The next day, after sunrise.
The massive gates of Harrenhal slowly opened in the morning light, emitting a deep rumble.
Draco's great army marched into this cursed castle in a mighty procession.
Twelve thousand soldiers, wearing uniform full-plate armor, marched with neat steps like a steel dragon winding through the outer city and into the square before the Hall of a Hundred Hearths.
Luke stood on the high platform of the Tower of the Burning King, overlooking his army. The three baby dragons perched on his shoulders or flew around him, curiously watching the moving wall of steel below.
"Mars," he called.
"Your Grace." Captain Mars stepped forward and gave a crisp military salute.
"Send n to take over the city defenses," Luke pointed to the dilapidated walls around the castle. "This place is too big. Even five thousand n aren't enough to cover all the gaps, let alone ten thousand. But we don't need to fill every gap. Identify the most critical sections and focus defenses there. For the rest, just post sentries."
Mars nodded. "As you command."
"Lucas."
Captain Lucas stepped out, his military boots ringing crisply on the stone floor.
"Take those five thousand garrison troops and reorganize them," Luke said unhurriedly. "Give each man ten silver coins first. Tell them that those who submit to Draco will not be treated as prisoners."
He paused, then continued, "Then break up these five thousand n and assign them into five elite companies. Let those five companies train them. From now on, they will be Harrenhal's city defense force."
A flash of excitent appeared in Lucas's eyes. "Your Grace, can those old Lannister veterans… be trusted?"
Luke smiled. "We don't need them to trust us. We only need them to see that following us offers a better future than following the Lannisters. They will see that everyone who opposes ets no good end!"
Lucas understood and saluted before leaving.
After arranging the defenses and the army, Luke flew into the sky with the three baby dragons.
He circled above Harrenhal, "walking the dragons" while carefully inspecting this legendary cursed castle.
The Tower of the Burning King was the tallest of the five giant towers.
Although its top had been severely lted and twisted by dragonfla, the thick stone walls at the base were relatively stable. It was the area previous lords had prioritized for repair and residence.
From the air, the twisted spire looked like a candle twisted by a giant. The remaining stone walls still bore the marks of the dragonfla from centuries ago: stones lted by extre heat, then cooled and solidified into bizarre, rippled surfaces.
The Flowstone Yard was where soldiers trained and drilled. The ground was paved with rugged, lava-like rocks. Since it was open-air and in a high position, its basic structure remained relatively intact and was often guarded by soldiers. At this mont, so surrendered soldiers were cleaning the area. When they saw the figure flying overhead, they stopped their work and looked up. So even knelt.
Luke continued flying, passing ruined buildings and collapsed sections of wall.
Then he was shocked.
Inside Harrenhal there was actually a forest covering more than twenty acres, enclosed by high walls, with a small stream running through it. There was even a weirwood tree here, its trunk pale white, with a face carved into the bark — a face with thirteen slash marks.
Because it was natural vegetation rather than stone structures, this patch of forest had remained relatively intact in its "natural state."
Luke hovered above the weirwood, looking at the face carved into the trunk. A cold light flashed in his eyes.
"Weirwood? Just wait. You will beco the first species in this world driven to extinction by human factors!"
He raised his hand.
A fireball condensed in his palm, orange-red flas dancing in the morning light. With a wave, the fireball whistled forth and struck the weirwood dead center.
"Boom—"
Flas instantly engulfed the entire trunk. The ancient weirwood crackled and exploded in the fire. The face carved with thirteen slash marks twisted and deford in the flas, finally turning to ash.
Luke did not stop. He controlled the flas, burning down the trunk, into the soil, into the roots. Even the roots that had burrowed into the ground turned to ash in the fire.
He looked at the pile of ashes with an expressionless face.
Then he continued flying.
Luke could not find a single intact place.
He looked at this giant fortress that had been mostly lted by dragonfla and sighed deeply. If it had not been damaged, this place could absolutely have developed into a prosperous city no less than King's Landing!
What a pity.
He returned to the Hall of a Hundred Hearths.
This was the great hall of Harrenhal, and the largest hall in Westeros — even larger than the throne room in the Red Keep of King's Landing. Although called the "Hall of a Hundred Hearths," it actually had only thirty-three or thirty-five fireplaces. But that was already enough. It was said the hall could seat an entire army for a al.
Previously, Tywin Lannister's command center had been here.
Now, it had beco Luke's command center.
Luke sat on the high seat and waved his hand, directly storing the three baby dragons into his personal space.
Yes, he stored living creatures directly.
Not long ago, he had been shocked to discover… he could actually store living beings like dragons into his personal space. Since then, he had gained the identity of a "summoner." Of course, this was limited to magical creatures like dragons. Other creatures could not be stored.
The three little ones disappeared into thin air. Inside the personal space, they flapped their wings and cried out in dissatisfaction.
They didn't like being stored either, but there were many delicious things inside for them to "destroy."
Luke no longer paid them any attention.
He raised his head and looked toward the door.
Eight young people wearing neat suits embroidered with the Jaqenion family crest walked in.
Six boys and two girls, dressed in "municipal official" attire — equivalent to official uniforms.
They were quite young. The youngest was only seventeen, the oldest twenty.
The eight knelt respectfully before Luke, their faces filled with adoration and piety, along with obvious anticipation.
"We greet Your Grace!"
Luke smiled.
"Please rise. You are all outstanding students from the Jaqenion Academy. You have studied hard for more than a year, but all of that was only theory on paper. Now, the ti has co for your 'practical lessons.'"
He called their nas one by one.
"Dawn."
A blond boy with freckles stepped forward, placing his right hand over his chest.
"Present."
"Dawn, you have the highest comprehensive theoretical score," Luke looked at the young man. "Today, I appoint you as Mayor of Harrenhal, in charge of local governance. The first-phase goal is to develop Harrenhal into a city with a permanent population of more than one hundred thousand within five years. Develop comrce, prosper the economy, tap into the developnt potential of this place, and carry out reasonable planning."
He paused and added, "At the sa ti, deeply promote the 'New Policy Theory' of Draco among the people. This place will be the first testing ground and promotion site for the New Policy."
Dawn was overjoyed but remained courteous, imdiately kneeling to express his thanks.
"Thank you, Your Grace! I will do my utmost and will not fail Your Grace's trust!"
Luke continued calling nas.
"Celeste."
Another black-haired boy stepped forward.
"You are best at mathematics and accounting. You will serve as Harrenhal's Chief of Finance, responsible for finance and taxation."
"Johnny, you will be the Chief Judge."
"Raphael, you are the Market Supervisor."
"Kaili, you are in charge of docuntation and propaganda."
"Celiya, you are responsible for construction supervision."
Every young person whose na was called flushed with excitent. They knelt and saluted, their voices loud and clear.
These people were all "current students" of the Jaqenion Academy. From the first month of developing the territory by the God's Eye, Luke had planned and built a school to cultivate various talents for territorial developnt, especially in "administration."
At that ti, even before the school was fully built, he had already recruited over a hundred students. These youths had clean backgrounds and sharp minds… now the academy had nearly a thousand students. Luke personally served as principal and teacher!
Although they had not yet graduated, Luke was now sending them directly into "practical lessons."
Westeros — or rather this world — currently had no concept of "municipal governnt."
The only sowhat decent administrative body was surprisingly the "Small Council," but even that was a makeshift organization of a makeshift system…
In general, local affairs were managed by lords and maesters. Smaller places were managed by a single knight or village chief. It was chaotic, and Luke could not tolerate such managent ideas.
Position determines thinking! He would not overthrow the feudal system, but the administrative managent system must be reford. It was necessary to introduce the concept of "city halls" or "governnt departnts," letting professionals handle professional matters!
In the future, nobles would be nobles, and officials would be officials… nobles could be officials, and officials could be nobles, but those managing affairs must be officials!
Luke looked at Dawn and continued, "Mayor, I will soon arrange a Chief of Police and a Prison Warden for you. Your city hall will be set up in the Hall of a Hundred Hearths. The municipal affairs of Harrenhal are now in your hands. Take your team and get to work."
He glanced at the other young people, his voice gentle yet powerful.
"The rest of you, don't feel unbalanced in your hearts. I, Luke, appoint people based on talent. You all have the potential to be mayors. The current positions are temporary. There are many places in Westeros waiting for capable and quick-witted administrative chiefs."
After the group saluted respectfully and left, Luke summoned Lucas and asked him to select two sharp and capable lieutenants to temporarily serve as Harrenhal's Chief of Police and Prison Warden.
Luke had already introduced the "police system" in Draco. Public security was managed by "police," while the "army" was only responsible for external wars, suppressing rebellions, or counter-terrorism — not for maintaining order.
The army and police were two separate systems.
At the sa ti, he had also begun reforming the "judicial system," introducing the institution of "courts." In Draco, he had already officially announced the "abolition of trial by combat," that "backward custom"!
Trial by combat sounded efficient, transparent, and full of noble or knightly spirit, but it was often extrely unfair!
Verdicts were not based on truth, but on whose sword was faster and whose knight was stronger. The rich could hire top knights, while the poor could only die themselves. An innocent person might lose a trial due to poor swordsmanship and be found guilty. A heinous criminal might walk free due to superior martial skill.
Moreover, trial by combat was usually a fight to the death, with the loser dying on the spot. This ant a case that might have only warranted a fine or imprisonnt could turn into a murder case.
Most critically, when trial by combat beca the norm, law and evidence lost all aning. Whoever had the stronger sword was "innocent."
Luke wanted to build a "rule of law society" and govern by law. He would not allow anything that undermined the legal system to exist.
The Seven Gods Bible clearly stated: "The Seven Gods require the king to govern by law, to have laws that can be followed, laws that must be enforced, strict enforcent, and severe punishnt for violations."
Imdiately afterward, he allocated one hundred thousand gold dragons to Harrenhal's city hall, allowing them to use it freely.
That sa night, Dawn ca to see Luke.
This seventeen-year-old young mayor stood before Luke, so excited he was almost incoherent, but his thoughts were clear.
"Your Grace, we have discussed it," he said. "The first plan is to recruit a large number of refugees to clean and repair Harrenhal. Use work as relief, and at the sa ti form a construction team for Harrenhal to lay the foundation for future urban planning."
Luke nodded. "Continue."
"Yes, Your Grace." Dawn's eyes shone. "Harrenhal currently has nearly one hundred thousand refugees. They need food and shelter. Rather than giving them grain for free, let them earn it through their own labor. Clearing rubble, repairing walls, paving roads, reclaiming wasteland… there is plenty of work to be done."
"Since Harrenhal is widely considered cursed, to break this perception, we must let people see hope here and gain dignity. The castle must be repaired, and the economy must slowly revive. Draco is a living example we can learn from."
Luke looked at this blond youth, the corners of his mouth curving upward. "Very good. As long as you have found your direction."
Dawn took a deep breath and continued, "We plan to first clear several safe residential areas and move the refugees from tents into stone houses. Then recruit craftsn to repair the gates, walls, and several main towers. At the sa ti, reclaim wasteland outside the city and plant crops. As long as we get through this autumn, Harrenhal will be able to support itself."
He paused, a little embarrassed. "If we do this, it will be equivalent to diverting so of the population flow that would have gone to Draco, which may affect Draco's developnt."
Luke was silent for a mont.
Dawn looked at him nervously, afraid he had said sothing wrong.
Then Luke smiled.
"Go ahead," he said. "Do it boldly and confidently. I allow normal competition between Harrenhal and Draco. You don't need to worry too much about Draco. Harrenhal's attractiveness will definitely not compare to Draco's. Let the refugees choose for themselves whether to stay or leave…"
Dawn was so excited he nearly jumped.
"As you command, Your Grace!"
He turned and ran out of the room, nearly tripping over the threshold.
Luke watched the young man's departing figure and smiled, shaking his head.
Then he stood up and walked to the window.
Outside the window, the night sky above Harrenhal was dotted with stars. Lights blazed inside the castle. Faint music could be heard coming from the direction of the square — the lingering echoes of last night's concert.
Luke took a deep breath.
This cursed castle now belonged to House Jaqenion, starting today.
--------------------------
Support us on P@tre0n and gain access to 100 chapters in advance!
[email protected]/inkshield
User Comments
0 comments from readers