King's Landing, the capital of the Seven Kingdoms, is located on the east coast of Westeros, overlooking Blackwater Bay.

Three hundred years ago, Aegon Targaryen landed here, taking three giant dragons with him, and started the road of conquest.

After the War of Conquest, Aegon was crowned "King of the Andals, the Rhoynar, and the First Men, Ruler of the Seven Kingdoms, and Protector of the Realms" in Oldtown.

It is said that the Hightower family humbly expressed their willingness to dedicate the old town to the Targaryens as the capital of the Seven Kingdoms, but for unknown reasons, Aegon finally rejected the proposal.

He did not choose the most prosperous city in Westeros at the time as his capital, but built a new city - King's Landing - at the mouth of the Blackwater River where he landed.

It means the place where the king comes.

Three hundred years have passed, and what was once a small fishing village at the mouth of the river has now become the largest city in Westeros with a population of half a million.

After the Reaver War, the Targaryen dynasty fell, and the Baratheon family still used King's Landing as the capital to rule the Seven Kingdoms.

This not-an-old city remains prosperous, but it is also faltering under the pressure of a population that has exceeded the limits of the times.

On Aegon Hill in the southeast corner of the city, sits the royal castle, the Red Keep.

This magnificent castle built of light red rocks is like a sleeping dragon, quietly crawling among the rocks and watching everything wordlessly.

Finance Minister Petyr "Littlefinger" Baelish rode through the towering bronze gate of the Red Keep, the mockingbird clasp on his cloak shining in the sun. He seemed to be in a good mood today, and he greeted the people he met along the way.

Every guard and servant nodded with a smile.

Entering the meeting hall, Petyr found that Lord Jon Arryn, Hand of the King, had arrived.

The Hand of the King, also known as the Prime Minister, is the king's chief advisor and order executor, responsible for managing the daily operations of the Seven Kingdoms.

The Hand of the King, who is over seventy years old, is showing his age. His once dazzling blond hair has now turned gray, and his broad and thick shoulders have gradually slumped in the process of handling various complicated government affairs.

Only those blue eyes are still as sharp as ever.

After Duke Jon saw Petyr, he nodded to the finance minister who was lifted up by him, and then returned to his desk to read the documents in his hand.

Petyr leaned over and bowed, then came to his seat and sat down. He knew that the old Duke didn't like to be disturbed when he was thinking about problems, so he sat quietly, his eyes wandering aimlessly in the hall.

The furnishings of the meeting hall are quite luxurious. The floor is covered with Myr carpets with exquisite patterns. The walls are covered with exquisite paintings from all over the world. On both sides of the door are a pair of Valyrian sphinx statues.

His bright eyes seemed to be staring at the bored Finance Minister.

While waiting, the remaining cabinet ministers also entered the chamber one after another.

Lord of the Sea Stannis Baratheon, Master of Intelligence Varys, Grand Maester Pycelle.

Lord Jon, Hand of the King, finally raised his head and asked, "Is everyone here?"

Wallis, the intelligence chief known as the "Eight-Clawed Spider", smiled softly and said:

"Everyone is here except Lord Renly, Lord Chancellor of the Law, who is on vacation, and Lord Barristan, Captain of the Kingsguard, who is accompanying His Majesty the King on the hunt."

In fact, there is one person missing from Varys, and that is King Robert Baratheon.

But it is normal for His Majesty the King to be absent from royal meetings. If he really appears here, it will be the sun rising from the west.

After this brave and warrior king won the throne, he was like a child who snatched a toy and lost interest in it instantly. He threw it aside and indulged in wine, hunting, and promiscuity all day long, abandoning all state affairs.

To his adoptive father, Lord Jon Arryn, Hand of the King.

It seemed that the old Duke was no longer just the "Hand of the King", but also the head, eyes, and ears of the King... and the King himself only had a mouth for drinking and a dick for playing with women.

"Okay, let's get started." Duke Jon tapped the table lightly and said, "Let's discuss the dispute between Riverbend and Dorne first. Do you all know about this matter? Do you have any opinions?"

After a moment of silence, Intelligence Chief "Eight-Clawed Spider" Wallis said in a sweet voice:

"Lord Petyr, didn't you just come back from Eagle's Beak Island? He must know the reason for this matter clearly."

"Littlefinger" Petyr looked at the meaningful look cast by Varys, cursed in his heart a damn eunuch, then smiled slightly and said:

"I just went to investigate the silver mine discovered on Yingzui Island and made arrangements for the casting of silver deer. I didn't know anything about this dispute."

Varys raised his hand to cover his mouth in feigned surprise: "I didn't expect that a small silver mine would require Lord Petyr to personally visit it."

"This is my duty as the Minister of Finance, and the kingdom's finances are indeed a bit tight now. I finally found a new silver mine. Of course I have to go and see it myself."

Varys seemed to want to say something more, but Duke Jon coughed slightly and brought the topic back:

"Okay, Petyr, tell me what you think of the pioneering knight of Yingzui Island."

Petyr nodded towards the old Duke and said: "Sir Caesar is an outstanding knight, but he is also a knight who is unwilling to suffer losses."

Duke Jon nodded silently, seeming to understand something.

Then, he looked at Intelligence Chief Varys and asked: "Lord Varys, what's your opinion?"

Wallis twisted his fat body and said with a sweet smile:

"Sir, I have heard a lot of new news. This dispute is no longer limited to Eagle Beak Island and Starfall City. Almost all the lords in the western part of Dorne have sent troops. As for the Riverbend, the Tully family,

The Florentine family, the Redwine family, the Mullendauer family, and the Kuy family have also sent troops. Oh, the momentum is not small."

Duke Jon's brows suddenly frowned: "Have the Martell family and the Tyrell family issued a war order?"

"That's not true." Varys shook his shiny bald head, "However, Princess Arianne Martell is in Starfall City now, and it was she who issued the recruitment order to the nearby Dornish lords. As for mentioning

There has been no movement from the Leer family."

Hearing this, Stannis Baratheon, the Duke of Dragonstone, the Sea Lord who had remained silent, spoke:

"There is no movement from the Tyrell family? Then why are there so many River Lords participating in the war?"

The king's eldest brother is not tall, but he has a strong body. His skin is as hard as iron due to years of exposure to the sun. Although he is not yet thirty-five years old, his hair has almost fallen out, leaving only a dark ring.

Thin hair, like the shadow of a crown.

His tone was dry and hard, as if he was interrogating a prisoner when he spoke to anyone.

Fortunately, Varys had long been accustomed to Stannis's temper and knew that he was not targeting him, so he smiled and said:

"There is indeed no movement from the Tyrell family. As for why the River Lords sent troops to support Yingzui Island, I don't know."

Petyr said sarcastically: "Your little birds didn't tell you the reason why the Lords of the River Bend sent troops?"

"My little birds only have eyes, ears and mouths. They can only tell me what they hear and see. As for what is hidden behind these, we need to analyze and guess by ourselves."

"I didn't expect the little birds you trained to be so stupid..."

"That's enough." Duke Jon patted the table, once again interrupting the bickering between Petyr and Varys.

He sighed, turned to look at Archmaester Pycelle sitting at the end of the long table, and asked:

"Lord Pycelle, what do you think?"

Pycelle made no move.
Chapter completed!