Game of Thrones: Viserys the Three-Headed Dragon.

Chapter 105: The King's Corner

"Lord Tyrion, we didn't expect you to be here. But please cooperate with us. This tavern will be closed now."

Tyrion was in the private room of the tavern, looking at Osfried Kettleblack. "Osfried, you are the deputy commander of the capital's guards, and you are here with Humphrey Weewater, who is in charge of guarding the Dragon Gate, and a group of gold cloaks to seal off the tavern at the Rivergate?"

Tyrion didn't even want to call him Sir. The Kettleblack brothers didn't even fight in the battlefield, but they were knighted after the Battle of the Blackwater. It's because they are all Cersei's people and they obey Cersei's orders.

After the Battle of the Blackwater, the garrison was reduced from a peak of 6000 men to 4400 men. Ser Adam Marbrand, the captain of Lord Tywin's cavalry, was appointed Lord Commander. The garrison's finances could not support the troops, but Cersei would not allow Adam to reduce the number of troops.

It's because Cersei treats the garrison as her own, and she needs them whether she is secretly searching for the illegitimate son who killed King Robert, or now closing down the tavern that openly discusses the "Dragon King of Dragonstone".

Osfried replied solemnly: "It is my duty."

"Duty?" Tyrion laughed. "I didn't know you had such a sense of humor, Osfryd."

Osforley: "This is the will of the Queen Mother Regent. Please--"

"Speak louder, Osfryd," Tyrion interrupted. "Whose orders?"

Osfryd blushed. "Please cooperate, Lord Tyrion."

Tyrion wanted to laugh. If Cersei had any brains, she would not do such a high-profile thing. Right now, only the port of Rivergate is open in King's Landing, and countless merchant ships come in from the Throat every day. It is simply a pipe dream to block the news they bring, unless they sink all the ships passing through Dragonstone in Blackwater Bay and pull out the tongues of those sailors who have been to Dragonstone.

During the Dance of the Dragons, the Black Party seized King's Landing. Rhaenyra's harsh rule made her lose the support of the people. The people began to call her "Maegor with tits". It is said that someone in King's Landing tried to ban this derogatory name at that time, but a hundred years later, the word "Maegor's tits" became a dirty word in King's Landing. This severe ban is bound to bring more serious backlash.

But honestly, what other options are there?

Only at this time would Tyrion think, Lord Tywin ordered him to raise funds for rebuilding the port of King's Gate. If he took out the money now, would Lord Tywin start the reconstruction immediately so that King's Landing could receive more merchant ships from the Throat and bring more news about the Dragon King and dragons?
The cost of rebuilding the port dock at King's Gate was staggering, but it had to be done because King's Landing was the second largest port in the country, second only to Oldtown. The river had to be dredged as soon as possible to reopen trade. But where would the money come from? He had only glanced at the royal accounts in the past few days. The royal family owed an unimaginable amount of money. The Lannisters, Tyrells, the Church, the Iron Bank, and the banks of the Free Trade Cities all owed astronomical amounts.

Tyrion even began to miss Littlefinger, who had sailed away to marry Lysa Arryn and rule the Vale, leaving behind a mess.

Tyrion sometimes maliciously hopes that the dragon king of Dragonstone will find Littlefinger and ride his dragon to burn the ship he is on.

Although Tyrion had doubts about the three-headed dragon, because when the news that the Dragon King of Dragonstone had a dragon spread at the King's Landing dock, Tyrion went to the dragon bone storage room in the Red Castle in King's Landing and looked again and again, he still couldn't imagine what a three-headed dragon looked like.

He was in a stalemate with Osfried, and the person he was waiting for finally arrived: "Sir, your taste in choosing a tavern is always impressive."

"Ser Bronn, you've kept me waiting." Tyrion didn't bother his sister's lackey any more. He called his squire Podrick and the captain of the gold-cloaked guards of the River Gate. "Let's go to another place."

Osfryd breathed a sigh of relief, watched Tyrion leave, and then continued with the sealing work.

The tavern owner and the waiter were all detained, as well as several sailors and the captain of a merchant ship. They probably couldn't imagine that the first group of people who came to King's Landing to sell intelligence made a fortune here, but they could only be imprisoned for bringing intelligence.

How many people has Cersei captured in the past few days? The topic of the Dragon King and dragons has become taboo in King's Landing overnight. It is hard to say that Lord Tywin did not secretly acquiesce.

The trebuchets that had once been used by the King's Landing garrison still dominated the market square just inside the gate, now deserted, with stones and barrels of pitch scattered about. Playful children climbed up the long wooden trebuchets and swung from them like monkeys, chasing each other.

"Remind me to have Ser Addam assign the gold cloaks to guard this area," Tyrion ordered as he passed between the trebuchets. "The fools must fall and break their necks."

There was a shout from above, and a pile of horse manure was thrown not far in front of the Chancellor. Tyrion's horse reared up and nearly knocked him over.

"On second thought," he said, trying to rein in his horse, "it's better to leave it alone and let these brats fall down like ripe pumpkins and smash them to pieces."

Tyrion was already in a bad mood, and now these naughty boys humiliated him in public, which made him even more furious.

Who among the Lannisters and Tyrells in King's Landing is in a good mood? Tyrion thought, maybe Dumb is in a good mood. Dumb is the youngest son of the stable boy brought by Lord Tywin. He is a fool and only knows how to have fun all day long.

The muddy road was crowded with people, but under the guidance of the gold cloaks, soldiers and civilians made way for the demon's team. Children with sunken eyes gathered around, some staring silently, some begging loudly. Tyrion took out a handful of copper coins from his wallet and threw them out. The children immediately started to fight for them, shouting and pushing each other. The lucky ones among them might be able to eat a piece of moldy bread tonight.

The market square had never been so crowded. The Tyrells had brought in countless supplies, but now that the free food had stopped being distributed, the price of food was ridiculously high. Six coppers for a pumpkin, a silver deer for a pile of corn, and a gold dragon for a cut of beef or six scrawny piglets. Despite this, buyers were still coming in an endless stream. Haggard men and women surrounded every carriage and every stall, while those miserable and helpless people stood at the entrance of the alley, watching gloomily.

Nowadays, merchant ships from other places can make a lot of money in King's Landing, but the prerequisite is that they learn to be cautious in their words and deeds at the ports and docks to avoid disasters.

They soon turned back to the temporary offices of the minister who was leading the reconstruction of the docks near the King's Gate.

As soon as Tyrion entered, he asked Podrick to guard the door and then took Bronn into the reception room.

It was quiet enough here. Perhaps there were some little birds eavesdropping, after all, the octopus-spider Varys was not so easy to deceive, but Tyrion felt that he had no need to be afraid of him yet.

"Tell me, what new stories has the Dragon King brought to King's Landing?"

The inspection at Linhemen Wharf was just a cover. Now the nobles in King's Landing are in a panic again because of the news that the merchant ships at the wharf are constantly coming. It is said that the Dragon King has a dragon and it took him less than a piss to capture Dragonstone Island. And it is not just that. There are new news every day about how brave, wise, intelligent, and caring he is for his people.

A few days ago, people thought that the most anticipated event of the 300th anniversary of Aegon's Landing was the wedding of Joffrey and Margaery. Who would have thought that as the 300th anniversary of Aegon's Landing approached, a new "Aegon" would come to Dragonstone, and he was a petty "Aegon".

"You've heard about him riding a three-headed dragon and conquering Dragonstone in a matter of seconds. The story about him offering a reward to save the 'little fish' on the Blackwater River was told the day before yesterday. He also told us about him setting up three rules for the Dragonstone defenders and requiring those who surrendered to attend the funeral. Well, these two are new. It is said that he visited the fields of the farmers on Dragonstone one day not long ago, discussed autumn planting with them, and even ate black flour paste at a farmer's house. Well, if this is true, I admire him very much. That stuff doesn't taste much better than the stuff you noble lords use to feed livestock."

"He may have eaten worse during his exile in Essos, and I can do the same."

Bronn said, "But he is the Dragon King. It is useless for others to eat shit. No sailors or people will praise him."

Tyrion said angrily, "Hell, I daresay he spent more money on those merchant ships saving lives in Blackwater Bay than I gave you in the Eyrie, and yet there's not even one person to tell my story about it."

".He is the Dragon King, others——"

"Stop. Do not try to insult me ​​with any disgusting description. The dwarf demon does not want to hear your mockery." Tyrion interrupted him, "Continue to tell me what you have found out."

"It is said that there was a kind-hearted merchant ship owner who heard that he was offering a reward for rescuing the survivors of the Blackwater River. He also heard the story of his 'little fish' and was very moved. He rescued a few survivors and sent them to the dock of Tidehead. He refused to accept the reward and wanted to join him in this good deed. However, he sent someone from Dragonstone to reprimand the merchant ship owner for this."

"What?" Tyrion wondered. The dragon king's actions were always beyond his expectations. "Why?"

"The people he sent said that the merchant ship owner's refusal to accept the bounty was a violation of the rules and regulations. If everyone was like the merchant ship owner, then from now on, people would no longer rescue people from Blackwater Bay. If there is a bounty regulation, the bounty must be collected, and collecting the bounty will not damage the merchant ship owner's character; but if the bounty is not collected, it will set a precedent, and people may no longer rescue people from Blackwater Bay. The merchant ship owner then accepted the bounty with great shame. I really don't understand his twisted thoughts." Bronn finished speaking and commented, "But I dare say that when the free knights hear this story, they will fly to Dragonstone to pick up food like sparrows seeing grain falling to the ground."

"A terrible foe," Tyrion said. "Have you ever thought, Bronn, that these stories are so simple and catchy, so short and quick, so easy to understand, so dramatic, so easy to spread, so easy to understand, so easy to spread ...

"."

"Because this is what he spreads, this is his purpose, he just wants to spread these things. Damn seven hells, if he really has dragons, then his dragons may not be enough to sweep across the entire continent of Westeros, but before that, Bronn, he will not wait for the dragons to grow up on Dragonstone like his ancestors did. Before that, he will shape himself into a true 'king' in people's hearts. Damn, the Seven Kingdoms are in chaos, and he is there calling for peace, planting autumn crops, doing good deeds and saving people. Look, how shameless we are and how noble he is!"

Bronn smiled and said, "Since he has dragons, why not let him be the king? Didn't he accept the surrender of Shireen Baratheon? Those knights and soldiers who surrendered were only put in the dark dungeon. Nothing happened to them. I haven't heard that he took anyone's title. He encouraged people to plant in the fall and store grain for the winter. It sounded so good to the people."

It was hard for Tyrion to tell that the sellsword knight was looking at him with anything other than arrogance and mockery.

Tyrion warned him: "If anyone hears this, you will be guilty of treason."

Bronn shrugged. "I have only been anointed with holy oil for a short time. I don't have a deep enough understanding of the loyalty of a knight. Is this called treason?"

Tyrion ignored the barb in his words and asked, "I heard that Tyrell's army is withdrawing from Storm's End?"

Bolong Nu mouth: "Where can I know such a secret?"

"That's right. It seems that my father and Lord Inflatable Fish have not been blinded by their desire for power. From the current point of view, his actions are more aimed at Stannis. King's Landing just happened to be affected by these things." Tyrion ignored his nonsense and analyzed by himself, "Most of the soldiers he sent back are from the Stormlands, and Stannis is now in the Stormlands. Those soldiers who returned will disrupt Stannis's morale. Stannis claims to be the legitimate king. We make room for Stannis, and let Stannis help us test whether his dragon is real or fake. At least it guarantees that we will not become Black-hearted Harren, right?"

Bronn laughed. "You are a chancellor, but you are worried about this? Have you counted the coppers?"

Tyrion ignored him and looked out the window toward the Hand's Tower in the Red Keep. He remembered what Lord Tywin had said: Some victories are won with swords and spears, while others are won with pen, paper, and crows.

King's Landing has no fleet now. Even if it has a fleet, how can it attack Dragonstone, which may be guarded by dragons?
And there are always more efficient ways to spend your money.

In order to join Robert, Lord Tywin treated the Targaryens too harshly. Now that the Targaryens are back with their dragons, even Cersei knows that they have no way out.

He wondered, would there be any victory that depended on assassins and poison?

Media propaganda and peaceful evolution are a combination of punches used by offshore regimes when they have few troops, nuclear weapons, and poor information flow.

War is not just about soldiers fighting on the front line.

Although most of the time the final outcome is decided on the battlefield, the real war begins before the battle begins.

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(End of this chapter)