The Mountain of Ice and Fire

The prince of the Summer Isles stood up. His skin was as dark as night, revealing a set of snow-white teeth. He wore a colorful feather headdress and a floor-length feather skirt. "Your Majesty, the various peoples of the Summer Isles find it difficult to accept paper money; they simply cannot understand it..."

"Very well, I will be the first to establish a Clegane Bank branch in the Summer Isles. Paper money transactions will start with the royal family, then the nobles, generals, and soldiers, and finally all the people. Within six months, I want paper money to be circulating everywhere in the Summer Isles. In the name of the gods, I know that the people will thank me for creating paper money. After they try using it, they will find it very convenient to exchange, easier to carry, and they will no longer have to worry about disputes and disagreements caused by the different patterns and sizes of gold, silver, and iron coins when trading across the sea, across countries, and across regions."

"Your Highness, if you come to King's Landing, you can take paper money out of your pocket and buy anything. The same goes for Slaver's Bay. In traditional transactions, each country has its own different currency system, and the exchange and calculation are very complicated and difficult, requiring specialized maesters, doctors, or scholars to calculate, but even then fairness is not guaranteed. To reduce friction and disputes, cross-sea and cross-country transactions usually involve large ships loaded with goods for barter. Once everyone uses the same currency, many troubles will completely disappear."

"Your Majesty, everyone thinks that those colorful pieces of paper are just paper..."

"You are right, but when that paper can be exchanged for real gold and silver at the bank, it is no ordinary paper. When that paper can buy Arbor gold wine in Westeros and furs and smoked meat at the Wall, it is no longer just paper."

The prince's mouth opened, his throat wriggling, but no clear sound came out.

He didn't know how to express the awkward, empty, and elusive feeling in his heart.

"Your Highness, have you heard of the Iron Bank?" the Mountain asked.

"Yes, Your Majesty," said the prince.

"The Iron Bank is in my hands, and every banknote is linked to the gold in the Iron Bank. Every time a banknote is issued, a corresponding gold coin is stored in the bank."

The prince, as black as night, looked bewildered.

Littlefinger stood up: "Your Highness, there is a lot of gold in the Iron Bank, guaranteeing that your paper money can be exchanged for gold at any time. His Majesty is worried that the Summer Isles are too far from the Iron Bank, so he has asked the Iron Bank to set up an exchange point in the Summer Isles. Any noble or commoner who wants to trade can first exchange their gold for paper money at the Iron Bank exchange point. After the transaction is completed, if they are not at ease, they can exchange it back to gold at any time. If the Summer Isles want to buy hundreds of boxes of Arbor wine, they used to need several large boxes of gold and silver coins, but now they only need to take a stack of paper money. You may not trust the exchange point, but the honor of the Iron Bank is not to be profaned."

The prince who designed the maze stood up: "Your Highness, I designed a maze on the Iron Bank island, and the maze occupies the entire island. This is to ensure the safety of the gold in the Iron Bank. With the name of the Iron Bank, what else are you worried about? The Iron Bank is already His Majesty's wealth."

"Your Highness, I want one year. If you still insist on not using paper money after one year, I agree to restore your original currency system. In the name of the gods and the king. After one year, the paper money in your hands can be exchanged for gold from the Iron Bank at any time."

"Uh, okay, Your Majesty."

Looking at the prince's blank expression, the Mountain thought that the prince of the Summer Isles might be illiterate. The Mountain mused that schools should be established in the Summer Isles to strengthen education.

The Mountain's so-called one-year period was, of course, just a way to comfort people's anxiety. Once paper money circulates, its great convenience will soon become apparent. People will find that paper money is much more convenient than heavy gold ingots.

"Your Majesty, has Westeros fully implemented paper money transactions?" a Good Master from Slaver's Bay stood up and asked.

"Good Master, the Crownlands, the Westerlands, the Riverlands, Oldtown and the Arbor in the Reach, iron ore from the Iron Islands, and Sunspear in Dorne have all started using paper money. Paper money has been circulating in the Westerlands and the Crownlands for six months now. Nowadays, all major foreign trade on the continent of Westeros, no matter where the goods come from in the world, must be exchanged for paper money at the bank before entering the five major ports of Westeros for trade. Captains, merchants, and nobles who want to leave Westeros after the transaction is completed usually exchange the paper money back into gold and take it with them."

"Of course, many captains now deposit a sum of money directly in the bank. In the future, when they come to trade, they don't have to carry money with them. When they come to Westeros, they can withdraw their deposits from the bank and buy anything they want. Good Master, one year from now, you can deposit a sum of money in the bank in Astapor in Slaver's Bay, and when you sail to Westeros, you can withdraw the money from the bank in Westeros to buy goods. You only need to show the deposit certificate from the Astapor bank at the bank in Westeros."

The Good Master's mouth widened, his neck tilted back, and he looked incredulous.

"The Iron Bank is omnipotent," Littlefinger added in a timely manner.

If people lacked trust in His Majesty's Clegane Bank, the name of the Iron Bank had long been deeply ingrained in their bones.

When the Mountain was explaining to the prince of the Summer Isles, Littlefinger also provided additional explanations in the name of the Iron Bank.

In fact, these nobles from 'primitive and backward' worlds did not need to understand the operating logic and principles of the bank. They only needed to establish their trust in the Iron Bank in the name of the Iron Bank and with the authority of the royal family.

"Your Majesty, I look forward to the transaction and circulation of paper money all over the world." Joyel, the leader of the Elephant Party, who had outstanding political skills, stood up to help promote His Majesty's paper money.

"Has Volantis started circulating paper money?" asked the governor of Qohor.

"Of course!" said Joff, the leader of the Tiger Party, with a strong sense of superiority. "His Majesty's first Clegane Bank branch outside of Westeros has already been established in Volantis. Your Highness, Prince of the Summer Isles, the Clegane Bank branch you want to establish will be the second at the fastest." Joff of the Tiger Party laughed.

Joff still felt a little uncomfortable about the circulation of paper money, after all, it was something new that he had never heard of before. However, under the personal supervision of the Mountain, the full promotion of High Priest Benerro of the Red Temple, and the greed for the king's little dragon, Teemo, Joff of the Tiger Party went all out to assist His Majesty in promoting government affairs, including paper money.

Magistrate Josh of the Elephant Party said: "For the Clegane Bank branch in Volantis, the Elephant Party and the Tiger Party contributed 40% of the capital, and the Iron Bank contributed 60%."

"The Iron Bank contributed the capital?" The governor of Lys felt relieved.

He deeply believed in the wealth of the Iron Bank.

"Your Excellency, the Iron Bank now belongs to His Majesty. The Clegane Bank is the Iron Bank, and the Iron Bank is the Clegane Bank. The reason why the Iron Bank is called the Clegane Bank is because His Majesty's surname is Clegane."

"We are all Cleganes," said Polliver loudly.

"The glory of the Clegane family is beyond doubt, and the credibility and glory of the Iron Bank are beyond doubt," said Sweetmouth Rafford Clegane, singing. He raised his glass: "For the Clegane family, for the glory of the Iron Bank, I would like to toast all of you. I am Rafford Clegane, the king's cavalry general."

Bang, bang, bang, bang!

Polliver Clegane picked up his glass and tapped it rhythmically on the table, making a banging sound.

The executioner Dunsen also joined in.

Bernie Clegane also joined in.

Landon Garl, Anguy Clegane, Littlefinger, One-Eyed Teemo, the Ragged Prince, Rolph Spicer, Joff of the Tiger Party, Little Jon Umber... many people joined in.

Finally, all the nobles picked up their glasses and tapped them on the table together, banging, banging, banging.

Everyone's eyes turned to the Mountain, waiting for him to speak.

The atmosphere was building!

The assistance of Littlefinger, Polliver, Josh of the Elephant Party, Joff of the Tiger Party, Sweetmouth Rafford, and others ignited the atmosphere of the meeting.

The Mountain needed this kind of fervent atmosphere.

The Mountain raised his glass: "To the Iron Bank, to the Clegane family, to the Clegane Bank, to paper money transactions." He poured a full glass of wine and drank it all in one gulp.

The nobles and generals stood up together and said 'To the Iron Bank, to the Clegane family, to the Clegane Bank, to paper money transactions,' and hundreds of people drank it all in one gulp.

The subsequent government affairs went even more smoothly. The Mountain announced, and everyone accepted, without discussion or voting.

The second government affair was to establish schools in various places to conduct unified teaching of the Common Tongue. All teachers assigned to various places would be appointed by the maesters sent by Oldtown in Westeros. Whether in Westeros or Essos, the Common Tongue of Westeros would be taught uniformly. This was the only common language that everyone must master.

Each ethnic language would be retained by itself. Schools funded by His Majesty to run schools and arrange teachers would only teach one common language: the Common Tongue of the continent of Westeros.

The third government affair: all nobles must learn to use chopsticks. This was a new etiquette that was essential among nobles, a noble new way of life. While being proficient in using knives and forks, they must also learn to use chopsticks. The custom of using chopsticks had become popular among the great nobles of Westeros. Minor nobles who did not know how to use chopsticks had been included in a link in the invisible chain of contempt by other nobles who were proficient in using chopsticks.

The fourth government affair...

The fifth government affair...

The last government affair: the army would march east to conquer Qarth and other giant eastern cities, with the endpoint being Asshai, the easternmost known city on the continent of Essos.

Asshai, the hometown of Melisandre the priestess.

As the Mountain Legion's personal priestess, Melisandre and Lady Doreah Qwenth chose free seating. They did not speak throughout the entire process, wore hoods, and were attended by maids who served them and ate elegantly. Underneath the hoods, their two pairs of eyes were focused and calm, scrutinizing every noble who stood up to speak. Nobles who could be noticed by both Melisandre and Lady Doreah were fortunate. They would be the focus of attention of the two ladies and would be tested for their loyalty through the two ladies' different fire magic and blood magic.

Bernie Clegane, Lady Melisandre, and Lady Doreah Qwenth had a different mission from the others at this banquet-style government affairs meeting. They were responsible for quietly observing, scrutinizing, filtering, and judging, and then they would hand over what they had obtained to His Majesty after the government affairs meeting.

*

The Mountain said: "Conquering the giant eastern city of Qarth, any lord who wants to gain glory, wealth, and territory through military merit can stand up and ask for battle."

Joff of the Tiger Party was the first to stand up: "Your Majesty, I hope to be the vanguard of the eastward march."

"Lord Joff, do you know Qarth?" Daenerys smiled.

"Of course, Your Majesty. I have been to Qarth. The longest time I stayed in the giant city of Qarth was six months. It is an extremely rich and prosperous place. The wealth of our nine Free Cities combined may not be comparable to that of the Thirteen."

"The Summer Isles implore Your Majesty to allow them to send troops. We also want to be the vanguard." When the prince and nobles of the Summer Isles heard that Qarth was so wealthy, everyone's eyes turned green. As soon as Joff finished speaking, the prince and others immediately stood up and begged the Mountain, hoping to get the opportunity to send troops.

Daenerys smiled: "Your Highness, the world has nine man-made wonders: the Wall, the Long Bridge, the Hightower, the Valyrian roads, the Titan of Braavos... One of the world's wonders is the triple walls of Qarth. Without dragons, human power cannot break through those walls."

"If they cannot be broken from the outside, the people of the Summer Isles will launch a battle from the inside. Your Majesty, please believe in the brave and skilled warriors of the Summer Isles. They can sneak into the city through the city's drainage pipes, and they can also enter the city disguised as merchants. The more prosperous the city, the easier it is to set fire to it."

"Your Highness, have the people of the Summer Isles been to Qarth?" Joff of the Tiger Party said proudly.

"Of course, the fruits of the Summer Isles are sold all over the world, and we have fleets that have been to the city of Qarth."

"Is that so? But there can only be one vanguard, and that is me, Joff."

"The vanguard needs brave generals, not a seemingly haggard old man."

Joff laughed loudly: "Your Highness, either take back what you just said and apologize, or accept a duel."

"I will duel you," a black-skinned general with only white teeth stood up. He was slender and looked very flexible. He wore a feather crown on his head and a feather skirt around his waist.

"No duels," said the Mountain. "Joff attacks by land, and the Summer Isles attack by sea. Both sides will be the vanguard. Whoever breaks through the city gate first will be the first to contribute."

"Your Majesty, the Dothraki have never lagged behind anyone in charging and seizing cities," a Khal stood up and said.

"Khal Pylat, you are one step late."

"The Dothraki never lag behind anyone. Lord Joff, the Dothraki horses are fast. By the time you reach Qarth, the Dothraki will have already taken it."

Qarth was extremely wealthy, and the Dothraki had always lived by attacking cities and looting. This opportunity to get rich exceeded any previous siege, so how could the Dothraki be absent?!