The war east of Westeros had come to a temporary close, and the fighting was now concentrated mainly in the west. The Ironborn were ravaging the northern coast. They could not truly cripple the North's strength, but they were certainly a nuisance. The Lannisters, meanwhile, still held the Westerlands.
The council had only two major concerns: war, and preparing for winter.
"As for the Westerlands and the Iron Islands, the advantage is ours," Great Lord Stannis Baratheon said. "We have the advantage in troops and manpower. The Westerlands may be rich, but they have never been known for grain. Once the long winter sets in, grain will not easily find sellers. As for the Iron Islands, they were barren to begin with. The Ironborn live entirely by plunder."
"The Hand is right. That is exactly what we should do," Great Lord Mace Tyrell said, clapping his hands in approval, his brown curls bouncing.
"Yes, we should starve those Iron Islands bastards to death," Redwyne added. The Ironborn had run wild at sea, and all of them had suffered no small losses from them.
"As for the lords of the Westerlands, we will combine military conquest with offers of surrender and defection. If the Westerlands have not answered yet, then the heat is not high enough," Gendry said coldly. He was not impatient, nor would he throw soldiers into trenches just for victory. He still had a trump card on Dragonstone that had yet to move. Once the dragons spread their wings, they would blast the enemies into the sky one by one.
The lords all nodded.
The Westerlands were a special case, and everyone understood why. The Westerlands were rich, and Tywin had ruled there for decades. Decades ago, Tywin had destroyed House Reyne and House Tarbeck, leaving the Westerlands without a second lord powerful enough to restrain him. It was the equivalent of the Starks destroying House Bolton, the Arryns destroying House Royce, or the Tullys destroying The Twins, all powerful vassals in their own right. It had been cold and swift, and House Lannister had completed centralization better than anyone.
"The power of centralization," Gendry thought.
Under each of the Seven Great Houses were rivals watching hungrily, always waiting for a chance to replace them. The Crownlands and the Stormlands were somewhat better. They had no overly defiant, powerful vassals, and the ruling house remained the thickest pillar.
Even among the great lords, there were differences. The most influential were still those who had been kings for thousands of years: the Lannisters, the Starks, and the Arryns. Through the maternal line, the Baratheons could also be counted among the ancient royal houses. The Tyrells and Tullys fell far short by comparison.
"At present, the Small Council's major concerns are the western front, the northern front, a possible eastern front, and restoring production while preparing for winter," Great Lord Stannis said, rising and pointing to the map.
The western front meant the Lannisters and the Iron Islands. The northern front meant those bastard stinking fish, and the enemies beyond the Wall. The eastern front meant the slaveholding Free Cities that were still dissatisfied.
"As for the war in the west, The North never forgets. I ask to lead the Winter Wolves into battle, for King Robert and Prince Gendry," Eddard Stark said. "I will make up for Ser Edmure's poor performance at the beginning of the war, and for the misfortune my men suffered in King's Landing."
"My son Garlan can lead half our men back to Highgarden and prepare to attack the Westerlands from the south," Great Lord Mace quickly added. King's Landing and the Crownlands truly could not feed so many soldiers. If they continued to pile them here, they would eat the place empty.
"The knights of the Vale and the Stormlands can serve as reserves. Apart from the mountain passes of the Westerlands, hill cavalry can also be used for raids," Yohn Royce of the Vale said.
"Then that is what we will do." Gendry nodded. "But if Lord Eddard commands the Winter Wolves westward, who will lead the fight against the Ironborn?"
"Thank you for your mercy, Prince Gendry. Robb's decision to march the whole army south was a little reckless to begin with. Fortunately, after the northern army rested and divided its forces at The Twins, most of the main force has already returned home. The North has not fully mobilized its troops, and the lords still have strength to spare. I believe Lord Manderly, Lady Mormont, Ser Rodrik, and Lady Dustin will be enough to drive back the Ironborn. Once I have hurt the lion badly, I will deal with the Ironborn myself. Robb has done well, but I believe he can do better," Eddard said. Robb was not yet able to command the North, but Eddard knew every lord. The Ironborn were fierce, but they did not have the numbers.
Roose Bolton listened from beginning to end. He understood this meant Eddard intended to keep him close, but he gritted his teeth and did not dare ask. Eddard was deeply loved in the North. He was not some little boy like Robb, someone Roose could easily test.
"And the fleet. Our fleet is now very strong. I am confident we can devour the Kraken's fleet," Paxter Redwyne said. "The royal fleet, the Twin Cities fleet, the newly surrendered Volantis fleet, and our own family fleet."
"Ser Davos's ships will return soon. Once the ships are in place, the sea route will be another option," Great Lord Stannis analyzed.
Gendry said nothing. In strength and numbers, the fleet should be enough to cover the Iron Islands completely. But that did not mean there were no hidden worries. The greatest concern was the vanished Crow's Eye. It was also said that Kraken haunted the waters near the Iron Islands.
In the second year after the Conquest, after Aegon the Conqueror burned Harrenhal and brought about the death of Harren the Blackheart, King of the Isles and the Rivers, as well as the fall of his house, claimants to the Iron Islands fought for power for more than a year. It was said that the waters between the islands were choked with corpses, drawing hundreds of Kraken with the blood. That year, Aegon the Conqueror invaded the Iron Islands and crushed several rebel false kings. The priest-king Lodos tried to summon Kraken from the depths to drag Aegon's fleet into the abyss of the sea.
"As for The Wall, I fear I will have to go there personally as well, once the fighting on the western front has stabilized," Eddard said. "The situation Lord Mormont described is grave. If there truly are signs of the Long Night, or of a mass wildling invasion, the North must be prepared. Like my ancestors, I must face a decisive battle against the Ironborn, the King-Beyond-the-Wall, or whatever else may come."
Gendry looked at Eddard. Eddard had the air of a man ready to die. The probability of Starks dying on the battlefield truly was rather high, and the North's position was harsh. Especially in the chaotic years after the death of Cregan, the Old Man of the North, the death rate among Great Lords had been alarmingly high.
During the reign of Daeron II, the Skagosi rebelled, and Lord Barth the Black Sword died in that rebellion. Later, during the reign of Aerys I, Dagon Greyjoy ravaged the Seven Kingdoms. Lord Beron fought him and died of his wounds afterward. In the time of King Maekar, Beron's son, Lord Willam, was killed and beheaded in battle against the wildling Raymun Redbeard.
"Lord Eddard belongs to the North in the end. As for the Lannisters and the enemies on the eastern front, we can devour them as well," Great Lord Stannis said.
"The northern and western fronts will proceed this way for now. Ravens will carry orders of peace and surrender to the Iron Islands and the Westerlands. As for the eastern front, Lord Tarth, is there any new information?" Gendry looked at the "good man," Selwyn Tarth.
"Maester Qyburn's letter has arrived. Raine, the sole Lord Governor of Lys, died on the Blackwater Rush, along with so many warships and Lyseni nobles. Lys has fallen into a new power struggle, and House Haen has been wiped out. In Volantis, it is said the Tiger Party is already trying to fill Malaquo's position with someone else, while the Elephant Party cannot stop them. It seems Volantis still intends to be our enemy," Selwyn said. "As for Slaver's Bay and Qarth, they are too far away. There is no reply for now."
"If envoys from the cities of Slaver's Bay cross the sea to come here, then speak with them slowly for the time being."
"As you command." Selwyn nodded.
Gendry was not optimistic about the progress with those cities. A large number of nobles had died here, and Lys, Volantis, and the others were probably in the middle of new struggles for power. They might not even have the mind to come to Westeros and ransom anyone.
"Beyond war, the next matter is feeding the people." Gendry looked around at them. "We have already assigned food and population advisors to each territory. They are responsible specifically for this." Those advisors were almost all great lords of their respective regions. Only men like them had enough grain and money to organize such work.
"No problem."
"No problem."
"Has any letter arrived from Hightower?" Stannis asked, frowning slightly. Hightower controlled Oldtown and the river mouth, the richest area in the realm. Even among lordly vassals, Hightower held five subordinate houses: Three Towers, Blackcrown, Uplands, Honeyholt, and Sunhouse. At a time like this, Hightower had to bleed as well.
"Yes, but not from Lord Leyton," Lord Tarth said, shaking his head. "It came from Lord Baelor, the Hightower heir. Lord Baelor supports the new king and the decree. Hightower must guard against the Ironborn and other threats. Their responsibilities are heavy..."
"My father-in-law is obsessed with those strange magical studies. Major affairs have been decided by Baelor for a long time," Mace explained.
"Lord Hightower has heavy responsibilities. So long as Ser Baelor is willing to cooperate with the decrees from King's Landing, that is enough." Gendry smiled and smoothed things over. But in his heart, he had little fondness for Hightower. Hightower was opposed to magic, and Hightower might even be studying dark magic.
Randyll and Mathis saw Gendry's gentle smile, then looked at Great Lord Mace, who was still completely unaware. Inwardly, they both thought Hightower might be in trouble.
As one of the most deeply rooted great houses in The Reach, and even in all of Westeros, the King of the High Tower had the right to be arrogant and detached from worldly affairs. But even when putting on airs, one had to see which king he was facing. The Iron Throne now commanded the strength of two great regions and two Free Cities, and Lys would soon be brought into its grasp. Once the Westerlands collapsed, its strength would swell to an enormous degree. Yet Hightower still dared to be so arrogant.
"Hightower may be heading for disaster. Mace failed to summon troops from them, and now that King's Landing is settled, there is still no envoy," Randyll thought. From his dealings with Gendry, whether in means, ability, cunning, or charisma, this young Storm was like a towering mountain and a deep valley. His indifference to Hightower's overreach was no accident. It could not be that Gendry admired Hightower. Ruthlessness suited him far more.
"But what does that have to do with me?" Randyll thought again. Chaos was a ladder. If the Lannisters fell, and Hightower fell as well, then the most practical question was how much benefit he could gain. Mace was only an ordinary player in the field of power. The only one who could command wind and storm was the king. In that case, why should he trouble himself teaching Mace and Hightower anything?
Randyll glanced at Mathis. Mathis was listening intently. It seemed he was thinking the same thing.
"Your duty is very important, Lord Mace," Gendry said to Mace. The best grain-producing lands belonged to The Reach. The Tyrells, Hightowers, and Rowans all occupied fertile lands, while the Redwynes profited through trade.
"It is my honor!" Mace replied cheerfully, feeling at last that someone had discovered where he shone and that he could serve the realm properly.
Mathis, Yohn, and the others looked at Mace and felt that a post in King's Landing truly did suit this Great Lord better.
"Prince, my lords, regarding restoration and recovery. Beyond stockpiling grain and repairing the burned city gates and castles, I believe we must also deal with the problem of deserters," Randyll Tarly said. He was responsible for repairing the Dragonpit, and he had his own thoughts about the deserters.
"As for the deserters, beyond the amnesty already decided, I believe there must be a complete process. Those guilty of grave crimes must be punished," Mathis Rowan said.
"Let us use King's Landing as a trial site. To deal with these pests of the realm, the criminals and idlers, I believe we should establish a Knight Education Corps, responsible for loyalty, reform, civility, and learning the spirit of knighthood. In any case, now that we are repairing castles and expanding granaries, we need manpower."
"That is a good idea. Command them with a soldier's horn. At least those bastards will not starve to death or be beaten to death."