Game of Thrones: Kings in the North

Chapter 166 Hard Work, Wolf Fort and Long Lake City

The tenant farmers and soldiers of the Stark Manor in Houguan Town hid behind the fence, staring dumbfounded at the savages with ragged clothes and messy hair, who entered Houcrown Town in a long line.

There are babies nursing in their mother's arms, gray-haired old men, young men running, cattle and sheep, horse-drawn carriages, bone chariots of people from the frozen coast, and Hornfoot people walking barefoot, all dressed in gray and white. , a glacier man with an ice ax in his hand, etc.

Walking through the Great Wall, bathed in the sun, every savage seems to have ushered in a rebirth, and is very curious about everything around him. After all, the savages have never seen many things south of the Great Wall.

The savages looked curiously at the curved plow in the manor, the arrow towers standing on both sides of the foreign road, the chimneys emitting black smoke, the fragrant bakery, etc. The browned and crispy bread made many savages drool.

Houguan Town was originally part of the land-grant, but now the land-grant and even the Great Wall have been acquired by Ed, and Stark Manor is everywhere.

Since ancient times, many savage raiders have crossed the Great Wall and plundered land grants. Houguan Town has declined rapidly during the hundreds of years of continuous raids by savage raiders.

As part of Aide's pioneering plan, the Houguan Town, which was once reduced to no man's land, has sprung up like mushrooms after the rain, with tens of thousands of residents and soldiers living there, making it a bustling town.

Houguan Town, which was once ravaged by savage raiders, has now welcomed tens of thousands of savage captives. When they enter the side of the Great Wall, the hungry savages can get some dry food. The German army and rangers obtained food when they plundered outside the Great Wall. When they reached Houguan Town, many people had eaten up all the food.

Ed rode the direwolf at night, walking in the front of the team, accompanied by the she-wolf Sunshine on the other side.Now the direwolf was bigger than a warhorse, and it was still growing.

Recently, the she-wolf Sunshine has become more and more bloated and is good at delivering babies. The forest witch Mother Mole, who is familiar with the wild wolf's temperament, tells Ed that the direwolf Sunshine is pregnant.

"Lord Ed, this is a good sign. The direwolf is the coat of arms of the Stark family, which indicates that the Stark family will become more prosperous and usher in the era of running wolves." Mother Mole told Ed.

Robb and Jon were very happy. They all hoped that when Sunshine gave birth to a wolf cub, they could get one.

The savages like to call Ed the wolf king. When Ed rides the direwolf among the savages, the savages are very respectful.

The commander of Houguan Town, Stark's personal soldier Fat Tom came out to meet Ed.

"Lord Ed, the first batch of wildling captives have been sent to Winterfell from here. I didn't expect there to be so many, tens of thousands of wildlings, who could eat up all the winter food in Houguan Town in a few days. Crown Town can't supply so many savages."

Ed said: "Don't worry, the food for the savages will be taken from the rations of the triumphant army. The savages are just resting here for a while. You can provide water for the savages."

So the soldiers of Houguan Town pushed the cart full of buckets and gave the water to the savages.

Jon and Robb, commanding the Winterfell cavalry, took carrots, apples, and black bread from the baggage caravan, and distributed them to the wildlings.

The giant buster Tormund led a group of wildlings whose hands and feet were bound, and came to Ed.

"Master Ed, these are the first batch of people who violated the laws of the northern border, and they are also the first batch of hard labor."

Ed watched the drudgery, more than 30 of them. "What crime did they all commit?"

"One guy stabbed the guy in front of him with a bone dagger because he didn't like her walking too slowly. A Hornfoot tried to rape a spearwife, only to have him castrated before he could. Others tried Stealing a sharp tomahawk from a carriage is a thief."

Ed said: "Escort them, put on shackles, and stand beside the King's Road, so that all the savages passing by can see that crime is the price of hard work."

Before crossing the Great Wall, Ed discussed with the wildling leaders such as Mance, Tormund, Mother Mole, Doghead Harma, King of Bones, Sern Magnusdi, etc. After the wildlings crossed the Great Wall, they must abide by the Northern Territory People who break the law will be reduced to hard labor, lose their freedom, and accept labor reform.

"This law can't only target free people." When Mance heard Ed's order at that time, he felt a little aggrieved.

Ed clenched his fists, "The law is not aimed at free people, not at anyone. Everyone in the northern border who violates the law will be reduced to hard labor and reformed through labor to atone for their sins, including the nobles."

Now that the law is binding on any people in the north, Mance and the other wildling leaders are immediately relieved.

The hard labor system in the northern border will deter those criminals who plan to do wrong, and at the same time provide a large amount of labor for Winterfell, because Ed sent letters to the noble castles in the northern border, clearly requesting the nobles to hand over the prisoners to Winterfell for disposal in the future , In this way, some nobles will not be able to do anything wrong, because the prisoner can go to Duke Ed to redress his grievances.

Winterfell will send these hard workers to the manor to farm, build houses, and send them to work in Winterfell workshops.

The Starks will have access to a plethora of cheap labor, while also fighting crime and strengthening judicial control over the northern vassals.

In addition to asking the vassals to send the prisoners to Winterfell, the letter also asked the vassals to attend a triumphant banquet in Winterfell.

Ed brought Beyond the Great Wall into the territory of the Northern Territory and migrated more than [-] savages to Winterfell. This is an unprecedented feat and deserves to be celebrated.

On the entire King's Road, as far as the eye can see, there are savages everywhere, and the continuous team stretches for dozens of miles.

Ed made the peons stand beside the king's road, and the savages who passed by followed curiously at the peons who had lost their freedom, and some of them spat at the peons.Afterwards, the Savage team settled down a lot, and the theft and fights were obviously much less.

The leader of the giants, the strong Margo, came to Ed on a mammoth, followed by hundreds of giants, almost every giant was riding a mammoth.

Due to their huge size, these giants can only bring mammoths to cross the sea from the East China Sea to the north. They also cross the sea with hundreds of moas from the raptor tribe, Samantha, Byers' big black bear and Valla. Behemoths like Mill's Snow Bear.

Whether it is a savage or a resident of Houguan Town, they are very scared when they see giants. After all, even outside the Great Wall, giants are not seen every day.The giants and the children of the forest used to be the earliest residents of Westeros. The two groups are sworn enemies. However, the giants and the children of the forest have disappeared for hundreds of years. Many people in the south of the Great Wall believe that the giants and the children of the forest have long been extinct. up.

The legendary giants drink blood and like to eat human flesh. This is of course nonsense. Giants eat animal meat and grains just like humans. Some giants don’t even eat meat at all and are vegetarians.

Seeing the peons, Mag let out a low growl like thunder, and babbled a lot in the ancient language.

The giant speaks an ancient tongue, so a translator is needed.Ed looked at the translator leather, "What did Margo say?"

Leather said: "He said that these savages committed crimes as soon as they crossed the Great Wall. It is a shame for savages and they should all be executed."

Ed smiled, "They don't deserve to die. These people have hope at least alive, and they have nothing when they die."

Ed told Leather, "You can teach these giants some simple Common Tongue."

Leather smiled, "Master Ed, I have already done this. Some giants have shown talent for language, such as the pregnant giantess Sissy, the energetic young giant Wangwang, the young giantess Lei Lei, the fierce giant warrior Nei Everyone can speak some simple common language."

Ed asked Leather, "Ask Margo for me, is the giant willing to help me build a castle?"

Leather asked Margo, and replied: "Margo said that the group of giants is declining day by day, and there are only more than 600 people left. If it weren't for Duke Ed, they were still shivering in the cold place outside the Great Wall. The giants in the northern border Life is a gift from Duke Eddard. Every giant is willing to be loyal to Duke Eddard and to Stark."

Giants are not skilled craftsmen, but with their huge physique and amazing strength, they can easily move huge stones.Legend has it that it was the giant who helped Brandon the 'builder' build the Great Wall.

A large number of savages have migrated to the territory of Winterfell, Ed plans to build several castles, and the giants can come in handy.

Ed rode the direwolf out of Houcrown Town, and followed the tide of wildlings all the way south. The troop of giants and the team of skinchangers were by his side.

There was Varamyr the Sixshapes riding on the back of a snow bear four meters high, followed by three wolves and a shadow lynx.Samantha riding on the back of a moa, the moa is as strong as a rhinoceros.Polo riding a demon boar.Gisela the goat girl.Lynx Thorns.

Auriel who controls the eagle.Eagle King McCain who controls eagles, falcons and owls, Darren who rides a three-headed dog, Atuta who rides a tall stag, and Michu who rides a giant eagle and soars into the gray-blue sky.

The direwolves, the skinchangers and their beasts, the giants make the wildlings fearful, and the more fearful the wildlings are, the easier it is to manage and submit.

More than ten days later, Ed arrived at Long Lake, the largest lake in the north, located on the east side of King's Avenue.

Architect Downs Arryn is waiting here, and Ed has sent a raven to deliver a letter to Winterfell, asking Downs Arryn to meet Ed in Long Lake.

Downs Ayrin stared dumbfounded at the skinchangers riding big bears, wild boars and moas, and at the giants riding mammoths, he murmured: "Gods be merciful, Lord Ed, who are you? How do you defeat the strange spirits in these stories?"

Ed, who was riding on the back of the direwolf, said proudly: "Relying on the sword, courage and wisdom, these wildlings are now Stark's subjects, the people of the North."

Downs joked: "Master Ed, your mount has been changed. I remember your previous mount, wasn't it a gray war horse? Hullen, the stable manager, always boasted that it was the best war horse in Winterfell. Now You rode a direwolf instead? You really do as the Romans do! It’s as magical as the mount of the wildlings beyond the Wall.”

Ed turned over and got off the direwolf, and the wildling team that stretched to the end of his sight continued to move south. The team of giants and skinchangers followed Ed and stopped.

Downs and Ed stood by the long lake, the water surface was cobalt blue, the cold wind blew past, ripples appeared on the lake surface, and Ed looked at the lonely mountain in the east.

"Dance, during my expedition beyond the Great Wall, how is the progress of the castle on the west coast of the northern border?"

Downs opened the map of the Northern Territory, "Master Ed, everything is going well. According to your instructions, we have built a third of the castle Warhorse City at the mouth of the Pioneer River between the Stream Land and the Barren Mound Land." Second, as for Shuguangwang, the entrance to the sea south of Huangzhongtun, the castle is almost completed."

"Seeing the completion of the castle, the Leswell family in the creek and the Dustin family in the barren mound began to regret selling the land at the mouth of the sea to Stark. In addition, our castle rock at the mouth of the rock coast The city has been completed, because the stone resources on the Panshi coast are abundant and it is easy to obtain materials."

"According to Lord Ed's order, the castle blacksmith city next to the Flint Cliff at Kraken Cape has also been completed. The Flint Family of Flint's Finger has given us great support. This is a very strong fortress. , with docks and docks, stone from the nearby Flint Cliffs."

In the long history of thousands of years, the Stark family only owned one castle in Winterfell, because the cruel winter made Stark unable to build a new castle. Not only that, the maintenance cost of Winterfell was too high, some The towers were once deserted.

Today, Ed relies on fine salt, vodka, blueberry wine, maple syrup, perfume, soap, etc. to make a fortune.Ed, who is rich and powerful, not only gave Winterfell a new look, but also built four castles on the west coast in one go.

Coupled with the Abyss Castle on Skaggs Island, once these castles are completed, the Stark family will own six castles in one go.The common people in the northern region are used to calling these castles built by Ed the Wolf Castle.Because the coat of arms and totem of the Stark family are the direwolves.

Even if you look at the seven kingdoms, there are very few nobles with more than two castles, and the nobles with six castles are simply the only ones.

Today, the nobles with the most castles in the Seven Kingdoms belong to the Baratheon family.

King Robert sits on the Iron Throne in King's Landing and owns the royal castle, the Red Keep.Robert's second brother, Sea Lord Stannis, owns the legendary Dragon King Castle on Dragonstone Island, among which the Stone Drum Tower and the Hall of Tables and Tables are famous all over the world.Robert's third brother, Renly, owns Storm's End, the majestic seaside fortress inherited from the Baratheon family.

Many lords build castles to show off their wealth and power, but Ed has no such idea. Castles are part of the plan to defend and rule the North.

Take a closer look at the layout of Ed's castle in the north, except that Winterfell is located in the hinterland of the North, and several other castles are scattered on the Rocky Coast, Streamland, Wasteland, Kraken Point and Skaggs Island, Winterfell The control over the northern border is unprecedentedly strong, multi-point blossoming, and intertwined. Externally, it can resist the invasion of foreign enemies, and internally, it can deter vassals and ensure their loyalty.

Rock City will defend the Rock Coast, Warhorse City will block the mouth of the stream, and Shuguang Wang will block the mouth of the Barren Tomb. Both mouths will flow into the salt spear beach in the north, and the defense of the salt spear beach will be strengthened. Thus protecting the Gulf of Calim, the throat of the north, from attacks by sea enemies to the west.

As for the Blacksmith City at Kraken Point, it is located on the edge of the Flint Cliff, and was the first to spot the Ironborn pirates from the south. Now there is already a fleet of longships stationed in the Blacksmith City.In addition, Blacksmith City can also provide a place for rest and supplies for merchant ships in the future north-south trade.

Near each castle, military settlements were set up to open up manors and saltworks to support the soldiers guarding the castle.

Architect Downs asked curiously: "Master Ed, why did you name the castle at Kraken Point Blacksmith City? I know you devoutly believe in the old gods, and blacksmiths are clearly one of the seven gods in the south!"

Because the Blacksmith City will smash the Ironborn pirates of the Iron Islands across the sea and beat up the unbeaten Ironborn. This is the real reason why Ed named that castle the Blacksmith City. However, there is no need to tell Downs, If this word reaches the ears of King Balon of the Iron Islands, it will only cause unnecessary hatred among the Ironborn.

Ed chose the safest answer, "There are many iron mines in Kraken Point, which can be used as a wrought iron castle in the future."

The long lake is sparkling, surrounded by dense wolf forests, and there are towering trees everywhere. The isolated mountain in the east is rich in stone resources.

Ed said: "Dance, you have always dreamed of building a miraculous castle. Now that we have giants, I will grant your wish and give you manpower to build the castle. I will leave thousands of savages and one The hundred giants will be given to you, and you will take them to build a castle on the east side of the King's Road, next to the north side of the Long Lake, called Long Lake City."

Ed still remembers that on the first day Downs arrived in Winterfell, he suggested that Ed should build Spring City, Summer City, Golden Autumn City and other castles in the winter resort town, completely ignoring the current situation of Winterfell City. Financial resources, material resources, and manpower also completely disregarded the practicality of the castle.

Today, under Ed's transformation, Downs has become a pragmatic architect, but his dream of spectacle still exists. Ed originally thought that having a giant help build a new castle would make him happy. Looking at the giant, he showed fear.

"Lord Ed, I heard that giants like to eat people, and the female giant will capture the beautiful man as a little lover. If you let the giant work under my hands, they won't eat me?"

Ed smiled, "Don't worry, your small body is not big enough for giants to squeeze their teeth. The giants have sworn allegiance to Stark, and they will listen to you. The wolf forest and the lonely mountain are guarded here, and the materials are easy to obtain. This castle There will be stables, a forge, and barracks, and the walls will be thick."

The strong Margo, Leilei, Sissy and other giant leaders discussed it and finally arranged for the giant Nene to bring a hundred giants to stay in Long Lake and build a castle.

Because there are too many savages, many savages volunteered, hoping to stay and build the castle. In the end, Ed chose the caveman tribe of the blind Doss. Doss will bring more than 2000 cavemen to collect and carry them with the giants on the lonely mountain. Stone.

In addition, there are more than 2000 savages from the Xuelin tribe who are responsible for cutting down the timber in the wolf forest.These savages used to live in the ghost forest outside the Great Wall, and they are very familiar with the forest. Many savages grinned when they received sharp axes. You must know that axes are very precious outside the Great Wall. Many savages from the Xuelin tribe have been woodcutters all their lives. Husbands have never used iron axes, and most of them use stone axes.

To the east of Changhu Lake is the Lonely Mountain, to the west is the Northern Mountains, and to the north is the territory of the Amber family and the Great Wall.The west of the source of the Lonely Mountain White Knife belongs to the Stark family, and the east is the territory of the Dreadfort Bolton family.

In the future, when the Long Lake City on the north side of the Long Lake is completed, Stark's soldiers can reach the Great Wall, the Umber family territory and the northern mountains faster, and they can also reach the Dreadfort and Kahuo City faster.

Ed announced the annexation of the land beyond the Great Wall, and there are still wildlings outside the Great Wall, but most of the wildlings followed Ed and migrated to the territory of Winterfell, and it is difficult for the wildlings to pose a threat.The potential enemies that threaten the Great Wall in the future are the White Walkers and foreign enemies who cross the sea. Long Lake City can allow Stark to better support the Great Wall.

In addition, Changhu City itself can accommodate many savages. There are very few villages around Changhu Lake, and many fertile black lands are not cultivated at all. Ed can place many savages here. In Ed's plan, this place will become a place in the future. A large settlement in the North.

Downs said excitedly: "Lord Ed, I believe that Long Lake City will definitely become a majestic and legendary castle, standing like Winterfell for a thousand years. Once there is Long Lake City, the Stark family will have seven castles, and the gods will be there in the future." In fact, seven castles are a sacred number, and the proud seven gods also happen to be seven."

"Seven still can't satisfy my appetite." Since there are enough manpower, Ed decided to start construction, Ed opened the map, and his eyes stayed on the north of White Harbor, where the two tributaries of the White Knife River meet.

"Dance, wait for you to plan the castle of Long Lake City, and leave the specific work to the craftsmen with wildlings and giants to do it. Your next task is at the confluence of the White Knife River, this place north of White Harbor. Place, build me a castle. The name of this castle is Yingchun City."

Downs blinked, "There are some fishing villages here!"

"This place has great potential in the future." Ed gestured with his hand on the map. You see, this place is exactly in the middle of Desolation Village, Winterfell and White Harbor. Ships from both White Harbor and Winterfell pass through here. , I envisage that Spring City must straddle the confluence of the White Knife, with shipyards, fish markets, barracks, stables and forges. "

"Wood and stone can be directly transported to Yingchun City by using the White Blade River. I am allocating you thousands of savages and hundreds of giants. Anyway, I have inexhaustible manpower. Yingchun City must be completed as soon as possible. In this way, we must also resettle the savages." .”

Downs rubbed his hands and said with admiration: "Master Ed, your strategic vision is amazing. I can't even see the potential of this place. In the future, Yingchun City will definitely be prosperous, so it is destined to be a great castle."

"In this way, the Stark family has more than seven castles. Lord Ed, you are crazier than the builder Brandon, and prouder than the Seven Gods!"

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(End of this chapter)