Chapter 295 Why be appeasement?
In a narrow sense, the action of "bending the knees" is very simple. Just bend the knees and you can do it.
It should be like this when you squat down, and it should be like this when you continue to do it. It seems ordinary.
However, if the same thing happens to different people at different points in time, it will be a completely different scene.
Surrendering to Clay Manderly, regardless of face or face, has never been a necessity for nobles.
Their real pain point is that once they do this, according to the current Westeros system, many of their things will no longer be under their control.
Therefore, Stark is a good leader because they never criticize their vassals harshly.
Hello and me, we just shivered in the cold wind in the north, huddled together for warmth, and survived for thousands of years.
Anyway, the North is so big and the products are not rich. As long as Stark does not fall, no one will fight with their neighbors for a small piece of land.
This is the unique political culture of the North. It is simply impossible to do it in the river bend with rich soil and water.
The reason why the northern nobles are hesitant is actually because of Clay Manderly.
The two parties had many contacts, and each of them was deeply impressed by the strength and determination of the Mandalay family heir.
Once they complete the act of kneeling and surrendering, with Clay Mandler's huge prestige and strong violent support, it can be said that he can do whatever he wants.
And this is actually a very unconventional thing.
The knightly aristocracy was introduced to Westeros by the Andals and took root in this land for thousands of years.
This system has been continuously modified and improved through the game between the upper and lower classes in the past dynasties. Today, it has been completely integrated into the blood of everyone in Westeros.
The first-level monarchs and vassals pay attention to a mutual interest relationship.
Take Tywin Lannister.
He is many things, but first and foremost, he is the head of House Lannister.
Based on this identity, more relationships will be derived.
The Lannister are the ruling family of the Westerlands, so all the Lords of the Westerlands swear allegiance to Tywin Lannister.
To be precise, he swore fealty to House Lannister.
But this allegiance is actually a very weak mutual agreement.
Because the vassals did not hand over their land, financial resources and people to the upper-level lords in a practical sense.
Although in wartime, vassals must send people to participate in the lord's war.
But note that the main part here is that the vassal recruits troops and then personally leads the troops to see the lord.
There is a very personal touch to it.
It is impossible to say that the soldiers of the Golden Tooth City turned into Lannister soldiers after one battle.
And everyone knows how fragile this weak thing, which is restricted by obligations and social morality, is.
The most obvious example is Tywin's father, Tytos Lannister, known as the "Laughing Lion".
Just one person, because of his own character flaws, can cause the entire Lannister family's prestige to plummet, and the vassals can even openly disobey his orders.
In the land of the West, Lannister is weak and incompetent. If Tywin hadn't succeeded to the throne, he would have done the "Monsoons of Castamere" with thunderous means, completely erasing the Reyes family.
What will become of the West?
If he is also a fool who only knows how to eat cheese, within a few years, the entire Western Region will fall into complete chaos.
Without him, the highest order collapsed. Without external intervention, in the end, it would be a chicken-eating contest throughout the Western Territory.
Only by playing a grass-headed king to replace the Lannister family can stability be restored.
Clay discovered these things when he took some time to think about the system of Westeros.
If he were to compare it with the autocratic dynasties in history, he would find something different.
Although the imperial power does not go to the countryside, the resilience of the entire society is actually very strong. The emperor can hide in the palace every day to practice Taoism and do carpentry work, and the entire country can still function.
It's okay to be a jerk for three generations.
It can be said that the system in front of Westeros, in Clay's eyes, is an out-and-out sick person who cannot be saved.
But he was awake alone, but he couldn't get it right in one step.
It doesn't mean that he will seize the throne and call himself emperor and be done with it.
Strong historical inertia has made the cost of changing this decadent system sky-high.
Clay had read many novels before, and they all said that after going to another world, he conquered the world, opened his mouth, and seemed to have established an empire.
He didn't think so.
The simplest example is that now, if all the nobility in the traditional sense are removed, the poorest peasants will be at a loss.
They will be afraid, yes, they are afraid that no one will bully them.
There was no one to provide them with adjudication, no one to fill the power void left by the nobility.
Counting on a local chief in Clay's memory who has been castrated from financial and military power to fill this position, sorry, there are not so many people, and secondly, even if there is, it can't be done.
Even if the farmers are as good as little sheep, the question becomes, where do so many high-quality elite bureaucrats come from?
What happens behind this is too complicated.
In the final analysis, there must be a talent selection mechanism that is universally applicable to the difficult official selection system and unified examination content.
This is the skeleton of the empire!
It's simply impossible for Clay to do it alone.
…
In the end, Jon Umber and other nobles knelt down to Clay and Daenerys and swore allegiance.
Although reluctant, anyone can hear it.
But as mentioned just now, Clay doesn't care too much about these non-binding things, he just wants to stabilize these people first.
It's enough to give them peace of mind, knowing that Clay Manderly's blood and fire will not appear in their heads.
Clay didn't say anything superfluous, but Daenerys was happier.
This is a woman with a strong desire to conquer. The former traitor surrendered at her feet, making her think that this was a very good start.
After all, this was the first group of former enemy nobles to kneel down since she came to Westeros, except for Dorne and other leading parties who were ridden by flying dragons.
From Daenerys' point of view, the meaning is naturally different.
After the ceremony, Clay didn't say much to them. He just waited quietly for Robb Stark's body.
Clay said not to deprive the dead of their throne.
This means that Robb Stark died as the King of the North.
Finally, give him a ride. Harrenhal is quite far away from Winterfell. It would be the king's greatest disgrace to take this road.
After waiting, on the quiet battlefield, white snowflakes silently piled on Clay's shoulders.
The people of the North finally handed over their former king to the current king.
Looking at the face that was still familiar, but a little blue in the heavy snow, Clay sighed.
He signaled to those present who could move and found some stronger ropes.
Clay told Galesos what he meant, and then slowly dragged Robb Stark's stretcher onto Galesos's back.
In fact, he has an easier way, which doesn't require so much trouble.
The dragon's paws could easily hold Robb Stark's stretcher.
He believed that Galesos would not let the King of the North fall midway.
But still the same sentence.
Now that people are gone, let's be decent.
…
The dragon fluttered its wings, leaving behind an empty battlefield.
Before leaving, Clay confessed to Jon Amber.
The Riverland army can return to Riverrun, it doesn't matter whether it is disbanded or not, Clay has no demands.
He believes that these guys don't have the courage now, and now, it is estimated that many people have trouble sleeping.
Unless there's enough alcohol.
Otherwise, their fear will tear these people into pieces alive.
Because they know very well what will happen to those who rebel.
The nobles of the Three Rivers Valley are praying for Clay's mercy.
Because he was a Manderly, he had no historical troubles with them, but his wife, Daenerys Targaryen, wanted to deal with them, and there was a ready reason.
I only hope that Clay Manderly can continue his strength and suppress Daenerys Targaryen.
They realized that when they rebelled, they were just following Lord Tully's orders, and they were not wrong.
As for the Tully family, honestly, who cares?
Anyway, three hundred years ago, everyone was the dog of the "black-hearted" Heron. Why did you, Tully, become our boss?
Now that the new thigh has arrived, everyone in the Riverlands has some activity in their hearts.
For that position, don’t shudder.
…
"Clay, just let them go?"
The location of Clay and Daenerys is now in the town of Earl Harroway, near the King's Road leading to the Neck.
This place has been in a state of ruin due to the two years of war, and no one can see it anymore.
The rise of weapons will be devastating to the civilian economy.
It's the same everywhere.
The two giant dragons probably output too much during the day and are now a little sluggish.
After clearing away the snow under him, he found a large meadow, covered himself with his wings, and snored.
Clay found some dead branches and leaves and lit a fire himself.
He didn't ask Galesos for help. The temperature of the dragon flame was too high and the effect was not good.
Sitting on a log lying on the ground, Daenerys crossed her legs, her purple eyes reflecting the warm light of the fire.
Clay knew she would ask.
The little queen actually wants to know what her attitude is towards these former "own people".
Clay and Daenerys have always been in a relatively strong position in their relationship.
Therefore, his attitude on many things is almost final.
But after all, these things are related to her, so she wants to know what her husband thinks.
"If I don't let it go, what can I do?"
Clay threw a handful of firewood into the bonfire and asked with a smile.
Daenerys raised her thin eyebrows slightly, feeling a little dissatisfied with Clay's answer.
"The ancestors gave us the power to control the dragon, so why should we... tolerate these traitors?"
"If they betray you once, they will betray you a second time."
"If we don't show our majesty to the entire continent, they will despise us."
Daenerys spoke plausibly.
Clay smiled helplessly.
It’s not surprising that the little queen thinks this way. The education she received when she was a child always made her ideas a little extreme.
Although violence can solve problems for some people, it is clear that it cannot solve everyone.
A throne recognized by someone is a throne.
There is only one person in the world, and who will show him the title of king?
This chapter contains some of my thoughts on the system. Of course, it is definitely biased.
What I just want to express is why Clay is not in a hurry to deal with the old nobles.
After all, when you get rid of the old one, you have to come up with the new one.
That's all.
