Once again, Luke sent letters to all the nobles of the Seven Kingdoms.
Ravens flew out from Harrenhal, carrying letters sealed with House Jaqenion's red-and-black dragon wax, heading toward every castle and every lord's window.
The letter was long. Every word was like a nail driven into the paper. All nobles must arrive in Draco before the last day of December this year to pay homage and swear fealty.
Otherwise, they would all be regarded as rebels. There was only one fate: the extermination of their entire house.
At the end of the letter was a phrase no one had seen before. Even after translation into the Common Tongue, it still sounded strange yet majestic: "Those who refuse to accept royal civilization shall be removed by the Six Armies."
Ten days later, Luke led his troops to the Twins.
The gates of the Twins were tightly closed.
The grey stone bridge spanning the Green Fork still stood there. The castles at both ends of the bridge looked like two squatting toads — ugly yet solid.
The soldiers on the walls were on full alert, but their faces did not look good.
The Twins was short on troops. The garrison numbered fewer than five hundred n. Because the entire army had been taken by Walder Frey's sons to attack Riverrun.
Walder Frey had already received news of Tywin Lannister's death.
That old fox in his nineties was said to have smashed a wine cup on the spot when he learned that Tywin had been split in half. He imdiately sent an envoy to submit to Luke, expressing his willingness to pledge allegiance.
Luke refused. His reply was only one sentence: Walder Frey must commit suicide to atone, House Frey must abandon the Twins and its titles. His children may live.
Luke had no intention of letting House Frey off easily.
Ever since the Red Wedding, countless people in the Riverlands and the North had co to despise this family. Not just the nobles — even the common people loathed them.
Especially in the North, many nobles had developed a deep hatred for House Frey. Luke represented the "great and righteous" Seven Gods. How could he possibly accept such an evil family?
Bronn's work of incorporation was also progressing in parallel.
The nobles of the Riverlands had long been frightened by a year of war. So surrendered readily, so hesitated, and so tried to bargain.
Bronn's approach was simple and brutal: those who surrendered readily kept their titles and castles; those who hesitated were given three days to consider; those who tried to bargain faced an army at their gates.
As for those who still wanted to resist, Bronn did not waste words. With siege rams brought forward, the walls of those small castles could be smashed within half a day.
Every ti a noble house was subdued, Luke dispatched a "city hall" team to take over local governance and construction.
These teams were all students from the Jaqenion Academy — young people in their twenties, wearing neat suits embroidered with the Jaqenion family crest, and carrying The New Policy Implentation Manual personally compiled by King Luke in their pockets.
The nobles could retain their titles and family castles, but local governance had to be carried out by the city hall. They could only manage internal affairs within their own castles.
The city halls were to implent "Luke's New Policy" everywhere.
First: Population census and household registration. Introduce "household registers," "ID cards," and "marriage certificates." Promote the prohibition of close-kin marriage and explain its harms.
Civil affairs staff from the city halls would go from village to village, registering nas, ages, and family mbers house by house. Many people did not know their surnas, so the census takers gave them one. The son of a blacksmith would be surnad "Smith," those living by the river "Rivers," those living by the woods "Wood"…
Second: Land reform. Nationalize land ownership. Nobles and commoners could only hold "usage rights." All forms of land buying and selling were prohibited.
The first task of the city halls was to distribute land to the common people so they could farm it. Those peasants who had worked the land for generations for the nobles received their own "land contract certificates" for the first ti. They could not read, but they recognized the golden dragon seal on them.
Third: Agricultural reform. Promote "new agricultural techniques" as outlined in The Jaqenion Farming Essentials, including crop rotation, composting, seed selection and breeding, water drainage techniques, and the curved-plow. At the sa ti, introduce potatoes, sweet potatoes, and corn to all regions.
Westeros had no potatoes or sweet potatoes — these ultra-high-yield crops. Corn existed but was rare, appearing only as a luxury ingredient on noble tables. No one cultivated it.
Luke wanted to vigorously promote the planting of these three high-yield crops in preparation for the coming winter!
Whether the population could explode in the future depended entirely on them!
At the sa ti, he introduced high-quality wheat and barley from Earth, because the yield of wheat and barley in Westeros was low — only half that of Earth.
As for rice, the rice planting base on the south shore of the God's Eye was already operating. It was the first rice field in all of Westeros.
Fourth: Tax reform. Abolish the poll tax. rge all taxes and collect them in silver. Combine various miscellaneous taxes into one, paid uniformly in silver coins. Mainly tax comrcial activities, land, and property. Even noble castles and septs of the Faith must pay land tax.
In addition, impose special taxes on the Faith. All churches, large and small, must pay taxes, including land tax, church tax, bell tower tax, idol tax, and donation inco tax. Clergy must also pay "priest tax," "monk tax," and "nun tax."
This policy made many monks in various places furious. But no one dared to oppose it: King Luke had even killed Tywin. Why would he fear a few monks? Besides, His Grace was the "Son of God." Whatever he said was law. Were you a heretic?
Fifth: Economic reform. Implent "company system," "contract system," and "notarization system" everywhere. Introduce "new currency" and recall old currency. Promote The Labor Protection Law — far ahead of its ti!
Luke had already established the "Central Bank" and legislated that only the Central Bank had the right to mint coins and issue currency. The Central Bank was already mass-producing and issuing new currency. Draco was gradually phasing out all currency from the Targaryen dynasty.
He had brought a set of tal coin production equipnt from Earth. Currently, the Draco Mint could produce five million tal coins per day.
The new currency was divided into four types: gold coins, silver coins, copper coins, and copper bits. The exchange rate was: 1 gold coin = 100 silver coins = 10,000 copper coins = 100,000 copper bits.
Except for copper bits, every denomination featured Luke's portrait, lifelike, with House Jaqenion's words below. On the reverse was the family crest and the production date in Arabic nurals.
He had already introduced the "Luke Calendar." The first day of the 300th year of Aegon's Calendar beca the first day of the first year of the Luke Calendar. Therefore, the "Aegon Calendar" would only go up to December 31, 299 AC. After that ca "Year 1 of Luke"!
The tal coins produced by Earth's modern high-precision equipnt had extrely accurate weight, composition, density, and patterns.
People of this era would find it very difficult to counterfeit or "shave" these coins, so there was no need to worry too much about the shortcomings of tal currency. Luke planned to gradually phase out gold circulation and issue paper money within the next ten years.
Sixth: Urban planning and potential developnt. City halls must carry out reasonable planning for local construction and tap into local developnt potential, with a key focus on mineral resources.
Seventh: Carry out urban construction, road construction, bridge building, water conservancy projects, etc., to increase employnt and create the position of "worker."
Sprint into the "Industrial Revolution"!
The origin of "Luke's New Policy" was in Draco, but now Luke wanted to spread the New Policy outward.
The Riverlands would be the first testing ground.
Draco's Project Engineering Departnt had already begun planning Westeros's first "cent highway."
This cent road was divided into two sections: the first from Draco to the White Fork, the second from Draco to Harrenhal.
Luke had already opened a special class on "Railway Construction Theory" at the Jaqenion Academy, training a group of railway engineers.
While Luke was advancing the New Policy, the situation at Riverrun quickly beca clear.
As soon as Marcus's ten thousand n arrived outside the city, the three thousand n of House Frey collapsed.
They had heard that Tywin was dead, that Luke had dragons, and that the man who could fly was marching toward the Twins.
The Frey son leading the force tried to rally his troops, but no one listened.
More than half of the three thousand fled. The remaining one thousand were scattered by a single charge from Marcus. Many were killed or wounded, and the rest were all taken prisoner!
The siege of Riverrun was lifted. However, the "Blackfish" Brynden Tully refused to submit, saying he could not make the decision and needed to wait for the return of Lord Edmure Tully of Riverrun!
Marcus paid no attention. He had Bronn send n to take the "prisoners" into custody, then led the army westward!
Casterly Rock was still waiting for him.
Luke stood in the camp outside the Twins, looking at the grey bridge-castle across the river. The three baby dragons fluttered around him. Little Black perched on his shoulder, Little Cyan hung from his arm, and Little White lay on top of his head.
A fast horse galloped in from the north. The ssenger dismounted and knelt on one knee: "Your Grace, a letter from the North."
Luke took the letter and opened it.
It was written by Roose Bolton. The wording was respectful and the tone humble. He said the North was willing to submit to King Luke and would co to Draco to pay homage before the end of the year.
He said the people of the North longed for peace, for order, and for a true king. He said House Stark was finished, Winterfell had beco ruins, and the North needed a new Warden.
After reading the letter, Luke neither smiled nor frowned. He folded it neatly and put it away.
Walder Frey refused to accept King Luke's "proposal." He wanted to live and die with House Frey and the Twins…
PS: This chapter is complete. Below is Luke's letter to the nobles of the Seven Kingdoms.
To all noble lords across the realm who hold glory and reverence in their hearts:
I, Luke Jaqenion, by the will of the Seven Gods and the blood of the Celestial Dragons, King of the Andals, the Rhoynar, and the First n, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and Protector of the Realm, hereby issue this decree with my royal seal:
Since my coronation in Draco, I have not forgotten the affairs of the realm for even a single day. I have seen the Riverlands ravaged by continuous war, its people displaced and suffering; the snows of the North stained with the blood of orphaned children and its castles in ruins; the lion of the Westerlands running rampant without restraint, only to be executed by divine punishnt. The Iron Throne has long stood empty, the Seven Kingdoms divided, wolves circling, and the Long Night approaching with the Others peering southward. This is truly an unprecedented crisis in Westeros.
By the Mandate of Heaven, I dare not rest. I now proclaim by royal decree: All within the Seven Kingdoms — whether dukes, counts, viscounts, or barons — who have ever sworn swords to the Iron Throne must, before the last day of this year, on the eve of the first month of the second year of the Luke Calendar, personally co to Draco, kneel before my throne, and renew their oath of fealty.
At that ti, I shall personally lead my officials and set up an altar in Draco's Grand Plaza to accept your submission. All who co to pay homage shall be received with courtesy. I shall allow them to retain their family castles, titles, and honors, and share in the benefits of the New Policy.
If anyone disobeys this royal command, delays, or even colludes with evil forces to bring chaos to the land,
Then it is not that I did not teach, nor that I did not warn.
Since I raised my army, Harrenhal fell in a single day. Tywin was beheaded before ten thousand troops. The hundred thousand of the Westerlands submitted at the re sight of my banners. The Three Rivers have already entered my domain; the siege of Riverrun was lifted in a single stroke. I am not a bloodthirsty ruler, but the Mandate of Heaven cannot be defied, and royal law cannot be profaned.
The ancients said: Those who refuse to accept royal civilization shall be removed by the Six Armies.
My words end here.
Choose your own path — stay or go.
Fifth month, first year before the Luke Calendar.
Written personally by .
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