"Besides money, the most important thing is the soldiers."
After Jon Arryn finished talking about the borrowing issue, the task was handed over to the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
"Understood, Lord Aylin."
The fat Chancellor of the Exchequer sat on the right hand side of King Robert. He quickly moved his chair back with a big belly, and then stood up and took over the task.
If the Prime Minister is the king's most important right-hand man, the Finance Minister is the second most important position after the Prime Minister.
Although the old Duke worked hard, he could not do everything himself. At such an old age, taking a boat on the sea for more than a month to go to Braavos would probably cost half of his life.
"His Majesty."
"Not long ago we called for a counter-insurgency war against the Iron Islands. Now it is actually not easy to organize the soldiers again."
"While the loan is in place and the rewards have been distributed, we still need your efforts..."
Although the king is a fool, his character is bold and informal, and he has a strong affinity.
He was especially popular among the lower-class soldiers. During the Usurper's War, Robert didn't mind sleeping in grass pits with the soldiers, sharing a bowl of unpalatable food, and even fighting side by side on the front line.
In this regard, King Robert is actually very similar to Viserys, who also has high prestige in the Andalus Legion.
In addition to the various auras of nobility, bloodline, and faith above his head, he has won many battles and has never lost a battle so far.
Another reason is naturally that he has never put on any airs and is very friendly. Except for the crown on his head, he even dresses and dresses like ordinary civilians.
For Viserys, simple and clean clothes are fine. On the contrary, he doesn't like those gorgeous clothes that must be worn when attending important occasions.
With various belts and decorations on his body, his whole body is shining like a human-shaped light bulb...
He does not need to use gorgeous clothes to enhance his status or distinguish himself from common people.
but.
Viserys's elder brother, Prince Rhaegar, had a higher reputation among the nobles.
One is a grass root rolling in the mud, and the other is a silver peacock high above.
During the royal meeting in the Red Fort, preparation plans for the expected war began to unfold.
...
And in distant Andalos.
A month passed quietly.
A light rain in autumn is coming.
Viserys was standing on an observation deck in the castle, holding on to the cold and hard window, overlooking the endless Andalus below.
This is a miraculous city that he created in just over six years. From the very beginning, he asked the soldiers to build a simple wooden castle, and then began to move the surrounding Andal villages. There were coaxing and inducements and even
The threat of violence finally formed the prototype of Andalus.
From that time on, Viserys watched it gradually expand, and finally grew to the size it is today. Looking down below, there are roads extending in all directions, and houses are scattered in a patchwork manner. Taverns, brothels, and inns have even been built.
Local Chamber of Commerce.
but...
Viserys looked at the city below that he created with his own hands, and suddenly thought of the nine-layered palace and the giant red temple he saw in Pentos, as well as the Neptune's Palace and the Titans in Braavos, and his heart moved slightly.
He was thinking about whether he should build a wonder in Andalos?
Enhance people's sense of belonging, pride and cohesion.
However, this idea only passed through Viserys' mind for a moment, and then disappeared without a trace.
Poverty is still the original sin.
Then the young king held on to the crenel and sighed, then turned around and looked behind him. There was a man wearing a metal mask standing behind him.
He was extremely thin, and his whole body was wrapped tightly. Except for the two openings for the eyes of the mask, all the rest of his skin was wrapped, including his neck, which was wrapped with white gauze and not exposed.
Every cent.
His standing posture was also a little strange. He was holding on to the wall behind him, breathing heavily, as if he was competing with himself, trying hard to stand up.
Viserys stood there and looked at this once brave and skilled knight, who had now become like this. There was also some regret in his eyes. He opened his mouth several times to say something, but in the end he still persuaded him.
I swallowed my words of giving up.
"Bessie."
"It's truly a miracle that you survived."
This man, who was wrapped up tightly and wore a metal mask, was Bessie, the son of the Andal warrior who was once Viserys' personal bodyguard and had a seven-pointed star carved on his shoulder.
However, whether this Kingsguard or the son of a warrior, it is a miracle that he survived after such a horrific disaster, but he is destined to be unable to pick up the sword again in the rest of his life and become a useless person.
After Bessie was lucky enough to save his life, he was not willing to stay in bed for the rest of his life. When Viserys visited him, he made a request to Viserys.
He hopes that he can still become the king's guard. He firmly believes that he can stand up again and become a useful person. He hopes that His Majesty the King can give him a chance.
At that time, Viserys was holding Bessie's blackened and cracked palm. Besides being stunned, he saw some kind of persistence in his eyes.
Finally Viserys nodded and agreed.
However, although Bessie saved her life, she still had a long and difficult road to stand up.
Hearing Viserys's voice, the knight who was competing with him raised his head slightly, and then panted and spoke in a hoarse voice.
"It's no miracle that I survived, Your Majesty."
"It was the gods in heaven who thought I was still useful and protected me, the merciful Holy Mother..."
Bessie then wanted to talk at length, but Viserys had already heard his story told to him several times.
Bessie is a loyal believer of the Seven Gods. He still has the symbol of the seven-pointed star engraved on his shoulder. He is the son of a warrior selected by the village.
In that fire, he rushed in alone to save his mother and Daenerys, but as soon as he entered the fire, he lost his way. The smoke inside was filled with smoke. In the end, Bessie was knocked down by a ceiling above his head.
on the ground.
Fortunately, the ceiling gave him some insulation and space, and he was finally rescued.
Before he suffocated and fainted, he was trapped in a small corner and praying to the Seven Gods.
therefore.
He always believed that the reason why he miraculously survived was that the seven gods in the sky heard his prayers and finally took action to save his life.