Game of Thrones: Kings in the North

Chapter 115 Stone Step Islands Project
Perhaps it was the re-encounter with the woodcarver Guzan in Winterfell, which reminded Helen Parker of her pirate days in the Stone Step Islands. After the people in the hall of Winterfell had finished walking, Helen Parker immediately mentioned the matter to Ed. Suggestion to send troops to the Stone Step Islands.

"Give me fifty longships and galleys, and I can easily wipe out the pirates of the Stone Step Islands. I am the pirate queen of the Stone Step Islands. Who knows the Stone Step Islands better than me?"

Ed shook his head, "What are we going to the Stone Step Islands for? It's too far from the northern border."

"Expand the land! Conquer with sword and fire." Helen Pike said solemnly, "Master Ed, there are many ironborn pirates in the Stone Step Islands. I can win more ironborn pirates for you. Let them Join the navy of the North. The ironborn are natural sailors and will no doubt add to the strength of the North."

This is indeed a temptation, but Ed cannot ignore the risks in it.Helen Pike became friends with Ed's children in Winterfell. The charming iron bitch is very popular in Winterfell. Whether it's grooms, guards, or kitchen boys, they are all happy to be friends with Helen Pike.

Helen Pike is in the Stepstones, and with her charm, might bring back some Ironborn pirates for the North.However, the loyalty of these ironborn pirates is doubtful. In the ironborn culture, each captain is the king of his own ship. In the sound of the waves and the smell of sea salt, it is uncertain which ironborn captain will defect with the northern ship. , such a price would be too heavy.

Therefore, in Ed's plan, the sailors try to hire their own people in the northern region. Along the White Knife River, Sea Monster Point, Rock Coast, Seal Bay Coast, Bite Bay Coast, there are many fishing villages in the northern border, although these people are not as good as the Ironmen They are so good at fighting on the water, but many people are also familiar with the water and have been trained. Ed believes that these people will become the backbone of the Northern Fleet.

Ed pondered for a while, "Helen, those Ironborn pirates in the Stone Step Islands are unlikely to be willing to serve the northern border, let's forget it."

Helen Pike refused to give up, "Even if you don't recruit the Ironborn pirates from the Stone Step Islands, the Stone Step Islands themselves are very valuable. Don't underestimate the value of the Stone Step Islands. This place is in the middle of the narrow sea. Once you occupy the Stone Step Islands Islands, the North can use the Stone Step Islands as a springboard to threaten Tyrosh, Rhys, and Myr."

"Doesn't Master Ed like to collect craftsmen? There are many craftsmen in Myr, such as the glass master Ortega. Once we occupy the Stone Step Islands, you can capture as many Myr craftsmen as you want, glassmakers, carpet workers , lace weavers, as many as you want."

"There is also a kind of sea snail in Tyroshi, which is a high-grade pigment. You see, the Tyroshi people make their hair and beard gaudy and colorful, and they all rely on this kind of sea snail to occupy the Stone Step Islands. Let's go to it from time to time. How nice for Tyrosh to grab some sea snails or some dye!"

"The Rees brothel has the most handsome men and beautiful women. Lord Ed sent soldiers from the northern border to follow me on the expedition. We can rob some handsome men and beauties from time to time. As long as they are handsome, Reese's old bustard is willing to spend a lot of money to redeem them. The money earned Isn’t it faster than a glass farm? Isn’t it faster than Seal Bay and Ice Bay fishing?”

After Helen Pike talked about her majestic conquest plan endlessly, Ed smiled and said, "I know that the Stepstone Islands are of great strategic value, but Tyrosh, Mill, and Rhys are also very clear. Don't look at the "Third Daughter The kingdoms have been at war in disputed lands for years, but once the Stepstones fall to Westeros, Myr, Tyrosh, and Lys will immediately form an alliance to take the Stepstones back."

"Tyrosh, Rhys and Myr can allow the Stepstone Islands to become a pirate's nest, but they will never allow them to become the territory of Westeros. Don't say that the North cannot occupy the Stepstone Islands, even the royal family in King's Landing can do it. No. Think about it, the Targaryen family had dragons back then, but they couldn’t merge the Stepstone Islands, so how could it be possible in the north?”

Helen Pike said angrily: "Could it be that the old pirate of Reese, Salado Sann, is allowed to dominate the Stone Step Islands? I can't swallow this breath."

Back then, Helen Pike was forced to come to Skagos Island in the north because she was defeated by the Rees pirates of Salado Saan and could not gain a foothold in the Stone Step Islands.For Salado Sann, Helen Pike was full of resentment and yearned for revenge.

The direwolf Yexing and Sunshine approached Helen, Yexing licked Helen's palm affectionately, and Sunshine rubbed Helen's leg, Helen smiled.

"Helen, we need to wait patiently." Ed said earnestly, "Now there is a fleet in the northern border, but compared with the Royal Fleet, Qingting Island Fleet, and Iron Fleet, the Northern Fleet is far behind. Like a direwolf."

"If you let Nightwalker and Sunshine deal with the adult hounds in Winterfell, Nightwalker and Sunshine will most likely fail because they are just cubs. The Northern Fleet, like the direwolves, needs time to grow."

Helen Pike pouted: "But, I stayed in Winterfell all day, if I didn't practice swords with Jon, Robb, Theon, and Domeric every day, my swordsmanship would probably be rusty. I want to conquer the sea."

"Instead of expanding the territory, it is better to make good use of the land under your feet." Ed put his hand on Helen Pike's shoulder, "The North is the largest territory in the Seven Kingdoms, and the sea monster corner alone is no bigger than the Iron Islands." Small. But we are vast and sparsely populated, and may be the poorest of the Seven Kingdoms."

"Your shipbuilder is building ships for the North. We need a large number of ships to fish in Seal Bay and Ice Bay. In the future, we will conquer the Shivering Sea. As long as we make good use of the ocean, this is also a kind of conquest. Iron bitch My son, I need to rely on your wisdom to expand the territory on the sea, and I will not allow you to slack off."

Helen Pike showed a bright smile, "Lord Ed, you can always convince me, is this the advantage of the nobles' early education? Those bachelors say you are an inventor."

Today, Ed has invented the technology of refining fine salt and invented Quyuanli. He is indeed worthy of the title of inventor.

At this moment, Bachelor Norman the Pulsatilla, carrying a wooden barrel filled with maple syrup, came over.

"Master Ed, I have prepared the maple syrup you asked for."

Ailin took some maple syrup in a bowl with a spoon, and he handed it to Helen Pike, "Would you like to try it?"

Helen Pike waved her hands in distaste, "I think only the savages beyond the Wall would drink tree sap. How dirty it is! I won't drink it!"

Ed took a sip, "You are really ignorant, maple syrup is a good thing, drinking it will prolong your life."

(End of this chapter)