It took Luke three days to return to Harrenhal. On the way back, he inspected the major castles of the Westerlands.
The windows of the Tower of the Burning King were lit — the scribes were the day's docunts.
Bronn was already waiting inside the tower.
There were still mud spots on his armor; he had clearly just co down from the walls.
"Your Grace, Randyll Tarly did not send his main force to attack the White Fork as expected. He has already passed the White Fork and is heading straight for Harrenhal. However, scouts report that the great nobles of the Crownlands and Storm's End are mustering troops at Sow's Horn. That force appears to be preparing to attack the White Fork — they have already gathered over ten thousand n. As for the Vale, their thirty-thousand-strong army has already marched out of the Bloody Gate."
Luke did not look up. He continued reviewing the pile of morials that had accumulated over the past few days.
He did not concern himself with trivial matters — he only directed the overall strategy.
But there were too many projects in Draco right now, and all of them were large-scale: the Draco Industrial Park, the Harrenhal Industrial Park, the cent highway project, the railway project, the North Shore Port, the reconstruction of Harrenhal, the modernization of the mines at Casterly Rock, the renovation of Lannisport, coal and iron mining in the Riverlands, oil exploration at Fairmarket…
He had to personally oversee the direction of many of these.
"I know. Don't worry about the White Fork. Not ten thousand, not even thirty thousand can take it. The terrain at the White Fork is special. Randyll Tarly would rather co and chew on Harrenhal than waste ti there."
Bronn wanted to say sothing more but swallowed it.
"Your Grace, a graduate student from the Science Academy nad Samwell Tarly requests an audience. He is the eldest son of Randyll Tarly."
Luke paused his work and looked at Bronn.
"What does he want?"
"Samwell says he wants to serve as an envoy to persuade his father to surrender." Bronn paused, then added, "Should we detain this fat boy? I suspect he wants to run away."
Luke smiled. "Summon him."
He had almost forgotten about the fat boy Samwell.
When this lad had co to the Jaqenion Academy to study, Luke had happened to et him and approved his admission on the spot.
Sure enough, Samwell was just as he had been in the original story — perfectly suited to be a scholar. He had an incredible mory, astonishing learning ability, and comprehension. He was quickly fought over by multiple research projects and beca a graduate student at the Science Academy in just one year.
Soon, Samwell was brought in for an audience.
He wore the student uniform of the Science Academy. His large belly stretched the suit tightly. Sweat covered his forehead. The mont he entered, he knelt.
"The sinner Samwell Tarly greets Your Grace." He pressed his head to the floor, his voice shaking.
"Are you afraid of ?" Luke leaned back in his chair.
"Your Grace's might covers the world. I look up to you like the sun and moon. In my heart there is only reverence and loyalty."
Luke smiled faintly. "Do you think House Crakehall deserved to be exterminated?"
Sweat poured even more heavily from Samwell's forehead.
The extermination of House Crakehall had already made the headlines in Draco. The entire Harrenhal was talking about it.
The refugees who had fled from the Westerlands clapped their hands in delight. The families of the soldiers who had died at Crakehall Hall knelt in the streets to thank the Son of God.
But so nobles were secretly grinding their teeth, calling the new king a tyrant.
"It was deserved," Samwell's voice ca muffled from the floor. "House Crakehall colluded with the enemy and committed treason. Their cri is unpardonable."
"Rise. Grant him a seat." Luke smiled faintly. "Then what will you do?"
Upon hearing he was granted a seat, Samwell breathed a sigh of relief and struggled to his feet, plopping heavily into the chair. But when he heard the next sentence, he nearly fell off it.
"I beg Your Grace for rcy! Let serve as an envoy to the rebels. I am willing to go and persuade my father to surrender!"
"He won't listen to you."
"Then… then I will kill him." Samwell gritted his teeth.
"On what grounds would you kill him?"
"I am his son. Although I gave up my right of inheritance, I still bear the na Tarly. He will see . At that ti, I will assassinate him! If I fail, I will die with honor!" He began to cry, snot and tears covering his face. "I beg Your Grace to spare the lives of my mother and sister."
He had lived in Draco for over a year and knew just how great it was.
His Grace was a true god among n. No one could resist the footsteps of His Grace's unification of the realm.
He hated that foolish old woman Olenna Redwyne, and he hated his father Randyll Tarly for not listening to reason.
In fact, he had already written several letters to Lord Tarly and his younger brother Dickon, urging them to co and swear fealty to King Luke. Otherwise, the family would be dragged into an abyss from which there was no return.
"No."
Samwell's face turned deathly pale.
Luke continued, "You cannot serve as an envoy. If I really let one envoy kill Randyll Tarly, wouldn't that ruin my reputation? Rest assured, I will not kill Lord Tarly. This war will not last long. They are all living forces of Westeros. I will not let them be wasted here for nothing."
Samwell froze, then breathed a sigh of relief. A劫後餘生 smile appeared on his fat face.
"Yes, Your Grace. All the people of Westeros are Your Grace's subjects. All the armies are Your Grace's armies! Our enemy is the demons beyond the Wall!"
Luke's eyes brightened.
This fat boy was very good with words and had sharp insight — he could see Luke's true intentions.
He did not want to fight this war.
After the forces from the Vale and the Reach arrived, he would directly use his divine power to force their submission — just like he had done with Tywin's army. Kill or subdue the commander with divine power, and it would be over.
The soldiers only needed to witness the divine power.
Then he would send all of them to the Wall to fight the Others.
Killing two birds with one stone. Not only would he dismantle all resistance, but he would also fight a true epic war.
In fact, the Others were the whetstone he had in mind for the empire.
Let the human armies throw their lives at them and retreat step by step, while he would appear as the savior of Westeros.
This would redirect the current social contradictions toward war with a foreign race.
It was impossible to really kill all the nobles…
He stood up and walked to the window.
Outside, torches blazed brightly on the walls of Harrenhal. Soldiers were changing shifts.
--------------------------
Support us on P@tre0n and gain access to 100 chapters in advance!
[email protected]/inkshield
User Comments
0 comments from readers