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

Chapter 129 Erin and He'an

Stannis Baratheon did not lie to Arthur, except that he, as Lord Commander of the Navy and Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Fleet, promised to provide some assistance to Arthur as the Guardian of Crab Bay.

Stannis also personally explained to Jon Snow, the Duke of Arryn, the rationale for the protection of Crab Bay, saying that the old prime minister didn't need to have so many reservations.

Inside the Prime Minister's Tower study, Jon Arryn had a few more thoughts on his mind.

"A very charismatic young man, how could Stannis be so captivated by his charm?" The elderly Jon Arryn clasped his hands together, pondering Stannis's words and considering Arthur Hoan's performance.

Lord Jon Snow wore a beautiful blue robe, just as the Arryn family motto says, "High as Glory!"

Jon Arryn, the "Kingmaker," wearing the Prime Minister's badge, appears to wield immense power.

However, within the palace, he was not absolutely powerful; on the contrary, he valued harmony above all else.

In contrast to Cersei's overbearing and arrogant nature, Jon Snow appears very gentle.

In the old falcon's eyes, "Dark Knight" Arthur Hoan's performance was too perfect, too outstanding.

So much so that his charm became a special weapon.

Charm is something that is hard to define, but it can certainly make millions of people willing to die for it.

Rhaegar Targaryen, Robert Baratheon, Brandon Stark the Wolf, and Dennis Arryn the Darling of the Vale.

Jon Arryn still remembered that the four young men possessed unparalleled charm; they were dashing and spirited, and others were willing to fight for them.

Unfortunately, three of them died during those turbulent times.

The new generation of young talents, however, came from House Harrenhal, a former royalist family, which made Jon Arryn somewhat resentful.

Arthur Hoan also managed to capitalize on the time difference in the power shifts among the seven kingdoms.

The descendants of House Stark and House Baratheon have not yet been raised, and the main line of House Arryn is declining.

His brother-in-law, Edmure Tully, was even more hopeless.

At this moment, no one could stop the brilliance of a genius knight, a war hero.

Jon sighed; he absolutely did not want to agree to the idea of ​​guarding Crab Bay.

Even though the position of Crab Bay Guardian is only temporary, it represents a great honor.

This behavior is a blatant slap in the face, especially to the Tully family.

The Horsts gained nothing in the new war, while the Dark Knight feasted and drank to his heart's content.

Robert was always like that, just like a big kid.

Robert had always been unhappy with Tully's poor performance and opportunistic behavior, something Jon knew, but such behavior was also damaging the core of the League.

But if Robert makes a decision, then the Prime Minister will do his best to save face for the King and support him.

"What does the little bat really want? Is it just the power to rise through the ranks? Or is he secretly plotting revenge for the Targaryen family?" Duke Jon Snow pondered.

Erin had not forgotten that both of his heirs had died at the hands of the True Dragon Dynasty, and he was somewhat wary of these people, which also influenced his governing style.

Jon Arryn recalled the information provided by Varys the Spider: that the handsome young man was like a savage, bloodthirsty beast on the battlefield and in the arena, and was the most valiant and skilled knight.

Arthur Hoan's performance enhanced the Hoan family's prestige.

The Dane family, the Darryl family, the Leicester family, the Mouton family, and even the Piper and Merissant families all have a tendency to form alliances.

Many of the nobles on this list were people who supported the Targaryen family back then.

Jon Arryn rubbed his temples; he certainly understood the origins of the River Ann family.

The River Anne family, a nouveau riche family, rose to prominence through their special relationship and cunning maneuvering with the Targaryen family.

"The bats come from darkness, from the favor of the former Dragon King. The He'an family has never lacked ambition and cunning, and now they have added blood and fire to their name."

The He'an family is a wealthy and powerful family, but they were not so fierce and bloodthirsty before.

When it comes to ferocity and bloodthirstiness, Prime Minister Jon Snow would think of the half-wild men of Crabclaw Peninsula and the wild men of the Brightmoon Mountains.

This young man, Arthur, did not get caught up in the power struggles of King's Landing, but instead focused on farming and raising troops in Harrenhal.

Since House Tully, House Arryn, and House Baratheon are unwilling or unable to manage Crab Bay, it makes sense to subcontract it out.

The power of the nobility comes from violence, and violence is a double-edged sword.

The little bat is so heroic today, but perhaps tomorrow he will be ambushed and killed by half-savages or savages or smugglers.

High risk and high reward always go hand in hand.

From this perspective, Jon felt that he couldn't really criticize anything.

"Fine, as long as this young man remains within the kingdom's framework, let him go and cause trouble with those smugglers, pirates, and half-savages," Jon Arryn sighed.

Arryn's heir, Dennis, was known as the darling of the Vale and was also a master of martial arts, but he was killed by a griffin on the battlefield.

Can this darling of the Trident River keep laughing forever?

With that in mind, Jon decided to write a few more letters.

First, the Wei Keli family of Candle Cave City should cooperate with the actions of Crab Bay's guardians in the valley and should not contradict them.

Next is Riverrun, Lord Horst, Jon Arryn's father-in-law.

Since Lord Horst did not gain any benefit or wealth from the Greyjoy Rebellion, he was content to win over the lords of the Riverlands.

There's no need for Riverrun to clash with Harrenhal; I will still uphold their rights at the Imperial Council.

"That's enough. Hopefully, the position of Guardian of Crab Bay will quiet him down. There's no place for a newcomer in King's Landing's power arena," Jon Arryn thought confidently. "If he persists, then we'll have to use Littlefinger and the others to keep him in check."

Jon was quite pleased with the thought of Littlefinger.

Littlefinger had the eagle completely under his thumb, and with his wife's influence, he was practically a retainer of the Vale. Jon and Arryn, naturally, were less wary of him.

Compared to the courts of other kings, Robert and Jon's courts also have a distinct character.

Robert wasn't involved, and Jon was getting old.

Both of them prioritize convenience and have a subcontracting and hands-off approach.

First, they like to use elderly people; second, they like to use relatives; and third, they like not to change the people they employ.

Sir Varys, the Eight-Clawed Spider, is considered an old man.

Jon Arryn and Stannis were family, and even Littlefinger was Jon's retainer.

Moreover, once these people arrive, they are firmly stationed in their positions, preventing any unauthorized departures.

Within the court, Cersei was also a restless figure.

This is Jon Arryn's way of ruling: sticking to the old ways and maintaining order through calm.

To put it nicely, this is judo; to put it bluntly, it's just muddling through.

This court should have been refreshed during this era of change, instead of just making do and continuing to stagnate.

Each minister remained entrenched in his position for so long that his subordinates all became his personal servants.

Even the royal fleet is basically Stannis's private territory, not to mention the even more sought-after Chancellor of the Exchequer and the secretive Minister of Intelligence.

Robert Baratheon and Jon Arryn's rule ultimately cost them their lives.

Above Harrenhal, flags with gold backgrounds and black bats fluttered throughout the towers.

The soldiers of the River An family patrolled the giant city. With many free riders and hired knights joining the River An army, the patrols were now even more impressive.

Arthur stood atop the Tower of the Burning King, watching the soldiers in black armor and gold robes.

The fine iron and gold dragons earned from the tournaments in the Iron Islands and Lannisport have not been wasted; they can now better equip the River An army.

Arthur selected the best of the best. Of the thousand-strong cavalry of the He'an family, only the six hundred cavalrymen he valued most were the He'an Black Riders.

"I didn't expect that Prime Minister Jon Arryn would still hold back. He could have protested as the King's Hand and Warden of the East." Ser Lucas Dane leaned against the cold stone railing.

"Jon is a kind and honest man; he certainly won't clash with the King," Arthur said softly.

Jon Arryn was indeed a typical Vale knight in his youth, dashing and heroic, but unfortunately he is too old now.

It's common for elderly people to become confused.

Besides, Jon Snow is Arryn's greatest strength; he's a patch-up artist, and he's only trying to maintain the status quo in King's Landing. There's no chance of any thunderstorms or changes.

Jon Snow may have many honorary titles, but his outward strength cannot replace the weariness and weakness in his heart.

No wonder Littlefinger was using the tiger's power as a shield, and later he even stabbed his benefactor in the back.

"That seems to be true. Prime Minister Jon's governing style is indeed one of laissez-faire, willing to delegate power," Sir Lucas nodded.

Arthur gazed at the colossal city unfolding before him. "Since protecting it is my duty, and Lord Stannis and Lord Jon support my responsibilities, then I should indeed make Crab Bay different."

"Where to begin?"

"Start with the army at Crab Bay, then with Harrenhal," Arthur said in a deep voice.

The army in Crab Bay can be divided into local soldiers, outside soldiers, and peasant soldiers.

The "main soldiers" were Harrenhal's own army, the "outer soldiers" were the core troops of other lords, and the "farmer soldiers" were the farmers that each lord could plunder.

A strong military depends on its own army and alliances, and Arthur intends to solidify both of these aspects.

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