The Imp nodded, "I see Joffrey is still beating Miss Sansa. If we want the northerners not to hate us so much, we should be gentler."
"This is truly helpless, the King doesn't listen to anyone," Varys exclaimed. "That girl was once so infatuated with the King, but our good King prefers to have her beaten."
"Once I've arranged everything in King's Landing, I'll teach Joffrey. But do you know a good way to calm down a volatile teenager?"
"Women, my lord. The King is thirteen now. I think it's time for him to see women's breasts and thighs in certain places. He'll settle down a lot."
"Good idea, but unfortunately my sister keeps him too close, and The Hound is always there. We'll talk about this later."
"The Hound?" Varys scoffed. "Ever since he heard The Mountain died, he's been utterly broken, very despondent."
"my father was also sad for a long time. This might have been his favorite mad dog," The Imp said frankly.
"You were the first minister to show me goodwill, for the sake of our friendship. Don't look so glum, have a drink." The Imp said, motioning for Varys to start.
"For this wonderful meal, I must express my appreciation." Varys sat in his seat and first toasted The Imp with a glass of golden wine.
Varys looked around. The Imp's favorite whore, Shae, was not here. Varys knew The Imp had settled Shae in a spacious wooden and stone house, with its own stables, well, and garden. He had given her many servants to command, and even bought a white bird from the Summer Isles to keep her company. She had silks and satins, gold and jewels, and guards specifically to protect her, but she was still not satisfied.
Varys looked around and realized there were no other whores present. Varys sighed inwardly, "Being too devoted to a whore, that's your biggest problem, Tyrion."
Varys then poured another glass of wine, "Ah, sweet as summer." He took another sip, "The grapes are singing on my tongue."
"Then I won't be polite," The Imp said. "But do you really know what I care about most?"
Varys chuckled, "I think I'm a qualified master of whisperers, my lord. What you care about most right now, isn't it longsword and soldiers?"
"You're very clever. I want to know who in the Gold Cloaks is usable?" The Imp nodded. With a great enemy at hand, the army was the most crucial. Other matters like grain, finance, heirs, and the High Septon could be pushed back. The Imp's overall consideration was to control the army and restrain the Queen Dowager and Joffrey from acting recklessly.
Currently, the largest army in the city was Janos Slynt's Gold Cloaks, but Janos was infamous and a loyal dog of Cersei and the King.
"Janos is useless. He prefers taking bribes and drawing phantom pay to fighting, promoting equally corrupt officers. A man who loves money is probably even more afraid of death, greedy for life and afraid to die," Varys advised.
"So I need you to arrange a suitable one for me." The Imp looked at Varys.
"Ser Jeslyn Bywater, captain of the Mud Gate. Although he lost a hand, his heart is extremely proud and honorable. Such a man is naturally at odds with Janos and others."
"Excellent." The Imp drained his cup, thinking of his brother Jaime, who had lost a hand. "I need such people. A one-handed warrior is still a warrior."
If Ser Jacelyn was promoted by him, he would be fiercely loyal. Moreover, this man was brave, and such a person was greatly needed for tough battles, not a useless drunkard like Janos Slynt.
"It seems I owe you my thanks." The Imp looked at Varys. He never trusted Varys, but he couldn't deny his usefulness. If nothing else, he certainly knew many things.
"So you need to arrange a good place for him."
"The Wall," The Imp mused. The Wall needed men most, and Janos at least had some strength. But after this, The Imp wanted to have dinner with Janos first, to see what interesting information this man still had.
"Good idea. There are many criminals among the Gold Cloaks who oppress the common people, unforgivable. What you should know most is a rude villain, Allar Dim, whom the people of King's Landing greatly fear. He is a partisan of Janos Slynt, and after the King's ascension, he even killed an unweaned infant. The Child's mother resisted desperately and was also slaughtered."
"An infant? This scoundrel is truly crude, the poor Child." The Imp savored the lamb and carrot soup, then another fine wine, which now seemed like blood. "These people truly deserve to die."
"Who says not? But our old King was a drunkard and let them run wild," Varys said.
"But Robert didn't let this country become such a mess; he at least left many years of summer." The Imp sighed. The pride of the Lannister also exacerbated the chaos.
"As long as you win, summer will still exist."
The Imp, however, clicked his tongue, "Victory, this victory is very difficult. my father worries about two little ones, and I have to worry about Renly and Stannis."
"Is there any news from Across the Narrow Sea? my father said he gave a lot of gold to the Lysene and Volantenes. Where are these scoundrels' fleets?" The Imp asked.
"Not yet," Varys shook his head. "You know the procrastination of the Free Cities; it's like a dozen horses each going their own way."
"I can't just watch the storm rage in the North. This is a difficult situation."
"Calm down, my lord. I think Lys and Volantis aren't all fools. However, for now, what you need is to stabilize King's Landing."
The Imp nodded, "To control King's Landing, I can't do without you. I need your intelligence, your good heart."
"Gladly," Varys laughed. "Tides come and go, and I'm still alive. I'm afraid of falling into Stannis's hands; they say he's ruthless."
The Imp ate a piece of plump fish. With Varys, the internal troubles would be much easier now.
Troops, manpower, The Imp was very confident in this area. As long as he had the most manpower in King's Landing, he would have the most say. Thinking of this, The Imp felt much more at ease.
With Varys's intelligence, The Imp would quickly take command of the King's Landing Gold Cloaks, having this army. At the same time, his own wildlings and Mercenaries numbered two hundred and fifty. As for Cersei's private guard, they were only about a hundred in total. Vylar was a smart man; he knew his loyalty was to Casterly Rock, and he was here at Duke Tywin's behest. Cersei could not use them to threaten him.
"Varys, how do you think I should make more friends?" The Imp asked Varys.
"As long as you have a good heart, you can," Varys said. "Friends will naturally grow, and you are a just Hand."
"No, I have to give others some gifts, then they will like me," The Imp replied.
"Is it gold and golden dragons? The Mercenaries love those the most," Varys didn't know what The Imp meant by gifts.
"Much more valuable than gold and golden dragons." The Imp smiled mysteriously. Those Children were one of his biggest bargaining chips, and he had to consider them carefully.
The Imp thought of Joffrey, Tommen, Myrcella. These Children themselves were very valuable gifts, valuable for marriage alliances, and for contacting allies.
Although Joffrey had a marriage contract, the High Septon, that flatterer, could easily annul it. The Imp cursed himself as a bastard in his heart, but this was war, and he had no choice. If House Lannister lost, they would not fare well either.
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