The Red Keep's Throne Room was packed with people, and the lords of the Seven Kingdoms were whispering in small groups.
Although the celebration and trial assemblies had ended several days ago, the lords of the Seven Kingdoms in King's Landing had not left; instead, their numbers had grown.
This situation was entirely due to a piece of news that had spread from an unknown source and quickly swept across the entire Seven Kingdoms.
King Jaehaerys was considering holding a grand wedding in the near future, and he would issue a King's Marriage system that he had personally revised.
This new king had a great appetite; the number of queens he would marry would be far greater than Aegon the Conqueror!
These lords of the Seven Kingdoms gathered in King's Landing were not here to protest.
After all, the new king's fearsome reputation had spread across two continents, and dorne had just been destroyed; they couldn't possibly have that kind of courage.
Quite the opposite, these lords of the Seven Kingdoms had basically brought young and beautiful unmarried women from their families on this trip.
They wanted to do their best to secure a queen's position for them.
The queen of Westeros held considerable power, the most famous being Queen Alysanne Targaryen.
She established the Women's Court to listen to the plight of women in the Seven Kingdoms and enacted a series of laws, including the Widow's Law and the abolition of the First Night Right.
At that time, the people of the Seven Kingdoms praised Queen Alysanne and Jaehaerys I, bringing their prestige to its peak.
Before the destruction of the Citadel, scholars who studied history claimed that half of the credit for Jaehaerys I's 55-year prosperous reign should go to Queen Alysanne.
If King Jaehaerys truly made history and was to marry multiple queens.
Then this was definitely the best shortcut for small and medium noble families to become top-tier families.
Although they didn't dare to say it openly, they longed in their hearts for their female family members to be chosen as one of the queens.
Then, when Jacaerys passed away, the queen who had given birth to the eldest son could naturally become the regent.
At that time, even the smallest family would probably be able to soar with the help of the regent!
Creak!
The doors of the Throne Room opened, and Jacaerys, dressed in formal attire, walked in with his hand on the hilt of blackfyre.
Behind him were, of course, the main members of the family, including Baela, Stone, and the two brothers Lucerys.
White Knight Captain Dario suddenly stepped forward quickly and shouted loudly, "Greetings to the king of the Andals, the Rhoynar, and the First Men,
Ruler of the Seven Kingdoms, Protector of the Realm, King of the Narrow Sea and the Stepstones, the Burner of Seas, the Destroyer of Tyrosh, the Conqueror of Myr,
Guardian of The Wall, Valyrian Dragon Lord, true dragon, King Jacaerys Targaryen I!"
"Greetings to King Jacaerys Targaryen I!"
The lords of the Seven Kingdoms were different from commoners; as long as it wasn't a special occasion, they only needed to bow.
Jacaerys walked among the lords of the Seven Kingdoms, his eyes scanning the noble young women who were meticulously dressed and had different temperaments.
The timid young women who strictly observed lady's etiquette bowed their heads and curtsied, while the bolder young women quietly looked up at the new king.
When these bold young women saw how young and handsome the king who held the highest power in the Seven Kingdoms was, they couldn't help but reveal genuine smiles on their faces.
And the most conspicuous among them were the House Lannister sisters standing behind duke jason; they didn't lower their heads at all.
Tissara, the older sister who seemed to have had some kind of seal lifted, even stuck out her moist, small, lilac-colored tongue and licked her lips when her eyes met Jacaerys's.
Baela, standing behind Jacaerys, saw everything, but she was now as calm as a still well.
The position she was standing in now already said it all.
Jacaerys walked to the Iron Throne, turned around, and sat down, then raised his hand to signal his Hand of the King to begin today's agenda.
Stone cleared his throat to attract attention, then said loudly, "Cough! At the Small Council meeting held yesterday.
Archmaester Mukun raised a warning to King Jaehaerys about the dwindling bloodline of the Targaryen family and the possibility of its extinction.
At the urging of all the Small Council ministers, King Jaehaerys finally agreed to revise the King's Marriage system."
The lords of the Seven Kingdoms couldn't help but roll their eyes when they heard Stone say that the ministers had strenuously advised and the king had reluctantly agreed.
But all the lords were now restless, because the rumors were indeed true.
After taking a breath, Stone began to talk about the marriage system that was unique to the king.
"The new King's Marriage system establishes the position of Queen, marrying only one person.
It establishes the position of Princess Consort, marrying three people, and the position of Royal Concubine, marrying nine people.
In addition, it establishes the position of Lady-in-Waiting, marrying twenty-seven people, and the position of Lady Companion, marrying eighty-one people.
A total of one hundred and twenty-one people!"
Wow!
The lords of the Seven Kingdoms exploded in an uproar when they heard the number of people in the new King's Marriage system announced by Stone.
King Jaehaerys is going to marry one hundred and twenty-one wives by himself?
Can his body handle it? Can he really manage it?
When this group of lords of the Seven Kingdoms heard the previous rumors, they had tried their best to estimate how many queens there would be, the so-called far more than Aegon the Conqueror.
But the most the lords of the Seven Kingdoms guessed was not even ten, who would have thought that the number announced now would directly exceed a hundred!
Furthermore, there were many new terms in this passage; the title of Princess Consort only appeared in small places in the Seven Kingdoms, generally referring to the Queen.
Setting it as a separate position now is also somewhat understandable, and Royal Concubine is also roughly understandable,
After all, the Ironborn of the Iron Islands often forcibly abduct women along the coast of the Seven Kingdoms and take them back to be their salt concubines.
As for Lady-in-Waiting and Lady Companion? Never heard of them.
And they didn't understand what the difference was between these four and the Queen.
But it didn't matter, because Stone immediately explained.
"The king's one hundred and twenty-one wives are headed by the Queen, collectively referred to as the Harem.
The children of the Queen, Princess Consort, and Royal Concubine, regardless of gender, have the right to inherit and the right to a companion dragon egg.
However, the children of the Lady-in-Waiting and Lady Companion do not have the right to inherit, but they have the right to go to the dragonpit to tame a dragon.
The positions in the Harem are not fixed; all decisions are in the hands of king jia kelisi."
Therefore, only those thirteen people could truly be considered the king's wives.
The remaining one hundred and eight people were just legalized lovers!
The male lords of the Seven Kingdoms present immediately converted these words into a meaning they could understand in their minds.
But that's still pretty good!
Thirteen wives, excluding Princess Baela, who was almost certainly the future queen, and the recently favored House Lannister sisters.
There were still ten positions, enough for the large and small lords of the Seven Kingdoms to compete fairly.
Especially when they thought of their female family members giving birth to a true dragon bloodline for King Jaehaerys and obtaining the right to inherit and a companion dragon egg.
The small and medium-sized lords' eyes immediately lit up, and they made up their minds to ensure that their female family members obtained one of these positions.
But they were also secretly worried that his majesty the King would choose his wives based on family power.
"Due to the kindness and benevolence of King Jaehaerys, he is willing to give all eligible young women in the Seven Kingdoms a chance.
Regardless of whether they come from a prominent noble family or a poor commoner family, they can participate in the Maiden's Day ball in half a month.
Of course, for the sake of the king's health and the quality of the true dragon bloodline.
Only pure virgins and those who meet the standards for height, weight, and appearance can participate.
I will announce the detailed standards later."
Wow!
Upon hearing that commoner young women could participate, the lords of the Seven Kingdoms immediately became noisy.
In the eyes of the vast majority of nobles, they and the lowly commoners were two different species.
Allowing their female family members to participate in the Maiden's Day ball with commoner young women was tantamount to an insult to them.
Thud!
Jacaerys, sitting on the Iron Throne, frowned and directly slammed blackfyre, still in its scabbard, heavily on the ground.
At the same time, Womax, who had been feigning sleep in its nest in the royal garden, raised its head.
Its massive figure immediately blocked the square windows of the Throne Room, causing the indoor light to dim.
The Throne Room, which had been as noisy as a marketplace, immediately fell silent; no one dared to face the wrath of these two dragons.
"The Hand of the King is now announcing the decisions of the Small Council.
The decisions of the Small Council are my decisions.
If anyone has an objection to my decision, just stand in front of me and say it loudly.
And not like a mouse hiding in a corner squeaking and chirping.
Now, if anyone has an objection, step forward. I'll give you one minute."
As soon as Jacaerys finished speaking, the entire Throne Room fell into a deathly silence.
These lords of the Seven Kingdoms, let alone stepping forward to raise an objection, even temporarily stopped breathing.
Are you kidding me! Establishing a Harem, selecting concubines like an emperor, is every man's dream.
In his previous life, he could only dream of it, but in this life, he could finally realize it.
If anyone dared to obstruct, Jacaerys would have Womax have a good talk with them.
"Time's up! Very good, it seems no one has any objections.
Stone, continue!"
"Yes, your majesty."
Stone nodded and bowed to his king upon hearing this, then turned and continued,
"As the capital of the Seven Kingdoms, King's Landing represents the face of the royal family and all the lords of the Seven Kingdoms.
But merchant ships from Essos can smell the stench of feces as soon as they dock on the Blackwater River.
Therefore, from today onwards, King's Landing will add positions such as sanitation workers and street hygiene supervisors.
Anyone who defecates or urinates in public will be fined, or even imprisoned.
Sanitation workers will collect feces at fixed times and locations every day, and will not wait for those who are late.
The large amount of collected feces will be transported to the grain-producing areas of Rosby and Stokeworth around King's Landing as fertilizer.
All you lords can observe the changes in King's Landing recently, and if you think the effect is good, please implement it in your respective territories."
The lords in the Game of Thrones World currently had no concept of improving sanitation or composting.
Casterly Rock, the first to improve sanitation conditions, would have to wait more than a hundred years for tyrion House Lannister to build a sewage system.
I believe that when the environment of King's Landing changes, these lords will follow suit.
As for composting, they won't see the effect for a while.
"The sanitation of King's Landing is a minor matter; next are the king's commands concerning the Seven Kingdoms!
First, for one year from June this year to June next year, the commercial tax collected in the Seven Kingdoms will be halved."
As soon as Stone finished speaking, the quiet Throne Room was filled with praises of 'The king is benevolent' and 'The king is wise'.
If the king is willing to collect half the commercial tax, doesn't that mean they can keep more golden dragons?
So many lords of the Seven Kingdoms were already thinking about selling more of their inventory during the period of halved commercial tax.
Little did they know, this was exactly Jacaerys's goal.
He wanted these lords of the Seven Kingdoms, who were like hamsters, to take out their inventory and savings.
To stimulate the economy, currency and goods must first flow!
As for harvesting the benefits after the economy prospers, Jacaerys had countless ways to do so.
"Second, all women in the Seven Kingdoms must marry before the age of sixteen, and for every year over that age, a double tax will be collected.
Over two years, it will be double, and so on.
At the same time, from today onwards, the lords of the Seven Kingdoms must reward commoner families who give birth to newborns in their territories.
If a son is born, two small bags of wheat and a dog will be rewarded. If a daughter is born, three small bags of wheat and a sheep will be rewarded."
For the lords of the Seven Kingdoms, after this king's command was issued, all the previous matters suddenly became unimportant.
Because all the previous things were superficial, while this one concerned their vital interests.
Since Womax's black shadow was still there, most of the lords only muttered in low voices, not daring to be the first to speak out.
But there were always people who stood out, such as the lord of The Reach, House Tyrell, whose population was nearly nine million before the Blood Dragon Dance.
Ser Lorent, who had carefully chosen his words, stepped forward to the foot of the Iron Throne steps and slowly said, "King Jaehaerys, our House Tyrell is willing to fully support your command.
But the population of The Reach is too large. After your command is conveyed, those commoners...commoners will probably breed newborns like crazy.
Even if our House Tyrell exhausts its family wealth to distribute the rewards.
But the land in The Reach is limited, and with such a sudden increase in commoners, food will definitely be scarce.
And when they grow up, they will have no land to cultivate crops, which will inevitably lead to riots, and this could even endanger the entire Seven Kingdoms.
So I implore King Jaehaerys and the lords of the Small Council to reconsider this king's command."
"Yes, yes, yes, even the fertile reach is like this.
Aren't we in the vale even worse off?"
"Your population in the vale is alright, our population in the westerlands is not much less than The Reach.
And the land suitable for farming is far less than The Reach.
But looking at duke jason, it seems he intends to endure for the sake of his two daughters!"
"Alas, encouraging commoners to have little commoners? What on earth is his majesty thinking?
The reward for having a daughter is higher than for having a son, is he doing this so he can marry more wives in the future?
Even if he's lustful, this is too outrageous!"
Ser Lorent spoke slowly, enunciating very clearly, and the other lords of the Seven Kingdoms nodded as they listened and discussed in low voices.
Upon hearing this, Jacaerys immediately replied with a matter-of-fact expression, "Population is the primary productivity. If there isn't enough land, then increase the land!
The Reach is flat and open, with fertile soil, and has the Mander River and its tributaries, making irrigation very convenient, hence it is known as the granary of the Seven Kingdoms.
But in reality, The Reach still has a large number of unutilized hills and slopes.
If these large areas of uncultivated hills and slopes can be reclaimed and utilized, the crop yield of The Reach will double.
By then, let alone the newborns of The Reach, perhaps the newborns of the entire Seven Kingdoms can be supported!"
Ser Lorent smiled wryly upon hearing this and shook his head, replying, "your majesty, you may have only heard a general overview of The Reach and do not understand the detailed situation.
These hills and slopes you mentioned are widely considered useless land by everyone.
A better location might be able to build a castle or pass, but a worse location, no one is even willing to live there.
If it could truly be cultivated, it would have been reclaimed and utilized thousands of years ago.
The Mander River basin does traverse the entire reach, but how can water be transported to the hills and slopes for irrigation?
Furthermore, how can these hills and slopes, which have no flat ground at all and where it is difficult for people to stand firm, be cultivated?
What you just said, perhaps only gods can do!"
Upon hearing this, Jacaerys immediately stood up and replied in a deep voice, "Heh heh, only gods can do it?
Good, then I and my dragon are your gods!
I will personally go to The Reach and turn the hills and slopes into fertile fields.
Can't stand firm on the hills and slopes? Then I will level them into flat, stepped terraces!
The water of the Mander River can't go up? Then I will build irrigation channels to lead it up the mountain!"
Jacaerys's words echoed repeatedly in the Throne Room, stunning all the lords of the Seven Kingdoms.
Leveling hills, digging canals to divert water!
There have been many earth-shattering ideas in the history of Westeros, earth-shattering ideas about war, such as building the incredibly majestic The Wall.
Earth-shattering ideas about the construction of noble castles, such as building Harrenhal, where giants could live, and the Eyrie, built on a sheer cliff.
But for thousands of years, no one had ever put forward an earth-shattering idea in agriculture.
Until today, proposed by King Jacaerys Targaryen I!