Game of Thrones: King of Harrenhal, starting with a blue hand stat panel

Chapter 106 Wine Duty-Free, Guardian of Crab Bay

At dusk, the Pike Place headland transforms into a flowing feast.

"Long live King Robert!"

"Long live King Robert!" The lords, knights, and soldiers cheered in the camp, celebrating the complete end of the war.

King Robert Baratheon was unstoppable, seemingly a favorite of fate.

This blitzkrieg in the Iron Islands greatly enhanced Robert's prestige and influence.

The Ironborn often say that the captain of each ship is a king, hence the Iron Islands are also known as the "Land of Kings".

But this "land of kings" has now been beaten to a pulp.

The princes and propertied knights of the Seven Kingdoms who joined the war to quell the rebellion, as well as the Ironborn leaders who surrendered from the Iron Islands, all fawned over the king and other important figures, making Robert extremely pleased.

As for the best-performing new generation of Riders, the "SSR" of the Rider world, it is undoubtedly Arthur.

With two Valyrian steel swords hanging at his waist, he is a warrior who always leads the charge in battle, and currently the youngest knight in the Seven Kingdoms.

Below the high platform, all the Iron Islands chieftains stood below, paying homage to the King as his final ministers.

The Iron Islands consist of thirty-one main islands, including seven main islands: Pike, Great Wake, Old Wake, Harlow, Salt Cliff, Kuroshio, and Oak, as well as countless chieftains and captains.

The top four Ironborn leaders are still King Baron of Pike City, Rodrik Harlow the "Reader" of Harlow Island, Gorde Gubler of Great Wake Island, and Dunstan Drough of Old Wake Island.

Besides Baron and his brother-in-law, the scholar, the other two old men were also very cunning and powerful.

The other islands, such as Oak Island, Kuroshio Island, and Salt Cliff Island, are a bit lacking.

Oak Island lost its power because the Greyon and Hall families, who once controlled the area, were both wiped out.

Aside from King Baron's unpleasant expression, the scholars didn't like to talk.

The other Iron Islands leaders also demonstrated remarkable flexibility and resourcefulness, showcasing their cunning and forbearance to the fullest extent.

Everyone was busy shifting blame, emphasizing that they were forced into the war by King Baron.

It was as if the longships they dispatched weren't there to support Baron, but rather had run away from their own waters on their own.

Looking at this group of fickle Ironborn, Arthur wondered if, apart from the scholars who genuinely repented for their "Ancient Way," the others truly regretted their actions.

The other Ironkinds are a bunch of shameless actors. Baron fantasizes about becoming king again, while the other Ironkinds still dream of continuing down the ancient road.

Robert laughed heartily at the flattery of these people, but he didn't forget to charge these rebels some interest.

Now that the leaders of the Iron Islands are gathered, Robert begins to shape his new postwar order.

The Iron Throne typically punishes these rebels with four main methods: stripping them of their titles, land, hostages, and fines. In extreme cases, they may even exterminate entire clans.

The Iron Islands are actually on the periphery, and the land is barren and desolate.

The punishment of stripping the land was not very meaningful, and Robert was not a particularly ruthless king, so he only had two options: taking hostages or imposing a fine.

"As for you, I have not stripped you of your titles and territories, but every leader who surrenders must pay a fine to the treasury," Robert said to the rebellious leaders. "Two thousand gold dragons for the smaller leaders, and five thousand gold dragons for the larger ones."

Robert didn't say much about Pike Island and Harlow Island, but these two islands were the ones that were brutally beaten and exploited by the Royal Army the most.

Wang Jun took away a lot of gold and silver jewelry from the castle. As for the wine, grain, sheep and meat, they were just enough for Wang Jun and his men to eat and drink to consume.

"Yes, Your Majesty!" The chieftains and lesser chieftains of the Iron Islands all agreed, relieved of their burden.

Robert's fine wasn't particularly high, and the leaders chipped in and paid it all.

Regarding the hostages, Baron offered his son, and all the scholars' sons died.

Robert let the sons of the Zodgren and Gubler families off the hook, since the two old men weren't putting in much effort.

The same applies to Oak Island and Salt Cliff Island.

Robert chose only the leader of Black Tide Island to remain as a hostage.

"Baron, your son Theon will be Lord Eddard's adopted son from now on. As for your brother Ellen, he participated in the raids on the Westerlands, so he'll stay in Casterly Rock for now," Robert emphasized again in front of the Iron Islands.

"I will do my best to raise this child to be a decent person. This child will live in Winterfell, grow up with my children, and be nurtured by honor. A ruler who does not know what honor is will surely meet a tragic end," Eddard said.

Arthur almost burst out laughing. "Your idea is definitely wrong."

The little sea monster is now ten years old.

At this age, they are old enough to understand, and they will not forget how they were kidnapped.

Besides, Ed didn't truly trust the little sea monster; he was quite wary of it and understood that the little sea monster was a hostage.

Only Robb was foolish enough to actually believe he was the little sea monster's brother.

"Yes, sir!" King Baron forced a smile.

Baron probably gritted his teeth and thought to himself that he didn't have this son, since he still had a daughter by his side.

This person is truly despicable; he forces himself to endure it and continues to live in a dream.

Arthur looked at King Baron's face and wanted to stomp on it a few times.

As for the little sea monster himself, he has no say. Tonight is his farewell dinner with his father. After the meal, he will be a hostage of the Stark family.

Theon the sea monster looked at Eddard's serious, unsmiling face, that terrifying ice, and could only bury his fear deep in his heart.

As for Arthur, with two Valyrian steel swords hanging at his waist, Theon was even more terrified.

The Ironborn all recognized him as "Cruel" Arthur, the Blood Bat, a ruthless killer who didn't blink an eye.

"Chief Bellor Blacktes, your name is connected to Sir Bellor. From now on, Sir Bellor will be your guardian in Oldtown."

"Yes, sir!" Beller Blacktes of Black Tide Island looked helpless; this was practically like being taken hostage in Old Town.

But this is for the best, since Chief Beller's father died in the Battle of Fairy Island and he still hates King Baron.

Beller harbored deep resentment towards Baron because of his father's death, calling him "Baron the Widowmaker".

Thus, Robert's punishment of Ironse came to an end.

"That's too lenient." Kevan Lannister on the platform gritted his teeth in anger, feeling that Robert's punishment was far too simple.

Ironbeak burned the entire Lannisport fleet, and rebuilding a fleet would require a massive number of gold dragons, as well as the looted western towns.

If we were to follow the Lannister family's plan for revenge, we would have to compare it to the sea monster war more than a hundred years ago.

134 years after the conquest, "Sea Lion" Leo Cotton and his fleet launched an attack on the Iron Islands while a power struggle erupted after the death of "Red Sea Monster".

Although Sir Leo was killed by Arthur Goebbels among the rocky hills of Great Wake Island, three-quarters of his ships were captured or sunk in the cold, gray ocean of the archipelago.

But Lannister's revenge was a great success.

Hundreds of Iron Islands longships and fishing boats, along with many houses and villages, were burned down, and the wives and children of the Ironborn who had ravaged the West were slaughtered.

The dead also included the "Red Sea Monster's" nine cousins, two sisters and their husbands, the leaders of Old Wake Island, the leaders of Old Wake Island, the leaders of Great Wake Island, the leaders of Great Wake Island, the leaders of Great Wake Island, the leaders of Great Wake Island, the leaders of Great Wake Island, the leaders of Great Wake Island, and the leader of Great Wake Island, ...

Thoron Greyjoy's protector fought desperately to repel the Lannister army that attacked Pyke, thus securing his position at Seastone, while his half-brother Rodrik was captured and taken to Casterly Rock.

Lady Joanna castrated him and made him her son's jester.

But now Kefon doesn't have much say, so he can only helplessly let it go; there's nothing else he can do besides let it go.

The Western Frontier played a minor role, their only task being to attack Oak Island.

Stannis and Pexter performed best at sea, while Arthur Hoan, Big Bear, and others performed best on land.

"Ser Arthur Hoan, Ser Barristan, Earl Jason, Earl Jorah, Soros of Mil, Lynn Cobbry, Ser Kevan, these are the land heroes. Duke Stannis, Earl Parker, Ser Baylor, these are the sea heroes," Robert proclaimed.

The people Robert mentioned were all heroes who quelled the rebellion.

"And to the lords, knights, and warriors who fought alongside me, I too will be richly rewarded," Robert laughed, promising everyone from the high platform. "All the money I acquired from the Iron Islands will be distributed to you. Any shortfall will be covered by funds from the treasury. Our soldiers came for the peace of the Seven Kingdoms; you must not be treated unfairly."

The Iron Islands paid for everything initially, and King Robert the Great covered the shortfall.

Ed frowned slightly, but he couldn't say anything more.

Because Eddard knew that Robert had spent a lot of gold dragons on rebuilding the royal fleet, the tournament for his wedding and the birth of his child, the ceremony, and the military expenses for this expedition.

There's also Robert's extravagant lifestyle; Robert spends money as if he has no idea how much he can spend.

But this is a time when the soldiers are happy and joyful, and saying such things will only make them angry. Ed cannot contradict the king.

Even if the bounty were given to the Northern soldiers, it would only be enough for their round-trip enjoyment.

But at least this is the king's attitude.

This is actually the tragedy of war; if the army can't freely plunder here, it won't get much money.

And every time Ed came down to work for Robert, it really felt like he was doing a service for free.

They couldn't expand their influence in the south, nor did they take away too much gold.

Northerners didn't benefit much either.

"Long live the King!"

"Long live the King!"

"Long live the King! God bless our King!"

The soldiers cheered and praised King Robert as the most benevolent and best king.

At that moment, the knights and soldiers certainly had no objection to Robert.

The Iron Islands are a desolate wasteland, making it impossible to freely engage in killing and looting.

If Robert hadn't paid out of his own pocket, these soldiers would have worked for nothing.

The ideal king is simple: someone who can fight and give money to everyone.

In these two aspects, Robert could easily defeat Aerys.

Even Robert's extravagant spending was indeed a problem.

The soldiers sang and danced, tearing apart cured meat and roasted mutton, and drinking Baron's cellar wine and the wine from Whitewall City sent by Arthur.

The wine glasses clinked together, and the banquet hall was filled with laughter and cheerful conversation.

But Robert's rewards were not yet over.

"Let's drink here. In this war, which knight is the best?" Robert asked, waving his arm.

"Arthur, Arthur!"

"Bat Rider!"

"The Dark Knight!"

The knights cheered.

"Arthur River, you were the vanguard in the battles of Seafront, Harlo Island, Kingsport, and Pike Isle. I reward you!" Robert declared triumphantly. "I reward you with a ten-year exemption from taxes on Whitewall wines. For ten years, Littlefinger's wine agents will not bother you."

"There is no greater glory than to serve Your Majesty." Arthur also happily cooperated with the king's performance.

Earl Parker's eyes lit up with envy; a ten-year tariff was indeed generous.

Even Qingting Island doesn't offer such a reward; it's all because the Bat Rider's performance was too outstanding.

Stannis frowned slightly; this was indeed a generous gift.

But Stannis also thought that Whitewall's wine industry wasn't very prominent yet, so this reward wasn't a big problem.

After all, the Whitewall Winery has been in decline for some time, and now it collects very little tax revenue.

Many of the feudal lords smiled but inwardly disagreed, thinking it was just an empty gift.

But Arthur was secretly pleased, as Whitewall City's production capacity was recovering.

If tariffs are waived for another ten years, he could earn countless more gold dragons.

"This is just a small amount of money; I will give you a much greater honor," Robert laughed heartily, as if giving Arthur a small but delightful surprise. "I will appoint you as the Guardian of Crab Bay to fight against the savages who raid the Riverlands from the Moon Mountains and the smugglers and pirates in the Crab Bay Strait."

Protect Crab Bay!

After these words were spoken, there was complete silence!