The Mountain of Ice and Fire

Chapter 629: The First Tax Revenue - The Bloody Gate

(Sorry for the late update, not feeling well...)

*

Three years' worth of taxes is no small sum.

Every noble will have to bleed heavily.

Previously, taxes were submitted annually, with dedicated finance officers responsible for delivering them to King's Landing. The person in charge of taxation was the royal Master of Coin, Petyr Baelish.

Now that Petyr has been lingering in the Vale for too long, the royal family has appointed a new Master of Coin as a temporary replacement: Lord Gyles Rosby of House Rosby.

As the Mountain finished speaking, an odd silence fell over the hall of the Gates of the Moon. Littlefinger deliberately remained silent, his eyes scanning everyone present. Finally, Lady Lysa Arryn broke the silence.

The mere mention of taxes made Lysa Arryn's heart ache.

She liked collecting taxes, not paying them!

"Lord Mountain," she said bluntly, omitting his given name and surname. Ignorance breeds fearlessness, and so does foolishness. Lysa Arryn, upon hearing about taxes, felt an uncontrollable aversion and became equally fearless. "Taxes must be assessed in the presence of a Maester of Coin from the court before we can..."

"Lady Lysa Arryn, I am a Maester of Coin from the court. My name is Peggi," Maester Peggi stepped forward from among the Mountain's subordinate officers. He was humble and smiling. But in Lysa Arryn's eyes, that smile seemed suspicious and repulsive.

Lysa Arryn's words were abruptly interrupted, and as she wasn't quick-witted, she paused, unable to reorganize her thoughts. The words she wanted to say seemed to have been snatched away by an invisible hand, leaving no trace.

This was quite embarrassing!

Lysa Arryn's face slowly flushed red. She was a noblewoman with a high opinion of herself. After half a year of being pursued and flattered by the great lords of the Vale, she had proudly forgotten who she was. Her sense of superiority and face had been cultivated by the noblemen, cultivated to be completely detached from reality, as important and towering as the Giant's Lance.

Finally, Lysa Arryn looked at Littlefinger, squeezing out a sentence she considered quite sophisticated: "Dear Petyr—" she always called Littlefinger so intimately in front of everyone, embarrassing him on many occasions. "Do you know this Maester Peggi? Is he a Maester of Coin in the court?"

"Yes, my lady!" Littlefinger Petyr's words carried absolute authority. He was the Master of Coin of the Seven Kingdoms and the most outstanding Master of Coin in recent decades, a fact acknowledged by all nobles, whether they hated him or agreed with him.

Petyr had been in the court for many years and knew every court maester, especially those financial maesters who calculated the treasury and managed taxes.

In fact, Peggi was a newly appointed Maester of Coin by the deceased Kevan Lannister before his death, responsible for monitoring the Mountain on Kevan's behalf. When Master of Coin Petyr left King's Landing, Maester Peggi had not yet been promoted to the position of Maester of Coin.

But the Mountain was Littlefinger's boss! In such a matter, how could Littlefinger undermine the Mountain?

Lysa Arryn had hoped to hear Littlefinger give an opposite answer, but upon hearing his confirmation, her expression became even more awkward, perfectly embodying embarrassment. Lysa Arryn took a deep breath, and the flush on her face slowly faded.

Littlefinger smiled, and in Lysa Arryn's eyes, that smile was the most charming flower in the world. She seemed to see the charming smile of Littlefinger when he was fourteen years old. Lysa Arryn opened her mouth, but Littlefinger didn't let her speak again. Littlefinger spoke first, appropriately stopping Lysa Arryn: "My lady, we are the lords of the Vale and should take the lead in paying taxes to the royal family. This is our duty, the glory of our family, and our reverence for the rules of the Seven Gods."

Lysa Arryn's words swirled in her throat, finally coming out, but the meaning was completely opposite to her original intention: "Yes, dear Petyr, you are absolutely right."

Petyr Baelish reached out to pat Lysa Arryn's hand encouragingly, then lovingly touched the face of Lord Robert Arryn. Afterwards, his gaze swept over every noble: "My lords, you all know that I rose from a background in taxation to be recognized by Prime Minister Jon Arryn and become the royal Master of Coin. I am well aware of the tax situation in the Vale. Ser Gregor Clegane represents the royal family, and Maester Peggi is also the most upright royal tax maester I trust. As for the three years' worth of taxes, House Arryn will take the lead in paying. I also hope that all nobles will pay according to their original annual amounts. I will give everyone ten days to send people back to retrieve money and goods. If any lord has any objections, please raise them. Ser Gregor and I are all ears."

Littlefinger Petyr Baelish spoke the last sentence with an elegant smile, neither humble nor arrogant, friendly and amiable, befitting the approachable Guardian of the Vale.

The nobles exchanged glances. If Littlefinger wasn't present, they would have had the courage to turn the tax of one gold dragon into half a gold dragon, but the taxes were set by Littlefinger, and he was the one who supervised and collected them nationwide. If he insisted on principle, anyone who tried to deceive the Mountain was dancing on a blade, which was deadly!

"If no one raises an objection, I will be very grateful for everyone's support. So, let's decide on that. Ten days, for a round trip, to bring back all the taxes that everyone should have paid to the royal family in the past three years." Littlefinger stood up, placing his right fist over his heart on the left side of his chest. "Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. The country has been in constant civil war for the past few years, and the finances are very difficult. As the royal Master of Coin, I would like to thank all the lords for their support on behalf of the royal family."

The Mountain observed that the nobles all looked displeased.

No one felt happy about paying taxes. Their enthusiasm for taxation was clearly not high!

"I also thank you for your support, the Mountain is very grateful," the Mountain said as he stood up. He spoke politely, but his eyes were sharp, and his tone was not friendly. Was the Mountain warning the nobles not to 'slack off' when paying taxes?

The answer was clear: yes!

The nobles all knew very well that as long as Littlefinger 'acted impartially,' they would not be able to evade taxes or deceive the Mountain. Littlefinger Petyr Baelish was too capable. His words were impeccable, and his taxes were always crystal clear. When he spoke about paying taxes, he did not give any hints to the Vale nobles—that they could pay less.

There were no hints in his words or in his eyes!

"I will pay the full amount of taxes. This is the responsibility, loyalty, and honor of the knights of House Royce," declared Nestor Royce, the castellan of the Gates of the Moon. He had just become a viscount, his son had been knighted, and his greatest gain was that he finally had his own family castle and territory.

Previously, the Gates of the Moon belonged to House Arryn, but now it belonged to House Nestor Royce!

Littlefinger's gift was generous enough, so Nestor knew he had to be generous in supporting Littlefinger.

Thus, without any surprises or dangers, the thorny matter of the Mountain collecting three years' worth of taxes became as simple as drinking a cup of wine. Without the Mountain's infamous reputation, even if Littlefinger had come in person to collect the taxes, it would have been difficult to collect the full amount. The Mountain's wickedness combined with Littlefinger's shrewdness was the fundamental reason why the Vale nobles dared not play tricks, procrastinate, refuse to pay, or underpay.

Might combined with cunning was indispensable!

Authority and appeasement were always a winning hand!

*

Half a month later, the Clegane legion marched at the foot of the Giant's Lance.

The Mountain split his forces. He personally led a mixed army of over five thousand cavalry and infantry by land. His uncle, Ser Rykker Spicer, and the commander of the navy, Vargo Hoat, led over five thousand naval warriors back the way they came, collecting taxes at Gulltown before heading south to Dragonstone. The navy would then rest and garrison at Dragonstone, training troops while continuing to recruit soldiers in King's Landing, Duskendale, Crackclaw Point, Rosby, and other places.

The Bloody Gate had a long-standing reputation, and the Mountain had always longed to see its interior for himself.

Only by personally traversing the Vale as much as possible could he understand its geography, streams, the density of its villages, the military deployments in various places, and the defensive situation of the Bloody Gate, so as to be thoroughly informed and prepared.

Now that he had come to the Vale, it would be beneficial and harmless to learn more about its military defenses, road environment, and the lives of its people!

In fact, after passing through the flat avenue of the basin, passing through Ironoaks, retracing the route to Runestone Bay, passing Runestone, and traveling by water to Gulltown, he could rest briefly in Gulltown and then order the nobles of Gulltown to allocate ships to send the Mountain's legion forward. As long as they passed through the Bay of Crabs, they could directly reach the mouth of the Trident River, and then go up the Trident River, and the army would arrive at the crossing of the Trident River, enter the Red Fork, continue to sail, pass Riverrun of House Tully, enter the Tumblestone River, and enter the territory of the Westerlands. The source of the Tumblestone River was within the territory of House Marbrand of Ashemark in the Westerlands. This was already very close to the Mountain's two large territories—Castamere and Tarbeck Hall.

This time, the Mountain had over two hundred carts of various supplies, of which over a hundred carts of supplies were given to the navy, and the other hundred carts of supplies were personally escorted by the Mountain. More than a dozen carts were loaded with gleaming gold dragons, silver stags, and copper pennies.

The three years' worth of taxes from the Vale were fully collected by the Mountain and Littlefinger for the first time since Robert Baratheon became king eighteen years ago. The Mountain did not completely demand that the million-plus gold dragons be paid in metal coins. Sometimes, food was more useful than money, horse feed was more useful than money, and animal skin tarps were more effective at keeping out the cold than gold coins. Everyone liked money, but money could not fill their stomachs when they were hungry, nor could it keep them warm when they were cold. Outside the Vale was a world that had been at war for three years, and in many villages, you couldn't buy a bite to eat even with gold dragons.

The Mountain declined Littlefinger and his wife's invitation to visit them on the mountain. He accepted the meeting with Littlefinger and his wife at the foot of the Giant's Lance for a profound reason. The Eyrie was too dangerous, and he was too tall. In any dangerous place, if someone played a trick, or if there was an ambush, or if someone hired a suicide bomber, it could cost him his life. Once he reached halfway up the mountain, someone in the castle above or somewhere could easily roll a stone down, forcing him into a desperate situation.

Littlefinger was a useful person, but not a trustworthy one.

A gentleman does not stand under a dangerous wall. The Mountain would not walk the mountain road of the Giant's Lance. Once there was a chance to turn the tables, Littlefinger would definitely not be willing to be controlled by the Mountain and act as a lackey.

For three hundred years, this was the first time that a foreign legion had entered and exited the Vale. The legion of Aegon the Conqueror three hundred years ago did not enter the Vale. His dragon, Balerion the Black Dread, flew over the Bloody Gate, and the Vale declared its surrender. Balerion's wings spread, and the shadow covered the entire Bloody Gate castle. The dragon was so huge that its outstretched wings could block the sunlight of a small town.

In the history of the Vale Kingdom, the gates had been opened by others three times. The first time was by the Andals from across the Narrow Sea, who were the ancestors of House Arryn. They landed on the eastern coast and conquered the Vale. The second time was by Aegon Targaryen three hundred years ago, who rode a dragon over the Bloody Gate and conquered the Vale. The third time was when the Mountain led his army to land on the Runestone Bay and conquered the Vale again.

In the absence of dragons, the only route to conquer the Vale was to land on the eastern coast.

For half a day, the Clegane soldiers found themselves still walking at the foot of the Giant's Lance. Looking up, the Giant's Lance towered into the clouds, giving people endless oppression. Above their heads, on the edge of the white clouds, was a sparkling crystal-like place, which was a waterfall next to the Eyrie, shining brightly in the sunlight.

A day later, the army came to a hillside. A winding, snake-like road climbed upwards, stretching for several miles until it disappeared at the end of the slope.

This was the only road out to the west. Climbing up the hillside would lead to a narrow mountain road, with steep mountains on both sides, almost vertical. In the middle was a hundred-mile-long mountain road leading directly to the Bloody Gate.

The carts could no longer carry heavy objects uphill. They had to be lifted up by manpower here. The Mountain ordered the soldiers to work together, unloading the goods from the carts, driving the empty carts up the hillside first, and then carrying the goods. The cavalry could ride their horses uphill without having to dismount and walk.

Three days later, the army finished walking the narrow mountain road and entered the more dangerous Bloody Gate road. Military defense corridors were built hanging over the vertical mountain walls on both sides. The soldiers' and generals' accommodations were in the hollowed-out mountain walls. The military corridors on both sides were dozens of meters above the ground and could only be accessed by ropes. People could not climb up.

If the archers in the military corridors on both sides fired arrows together, anyone on the road below, which could only accommodate four horses abreast, would be a target.

This mountain road, completely exposed to the attacks of the soldiers on the mountain walls, was dozens of miles long. Even if someone managed to break through the Bloody Gate, they would not be able to pass through such a long and narrow mountain road. The soldiers in the military corridors on the mountainside could easily attack downwards with stones, arrows, oil barrels, asphalt barrels, crossbows, and ballistae. It was extremely difficult for the people below to look up and fight back.

Historically, no one except dragons had ever broken through here by force.

Another day later, the vanguard, consisting entirely of cavalry, arrived in front of the Bloody Gate, while the tail of the rear army had just entered the entrance of the Bloody Gate mountain road.

The entire army consisted of over five thousand people, including a legion belonging to House Royce of Runestone. Lady Waynwood of Ironoaks also sent four family knights to lead a hundred-man team to join the Mountain's cavalry regiment. The Lady had her own little thoughts. She wanted to be able to get the Mountain's analysis and guidance on the overall situation of the dynasty's changes after the Dragon Mother arrived. She decided to maintain a long-term friendly relationship with the Mountain.

*

The Mountain arrived in front of the Bloody Gate.

The castle gate opened, and Ser Donnel Waynwood, the second son of Lady Anya Waynwood, appeared at the gate. He was a twenty-year-old young man, sturdily built, ugly but sincere, with a wide nose and a head of messy brown, coarse hair.

The Mountain observed carefully, noting that the long battlements were built on cliffs on both sides, and the mountain road narrowed again to only allow two people to ride side by side. Even slightly wider carriages could not pass through. Fortunately, the nobles of the Vale knew this situation, and the Mountain's carriages were slender, just enough to pass through this Bloody Gate mountain road.

Two watchtowers clung to the rock walls on the left and right, connected to each other by a weathered gray stone closed arch bridge. Silent faces watched them, these uninvited guests, from the arrow slits, battlements, and stone bridge.

Donnel rode over. "Ser Gregor Clegane, please dismount and enter the castle. Allow me to entertain you for a few days." Donnel dismounted first, and the knights behind him also dismounted.

Donnel had already received a raven from his mother, informing him that the Mountain and the Vale lords had reached an agreement, and the Vale lords had once again sworn allegiance to the Iron Throne.

The Mountain did not dismount. "Ser Donnel, this place is narrow and not suitable for conversation. Please mount your horse and lead us into the castle first."

"As you command, Duke." Donnel placed his right fist on his left chest and bowed slightly, then mounted his horse and led the way.

The Mountain led the cavalry into the Bloody Gate castle one after another. Inside the castle, the small streets, small shops, and small houses were like broken pieces fallen from the sky, stacked together. Everything was characterized by smallness and crowding, giving the Mountain a very uncomfortable and oppressive feeling.

Since climbing the mountain slope and entering the narrow mountain road, the Mountain and his generals had been squeezed by the towering cliffs on both sides for several days. Looking up, they could only see a sliver of sky the size of a palm. These past few days and nights, this feeling of squeezing gave people a sense of unease and difficulty in breathing. After entering the Bloody Gate castle, this feeling was intensified by the distorted and overlapping small houses and streets.

The Mountain was unwilling to stay in this too-small so-called Bloody Gate castle. His army of more than five thousand men and thousands of warhorses could not stay in this small place either. He planned to travel overnight and pass through this Bloody Gate, and then everything would be fine.

Let's go!

"Ser Donnel!" the Mountain said. Before he could say a second word, outside the Bloody Gate castle, there was a loud shouting of 'Luo Luo Luo, He He He, Oh Oh Oh.' Many people came in a chaotic and noisy manner, and it was unknown what they were doing.

Ser Donnel's face was surprised and uncertain. The Mountain said, "What happened?" He knew that not far after leaving this Bloody Gate, the mountain road was under the control of the native inhabitants of the Mountains of the Moon. Even if you were a lord of the Vale, if you were few in number and alone, you would still be robbed by the natives. If you encountered a violent tribal warrior, you would even lose your life.

"Duke, I don't know what happened. I'll go up to the battlements and take a look." Before he finished speaking, a soldier on the battlements shouted down, "General, many barbarian hill tribesmen have come outside, all carrying weapons. Judging by their attire and flags, it seems that people from every tribe are here."

The Mountain's heart stirred. He knew that the native tribes would not raise flags to rob or fight. It was only when he came to the Mountains of the Moon last time to recruit warriors and relocate the tribal people who were willing to move to the Westerlands that he taught the tribal people to use flags to distinguish themselves from other tribes.

"Ser Donnel, open the Bloody Gate! I'll go out and take a look!"

Thanks to [尼格霍格] for the reward and support, thank you, handshake!