Eagle of the Valley of Ice and Fire

Chapter 193 The Lion of King's Landing

"What Ser Baelor Hightower, the tax man of Oldtown, means is that the sea route to King's Landing is too dangerous, with marauding pirates and ironmen who don't care about life and death, not to mention Stannis's royal fleet." Rivere Lake said slowly, his tongue licked the paper in front of him and kept turning it.

Tywin Lannister stared at him silently, and Rivery was unaware, still mumbling.

"The tax promised by Seagull Town is a lie. The Grafson family has sent three letters of apology in a row. I don't care. I am the Earl of Duskendale, the finance minister of His Majesty Joffrey. I should represent the authority given to me by the king." , criticize them harshly in the letter."

"Ahem!" Pycelle curled his right hand, put it to his mouth, and coughed violently, "Stannis is a traitor, Lord Revrey. I think the current Stannis rebel fleet does not belong to the royal fleet."

Rivery raised his head slightly and looked at Grand Maester Pycelle, but the old lion's majestic gaze met his eyes.

Rivere Ryker paused turning the page and hurriedly smoothed things over, "I mean, ahem, Stannis's rebel fleet."

Tywin didn't give him a chance to correct his words and interrupted him bluntly: "I don't think there is any need to waste your time on these unimportant matters." He turned to look at Kevan, who was frowning and reading the letter. "Tell us the history." Tanis’ movements.”

Kevan nodded slightly, "Since Stannis's rebels defeated the remnants of Renly's army at Storm's End, the main force has been entrenched on the outskirts of the Kingswood. There has been no further move to threaten King's Landing. As for his fleet. In view of the royal fleet We are still rebuilding, and we have no idea where the Dragonstone fleet is going.”

Kevan Lannister pursed his lips slightly and paused for a moment, "Your Majesty Prime Minister, this is not good for us. The West has suffered too many losses in the previous war with Robb Stark." He raised his eyes slightly and looked at Tywin, the latter was still expressionless, "The troops loyal to the royal family have been on the Golden Road and King's Landing to guard against the Stormland rebels who may come from the Kingswood and the hills at any time. They have no manpower to return to the West to help the vassals rebuild their homes."

Seeing that Tywin was not moved, Kevan added: "Davon has written many letters to King Joffrey, all of which reflect the issue of recruiting young men in the West, Lannisport, Branded City, Golden Tooth City, etc."

Tywin snorted and shook his head slightly. He didn't seem to care. "If they choose to be loyal to Casterly Rock and accept the protection of Lannister and the funding of the golden dragon, they are destined to be prepared to sacrifice for the lord." He touched his hand He rubbed his forehead and said loudly, "The situation in the north has little to do with the Iron Throne. Let the Boltons and the Iron Islands make trouble. Dorne and the Riverlands in the south are ready to bend their knees and serve. Randyll Tarly and the Prince of Dorne's For the Iron Throne, conflicts are just minor quarrels between princes and are not a concern at all."

A high-pitched voice came from Varys's mouth, and he complimented: "The North, the Vale, the Riverland, the Reach, plus Dorne, five of the Seven Kingdoms gathered under the high platform of the Iron Throne to listen to the Prime Minister. Dispatch, it seems that peace is just around the corner."

Pycelle smiled with relief. He seemed to have never been so awake in a cabinet meeting. He was not always sleepy like before. "I have always said that Lord Tywin is the best person to maintain the stability of the royal family. I am the Mad King." With such persuasion, King Robert and I also gave the same advice. His Majesty Joffrey was good at understanding people and finally handed over the Seven Kingdoms to the Prime Minister."

"Yes, you are absolutely right. Bless the Seven Gods." Ray Foley Lake agreed flatteringly.

The small room that accommodated the imperial meeting was once again filled with unstinting praise and endless boasts. Kevan just smiled softly, knowing that Tywin did not care about any comments from these so-called loyal ministers.

Kevan remembered that he had gone to persuade Tywin before, hoping that he would take down the position of Finance Minister Revrey, who was incompetent but was pretending to be a member of the Royal Council, and replace him with a more capable person, but Tywin refused. "Varys and Revrey are just cunning foxes in King's Landing. They can act according to the circumstances. As long as the situation is favorable to us, they are least likely to rebel." Tywin's previous words came to mind, "The truly important ones The important ministers have not arrived yet, including Arryn, Tyrell and Martell of Dorne. We need influential local nobles from King's Landing and the Crown to join the royal council."

Tywin's eyes swayed slightly, "But King's Landing symbolizes both power and a cage. No matter how powerful the party is when it comes to guarding King's Landing, they are only ministers under the Iron Throne."

Kevan put away his thoughts and looked at his brother. Tywin's eyes were still coldly scanning the ministers of the Royal Council, and the corners of his mouth slightly raised, which was a kind response to these important ministers.

"Oh, yes." Pycelle, who always seemed to be a little slower than others, took out the letter in his pocket, "Probably this morning, sorry for my confusion, I don't remember exactly when. I found it when I was washing or enjoying breakfast. Found it when?"

"What letter?" Tywin asked straight to the point.

"Oh, sorry, a letter from Casterly Rock, your eldest son Jaime Lannister." Pycelle's movements suddenly became agile under the urging of the Prime Minister, and he reached out and handed the letter to Tywin.

Tywin took the letter, opened it and read it carefully. After a while, his originally relaxed and indifferent eyebrows frowned.

He threw the letter on the table, "Kingsguard, does he want this position of Kingsguard so much?"

Kevan picked up the letter that Tywin dropped on the table, "I should go to King's Landing immediately to perform the duties of the Kingsguard and protect the king. Tyrion, your legal heir, should be the acting Lord of Casterly Rock." He agreed silently. He took the opened envelope and pressed it on the table. This was probably the only thing that could make Tywin furious in the royal council.

He glanced at the empty seats in the corner. Barristan Selmy, the captain of the Kingsguard, had not participated in the royal council these days. When he sent someone to ask, he refused to visit because he was ill.

"Look at my children, each of them has never paid attention to their father and family. I asked Jaime to stay in Casterly Rock City to familiarize himself with government affairs, and asked Damion and Davon to work together to help him. This intention is very obvious. Jaime must understand, but he is deliberately disobedient, always like this, always like this!" Tywin's tone became more and more intense, and anger almost emerged from his eyes.

Everyone fell into silence for a while, and the previous scene of flattery and boasting disappeared in an instant.

A sneer came from Tywin's mouth, breaking the silent atmosphere, "My legal heir, the disgrace of a family is my legal heir, ridiculous, he never deserved it."

He is not, which is very sad. Kevan Lannister thought to himself. He looked at Tywin, with a trace of pity hidden in his eyes, and a heavy sigh came from the bottom of Kevan's heart, long and far-reaching.

(End of this chapter)