Snow was falling in King's Landing, and the cold wind made King's Landing extremely frigid. This was a cold different from that of the coast at night; it was the chill brought by the North.
Snowflakes landed on Rhaegar's palm. After the harsh winter comes the warm spring. During the winter, corresponding winter policies must be implemented.
"Useless soldiers! They are supposed to be city security and law enforcement, but they are almost derelict!" The City Watch has two barracks: the eastern one is near the Dragon Gate, and the western one is near Shoemaker Square. The Lord Commander of the Gold Cloaks has already arranged his men; three hundred Gold Cloaks is quite a number. The Kingsguard served as backup, with some also taking action. Rhaegar looked at the lined-up Gold Cloaks. A long golden cloak was their symbol, but their training was inferior even to the Lannister City Watch. Gold Cloak soldiers wore robes made of thick wool, dyed gold. Their armor, boots, and gauntlets were black. Officers wore black breastplates decorated with four gold discs. They used iron hammers and long spears with black iron heads. The problem with the Gold Cloaks was excessive commercialization. King's Landing is a port and commercial city, and even though the Gold Cloaks were the city's law enforcement, they could still generate a lot of gold. Brothels and casinos had to curry favor with them. But if a real war broke out, this security force would be terrible.
"How many Gold Cloaks are there now?" Rhaegar asked the Lord Commander.
"Nominally four thousand, but in reality, a little over three thousand!" the Lord Commander of the Gold Cloaks said awkwardly.
"It seems your embezzlement hasn't gotten too severe yet; it's not even half!" Rhaegar looked at the Lord Commander of the Gold Cloaks, who trembled in fear. This was something everyone knew, but once exposed, the consequences were unpredictable. Rhaegar felt that the current level of embezzlement wasn't too outrageous. It would be truly absurd when the Butcher succeeded as the Lord Commander of the City Watch, managing a force of nine thousand and embezzling the pay of three thousand men. Regardless, the Gold Cloaks definitely needed reorganization, or rather, this army was utterly rotten!
"The past is not solely your problem. But tonight's operation must follow the list; don't let a single person escape! If the principal offenders resist, kill them without mercy!" Rhaegar instructed the Lord Commander of the Gold Cloaks. Rhaegar had two lists: one from Simon, who held the investigation list of King's Landing grain merchants and markets, which had already been reported to the King. The other was from the Rat Catcher; there were always some rioters willing to boast about their glorious deeds, and many bold individuals willing to identify them in exchange for rewards. Roken had used fine wine, delicious food, and smiles from the brothels to clarify this information.
"Understood, Prince!" the Lord Commander replied respectfully.
The night was silent, but the firelight was fervent. The Gold Cloaks excitedly pushed open doors, shouting and making noise. They arrested people in various places according to the list: in low-class brothels, Dog Fighting Pits, casinos, and the lavish residences of the grain merchants. All grain merchants involved in the conspiracy to assassinate the Master of Laws, and the reckless thugs from Flea Bottom who carried out the act, needed to be seized.
The Gold Cloak soldiers were quite adept at this kind of work, because Prince Rhaegar, in addition to ordering severe flogging for the deserters, allowed the remaining Gold Cloaks to redeem themselves through merit. The Lord Commander of the Gold Cloaks, for the sake of his official position and the glory of the Gold Cloaks, personally subsidized a small treasury to incentivize these soldiers to fight hard. More importantly, the presence of the Kingsguard, regular soldiers and knights, significantly increased the safety of the operation.
"Salo the Dog Fighter from Flea Bottom, you are implicated in the death of the former Master of Laws and King's Landing's Security Chief during this special period, Lord Simon. You are under arrest!" The Gold Cloaks kicked open a small door in the brothel, looking menacing. A fierce man's face emerged from under the woman's covers. Seeing the Gold Cloaks, he knew things were bad. The man wanted to resist desperately, but without his sword, he couldn't jump out the window. He grabbed a dagger by the bed, frantically trying to stab the soldiers.
"Resisting arrest and attempting to assassinate a soldier! Your crime is compounded!" The Gold Cloak guards exchanged glances, and then the crossbow fired a dazzling arc. At such a short range, the crossbow was faster. The assassin was hit several times and was now screaming in pain. The soldiers dragged the assassin out of the brothel, bleeding profusely. In the biting cold wind, he might soon freeze to death or die from excessive bleeding... The same scene was playing out in many parts of King's Landing.
The most intense fighting took place at the home of King's Landing's major grain merchant, Clark. Rhaegar and the Lord Commander of the Gold Cloaks had both arrived here! The great grain merchant had already sensed his tragic fate, so the doors were tightly locked.
"According to the rules of previous years, these grain merchants would hoard goods during food shortages. They never expected King's Landing's control to be so strict now; they are effectively bankrupt! Previously, they tried to bribe Lord Simon, but failed!" The Lord Commander whispered to Rhaegar the reason for the grain merchants' complete madness: they couldn't repay their enormous debts and were doomed eventually. So, they decided to take a desperate gamble, attempting to change the direction of King's Landing's policies. For a time, some were clamoring about the King's policy mistakes, and some were willing to pay to redeem officials. The most extreme, like Clark, focused on assassinating Simon, hoping that the assassination would salvage their fate.
"He-ha!" The Gold Cloaks used a battering ram to completely smash open the mansion door. What greeted them was the sound of Myr crossbows firing. The Gold Cloaks, well-trained, began to drop down and take cover. Fighting was crucial, but staying alive was more crucial. Clark and a few mercenaries from Myr intended to fight to the bitter end. After firing a round of arrows, they gathered to defend a small building at the back of the courtyard.
"Lord Commander, your royal escort soldiers are truly well-trained!" Rhaegar chuckled. The Lord Commander of the Gold Cloaks dared not reply to the Prince.
"Thrimm!" Rhaegar called his Gatekeeper. Thrimm was also in full heavy armor, holding a longsword. "Raze that small building to the ground!"
"Understood, Prince!" Thrimm replied in a muffled voice. His face was obscured by a mask. He wore a black cloak, full black plate armor, a gorget, a visor, and gauntlets. Behind him were dozens of well-trained royal escort soldiers, true strongmen.
The black heavy armored soldiers poured into Clark's house. Heavy armor and shields were the best defense against arrows. They skillfully began to ram doors and set fires amidst the clamor. Thrimm quickly ended the battle. They brought out the heads of several Myr mercenaries, along with the pale-faced Clark. As for his weeping wife and children, Gold Cloak soldiers naturally took control of them.
"You hired people to kill Simon!" the Lord Commander of the Gold Cloaks asked.
"I had no choice!" Clark lost the courage to resist. He had personally watched the black heavy armored soldiers break into the small building, slaughtering the Myr mercenaries and his guards like chopping vegetables or killing chickens. They had also conveniently brought him out. The lethality of heavy armored soldiers made them the most violent organization in this world. Since the royal escort soldiers of the Free Cities didn't even have such complete armor, they naturally died quickly if they went out without wearing armor.
"I request to join the Night's Watch!" Clark said.
"The Night's Watch is an organization of honor! You are a conspirator and an assassin; you are unworthy! Take him away!" Rhaegar said. The Gold Cloaks dragged Clark away. Rhaegar knew the quality of the Night's Watch, but the decision to join the Night's Watch couldn't always be bypassed. As a part of this conspiracy, Clark had to die. This was not only to avenge Simon but also to reprimand all the grain merchants.
"When this Clark is executed, make sure all the major grain merchants come!" Rhaegar ordered. "This is a special invitation!"
"Understood, Prince!" the Lord Commander of the Gold Cloaks said respectfully.
On the third day, in a square by the river in King's Landing, the newly appointed Master of Laws, Colton Chest, hastily announced the verdict on the high platform, bringing up the grain merchants and Flea Bottom rioters who had been tortured into unrecognizable states in the dungeon.
On the high platform were the Hand of the King, Lord Ormund, the Master of Coin, Tywin, the Municipal and Transport Officer, Prince Rhaegar, Grand Maester Pycelle, and others. Even the High Septon sent an Archbishop to pray for the unfortunate Lord Simon. Simon's widow and heir were also present to witness everything. The King disliked such bloody scenes and did not attend. Prince Aerys claimed he was accompanying his wife and two young sons, and also did not attend.
"By the decree of Jaehaerys II of House Targaryen, King of the Andals, the Rhoynar, and the First Men, protected by the New and Old Gods! I, the Master of Laws, Colton Chest, hereby announce the death sentence for the illicit grain merchants and unlawful thugs who conspired to assassinate the former Master of Laws, Simon. We deem the brutality these people inflicted upon Lord Simon intolerable, and thus they shall all be executed!" Colton Chest shouted loudly, then began arranging for the Royal Executioner to step forward. Colton was proclaiming the Dragon's Wrath. Although King Jaehaerys appeared frail, his will remained rock-solid and unquestionable.
"A very obvious three-tiered division!" Rhaegar looked at the spectators surrounding the Execution Platform; it was very straightforward. The clergy formed one class, representing Divine Authority. The lords and ministers formed one class, representing Royal Authority. The citizens of King's Landing formed another class, including wealthy merchants, rioters, and thugs.
Rhaegar had people arrange special viewing seats for the grain merchants of King's Landing, so they could watch the deaths of their former colleagues.
"Execution!" "Execution!" The people of King's Landing began to cheer, many throwing stones and snowballs onto the platform. "These are the people who starved us! They hoarded goods and made food prices skyrocket!"
"Let the common people suffer a bit, and let the grain merchants take the blame!" Rhaegar thought to himself. In reality, food and commodity prices were currently well controlled. However, the previous price increases in the Free Market had certainly left resentment in people's hearts. All the grain merchants felt a scream of fate. With public sentiment like this, even without considering the Iron Throne's tough stance, these rioters could tear them to shreds at any moment. The only safe possibilities were either to flee King's Landing or find a more reliable patron.
All the grain merchants looked toward Rhaegar's position. He might be the only person who could protect them now!
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