Three months after the king's wedding, Jacaerys was holding a routine Small Council meeting in the Red Keep.
Except for the newly added seat of the minister of agriculture below the master of whisperers Korman, all other Small Council members were in their places.
There were rumors in King's Landing before that earl samwell would be replaced by duke jason or Duke Essenba.
After all, in terms of both seniority and wealth, these two dukes were far superior to this earl who rose during the Blood Dragon Dance.
But three months passed, and earl samwell remained as stable as a mountain.
This also made the vast majority of lords in the Seven Kingdoms feel admiration for king Jacaerys and start racking their brains to find a position in King's Landing for their family's descendants.
"Your majesty, we just received a letter from Lord Thaddeus, the minister of agriculture, today.
The terracing project in the vale is very successful, and at the current pace, it is estimated to be completed in another two months.
Duke Essenba is also extremely satisfied; he estimates that the autumn crop yield in the vale will increase by at least three times."
Stone reported the latest news received today.
As Lord Thaddeus and his agricultural army gained more experience, the subsequent terracing progress became faster and faster.
Under the diligent work of tens of thousands of civilian laborers provided by the westerlands,
In just over two months, not only Goldengrove but also silverhill, deepden, and cornfield in the westerlands near the Golden Tooth Mountains were completed.
Due to House Tyrell's previous performance and their unsatisfactory wedding gift to the king,
At the end of last month, Jacaerys ordered Lord Thaddeus to lead his agricultural army to the vale for the second round of terracing.
He didn't go to the westerlands because only three cities in the westerlands located in the Golden Tooth Mountains were suitable for terracing.
The crag mountains, where cities like golden tooth and crakehall are located, are primarily focused on gold mining.
In fact, there are also some coastal cities on the west coast suitable for terracing, but the geological conditions are relatively complex.
Jacaerys had communicated with duke jason, one of his many father-in-laws, in advance, arranging for special modifications for these westerlands after the vale's transformation is completed.
Duke jason wasn't too bothered by this minor change, as Duke Essenba hadn't had any female family members chosen as queen before, but still offered a full two hundred and fifty thousand golden dragons.
Therefore, it was understandable for Jacaerys to place the second round of terracing in the vale.
He just didn't expect the terracing effect in the vale, which is covered in hills and mountains, to be so outstanding.
If the vale can truly achieve a great harvest of three times or more, it will become a granary for the Seven Kingdoms along with The Reach and the Riverlands.
With sufficient food, coupled with the previous reward for intense childbearing, the population of the Seven Kingdoms will experience explosive growth.
Upon hearing this, the Small Council members immediately showered Jacaerys with praise.
After Stone finished his report, Korman, sitting below him, immediately chimed in: "Your majesty, our 'dragon's claw' has spread throughout the Seven Kingdoms.
The 'White Worm' who went to Essos has also gained a foothold and has started sending intelligence back to King's Landing."
dragon's claw, as the name suggests, is the dragon's fangs and claws!
This official intelligence organization was formed by Korman's absorption of various large and small intelligence organizations in the black market.
It is Jacaerys's eyes monitoring Westeros and also the black hand reaching towards Essos.
And the Agile Korman understood very well that a black market intelligence leader of the 'White Worm's' level being willing to submit was certainly not due to his personal charm.
Therefore, not only did he have no intention of deceiving his superiors or subordinates, but he instead clung even tighter to the king who granted him this power.
Upon hearing this, Jacaerys offered a few words of encouragement and then ordered Korman to have the White Worm gather intelligence on the enemy at all costs.
As the saying goes, know yourself and know your enemy, and you will win a hundred battles!
When he next leads the army of the Seven Kingdoms to land on the continent of Essos, it will surely be a thunderous force!
After Korman finished his report, Archmaester Mukun immediately stood up and reported: "Your majesty, the order you issued to restrict church activities is not proceeding very smoothly.
After all, the faith of the seven gods has a history of thousands of years in the Seven Kingdoms and is already deeply ingrained in the minds of the common people.
Let alone such a mild order, I'm afraid even forceful suppression with military might would be futile.
After all, even the faith of the seven gods couldn't eradicate the faith of the Old Gods from the north back then!"
"Hmm, this matter is indeed not as simple as imagined.
It's okay, this is just a small test.
I will handle the next steps myself."
Upon hearing this, Jacaerys did not blame Archmaester Mukun for being incompetent, but instead waved his hand, gesturing for the other party to sit down.
After Archmaester Mukun sat down with a grateful expression, the Small Council suddenly fell into an eerie silence.
"Ahem, Lord Forrester, I remember you told me before that you had something to report to your majesty."
Stone frowned, looked at Lord Forrester who was lost in thought, coughed, and reminded him.
Lord Forrester, as the minister of justice, immediately stood up in a panic upon hearing this and reported: "oh, yes, report, report to your majesty.
Your newly added military merit reward system is almost universally popular among all lords and commoners.
Our recruit recruitment is very smooth!
Currently, there are eight thousand six hundred recruits who have passed physical examinations and identity verification, and they are currently undergoing the military training you established.
Once they pass the final military training assessment, they can join the official new army!"
The military merit reward system refers to obtaining the king's reward by achieving a specified number of head-taking merits.
The rewards set by Jacaerys can be said to be unprecedentedly generous.
Weapons and armor, copper stars and silver stags, these common rewards, need not be mentioned further.
Soldiers who gain a large amount of military merit can be successively promoted to captain, mid-level Commander, high-ranking Commander, and even knight lords.
That's right! This refers to the kind of landed knight who is enfeoffed by the king and possesses territory.
In the tens of thousands of years of history in Westeros, the class solidification of the lords of the Seven Kingdoms has occurred.
As long as they don't commit the grave mistake of treason and rebellion, great lords will always be great lords.
For example, the ruling families in each region of the Seven Kingdoms have hardly seen any changes.
If the upper class of lords is like this, then the commoners below are even less likely to change their status.
With the upward mobility solidified, many ambitious individuals, like littlefinger in later generations, struggled to find a way to change their class.
Now Jacaerys is essentially opening a gap in this solidified upward channel, and it remains to be seen if those ambitious commoners are willing to fight with their lives.
And now, the facts prove that they are willing, having recruited over eight thousand recruits in just over a month.
It seems that the two thousand recruits Jacaerys previously anticipated will soon be surpassed.
He now still possesses a large amount of land in dorne, which is enough to enfeoff nearly a thousand landed knights if he only grants knighthoods.
And even if it's not enough, it doesn't matter, because the next large-scale war will definitely happen in Essos.
At that time, he will directly use the land of the foreign continent to enfeoff those brave soldiers who are willing to fight desperately for him.
"You're doing a great job, Lord Forrester.
You continue the work of recruiting new soldiers; those who have completed military training should be directly handed over to Rudy.
Once these tasks are completed, I will give you a big surprise."
There was quite a bit of good news today, so Jacaerys's mood was relatively good.
So in the end, he also painted a big picture for Lord Forrester.
"Thank you, your majesty!"
Lord Forrester didn't seem too happy upon hearing this; after thanking him, he continued,
"Oh, and your majesty. Half a month ago, you asked me to issue an order to the lords of the Seven Kingdoms to reclaim the right to execute criminals in the Seven Kingdoms.
Now, lords from various places have successively escorted nearly a thousand criminals to King's Landing, and the dungeons of the Red Keep and the city watch's (Gold Cloaks') prisons are almost full.
What should be done next?"
"They sent over a thousand criminals in half a month? Tsk tsk, that's quite efficient!
I remember there's still a lot of vacant land on Rhaenys' Hill; it's closer to the dragonpit, which saves a lot of trouble.
Lord Forrester, I'm leaving this matter to you.
Send someone to survey the terrain there and build a large prison specifically for housing these criminals as soon as possible."
Hearing Lord Forrester's report, Jacaerys showed a hint of joy and immediately proposed a way to solve the problem from its root.
The other ministers in the Small Council frowned upon hearing this.
They were already thinking about what Jacaerys meant by the large prison being closer to the dragonpit and saving a lot of trouble.
Could it be using criminals to feed the dragons?
As for Lord Forrester, his focus was completely elsewhere; he was once again in that state of absentmindedness he was in before.
Having not heard a reply for a long time, Jacaerys tilted his head and asked Lord Forrester: "Lord Forrester, what's wrong? Are you having some difficulties?"
Hearing Jacaerys's question, Lord Forrester's face showed hesitation and struggle; finally, he gritted his teeth and replied: "Your majesty, our Frey Family is willing to be loyal to you until death!
But we are currently rebuilding the previously damaged east bank castle, and during this time, we are also bearing the food supply for the recruits' military training, as well as paying the transportation costs for all the lords who sent criminals.
So we really cannot afford more golden dragons to build the prison, please understand!"
"Hmm? Your Frey Family is bearing the food supply for the recruits' military training and paying for the transportation of criminals?"
Jacaerys, whose lips were curved in a smile due to the many good news today, heard this, and the expression on his face instantly vanished without a trace.
He knew that Lord Forrester couldn't lie about something so easy to verify, so he turned to Lucerys and continued to ask,
"Lucerys, I seem to recall saying before that all expenses for the recruits' military training and the transportation of criminals would be paid from the royal treasury, right!"
Lucerys, who had not spoken throughout this Small Council meeting, heard his brother's question,
First glanced at Lord Forrester, then opened his mouth and replied: "brother, it is a matter of course for vassals to work for their liege lord.
How can they ask for money from their liege lord?
When the former Earl Corliss and Ser Tylan served as ministers of maritime affairs, they all incorporated their own fleets into the royal fleet.
They never asked their liege lord for the expenses such as food and repairs consumed by the fleet."
Hearing his brother's words, Jacaerys said expressionlessly to the other ministers: "gentlemen, today's Small Council meeting ends here for now.
Except for the master of coin, Lucerys Valyrian, everyone else may leave!"
Tap tap tap!
The few ministers who dared not get involved in the impending argument between the two brothers quickly left the room.
When the door was closed from the outside by Dario, captain of the White Knights, Jacaerys immediately got up and walked to Lucerys's side,
Then he slowly opened his mouth and said: "first, in official settings, I am your king, so you must address me as your majesty.
Second, the rights and obligations between a liege lord and a vassal are complementary.
Yes, I can indeed, as you just said, forcibly make the Frey Family bear these costs.
Or make the other lords who transported the criminals bear these costs themselves.
But you are cutting off your own foundation and draining the pond to catch all the fish.
Third, I know your character, Lucerys, so these words definitely didn't come from you.
So, who is teaching you?"
Lucerys, who was familiar with Jacaerys, saw that his brother was truly angry and immediately replied obediently: "it's Rhaenyra.
Brother... your majesty, please don't blame her.
She also taught me how to save golden dragons for you so that I could better serve as master of coin!"
"Okay, go talk to Lord Forrester privately today.
You don't need to apologize, just tell him that all expenses for the recruits' military training and the transportation of criminals will be allocated to him."
"As you command, your majesty!"
Looking at Lucerys's obedient retreating figure, a thoughtful look appeared in Jacaerys's eyes.
Rhaenyra first had Baela change her image to please him, and then instigated Lucerys to be a stingy master of coin.
It seems it's time to go to Driftmark and see what's happening!
...
Essos, north of the Disputed Lands.
Ever since Jacaerys forcibly conquered Myr, the towns in the Disputed Lands near Myr lost their protection.
Every now and then, bandits who were formerly sellswords, or small dothraki khalasars, would come to raid.
The administrators of these towns could only helplessly spend heavily to organize defensive forces to resist.
Today, a small town was erupting with earth-shattering cries of killing.
Fierce bandits broke through the town's gates and entered, continuously hacking down civilians and plundering.
In this small town, two extremely fierce town guards were using the familiar terrain for street fighting, occasionally launching surprise attacks on the bandits.
But being outnumbered, one of the bald guards, in order to cover the other guard, was directly stabbed through the heart by a bandit with a spear.
cole quarry seized the opportunity to kill the enemy, then stared blankly at Lanino, who was lying on the ground with a large amount of blood gushing from the wound in his chest.
He never expected that after bravely eloping with Lanino for many years, they would end up with such a fate.
Woo wah!
cole, who was truly in love, had completely forgotten about fighting, dropped his weapon, and cried loudly while holding his lover.
A bandit seemed to see an opportunity and immediately charged towards cole.
Whoosh!
A ball of orange-red fire flew out from an alley, and in the blink of an eye, it turned the bandit into a human torch.
Tap tap tap!
A bald monk in a red robe walked out from the corner and then came before cole.
cole just stared blankly as he pulled the spear from the chest of the already dead Lanino.
Then he reached out and stroked the bloody wound on Lanino's chest, closed his eyes, and prayed.
"My lord, 'Lord of Light', please let your light shine upon this person, saving him from terrifying death and endless darkness.
The flame in his heart has been extinguished; may it burn again under your light!"
As the Red Priest's prayer ended, the torn and hideous flesh on Lanino's chest actually grew new granulation tissue.
And these granulation tissues, as if possessing life, quickly filled the horrifying bloody hole in his chest, turning into an extremely ugly circular scar.
Thump, thump!
When the wound on Lanino's chest turned into what looked like an old scar, his heart actually began to beat again.
"Whoosh!"
Lanino suddenly opened his eyes, sat up abruptly, and took a deep breath of air.
This directly startled the grief-stricken cole, who then immediately reacted by hugging Lanino tightly, tears constantly dripping from his eyes.
At this moment, the Red Priest also stopped praying and opened his eyes, staring at Lanino.
He smiled and said to Lanino: "the night is dark and full of terrors!"
And Lanino, who seemed to have experienced something during his recent death, and who previously had no faith, now smiled and replied: "the night is dark and full of terrors!"