The Mountain of Ice and Fire

Captain Hayman said, "Your Majesty, we didn't encounter any trouble in Astapor. The good masters we trade with are all very trustworthy."

"Oh, that's good. Since you don't need my help for the time being, I wonder if you could do me a small favor," Mountain said very politely.

"Your Majesty is too kind, we can't afford it. Please give your orders, Your Majesty, we will obey without question," the two captains said in unison, both feeling a chill in their hearts.

"How much of your goods do you still have unsold?"

"Does Your Majesty need our goods?" Captain Hayman said, steeling himself. "If Your Majesty requires them, just give us a list, and we will personally deliver them to the palace."

"I don't need them. I said, I need you to do me a small favor, but I won't force you or make things difficult for you. Rest assured on that point."

Captain Elaine was dubious, but felt slightly relieved. "Your Majesty, whatever you command, we will do it and do our best!"

This kid's emotional intelligence is much higher than Captain Hayman's.

Mountain smiled. "Good, Elaine, I like your straightforwardness. The small favor I want you to do won't cause you any loss, but it will win my friendship."

"Your Majesty, the more polite you are, the more apprehensive I become. Please give your orders, and I will do it immediately," Captain Elaine said humbly and respectfully, his expression devout with a hint of flattered excitement.

"Well, Captain Hayman, what about you?" Mountain looked at Hayman with a smile.

"If Your Majesty orders it, Hayman will do his best. It is Hayman's honor," Captain Hayman said. The knights and soldiers behind him were all sweating for Captain Hayman. He was a little late in expressing his loyalty, only reacting and stating his position after His Majesty the King personally called his name.

"Here, this is it. Have you seen it before?" Mountain waved his hand, and Grey Worm stepped forward, taking out a Clegane banknote.

Hayman and Elaine took it. They could recognize the writing and patterns on the banknote. It was the image and text of the gold coins of Westeros. They were too familiar with it, having seen it since they were young.

Hayman said, "Your Majesty, I have heard of this paper money."

"Then have you used it?"

"We spend most of our time at sea, so we haven't used it yet, Your Majesty."

"I hope that you will use Clegane Bank's banknotes to trade this batch of goods."

"Your Majesty, we only have gold dragons, silver stags, and copper stars... we don't have this paper money..."

"I have it."

Hayman and Elaine exchanged glances. Hayman said cautiously, "Your Majesty, are you going to use paper money to buy the goods on our ship?"

"No, when your buyers come to trade for goods, you require them to use this paper money to buy them."

The two captains exchanged glances again. This time, Elaine spoke, "Your Majesty, have the good masters of Astapor used Clegane Bank's banknotes for transactions?"

"No, they don't have this kind of paper money, but they all understand it. The good masters, merchants, local government officials, generals, and soldiers have all specially studied, recognized, and memorized all the knowledge related to these banknotes. The Dragon Queen and I spent a month doing this. In the army, this is an assessment as important as martial arts formations. In government affairs, in the city, all merchants and good masters must complete our spot check assessment. They have all passed the assessment of the Dragon Queen and me. Now it's time to actually use paper money to buy and sell goods."

Hayman and Elaine looked at each other in dismay. There could be such an operation, using government and military affairs to conduct a full study of paper money-related knowledge for all soldiers and civilians and conduct a formal exam?

"...Then...what does Your Majesty want us...to do?"

"I will set up a Clegane Bank branch at the dock. In addition to lending and deposits, this branch will also exchange banknotes for foreign currency. Gold, silver, and copper coins will be exchanged for Clegane Bank's banknotes of equal value. When those good masters come to trade, you show them this banknote and ask them to go to the bank at the dock to exchange it, and then use the banknote to buy goods from you. I believe you have also heard that banknotes have officially begun to circulate in Westeros."

"Yes, Your Majesty, we have heard of it," Hayman admitted. However, there were many and loud voices of opposition and resistance, but the promotion was still underway. No nobleman dared to openly oppose or resist. Mountain would kill the opponents, there was no doubt about that. All of Westeros' military power was under His Majesty the King's control.

"So, are you willing to do me this small favor?" Mountain asked.

"We will do our best," Captain Elaine said. "...But...Your Majesty...after our goods are unloaded, we will buy spices, silk, and porcelain...If the good masters and wealthy merchants who do business with us don't accept our paper money..."

"I know, they will ask you to pay gold and silver coins, but after you sell the goods in your hands, you will receive paper money. But this is not a problem. There is a Clegane Bank at the dock, and the bank is responsible for the exchange. Don't worry, the bank will not charge you any handling fees. Your money can also be deposited in the bank. In the name of the gods and the king, I guarantee the safety of your money, and I also guarantee that you can freely exchange banknotes for gold, or exchange gold for banknotes."

"Yes, Your Majesty," Elaine said immediately.

"Yes, Your Majesty," Captain Hayman said.

The two captains were truly relieved this time. If the king wanted to seize their things by force, a word or a look would have been enough, he wouldn't have used such complicated rhetoric. The king really wanted them to help him open the first paper money transaction.

Everything needs a beginning!

"Good, thank you for your help," Mountain said even more politely. This made Captain Hayman and Captain Elaine break out in cold sweats again. They would rather Mountain speak to them in a commanding and disdainful tone than be so polite, so polite that they felt it was false.

The two captains were trembling with fear, the pressure on their hearts was too great. Mountain's words, even if they were to tell them to die, they would not dare to disobey. Mountain was His Majesty the King in Westeros, and he was still His Majesty the King in Astapor. The two captains had long learned from the mouths of shipwrights, prostitutes, mercenaries, merchants, and good masters about the major events of Mountain killing Hizdahr zo Loraq, the master of Meereen, and Gnarr, the good master of Astapor. Daenerys, the Queen of Astapor, was a queen who was loyal to Mountain, and she was also his woman.

"Your Majesty, where is the Clegane Bank located on the dock? We will go and exchange some banknotes now. When merchants and good masters come to trade, I can show them that they need this banknote to conduct the goods trade," Captain Hayman said, acting as soon as he spoke. Before he understood the matter clearly, Hayman would hesitate and have many ideas. Once he was sure, he was the most straightforward person.

"Wait a moment, the Clegane Bank will be here soon," Mountain said with a smile.

Hayman and Elaine both nodded in obedience, but their hearts were empty and they had no confidence. They were on a ship in the port, and they didn't know where the Clegane Bank was located on the port dock. From what they knew, there was no Clegane Bank on the dock.

The city gates opened wide, and a group of people galloped on horseback, with banners fluttering. Her Majesty Queen Daenerys Targaryen appeared, leading three hundred-man cavalry teams. In the middle of the team, there were two heavy carriages.

The cavalry was fast, and the group quickly arrived at the dock.

Captain Hayman and Elaine led the knights and soldiers to kneel and pay homage to Her Majesty the Queen of Astapor.

Daenerys comforted the two captains with kind words, and said, "Two captains, has His Majesty the King explained to you that we need your help?"

"Yes, Your Majesty, we will do as His Majesty the King has ordered and do our best."

"Very good, you can exchange some banknotes first."

"Yes, Your Majesty. Please let your soldiers take us to the bank," Hayman and Elaine said at the same time. They still didn't know where the bank was located.

Both of them were uneasy, with fear and pressure in the face of Her Majesty the Queen and His Majesty the King, and also a faint worry about future trade. What should they do if the good masters and merchants refused to use banknotes to buy? They didn't dare to force the good masters and local merchants, they could only persuade them with kind words and smiles.——But it was certain that they would resolutely carry out the orders of King Mountain, and there was no room for falsehood, unless they didn't want to go home with their crew, mercenaries, and their own heads.

I just hope that the merchants and good masters of Astapor are indeed very familiar with the banknotes, and are also willing to exchange gold for banknotes at the Clegane Bank without losing any benefits, and then use the banknotes to exchange for the goods that can make them a lot of money on the ship.

Daenerys raised her right hand, and the cavalry team separated from the middle, revealing the two carriages in the team. On the carriages, in addition to the coachman, Missandei and Lady Emily and their two maids were also sitting.

"Two captains, the carriages are our bank. Go ahead, exchange some banknotes first, and when the good masters and merchants come to trade, tell them to come to the carriage to exchange banknotes first."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

*

1 Balarao Street, inside Good Master Cokk's pyramid.

"Did His Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Queen go to the dock with the Unsullied Legion early this morning?" Good Master Cokk asked.

"Yes, my lord," said a sailor who came to report.

"What did they do?"

"His Majesty the King arrived first, and he asked Captain Hayman and Captain Elaine from the Westeros fleet to trade goods with banknotes."

"Forced him to exchange for banknotes?" Cokk's eyes blinked several times.

"There was no coercion, it was said to be voluntary. Captain Hayman's and Captain Elaine's original words were that His Majesty the King guaranteed them in the name of the King and the Gods that banknotes and gold could be freely exchanged without any fees."

"Did Hayman exchange it?"

"Exchanged a part."

Good Master Cokk looked at Christine and Achille, and the other two good masters were also looking at him.

"What else do you know?"

"Captain Hayman and Captain Elaine assured His Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Queen that they would do their best to persuade merchants and good masters to go to Clegane Bank to exchange banknotes first, and then go to the dock to buy goods from them. Hayman and Elaine are Westeros people, and they dare not disobey their King at all. That Mountain doesn't need to threaten them at all, with one sentence, they must execute it."

Achille said, "We must unite all the good masters and merchants, and all refuse to trade with Hayman and Elaine. If we want to trade, we will only use gold and silver, otherwise, we will cancel all transactions and let the Hayman and Elaine fleet transport the goods back."

"Okay, let's do it," Good Master Cokk and Good Master Christine said immediately.

"I'll go to Pulhelel to inform the good masters and merchants on the streets," Good Master Cokk said.

"I'm going to Nickben," Christine stood up. "We must spread the news all over the city today, and everyone will unite to only conduct gold and silver shopping and sales with Hayman Elaine, and refuse banknotes."

The three reached an agreement and left immediately with their servants.

*

A few days later, in the eyes of Hayman and Elaine, Astapor was surprisingly calm.

None of the original old customers and business partners had ever appeared on the dock. When merchants appeared, they also went to other trade fleets, turning a blind eye to the Hayman and Elaine fleets.

The two captains began to feel uneasy.

Her Majesty the Queen and His Majesty the King sent out two carriages every day, with government officials, maids, gold and banknotes, but no good masters or merchants patronized the exchange.

The good masters and wealthy business owners in the city who had a good relationship seemed to be all dead. No one came to buy Arbor Red wine, Riverlands fruit wine, various wild animal furs and smoked meat, and exquisite handmade ornaments that could help them make a lot of money. There wasn't even a single small merchant who bartered.

"We have to go to the city," Elaine said to Hayman.

"What's your plan?"

"Go find Cokk and Christine, they are all greedy people, it is impossible that they will not come to buy goods, they have all prepaid us a lot of deposit."

"Maybe we should hold our breath first. They are deliberately grinding our patience." Hayman was also an old hand, and some tricks were insignificant in his eyes.

"We can wait a month or longer, but His Majesty the King can't wait," Elaine said. "I have decided to take the initiative to find them. It doesn't take much to deal with greedy people."

Hayman shrugged: "Are you planning for us to do this for nothing?"

"Only by finding a way to solve His Majesty the King's problem can we possibly gain His Majesty the King's friendship. If we can gain His Majesty the King's friendship, it may be more worthwhile than running ten ships. The nobles of Gulltown and the nobles of the Three Sisters Islands, I don't think they will dare to be disrespectful to us in the future. After this Arbor Red wine is sold out, we will no longer be able to buy wine directly from the Redwyne family, we can only buy it from Master Petyr Baelish, the royal treasurer."

"Do we need to tell the King about our predicament first?"

"No, the good masters can know what the King and we are saying, and the King and Queen must also know that the good masters have united and deliberately do not come to us to pick up the goods. Don't forget, this place is controlled by His Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Queen. There must be their eyes and ears everywhere in the city. Tens of thousands of Unsullied soldiers are very loyal."

"Okay, I'll go with you. Let's find Cokk first, he is an influential good master in the city."