Chapter 661 North to the Great Wall
A few days later.
An army of five thousand Unsullied came out of King's Landing and moved to Harrenhal with a large number of carriages and horses.
Two giant scarlet dragons hovered in the sky, their sharp roars resounding throughout Blackwater Bay.
…
Harrenhal, farmland in the countryside.
"Quick! Before summer ends!"
"All trees should be cut down, and no manure pits should be reserved for accumulation of manure..."
Farmers bent over their fields, wielding sickles to cut off the summer-ripened wheat.
Not only wheat, but also preliminary soybeans, sugar beets, potatoes...
All crops that can be eaten and stored are added to the list for early harvest.
Finally, it was shipped to Harrenhal, the largest castle in the Seven Kingdoms.
squeak——
A towering pine tree crashed to the ground, and several rafters shouted to avoid it.
Whether pine or poplar, they fell one after another on the shore of Shenyan Lake.
clang! clang!
Rhaegar stepped in the mud by the lake, holding an ax and slowly and orderly cutting down the thick tree trunks.
The sun is shining brightly above our heads, and the temperature is still like early summer.
Rhaegar worked hard, immersed in his own world.
Winter is approaching, food and firewood are the top priority.
Harrenhal occupies a large area of fertile land, and a dense forest grows beside the God's Eye Lake.
All became supplies for the cellar under the Widow's Tower.
Light footsteps squeezed into my ears.
Rhaenyra was wearing an ordinary black skirt, with a basket hanging on her arm. She smiled as she walked: "Take a rest, it's time for lunch."
Moving from King's Landing to Harrenhal, it was as if everything in the past had quietly changed.
The rustic farmland and muddy trails give you a unique experience at this time.
"Have all the farmers eaten?"
Rhaegar put down his ax and grabbed a towel to wipe away the sweat stains.
"I've eaten, I've eaten everything."
Rhaenyra shook her head helplessly, opened the basket and took out the meal: "Tens of thousands of farmers have joined the service because of your words, so of course we cannot starve them."
Harrenhal covers a large area and has the largest population in the Riverlands.
The Mushroom Market under its jurisdiction is one of the main trading places, with a large amount of mulberry, sweet wine, and sugar circulating.
In addition, Rhaegar, as king, has supported Harrenhal overtly and covertly in relocating homeless people and orphans over the years.
Today, the prosperity of Harrenhal can be called the first castle in the Seven Kingdoms.
If there were no external ports, the five major port cities including Old Town would be even worse.
Rhaegar smiled, picked up the bread and smeared it with bacon sauce, and said with emotion: "You don't even know how much the population of the Seven Kingdoms has grown over the years."
Land and population have always been the main pillars of the kingdom.
"Otto once took a census, but was kicked out by the lords of the Riverlands."
Rhaenyra poured him a glass of honey water and shook her head.
Population is wealth, and every lord doesn't like outsiders prying.
When Otto was serving as Minister of Civil Affairs, he was encouraged by Rega to conduct a thorough investigation, which intensified his reputation as the "Minister of Shit".
"About 120 million!"
Rhaegar took a deep taste of the food and told the astonishing number.
"I always thought that 20 to 30 million people was a lot."
Rhaenyra paused while brushing the meat sauce on the bread, and couldn't help but wonder.
Hundreds of millions are not in line with the backward productivity of Westeros.
"Yet it is true."
It was hard for Rhaegar to believe it, but the shadows that had been cast over the years were all over the Seven Kingdoms, and the news was certain: "The combined population of the Riverlands and the Reach alone exceeds fifty million."
This is not nonsense, but has been clearly verified.
During the reign of great-grandfather Jaehaerys, the total population of Westeros was basically over 100 million.
This is very clear, as my great-grandfather and great-grandmother traveled away from the continent on a dragon and discovered it themselves.
Later, during the reign of his father Viserys, population growth briefly stagnated.
After Rhaegar came to power, the population first dropped by millions.
They were all grown men and some women and orphans who had been consumed by the war.
After Rhaegar protected war widows and orphans, the population grew rapidly under the dictatorship and ten years of long summers.
Among them, the royal territory and the valley are the most obvious ones. The land can be opened up to accommodate more homeless people.
Looking at the Seven Kingdoms, the Riverlands is the core and radiates to the five southern realms including the Reach, King's Territory, Valley, and Stormlands. The total population exceeds 100 million.
The North and Dorne are sparsely populated, adding only a fraction to the huge numbers.
The Iron Islands were destroyed, and the iron race was no longer counted.
The population of the Western Territory and the Stone Steps Islands is relatively prosperous, and the economy is relatively better than that of the farming areas.
"So many people, they all trust you."
Rhaenyra's eyes were soft and she leaned on Rhaegar's shoulder.
Being a queen is not as easy as a queen, and ruling Lys is very difficult.
What's more, the continent of Westeros is divided into seven kingdoms and nine families.
"It's all about living. The king always has to fulfill some obligations."
Rhaegar finished his food in several bites, stood up and clapped his hands.
As the ax struck, the tree fell down.
"Let's go back together."
Rhaegar shook off the dust and pulled Rhaenyra towards Harrenhal.
Trees need to be dried after being cut down, otherwise they are prone to mold and rot.
There is a special mineral in Norvos that can burn wood into coal.
Coal is easier to store and burns longer.
All the jungle on the shores of God's Eye Lake is cleared and must be burned into coal for storage.
…
The next day, the king comes.
Two green dragons crossed the Blackwater Bay and flew from the Mud Gate to the sky above King's Landing.
Slowly, he landed in the dragon's lair.
The common people in Silk Street and Flea Bottom saw the two giant dragons, and many cheered long live the crown prince.
No one noticed that the king led the royal family to move.
The dragon in the dragon cave and the crown prince who returned to the capital are both living signals of peace and stability.
The Red Castle, the parliament hall.
Baeron and Bernila stored the three dragon eggs laid by Moon Dance and convened a royal meeting in the name of the crown prince.
This time, the faces in the parliament changed slightly.
Daemon looked indifferent and sat in the seat representing the king.
Aemond sat at the lower left, the original position of the prime minister.
Allison replaced the chair of the Minister of Justice and sat down quietly.
The other ministers took their seats and looked forward to the crown prince who suddenly returned.
"Your Highness, what is the situation in the North?"
Grand Maester Orwell spoke softly.
"It's not optimistic."
Baeron looked at the members of the royal meeting and said in surprise: "Where are my father and grandfather?"
His younger brothers and sisters didn't come to greet him either, which was quite strange.
"They are in Harrenhal."
Aemond stared at his nephew with one eye, deliberately lowering his voice to scare him: "You can go find them."
Baeron: ...
It's so boring.
Grand Maester Orwell came forward to explain, and explained everything that had happened in the past half month.
And why Queen Mother Alisson stayed in King's Landing.
"Harrenhal is cold and damp, I'm tired of it there."
Alison shook her head repeatedly, full of fear of the place where she had been imprisoned for several years.
She would rather stay in King's Landing and starve and freeze than go to Harrenhal.
"You said that the wildlings attacked in large numbers and the food in the North was exhausted?"
Daemon supported the table with his elbows, his eyes dim and unclear.
Absolutely bad news.
As the first line of defense against the cold winter and darkness, the worse the situation in the North, the more dangerous it is.
"Why not support some food, we have plenty."
Lin Man looked around and slowly proposed a solution.
The treasury is still full. The King's Territory, the Riverlands, and the Reach are all major grain-producing territories, which are more than enough to feed the millions of people in the North.
The ten-year long summer is not a lie, and the people in the South live very comfortably.
"It's not enough, Lord Linman."
Thinking of the deadlock in the North, Baeron said solemnly; "Not only food, the North needs all possible assistance."
With the comments of a group of royal members, he boldly proposed: "I suggest gathering an army of 10,000 people and immediately go north to reinforce."
"You must inform your father about this."
Daemon crossed his hands, with approval in silence.
"Then I will go to him."
Baeron patted his chest, his young face was very determined.
We must not let down Duke Creggan, and we must not let down the Great Wall that blocks the wildlings.
...
Three days later.
Harrenhal, the Water Garden.
"Hiss--"
The glutton crawled on the cobblestone ground, stretched his neck and roared.
Dozens of dragons circled in the sky, competing to stir up the thin clouds.
In front of the Kingsburning Tower, an army of five thousand Unsullied gathered.
"Cack, cack..."
Hundreds of ravens flew out of the spire of the Widow's Tower, and flew to all parts of the Seven Kingdoms with harsh cries.
Under the calm surface, war is brewing.
Kingsburning Tower, Hall of the Hundred Hearths.
Viserys sat on the highest throne, and most of the family members gathered below.
He was old and had no ideas.
A blanket covered his legs, watching the discussion below quietly.
"Since we are going to the North, I will take the lead."
Aemond's mouth curled up, and his one eye was full of confidence.
"Yes, you go first."
Aegon nodded repeatedly and shrank back.
He didn't want to go to the cold North, it was enough for his brothers to suffer.
"You want to go too!"
Rhaegar glanced at him and rejected the stupid second brother's bad behavior.
There are white walkers outside the Wall, and dragons are the only resistance.
As much as possible, all family members should participate.
Aegon's face fell, like a deflated ball.
Rhaegar looked around and said seriously: "Consider carefully how many dragons and troops to send."
Ravens flew across the territory to summon the armies from all over the country to meet.
The number of dragons must also be carefully calculated.
Father Viserys is weak and sick, and the tamed Wormithor must also stay.
Aunt Rhaenys and Laenor can join the war. The latter will lead the Velaryon fleet from the sea and land as soon as possible before White Harbor freezes.
Daemon can't leave. He and Korax are the main forces in King's Landing.
Helena and Daeron each have their own duties, and all the adult children must stay.
Including Baelon and Maekar.
"I'll go with you."
Rhaenyra held Rhaegar's big hand, and their shoulders were tightly together.
She had to accompany her brother and face the winter together.
Rhaegar hesitated for a moment, and gently touched his forehead to the other's.
The king and queen, of course, can't be separated.
"Take us with you."
Baena and Rhaena came closer and held the hem of their foster mother's skirt.
They were already grown girls, and didn't want to stay with their brothers and sisters.
"Your dragons are still young."
Rhaenyra stepped forward on behalf of Rhaegar, reaching out to touch the cheeks of the two adopted daughters.
"It's okay, we can accompany you."
Baena was brave and resolute, with hope in her eyes: "Winterfell is cold and bitter, three dragons are better than one."
"But..."
Rhaenyra's heart softened, and she turned to look at Rhaegar inquiringly.
Rhaegar's eyes flashed, and he nodded silently.
In this way, the dragons and troops dispatched by the royal family were counted.
Rhaegar led the team himself, including Rhaenys, Rhaenyra, Aemond, Laenor and the sisters Baelara.
A total of eight dragons.
The army was the army of 5,000 Unsullied, 3,000 Fearless, 2,000 Gold Cloaks and the Royal Fleet stayed in Harrenhal and King's Landing.
The rest depended on how many troops the vassals from all over the country could muster.
...
Time passed in a flash, and half a month had passed.
Green Fork River, Luanhe City.
An army of more than 10,000 people marched on foot, heading towards the castle across the river.
The Unsullied army in black armor served as the center.
2,000 cavalry and archers from the riverlands of Riverrun, Elywood, Stonehedge and other cities served as the vanguard.
3,000 logistics troops gathered in the riverlands and the king's territory followed behind.
"Hiss!!"
A golden and gorgeous dragon flew over the army, chasing another ugly mud dragon.
Gold and brown mud intertwined, beauty and ugliness opposed.
