Game of Thrones: I am Dothraki, not a barbarian

Chapter 155 Landing on Red Soil

With the Wolf Clan joining the war, the War of the Five Kings has finally begun.

While Lahalo was confronting the Iron Bank, he still managed to land on Stormlands, intending to catch Renly off guard. Once Renly amassed an army of 80,000, he would be a formidable opponent.

He wanted to avenge Lazar himself. As his most loyal Bloodfist Guard, Lazar had almost lost a leg in the battle with Renly. If it weren't for Quel'Thuzad's intervention, he would probably have been crippled for life.

He never considered that Renly might be assassinated by Melisandre, just like in the original storyline.

How can it be as satisfying to take revenge yourself as to rely on someone else?
He wanted to hang Renly on a flagpole, so that he could be pierced by a thousand arrows!
Besides seeking revenge, Lahalo had two other purposes for crossing the Narrow Sea to the west.

First, he agreed to let Zheko the Blood Oath come to Westeros to broaden his horizons.

Secondly, as a shareholder of Roger Bank, he needed to collect the old debt of 36 gold dragons from Earl Gullian Sven of Stonehelm.

Dothraki, to win by force...

No, debts must be repaid.

In the crescent bay of Pentos, Lajalo rebuilt the two tidal towers, and built ship-shaped gun emplacements with crossfire on the outside of the towers. Twenty large counterweight catapults and fifty ballistae were installed on each side, all made by the craftsmen of Kohol.

These weapons were not only highly accurate, but also had a significantly increased firing rate, which could prevent the Braavos Iron Fleet from heading south.

Lajalo also deployed 20,000 elite cavalry to the Velvet Hills to defend against a possible invasion by the Braavos army.

Five thousand troops were stationed at each of the cities of Kohor and Pentos to guard the cities, while the remaining sixteen thousand cavalry were deployed near the Painted Mountains and the Golden Plain to defend against the invasion of the Karasas from the east.

With the veteran general Moso as commander, the entire defense system was foolproof.

...

The River Slyne is a fast-flowing river near Cape Windfury, which flows south from the Red Mountains into the Sea of ​​Dorne.

Waves crashed against the black rock walls with a deafening roar as Laharlo's fleet entered the Dorne Sea, sailing westward along the cliffs and eventually reaching the mouth of the Slyne River.

The Dothraki and their warhorses disembarked and set up camp between the river mouth and the rainforest.

This place is only about 20 kilometers away from Stone Helmet City. Behind the wide beach is a gently rolling grassland, which is very suitable for cavalry to garrison.

The day after setting up camp, Lahalo summoned Lanoso Mar, the former intelligence officer of the Golden Company, to the main tent.

He was a Reissian, with lilac eyes and platinum blonde hair, purple nail polish, and pearls and amethysts adorning his earlobes.

“Lanoso,” Rahalo handed him a roll of old parchment, “this is the IOU that the Sven family owes to the Roger Bank. Take this to Stonehelm and collect the debt from Gurian Sven.”

Lennox carefully unfolded the yellowed parchment; although it was very old, the writing on it was still very clear.

Sixty-seven years ago, the Sven family borrowed 360,000 gold dragons from Rogers Bank. The IOU still bears the signature of the head of the Sven family at the time and the family seal.

“Kao, how much does this IOU require to be repaid?” he asked.

Laharo then handed him a slip of paper with a string of numbers on it, saying, “Tell Count Gulian that if he can’t come up with cash, he can pay with land, a castle, or other items of equivalent value.”

Lanoso looked at the note and was startled.

However, he didn't say much and set off immediately with ten Shields of Pentos. The sound of hooves startled the farmers in the fields, who looked up and stared at the strange group with suspicion.

When the squad arrived at the gates of Stonehelm City, the guards on the city walls were already on high alert.

"Who goes there? State your name!" shouted a captain of the guard wearing the insignia of the Sven family.

“I am Lanoso, an envoy of the Bank of Rogers,” he said, removing the hood of his cloak. “Please inform Lord Gullian Sven that I have important business to discuss with him.”

With that, he tossed his cloak aside, revealing the insignia on his chest—a stripe of silver and blue with a golden chain above it. "Money is everything, Guardian!"

The captain of the guard disappeared from the city wall. After a while, the city gate opened a crack, just wide enough for one person to pass through.

Ten of the Pentos Shields dismounted and sat under a large tree outside the city to wait, while Lanoso was led into the city, through narrow stone streets, to the Sven family's main castle.

Stonehelm Fortress is very old, with moss climbing its greyish-white stone walls. Its towering watchtowers are made of black marble and white granite, creating a striking black and white contrast.

After passing through the main gate and entering the hall, he saw Gullian Sven sitting on a stone chair waiting for him.

Gulian was a middle-aged man, about forty years old, with a stern face and a long, white beard. His gaze toward Lanoso was full of vigilance.

“I know the Dothraki have arrived,” Gulian said sternly. “What do your Khals want?”

Lannoso stepped forward and bowed, showing off his silver hair and purple eyes: "Lord Gulian, you have mistaken me for someone else. I am a Rissian, sent by the shareholders of Roger Bank to discuss repayment matters."

Gulian's lips curled into a sneer. "I've never met anyone from Roger Bank in my life, so where would I get a loan from?"

Lanoso unfolded the IOU and announced loudly, "Sixty-seven years ago, your grandfather, Earl Manford Sven, borrowed 360,000 gold dragons from Roger Bank. Now Roger Bank is ready to exercise its creditor rights and has entrusted me to collect this debt."

Gulian's expression changed instantly. He stood up from the stone chair, took three steps in two, walked up to Lanoso, snatched the parchment, and when he saw his grandfather's signature and family seal on it, his face turned as red as a pig's liver.

"Bullshit!" he roared. "I've never heard of such a thing. Even if there were such a promissory note, it's a historical artifact and has no legal effect whatsoever!"

Lanoso lightly snatched the parchment from his hand, saying expressionlessly, "Debts do not disappear with the passage of time, Your Excellency."

After saying that, he changed the subject, "However, Lord Lahallo, a shareholder of Roger Bank, considering that this debt is indeed from a long time ago and your repayment ability is insufficient, has very generously stated that the principal can be waived and only the interest needs to be repaid."

Gulian let out a barely perceptible sigh of relief. "What's the interest rate?"

Lanoso gestured for him to calm down, took a small piece of paper from the inner pocket of his robe, cleared his throat, and put his fists to his mouth.

"The principal is 360,000 gold dragons, with an annual interest rate of 30%, compounded over 67 years, totaling 2,848,656,016,440 gold dragons."

"How much?" Gulian was a little confused.

"Twenty-eight trillion four hundred and eighty-six billion five hundred and six hundred and sixty-four hundred and forty golden dragons," Lanoso repeated.

Gullian yelled, "Bullshit! Ridiculous! There isn't that much gold in all of Westeros! Are you here to provoke us?"

“The shareholder understands this as well,” Lanoso smiled slightly. “Therefore, in addition to the principal, he is willing to generously waive most of the interest, only asking you to pay 2.8 trillion gold dragons, and waiving the odd amount.”

Gulian's face was horribly dark. "Whether you're from Roger Bank or the Dothraki, I'm telling you right now, we have no money!"

“Rogar Bank is also willing to accept other forms of repayment,” Lanoso said calmly, “whether it’s land, castles, mines, or even people, anything of equivalent value is acceptable.”

A dangerous glint flashed in Gulian's eyes. He waved his hand, and a squad of guards surged into the hall. He said menacingly:
"I have already informed King Renly that his 80,000-strong army will be arriving soon! Tell that so-and-so that the Sven family doesn't owe him a single copper coin. Whoever dares to come and collect a debt, they'll be smashed to their death against the walls of Stonehelm!"
"Guards? Throw him out!"

Lanoso's expression remained unchanged as he gave a slight bow. "I will relay your answer to the shareholders verbatim, Your Excellency."

As he turned to leave, Gulian suddenly shouted, "Leave that IOU behind! It's a forgery and should be destroyed!"

Lanoso tucked the IOU into his pocket, his voice turning cold. "I'm afraid that won't do, Your Excellency. Until you have repaid your debts, this IOU is the property of Roger Bank."

Enraged, Gulian roared, "Guards! Bring me back that forged IOU!"

The guards drew their swords and surrounded Lanoso.

(End of this chapter)