Eagle of the Valley of Ice and Fire

Chapter 198 Difficulties and Responses

Evan Aylin walked into the dim hall. The dim light of the candlelight only illuminated a corner of the room. Duke Attis carefully looked through the documents and letters spread out under the candlelight.

A simple and even scrawled map was laid out on the table, and the complex lines and various cross marks in the middle of the lines could be vaguely seen.

He stood aside silently and would not choose to speak without the Duke's instructions.

"Your father, Quin Arryn," Artis stacked the extra letters on the corner of the table, pulled out a few of them, and pointed to the clear details above, "Seagull Town's fleet hauling stones, the craftsman's Food and accommodation, maintenance of campsites along the road, gravel, clay.

Artis raised his head and looked at Evan Aylin, "There is a steady stream of golden dragons from Seagull Town, and this is all due to your family."

Evan Aylin smiled and lowered his head slightly, "My father and I are both members of the clan and should contribute to the valley."

Attis looked at Evan who lowered his head, and he felt a sense of approval in his heart. Perhaps Evan's gorgeous and extravagant attire would annoy some valley nobles who adhered to tradition, giving people the impression of a nouveau riche, but this was Attis. What Si wants, as the eyes of the falcon, Evan Arryn is destined to only serve the Eyrie City, and his loyalty and ability come first.

The Duke pointed at the flat map and said, "The narrowest part of the Blood Gate can only allow one person and one horse to pass through. The army in the valley is mostly cavalry. It is troublesome to recruit troops back and forth and to rush for support. The construction of the road in the Erin Valley must be implemented. "Attis tapped the table, seeming to emphasize the importance of decision-making, "But now we are in a lot of trouble."

Evan Aylin saw the Duke's frown and secretly speculated that maybe the Duke had financial difficulties again. He raised his head and said aloud: "Father has accumulated a lot of money in Seagull Town. If the Eagle's Nest wants to use it, , can be taken anytime, anywhere.”

He thought of the loan agreement signed by his father with the Grafson family and the Shet family, and made a secret decision in his heart. He believed that Duke Artis would compensate him for these contributions sooner or later, and the compensation would be more generous, far from the compensation that could be measured by a golden dragon.

Attis laughed out loud, "After all, you didn't participate in the construction site, so it's normal to be unclear." The Duke's finger followed the scrawled lines on the map, slowly pointing to each castle, "The Canyon Knights and the recruited soldiers came from various places. In the family's jurisdiction, the castles connected by the current Valley Road are very limited. We do not have the ability to make the entire Arryn Valley look brand new, so we plan to widen the road between Heart City, Moon Gate Castle and then the Blood Gate first."

"At first, in the Gates of the Moon, most of the land belonged to the Eagle's Nest City, and some problems were not exposed." Attis looked at the large area of ​​​​Eylin Valley land where the road was expanded with a worried look, "But in Heart City, on the Valley Avenue, the original There is no need to worry too much about money, Jon Grafson has managed the Twins very well, and the spoils from Saltpan Town, Harrenhal and even Riverrun are enough to keep us entertained for a while."

"But the land along the road belongs to the landed knights and local lords." Attis murmured to himself, "but I really have no reason to invade." He looked at Evan Aylin, his eyes moving slightly.

Seeing this, Evan Aylin understood clearly, "Duke, I will try my best to fulfill any request you have." He looked at Attis, and the appreciation on the latter's face made Evan once again confirm his thoughts.

"Building roads, widening the Valley Avenue, strengthening the Blood Gate City Gate, plus the current tournament bonuses, the Eagle's Nest City has huge expenses and it is not appropriate to continue spending." Attis did not even mention the expenses of the Valley Army's long-term military presence abroad. , another astronomical figure. "I will not impose excessive taxes, nor will I invade the real estate witnessed by the seven gods of the wealthy knights of Arryn Valley. Otherwise, it will be tyranny. This has never happened even under the rule of the Mad King."

Artis looked at Evan Aylin, whom he single-handedly promoted and brought into the decision-making center of the valley, "I hope to reclaim this land through legal means, in the name of the Aylin family in Seagull Town, and the credibility of the 'Golden Eagle' Negotiate with these knights of the canyon to acquire and merge it into your father's private name."

Evan Aylin's pupils swelled slightly. Looking at Artis's unyielding expression, he swallowed, "I'm afraid that a knight's collar along the entire valley road is not something that one family can afford." He did not lose his mind. It is almost impossible to do something, and he will not easily ruin his credibility, especially in front of his lord.

"The Arryn family has been doing business for generations in Seagull Town. Your ancestors even served as finance ministers of the Iron Throne." Attis saw that Evan Arryn was still standing and pointed to Nestor Royce next to him. The chair he had been sitting on gestured for him to sit down. When Evan Aylin sat on the chair, the corners of his mouth slightly raised, "He even got involved in the inheritance rights of the Eagle's Nest City and the Valley."

Evan Aylin's heart suddenly tightened, and a rush of heat rushed to the door. His palms and forehead even sweated slightly and became sticky. He stared at the Duke's face, not daring to miss a word.

"It's just an old thing in history, it's nothing to mention," Attis chuckled. Evan's tense heart suddenly relaxed and he secretly breathed a sigh of relief. "You and your father have been dealing with businessmen for too long. Are you sure? Aren’t you tainted with some exotic habits and customs?”

Evan Aylin didn't understand what Artis was referring to, and just listened quietly, not knowing how to respond.

"The nobles in Seagull Town who deal with the Free Trade City are different from the nobles in the Erin Valley." Artis remembered that Bachelor Cologne had records when he served the Grafson family in Seagull Town before serving the Eyrie City, and added Roy The most representative aristocratic styles in the three valleys of Si, Corbrai and Grafson were compared. Although the works are referred to as Runestone City, Heartstown City and Seagull Town, the meaning is very obvious.

"Compared to others, you know how to unite better," Artis looked at Evan Aylin with some deepness. "Don't think too complicated. Think of this as a ship merchant's ocean trade. Ask your crew to discuss it." Get up and do it and bear these huge costs."

Evan Aylin roughly understood what the Duke meant, which was to let the Aylin family of Seagull Town take the lead and use their contacts rooted in the trade of Seagull Town for many years to jointly bear the cost of annexing the knight's territory, but he was still unsure because the Duke did not He was not informed of the profits. "Duke Attis, if these lands cannot bring profits, it may be difficult to find businessmen willing to partner." Evan Aylin frowned and asked Attis.

But Artis did not answer his question directly. "Sir Quincy Cox of Saltworks Town is very old. He was recruited by Darry City to fight against our army at the beginning of the war." He looked at Evan Ai Lin's hesitant eyes showed no rush to explain, but just slowly narrated, "Sir Quincy was too old and did not choose to join the army himself. Instead, he sent his son and grandson to respond to the call. It was just bad luck that their commander The officer is Edmure Tully who is too complacent and wants to cross the river and fight against the Vale Cavalry."

Artis's eyes became clearer and clearer, and Evan Aylin's brows gradually relaxed. He had a vague guess in his heart, but he was not sure yet.

"All of Sir Quincy's children and grandchildren died in that massacre. Anda Royce took the lead for the valley and almost annihilated the most elite cavalry in the riverlands on the east bank of the Green Fork River," Attis said calmly. He looked at Evan Aylin, whose face was gradually filled with joy, "Sir Quincy's daughters are all married, but his eldest son also has a twelve-year-old daughter."

Evan Aylin's breathing gradually became rapid. He tried hard to suppress the joy in his heart and kept his face calm.

"If you help me solve this problem," Attis leaned behind him, "you will marry the daughter of Saltworks Town and become the future lord of Saltworks Town." Before joy could flood his heart, Attis continued: "He The constraints restricting the development of Salt Farm Town between the Land of the Land and King's Landing will also be lifted, and you will have a franchise in Salt Farm Town and become the second Seagull Town in the Valley."

"As for helping your accomplices," Artis sighed slightly, "I believe you can satisfy them at the port of Salt Farm Town."

The words spoken by Duke Attis were like the crisp sound of a golden dragon sliding down the bottom of a bowl. Evan Aylin could not suppress his inner excitement. He pulled out of the soft chair, half-knelt on the ground, raised his head to face the Duke, and opened his mouth. But he hesitated and couldn't say even half a sentence.

"No need to thank me," Artis said, "I know your situation in Seagull Town. You have to give up your business in Seagull Town and transfer the property to the Schetter family and Grafson. After all," the Duke bent down and helped him up. Evan Aylin's hand, "You can also pay off your debts to the Grafson and Schetter families."

"I" Evan Aylin was speechless for a moment. He could not suppress the excitement in his heart, "Duke Attis, I"

"Stand up," Attis patted Evan Aylin on the shoulder and looked at the crescent moon golden eagle pin he placed on his chest, "I cherish my relatives the most, even if you are far away in Seagull Town."

After hearing this, Evan Aylin's face gradually calmed down. His eyes as he looked at Attis gradually became firmer. He knew that no words of gratitude could repay this kindness. Only feedback from actions was the most real. Evan nodded gently. , "My father and I will do our best."

The sentence is short, but becomes much more sonorous and powerful.

Attis nodded slightly and waved that he could leave.

Evan Aylin took a long breath and wiped away the nearly dry sweat on his forehead. His task became onerous again. In addition to identifying the villages and monks near the God's Eye Lake, he also added the important task of contacting his father to prepare for the annexation of the land. .

He gently nodded to An Gai who was standing aside and walked towards the bottom of the tower.

After Evan Aylin closed the door of the living room, Attis gradually relaxed his strength and lay tiredly on the back of the soft chair.

"These lands." Artis suddenly laughed when he thought of the Royce family who had hoped to use a marriage contract to replace the land reward of the Green Fork River. "I am not the only one who is worried. I promise so, but it is impossible to do it." There are too many landless knights gathered in the Royce family. It is impossible for Sir John to be unaware of the price paid. Now that the engagement has been cancelled, the knights in Runestone City may be even more resentful.

"It's perfect to use these lands to alleviate conflicts." Attis rubbed his eyes, sleepiness gradually spreading.

　This chapter was very difficult to write. I checked some information and wrote down the contradictions and solutions that I forgot to mention before.

　　The conflict is a bit complicated and requires too much mental energy. I will update it today.

　　

　

(End of this chapter)