On the calm and vast sea, the deep blue water t the azure sky. The sun shone high above; it was rare good weather.
Dozens of Redwyne warships were currently the absolute overlords of the Sunset Sea. They ford a cohesive unit, cruising on the surface, cleaving through white waves as they headed south.
The flagship of the fleet had sails with a blue background, painted with a bunch of purple grapes. It looked less like a family banner and more like a trademark.
This was Paxter's most beloved ship, boasting five large sails and three hundred oarsn. It not only carried the most cargo but was also not slow at all.
There was also a huge steel ram at the bow. Whether used for ramming cargo ships or for boarding combat, it was a top-tier weapon.
Even the deck was made of fire-resistant teak.
However, on the day Jon used the ships to "block the rain," he hadn't lit wildfire on this ship. Teak could only resist ordinary fire, not wildfire.
At this mont, Jon was standing on the deck, his mood not very beautiful.
To take over Casterly Rock, he didn't leave imdiately after capturing it but arranged for reliable personnel to guard it.
Jon arranged for Addam and Brynden to temporarily guard Casterly Rock for him, only taking Martin Rivers and about a hundred n from the heavy armor battalion south with him.
While he was arranging various affairs at Casterly Rock, bad news ca from Blackhaven—Beric Dondarrion had passed away in his sleep.
Hearing that Tywin had been beheaded and Jon had conquered Casterly Rock, Dondarrion drank a few extra cups of wine that night. When his squire found him the next day, his body was already cold.
This puzzled Jon greatly. Logically speaking, Dondarrion was in his pri and had no reason to die suddenly. But before leaving Casterly Rock, lisandre personally explained it to him—Dondarrion had no more obsession.
This made Jon realize that accepting the so-called resurrection spell didn't an one could live forever.
And using obsessions like immortality to "bug the system" probably wouldn't work either.
Jon looked at the sea surface not far away, where fish leaped out from ti to ti, and suddenly felt soone approaching from behind.
Turning around, it was Paxter and his son Hobber.
"Lord Paxter."
"Lord Duke." Paxter had a smile on his face, and his sowhat ssy reddish-brown hair was unusually tidy.
Now, in Paxter's eyes, Jon was simply the "Boy of Wealth."
Not only did he buy almost all the wine reserves of the Arbor, but he even booked all future production.
Moreover, Jon specified that he didn't want wine in the future, only raisins. The reason given was also "Winter is Coming"; using precious grain to make wine was really unwise. He also suggested that the Arbor hoard more grain.
However, they didn't seem to care much about Jon's words.
Because the Arbor was located at the southernmost tip of Westeros and had an ice-free port, it wouldn't get too cold no matter what.
And as a family that had experienced countless winters, they had their own grain reserve strategy. Having said this much, Jon wouldn't interfere further.
After exchanging pleasantries, Paxter steered the topic to the Iron Islands.
Now looking at the entire Seven Kingdoms, the only ones still wearing crowns were Stannis and King Balon. Stannis was currently unable to conquer the Iron Islands, but he would inevitably order Jon and Highgarden to do so.
If they were to attack the Iron Islands, the Redwyne fleet was the only force in the Sunset Sea capable of contending with them.
And since the fleet was the pillar of the Redwyne family's survival, they naturally didn't want to use their fleet to build soone else's reputation. Paxter wanted to glean so information from Jon.
"His Grace King Stannis is currently negotiating with the Iron Islands. After all, the country has just gone through a tragic war," Jon said.
"So there won't be a fight for now?" Paxter's son Hobber interjected, but was stared back by Paxter with a look.
"That's right, His Majesty indeed won't fight for now, but I can't let this group of pirates ravage the Sunset Sea." Jon looked into Paxter's eyes and said. His cockscomb-like red hair swaying in the sea breeze looked sowhat comical. "When the ti cos, I hope Lord Paxter can help ."
Sure enough, there is no free lunch in this world.
Thinking of the treasures Jon gave him, Paxter knew they could never be just for gratitude.
However, Paxter was also an old-school noble and was quite shrewd in calculating interests. He promptly drew a bottom line for Jon: "No problem, Lord Duke. The Redwyne fleet can undertake the defense of the ports in the West."
Glancing at Paxter's cockscomb hair, Jon smiled and looked away: "Not just defense, my Lord. Offense is the best defense. The Iron Islands have plundered a large number of people from the West. As the Warden of the West, I naturally have the obligation to rescue them. Not only to rescue the commoners, but I also intend to completely annex the Iron Islands and make them part of the West."
Paxter looked at Jon in astonishnt, not understanding why this young man had such a terrifying "appetite."
"My Lord, you an to take the initiative to attack?"
"Yes. I have read the historical records. The Lannisters used every trick on the Iron Islands—marriage alliances, war—but none could solve this problem once and for all. In the future, my descendants will multiply in Casterly Rock for a thousand years. For the sake of the children of Margaery and , I want to eliminate this hidden danger as soon as possible."
Jon couldn't tell them now how terrible Euron was. After all, compared to Balon who claid the kingship at this ti, Euron was just a nobody.
Many people couldn't even recall this person for a mont. He could only use this reason to show his determination first.
Besides, Jon didn't like internal friction. Back then, he actually faced the "trolley problem": if the pirates of the Iron Islands didn't attack the West, they would attack the North.
Instead of blaming himself for diverting the pirates to the West, he might as well find a way to dismantle this "train"!
Redwyne temporarily agreed with Jon's reason but also pointed out the difficulties this plan would face.
"My Lord, leaving aside how you would rule the Iron Islands after conquering them, back then King Robert gathered the Royal Fleet and the Redwyne Fleet, totaling three tis the strength of the Iron Islands fleet, to defeat them. On the vast sea, it is difficult to find the trace of another fleet, and even harder to annihilate it completely. Moreover, the 'longships' favored by the Ironborn are extrely fast. After King Balon was defeated, he only gave up the title of King and received a pardon. Even the Iron Throne couldn't govern effectively," Paxter said very politely, partly because of Jon's status and partly because he wanted to dispel Jon's idea.
After all, the risk of attacking the Iron Islands was too great. The main force of the Iron Islands fleet was "longships," whose ramming ability and even height and size were inferior to warships, but they won in numbers and speed.
If a fight really broke out, it would often be hard to gain any advantage. Stannis was able to defeat the Iron Islands fleet back then by luring them into a trap.
Presumably, after that battle over a decade ago, the Ironborn had also learned their lesson and would be more cautious.
And directly attacking the Iron Islands wasn't a good idea either. The waters around the Iron Islands were full of reefs, and longships had a shallower draft, so sotis where Ironborn ships could pass, rchant ships and warships might not be able to.
In short, if Jon insisted on attacking the Iron Islands, the Redwyne family would have to contribute, after all, they had taken his gifts.
"My Lord, I think the West has just been pacified. Forgive my bluntness, but recovery is what you should be doing now. However, as long as you decide to attack the Iron Islands, the Redwyne fleet will naturally be at your disposal," Paxter said respectfully.
"Then thank you, Earl Redwyne," Jon said approvingly. "If we can successfully take the Iron Islands, I will give you the mining rights to the silver mines of Silverhall for ten years."
The silver mines of Silverhall were taken by Jon from House Serrett of the West, just being generous with others' property. And when winter cos, the mining volu will inevitably drop significantly, so Jon thought he wouldn't lose out.
Jon had always suspected that when Paxter besieged Storm's End, Davos was able to smuggle food in with this old guy's tacit approval.
Rhaegar died at the Trident, but the Tyrells and other Reach lords needed a decent exit and didn't want to offend the new king, so they reached such a deal.
Sure enough, hearing that Jon would give the mining rights of Silverhall's silver mines to the Redwyne family, Paxter's thought of slacking off imdiately vanished.
"Actually, I have thought about everything you said before, but I am still young, and I want to try. Once successful, trade in the entire Sunset Sea will be more prosperous, which is good for all of us. As for the governance issue, I plan to kill all those so-called Ironborn who believe in the Drowned God and send septons of the Seven up there. That should solve the problem."
"Huh? Kill them all?!" Paxter instinctively clenched his fists and took half a step back.
He didn't expect this young man in front of him to be so ruthless.
"Of course, I won't kill them all unconditionally. Pull so over, beat so, and kill so. I only kill the diehards, and I plan to move all those old Ironborn families to the West for easier managent. We can't let these guys continue to hang alone overseas."
In Jon's plan, the Iron Islands should beco a large arsenal in the future, precisely the arsenal of the entire West.
At that ti, with the gold and slting technology of the West as support for turnover, iron ore would be produced directly in the Iron Islands.
In this way, the fleet would bring timber and coal from the North to the Iron Islands, and then take ironware from the Iron Islands to the Reach, forming a Westeros Sunset Sea version of the "Triangular Trade."
As for the West, it could also function as a "bank."
Once this economic cycle was ford, the Sunset Sea would automatically beco a whole. Jon wouldn't need to look at anyone's face; he would be the true King of the Sunset Sea.
Possessing the ability to challenge the Iron Throne.
Through this large cycle, he could quickly accumulate supplies to deal with the Long Night and the White Walkers in the future.
Therefore, no matter what, the Iron Islands must be controlled in his own hands.
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