are strongly opposed to Littlefinger marrying Lysa Tully."

"Yes, Your Grace."

"That's the real reason I led troops here." The Mountain deliberately lowered his voice, "The Vale nobles need a big lesson."

The lowered voice and the hint of secrecy naturally carried the shadow of conspiracy, which immediately made Earl Jeralde follow in the footsteps of Littlefinger and the Mountain.

"As you wish, Duke." Earl Jeralde neatly ended the false pretenses on these 'trivial matters'. So the Mountain was indeed a man of Duke Petyr Baelish, and he led troops here to cooperate with Duke Petyr in subduing the Vale nobles.

Marrying Lysa Tully was marrying the Vale. Earl Jeralde was very clear about this.

The Mountain sighed inwardly. The political wisdom of the Graffson family was limited. Earl Jeralde's father betrayed his lord back then and was hammered to death by the late King Robert, but the gears of fate tightly meshed with their family, still giving them the fortune to stand tall in Seagull Town.

"Earl, I have one more small matter, and I hope to get your help." The Mountain said again.

The Mountain had not said anything about sending troops to attack Runestone!

Duke Petyr said he hoped the Mountain would immediately attack Runestone, but the Mountain remained indifferent and didn't mention it at all. Earl Jeralde felt a trace of vigilance in his heart.

"Duke, please speak. As long as I can help, I will do my best. If I can't help, I will find a way to assist Your Grace."

Earl Jeralde's words were beautifully said.

"It's a small matter. I'd like to borrow a hundred local tailors from Seagull Town, Earl."

Seagull Town's tailoring skills are unique in the Seven Kingdoms. The most high-end silks and various elaborate dresses worn by the nobles of the Seven Kingdoms are almost all sewn in Seagull Town. The clothing of the common people is also mostly mass-produced here and then flows to markets all over the country through waterways.

The common people's food, clothing, housing, and transportation seem ordinary and unremarkable, and no one cares, but they are actually important matters. Only by consolidating the people's food, clothing, housing, and transportation can a strong military and economic force be built on this foundation.

Earl Jeralde immediately agreed: "If Your Grace wants tailors from Seagull Town, I'll give Your Grace two hundred master tailors to take away."

The most common craftsmen in Seagull Town are tailors. Almost every commoner here knows how to cut and make clothes. Many tailors also take boats to open shops and make clothes for a living across the Narrow Sea, but Seagull Town is still the strong base of the tailors. Two hundred tailors are not as good as a hundred ships, nor are they as good as tens of thousands of gold dragons and hundreds of carts of grain. If the Mountain opened his mouth to borrow gold dragons and grain, even if they were on the same front, Earl Jeralde would have to give something to the evil Mountain.

And local tailors, ordinary commoners, giving a hundred more to the Mountain to win his favor!

"Thank you for your generosity, Earl. Since you have agreed to give me ships and master tailors, I won't borrow gold dragons and grain from you. Tonight, I'll go to Runestone and borrow some money and grain from Earl Royce."

"I am willing to assist Your Grace in attacking Runestone at night. We can disguise ourselves as pirates to cover our tracks, Your Grace."

"No, after I occupy Runestone, I will raise the Clegane army flag and King Tommen's royal flag." The Mountain said lightly, "The Vale needs true submission! The nobles who oppose Littlefinger must be conquered. If you were not Littlefinger's most loyal ally, I think I would have slaughtered Seagull Town."

The Mountain glanced at Earl Jeralde calmly, but it made the Earl smile ingratiatingly, while cold sweat broke out on his back.

*

Eyrie.

The famous swordsman, Lynn Corbray, decided to take the first section of the mountain path down the Eyrie.

When he went up the mountain in the basket, passing through the clouds and mist, he looked down and saw no bottom. Looking up, the cable above his head went deep into the clouds, and the sound of the winch creaked from the clouds, giving the illusion that the rope would break at any time.

The winch was set up in an underground room below the Eyrie's kitchen. A wicker basket could only carry up to three people at a time, and could not hold personal wicker cases. This time, there were quite a few people who angrily went down the mountain. In addition to Yohn Bronze's party, Earl Corbray, Lynn's brother, also went down the mountain, unwilling to participate in Lysa and Littlefinger's wedding.

Earl Redwyne of Redfort also chose to go down the mountain. Redfort was not far from Seagull Town. If the Mountain acted up and destroyed Seagull Town, he would easily aim his next attack at Redfort. Earl Redwyne had to go back and prepare for defense.

With so many people, everyone finally decided to take the mountain path carved out of the mountainside under the leadership of Mia Stone.

Yohn Royce the Bronze chose to walk beside Earl Redwyne. The two lords walked at the back.

"Your Grace, after Littlefinger and Lady Lysa get married, I believe he will soon become the Protector of the Vale." Earl Royce said, "What does Your Grace think of this matter?"

"I cannot accept Littlefinger becoming the Protector of the Vale." Earl Redwyne said frankly, "Littlefinger is here to seize the power of us Vale people. I believe Your Grace also sees this very clearly."

"Earl Redwyne, I plan to form a 'League of the Righteous' to oppose Littlefinger becoming the Protector of the Vale, oppose Littlefinger becoming Duke Robert's guardian, and oppose him and Lady Lysa Tully jointly governing the Vale. I wonder if Your Grace is willing to join hands with me?"

"I stand on Lord Royce's side without hesitation!" Earl Redwyne immediately stated.

"Count me in." Lynn Corbray shouted from the front, "Lord, I want to join your League of the Righteous."

Lynn Corbray was even thinner, just like the 'Lady Forlorn' at his waist. He was known among the Vale nobles for disliking women. His shoulder-length brown hair seemed to indicate his irritable temper. He had pestered Lysa Tully in the Eyrie for more than half a year, exhausting his efforts, but in the end, he could not defeat Littlefinger and gained nothing. His resentment was really deep.

"And me!" Earl Lyonel Corbray also said, "Lord Royce, how could I be missing in opposing Littlefinger?"

"Thank you, everyone, for being willing to join the League of the Righteous. To be honest, I have already united Countess Anya Waynwood of Ironoaks, Ser Symond Templeton of the Nine Stars, and Earl Bennarada Belmore of Strongsong. After I go down the mountain, I will summon the Royce family's soldiers and first besiege the Eyrie, cutting off the road to transport supplies to the mountain."

*

Royce's words were too bold. Military coercion was tantamount to a mad attempt on the verge of rebellion.

Earl Redwyne, Ser Lynn, and Earl Lyonel Corbray were all stunned.

Royce dared to say it publicly, indicating that he wanted the news to spread to Littlefinger. This was also a way of exerting pressure.

Lady Lysa Tully took the Vale nobles' opposition to Littlefinger too simply. With Littlefinger by her side, Lysa Tully trusted Littlefinger in everything. She believed that there was no problem that Littlefinger could not solve. This may be true. Littlefinger did see through Royce's thoughts, and he had already sent a raven to the Mountain, asking the Mountain to first destroy Royce's lair: Runestone!

The game of thrones in the Vale, this basin kingdom, began to heat up. Previously, Littlefinger alone faced the heroes in the Vale, but now, with an external aid, the Mountain, he was naturally even less afraid.

*

"Lord, the Mountain is still eyeing Seagull Town. We should first negotiate peace with the Mountain and then drive away Littlefinger." Earl Redwyne said. Redwyne was always worried that Redfort would be attacked by the Mountain. The Mountain was a wicked man with no credibility. He had already come to Redfort to extort once last year, and Earl Redwyne was worried that the Mountain would come a second time even more smoothly.

"Earl Redwyne, when I return to Runestone, I will immediately send a raven to Earl Jeralde. We will reach a peace agreement with the Mountain. If the Mountain is not easy to get along with, I am willing to swear allegiance to the King in the North, so that the Riverlands and the Vale can be united and not fear the Lannisters and the Mountain."

Most of the Vale nobles feel close to the Starks and resent the Lannisters!

The Lannister family still dominates the royal palace. There are reports that Cersei Lannister has returned to King's Landing to assist her son in wielding royal power.

Royce said this, which obviously also represented the wishes of Ser Symond, Countess Anya Waynwood, and other nobles.

“My lord, I'm worried that House Stark is too far away, while the Mountain is right here.” Earl Redwyne was constantly worried about this.

Ahead, Lynn Corbray and his party had already disappeared from sight, because the terrain was turning, the road was rugged, and the mountain road was narrow. Walking downwards in the belly of the mountain, they were holding torches.

“Rest assured, Earl, the League of the Righteous is a whole. I will hold the first League of the Righteous Assembly in Runestone. When the time comes, everyone will work together. We will use diplomacy before resorting to force, so there is no need to fear the Mountain.”

“...Yes...” Earl Redwyne's inner worries were hard to dispel.

Royce saw Earl Redwyne's worries. Royce was not afraid of the Mountain. He decided to win over House Redwyne. Among the hundred or so noble families in the Vale, the Redwynes of Redfort were very powerful, one of the eight great houses of the Vale.

“Earl, is the squire following Lynn Corbray your youngest child, Ser Michel Redwyne?”

“Yes, Lord Royce.“

“Is Ser Michel betrothed?”

“Not yet, my lord.”

“Oh, I have a young daughter who has been taught poetry, books, and etiquette by maesters since she was a child. She is fourteen this year and is the apple of my eye. She is also not betrothed. If Earl Redwyne doesn’t mind, I would like to marry my daughter to Ser Michel. I don’t know, my lord...”

“Is it Ysilla Royce?” Earl Redwyne was surprised and delighted.

“Yes.”

“I couldn’t ask for more, my lord.”

Miss Ysilla Royce was known for her talent. She was petite, beautiful, elegant, knowledgeable, and reasonable.