Game of Thrones: Kings in the North

Chapter 95

In Winterfell's study, Countess Ballerina protests to Eddie about Winterfell's ban on salt.

Ed said indifferently: "Those people with ulterior motives who use the salt village to make money are really too greedy. Greed must pay the price. The price of salt has caused public dissatisfaction. I issued a ban on salt, and the people in the north applauded. Many vassals They all support the salt ban."

"A lot of vassals support?" Mrs. Ballerina seemed quite amused, "For example, who?"

Ed snapped his fingers, "Earl Mitch Seven in Seven City is very supportive, as well as the Wall clan, Flint clan, Norry clan, and Riddle clan in the northern mountains."

Mrs. Ballet leaned forward, "Earl Mitch Seven has no salt fields in the territory, and Seven City is deep inland, and there are no salt mines. As for the mountain clans, do the mountain tribes know how to dry salt? Lord Ed, You promised to share the income of Yantun with the lords of the entire northern border, those lords who are far away from the sea will be happy, but this is not fair to the lords with coastal territories!"

"My Barren Mound is located in the area of ​​Yanmao Beach. There are many salt villages and private salt farms. Winterfell does not allow private production and sales of salt. This not only harms the interests of the Dustin family in Barren Mound, but also harms many private salt farms. interests of the saltworks."

A cold light flashed in Ed's eyes, "I have no doubt that it is these private salt farms that collude with smugglers to drive up the price of salt, or in other words, many salt farms are run by smugglers. Defrauding Winterfell's money and making the people unable to eat salt. When the smugglers and the lords work together to manipulate the price of salt, the life of the people will be miserable."

"It's still summer, what will we do in winter? Mrs. Barbaret, when the price of salt is rising, you have been staying in the barren village. Even if you didn't collude with the smugglers, can you guarantee that the rest of the Dustin family are innocent?" ? Some of the smugglers we caught said that the salt dealers in Huangzhongtun were very rampant.”

Ed spread his hands, "Perhaps, I should follow the voice of the people and send someone to the barren village to investigate whether the local nobles are colluding with smugglers and using the salt village to drive up the price of salt."

A look of doubt flashed in Barbaret's eyes. She was afraid.Ed was sure that there must be someone selling private salt in the Dustin family in Huangzhongtun and the little nobles under Dustin.Once Winterfell starts to investigate, many lords in the barren village will face the punishment of reducing their fiefs and even exile to the Great Wall.

As a widow, Barbaret ruled Barrowton after the death of her husband William Dustin. She won the support of the Dustin family and its minor nobles. The nobles have drawn the wrath of Winterfell, and her future rule in Barrentown will be on thin ice.

Ballet pondered for a while, and she smiled wryly, "Master Ed, I am very sad that you insist on implementing the ban on salt. I really want to know who came up with this idea for you? Is it the bachelor next to you, that one?" What is Maester of Luwin?"

"Lord Ed, bachelors can't be trusted! They are all gray mice. The school city trains them to read and write, heal diseases, and answer questions for the lord. The school city claims that the bachelors serve the lord. What happens? The bachelor will only serve the lord around, whispering, and interfering with the lord's various decisions."

"Remember the Maester of Winterfell before Maester Luwin? That Maester Willis, that gray mouse encouraged your father, Duke Rickard, to develop the power of the Stark family in the south. He persuaded your father to let Brandon Engaged to Catelyn Tully, engaged Lady Lyanna to King Robert, Lord Rickard thought the direwolves could run wild in the south, what happened?"

"The Duke of Rickard was burned to death by the mad king Aerys. Brandon was strangled to death to save his father. Your sister Lyanna died in the Tower of Joy. They all died in the south. Countless northerners, including my husband, They were buried with them. All this is because of the instigation of Maester Willis! Lord Ed, gray rats are not worthy of trust."

Ed sighed, "Barbaret, the bachelors around me have nothing to do with the ban on salt. If you really want to know, I can tell you. The ban on salt was actually Brandon's idea in the first place."

When Mrs. Ballet heard the name of Brandon Stark, this widowed woman for many years seemed to return to her girlhood in an instant. Ballet was once Brandon's lover, and she was once talking about marriage.Back then, Ballet's father, Earl Rodwell of Streamland, proposed marriage to Duke Rickard, hoping to marry Ballet to Brandon, the heir of Winterfell, in order to expand the influence of Streamland in the north.

However, at that time, Duke Rickard had ambitions for the south. The bachelor of Winterfell, Willis, urged Rickard not to let the heir of Winterfell marry the vassals in the north.In the end, Duke Rickard rejected the marriage, choosing instead to betroth Brandon to Catelyn of Riverrun.Since then, Ballet has hated The Bachelor.

Although Brandon has passed away for many years, Mrs. Ballerina still feels agitated when she thinks of her first love back then. She said emotionally: "Brandon proposed a ban on salt? Lord Ed, don't lie to me."

Ed said solemnly: "My brother Brandon is the natural leader. Compared with Brandon, Brandon is the sun, and I am just a candle. He is charming, ambitious, and capable."

"Back then, Brandon once told me that one day, when he inherited Winterfell and became the Duke of the North, he would introduce a ban on salt. I asked him why, and Brandon told me that only by controlling the salt can the North be united. The northern border is rich and powerful. The northern border is rich and powerful, so Winterfell doesn't have to curry favor with the nobles in the south, and he doesn't have to be forced by his father, Duke Rickard, to marry Caitlin."

Ed seemed to be possessed by a bard, looking at the ballet in front of him, "Brandon said that she met a beautiful girl in the streamland, she was riding a bay red horse, and they rode wildly in the fields together, Singing in streams and seashores, sleeping in each other's arms by moonlight. Brandon fantasized about having many children with you, ruling Winterfell and the North together."

Mrs. Ballet's heart was broken. She recalled the past with mixed feelings, and said excitedly: "I knew that Brandon didn't like Caitlin Tully at all, and he loved me."

Ed stretched out his hand and gently touched Barbaret's cheek, "Brandon has been sleeping underground for more than ten years now. The pure and lovely girl in the stream land has become a bitter and mean widow in the barren village. Brandon saw will be sad."

"Ballet, you are Brandon's lover. I promise to take care of you for Brandon. Believe me, the ban on salt will definitely not harm the interests of Barrentown and the noble lords. On the contrary, Winterfell controls the production of salt After obtaining the management rights, we will find ways to increase the production of salt, and the nobles in the northern border can get more money."

A tear rolled down Barbaret's cheek, "Fuck the salt ban, I don't care! Lord Ed, please take me to the catacombs, I want to see my Brandon."

　Thanks to the book friend "Chenzhou" for the monthly ticket, thank you for your support!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)