Game of Thrones: The Bronze and Fire Lord.

Chapter 315 The Sea Serpent Forcefully Seizes the Prime Ministership
"Take care on the road, Prince Coollen."

Despite the pressure, Aemon saw off the Dornish nobles, maintaining a facade of peace between the two sides.

"Please give my farewells to His Majesty Viserys."

After saying a few polite words, Coolen pushed his wheelchair and prepared to board the ship.

Snapped!
Someone pressed his shoulder, and when he turned around, it was Aemon.

Coollen was surprised.

Aemon smiled, but his eyes were devoid of emotion, and said, "Dorn hasn't suffered too much, thanks to your wisdom."

"You shall return to Dorne and, I earnestly hope, mediate the Dornish hatred toward the Iron Throne and promote the unity of the kingdom."

Koollen's eyes flickered, and he chuckled softly, "Of course."

After saying that, he tried to push the wheelchair, but the large hand on his shoulder still held him firmly.

"My dragons have never been full on this battlefield of Dorne, especially since many people who should have been food have not suffered from the dragonfire."

Aemon leaned down, staring into Koollen's eyes, and calmly said, "If I receive any bad news, my dragon will eat its fill."

a long time.

With a complicated expression and carrying a basketful of threats, Coollen boarded a large ship and left.

His wife approached him, holding their baby daughter who was not yet a year old, and tearfully complained that two women left in King's Landing would be mistreated.

Coolen tried to soothe his wife with kind words, but the heaviness in his heart did not lessen in the slightest.

Dorne's submission brought a false peace.

To maintain this situation, the Martell family will inevitably have to shed blood.

Although he was unwilling, Dorne was at the mercy of his children, who were held hostage in King's Landing, and could only silently endure it.

As long as a person doesn't die, there will always be a day when they rise again.

Boom boom boom!
Leonor knocked and entered, saying, "Prince Coollen, before arriving in Sunspear City, I would like to familiarize myself with your inclinations regarding future governance."

Coollen regained a smile and invited the talented former prime minister to discuss the matter.

“My name is Larry Strong, and I will be your chief intelligence officer from now on.”

Larry, leaning on his scepter, followed his father with a limp.

Unlike usual, he was dressed in gorgeous clothes and exquisite makeup, and his smile had changed from shy to a calm and kind smile.

His six-month advanced studies at the Tower of Triumph brought about a dramatic change in his life.

It is also more...dangerous.

……

The departure of Coollen caused a great stir among the nobles.

Viserys was suffering from a terrible headache and was feeling unwell, so he hid in his bedchamber and refused to see anyone.

no way.

Having been manipulated by capital, Imon continues to act as the acting head of the Imperial Council.

"Your Highness, it is time to elect a Prime Minister."

Upon meeting, the ministers rushed to speak.

The prime minister is not only the king's right-hand man, but also a speed bump between the king and the noble lords.

No one noticed while Leonor was there, but once he left, the king refused to see any guests, and the ministers began to panic.

The king must not be so foolish as to abdicate prematurely and pass the throne to a worthy successor.

They preferred a benevolent emperor; Prince Aemon was ruthless and cold-blooded, and they were not used to him.

"Quiet, quiet."

In contrast to the ministers' urgency, Imon remained calm and asked curiously, "So you're in such a hurry, do you already have someone in mind?"

"Forehead…"

The ministers fell silent.

We looked at each other, neither of us wanting to speak first.

Finally, Grand Secretary Orville stepped forward and whispered, "Your Highness, a prime minister still needs to be elected; many things require the prime minister's involvement."

He is a bachelor, has no political stance, and can say these things.

Aemon nodded, and said nothing more.

Haha, if you want to be prime minister, then you should fight for it yourself.

My uncle's choice of prime minister was too driven by ulterior motives. After achieving his goal, the prime minister began to neglect his duties, become self-serving, and fail to do his job properly.

When he makes the selection, he must choose those who can get things done.

The candidates must apply proactively, and we must guarantee in advance that we can get those things done.

“Your Highness, I recommend myself for the position of Prime Minister.”

Tyran stood up, glanced at his colleagues with an embarrassed smile, feeling uneasy but determined to fight for it.

"I have faith in your abilities, but what are your governing resolves after becoming Prime Minister?"

Immanuel's questions immediately left everyone bewildered.

Tailan was stunned for a moment, racked his brains, and said some empty and pretentious things.

"Alright, please sit down."

Imon waved his hand, clearly indicating that the other party was not cut out to be prime minister.

“Your Highness, His Majesty Viserys has discussed with me privately the new policies you proposed for King's Landing.”

Otto stood up, looking confident, and announced his pre-planned strategy.

If there is not enough newly reclaimed land, they recruit orphans and the elderly from the flea nest, distribute farm tools and mules, and migrate them to the banks of the Blackwater River to reclaim paddy fields.

The well water in King's Landing is filthy because the groundwater was polluted by excrement in the past, and digging a new well will not help.

By digging canals along the Blackwater River and diverting irrigation water, one unit of labor yields two units of harvest.

Alternatively, if the grain production in the Reach is excessive, the royal family can send people to purchase it and order the nobles and lords along the way to provide food and lodging.

This reduced costs and allowed the people of King's Landing to eat affordable food.

clap clap clap!
After hearing this, Imon couldn't help but applaud him.

It's no wonder that Otto was able to serve as prime minister under both his great-grandfather and uncle; you could tell whether he had real talent or not just by listening to him speak.

Reclaiming land on both sides of Blackwater Bay is a minor matter; it simply requires manpower and resources, and depletes the national treasury's reserves.

Digging a canal is a major undertaking, requiring significant time, manpower, and resources that cannot be accomplished overnight. However, if successful, it will be a benevolent act that benefits future generations.

The third suggestion is quite reminiscent of the prototypes of post stations and imperial merchants.

“Well said, Lord Otto.”

It was rare for Imon to praise the other person.

Otto sat down, increasingly confident, and said, "If you forgive and forget, I can guarantee that these policies will be completed within twenty years."

Twenty years?
Aemon smiled. He couldn't wait twenty years; twenty years would be enough time for him to conquer the barbarian lands.

Two of the three candidates for prime minister have entered the race, with the last one being an old sea serpent.

The sea serpent sat calmly, pondering Otto's words. He found some truth in them, but they were all trivial matters, so he couldn't help but scoff at them.

"you…!!"

Otto's expression changed; he stood up, leaning on his cane, feeling insulted.

"Please calm down, my lords."

Amon gestured to interrupt the impending argument.

He's not an uncle, he doesn't have time to watch them argue.

Boom boom boom!
A member of the Imperial Guard knocked on the door and solemnly said, "Your Highness, the person you summoned has arrived."

"Come in." Imon ignored the ministers and summoned him directly.

Johanna and Batimos entered the hall and stood on either side of the conference table.

Aemon stood up and pointed to the two, introducing them: "Mrs. Johanna Swin, who will serve as Chief of Intelligence, and Count Battimos Setiga, a master at sea, who will serve as Minister of the Navy."

"Um??"

Apart from the sea serpent, all the other ministers turned their heads away.

Looking at Prince Chong's fawning attitude towards Batimos, if he becomes the Minister of the Sea, what is the Sea Serpent doing?
Tailan was startled and felt a growing unease.

If someone were to succeed the Minister of the Navy, wouldn't that represent the Sea Serpent...?

As expected, Aemon continued, "Lord Corliss, from now on you will serve as Prime Minister."

"Yes, Prince."

The sea serpent was very calm, as if it had been prepared for this.

boom!
Otto slammed his fist on the table and stood up, glaring at the sea serpent, a sense of indignation rising within him.

"You have a problem with that, Lord Otto?"

The sea serpent glanced at him, completely calm.

"certainly!!"

Others feared him, but Otto did not. He looked at Imon, who sat in the main seat, and asked indignantly, "Did you issue the order for this, or did the king?"

How could Viserys allow the sea serpent to serve as his prime minister?

"it's me."

Without looking to the side, Imon said, "My uncle is also in the know."

How is that possible!?
Otto's eyes widened in disbelief.

"Your Highness, if I may be so bold, it would be better if His Majesty addressed this matter personally."

Sitting at the end of the table, the little old man Lin Man looked puzzled and somewhat uneasy. As a veteran of the Royal Council, he was well aware of the grudge between the King and the Sea Serpent.

"If you don't believe me, you can go to your uncle privately to confirm."

Imon refused to engage, only reluctantly giving the old minister some face.

Lin Man hesitated, as if she wanted to say something but then stopped.

Renilla spoke up: "Father supports the formation of the Dragon Knights, with Aunt Renillas serving as the honorary leader and Imon as the vice-leader. Lannar, Lannino, and I will all take an oath to become members of the Dragon Knights Legion."

Otto frowned and began to think.

Ministers such as Lin Man also pondered the pros and cons.

Her Highness indirectly provided the answer.

The Sea Serpent's appointment as Prime Minister is clearly backed by the King and represents a new policy in which the Targaryen royal family unites with the Valerian.

even…

Otto looked coldly at Batimus, who was standing in the same row.

The Setiga family had withdrawn from the Council of Kings for decades, yet they returned at this critical juncture.

Targaryen, Valerian, Setiga.

Three families with ancient Valyrian bloodlines have once again formed a strong alliance.

The ministers weren't fools; they quickly understood.

With the royal family as the head, the sea serpent as the prime minister and Battimos as the Minister of the Sea, further control over the fjords.

The children of the sea serpents were incorporated into the Dragon Knight Legion and were subject to royal command.

Sir Clement, the eldest son and heir of Bartimus, is the newly appointed deputy commander of the Capital Garrison, commanding half of the Gold Robes.

Three families then controlled half the kingdom.

Pfft!
Disheartened, Otto slumped back into his chair.

"Please take your seats, gentlemen."

Imon ignored him and beckoned to the two new ministers of the court.

Johanna, without any hesitation, gracefully took her seat in the first position to the right of former Prime Minister Leonor.

Renilla glanced at her, then turned her head away.

The two were standing next to each other, but their relationship was strained.

Batimos circled around and sat in the third seat to the right of Imon, with Renilla and Tyran on his left and right respectively.

The sea serpent remained motionless, preferring to sit alone in a corner, basking in the king's aloofness.

……

"Has the large ship called the 'Red Queen' that the sea serpent said was a gift for the royal family arrived?"

Viserys sat on a chaise lounge, covered with a blanket, looking unwell.

As Amon sculpted a new stone figurine for him at the figurine table, he said without turning his head, "It's a three-masted sailing ship moored at the Mud Gate. It's very new and large."

"Heh, even he has a day when he tries to please me."

Viserys smiled, his tone cheerful.

To be fair, he neither wanted nor dared to let the Sea Serpent serve as Prime Minister; that would be too dangerous.

Things are different now. The sea serpent has angered her cousin Rhaenys and lost its most important layer of legal protection.

He has his nephew Eamon and a bunch of dragon-riding children, so he's no longer afraid of those damned sea serpents bullying him.

He was reluctantly granted the position of Prime Minister.

Upon hearing this, Imon chuckled and said, "The Sea Serpent is decisive in its killings and manages both politics and military affairs, which can maximize the enthusiasm of the Imperial Council."

He had already privately assessed who would become prime minister and who would become minister.

Tyrande was the most outstanding. He instructed his twin brother, Duke Jason, to discover a new gold mine in the mountains of Casterly Rock and promised to present one-tenth of the gold produced by the mine to the royal family.

The condition, of course, is to become prime minister.

Imon was undecided, but instructed him to prioritize collecting unusual spiritual plants and minerals over gold.

The western frontier is vast and rich in resources, and was once the territory of giants.

Currently, there are also cave lion activities.

The sea serpents also approached him, offering the condition that Lannino join the Dragon Knights and develop the potential of the Arm of Dorne to complete the construction of the "Bridge of Progress".

The Bridge of Progress is a preparatory long bridge for the Fire Peak Strait.

The conditions were very tempting, and also very straightforward.

Aemon had no reason to refuse.

As for Otto… he went down the wrong path from the start, preferring to turn to Alison instead.

“Imon, Otto is a capable man.”

Viserys fiddled with the new figurine his nephew had carved, hesitated for a moment, and then said.

He ultimately couldn't let go of his old feelings, or perhaps he was persuaded by Allison.

With a calm and steady hand, Aemon finished a figurine of a newly hatched yellow dragon from Silverwing, placed it on the table for admiration, and said indifferently, "Then let him be the Minister of Foreign Affairs. It's more important for him to contact Sunspear City and cooperate with Lord Leonor than to be an advisor."

“Okay.” Viserys breathed a sigh of relief and smiled. “That’s settled then.”

……

The next day.

A white-wheeled palace chariot arrived in King's Landing, escorted by cavalry in front and behind, followed by a long convoy.

"Father, are we going to the Bend?"

Jahelis leaned against the window and excitedly turned around to ask.

Holding his twin daughters in his arms to keep the palace from being jostled, Eamon laughed and said, "That's right, we'll take your uncle back to the Tower of Heaven and introduce you to the nobles of the Reach."

"Great!"

Jahelis was very excited.

But the truth is far more complex.

"Oh, at my age, how can I withstand such a bumpy ride?"

Inside a carriage behind, Lin Man was panting heavily, her old face full of worry.

How can he not worry?
It is said that when two strong people clash, the smaller ones are most likely to get scratched.

Sea Serpent and Otto vied for the position of Prime Minister. One succeeded in becoming Prime Minister, while the other, though defeated, was honored to become Foreign Minister.

As a royal advisor, he was forced to retire early.

"Hey!"

Thinking of this, Lin Man couldn't help but sigh again.

They were all royal advisors. Otto was reinstated again, because he had the old town of Hightar as his backing, and several princes and princesses as his grandchildren.

Of all the ministers of the court, only Otto could touch the sea serpent.

The king kept him around to keep the sea serpent in check.

It's pitiful that he's an old man, all alone and destitute, retiring to his hometown.

Bang bang bang!
There was a knock on the car door, which creaked open, and a row of little heads popped in.

Jaheris's eyes sparkled as he asked playfully, "Grandpa Linman, are there really a lot of bees in Beehive City?"

"Is there?"

Benedict and Renia nodded repeatedly.

"Um...yes, yes."

Lin Man looked at the three princes and princesses, and then at Prince Darren and Gaimon, who were awkwardly squeezing in through the car door. A doting smile spread across his old face: "Come in, let me tell you about the River Bend."

Jaeharis, who knew nothing of shyness, opened the door and led his siblings inside to listen to the kind old man tell stories.

"Tch, what's there to take care of in an old geezer?"

Aegon looked disdainful, swaying from side to side on his horse as if there were thorns on the saddle.

Imond remained silent, glanced at him, and said nothing.

Since the engagement ceremony, he has been taciturn and increasingly reluctant to communicate.

"giant!"

Helena knelt on the carriage floor, staring blankly at the tall figure at the back of the procession.

The giant chestnut, clad in runic armor, with a hideous and stiff face, stood out starkly from the ranks of human cavalry.

"Chestnut is making a fuss about wanting to go home, saying that she has relatives there."

Renilla asked curiously.

Aemon closed his eyes to rest and said softly, "He is talking about the Reach. The Reach was once the territory of giants, and Chestnut sensed traces of his own kind in the Reach."

With the royal council properly arranged, the nobles from all realms who had been angered by Dorne needed to be appeased.

River bends were the first to be affected.

The trip included sending off Aegon and Aymond, who didn't like going to their fiefdoms, and delivering Chestnut, the giant who suddenly started clamoring to go home.

Princes and giants were both means of winning over and intimidating the nobles of the Reach.

"Have you felt it? Since the Arm of Dorne appeared, the climate on the continent has become increasingly hot."

Lanaer held a pot of iced drinks, and beads of sweat appeared on her forehead as she, who loved the sea, adored the ocean.

Aemon felt it.

However, it wasn't because of the Arm of Dorne, but because of the First Peak of Fire.

(End of this chapter)