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

Junlin, located on the north bank of the Blackwater River, rose to become the premier city by relying on the powerful hand of authority.

However, in terms of urban development, the entire city is like a pancake, spreading out around three hills, and the planning and design still tends to be unregulated and unregulated.

King's Landing is a mud-and-earth structure; many small houses are made of mud bricks and wood, and the city lacks a sense of planning.

The old town, however, is a stone city, with the charm of a Jiangnan water town.

So the people of Oldtown always secretly mocked King's Landing, calling it a dung heap, a nouveau riche place, and utterly devoid of beauty.

It can't be said that it's wrong.

Arthur thought about it roughly and figured that maybe the old town was all made of stone, which might be more heat-resistant.

If it's like King's Landing, then the wildfire could start very quickly.

To put it simply, it comes down to historical heritage. Cities like Old Town have been wealthy for many years, while King's Landing, a city only two or three hundred years old, is already a miracle.

On the street, a clown was performing magic tricks, followed by a large group of barefoot children who were screaming.

On the other side, two ragged boys, about six or seven years old, were gesturing with wooden sticks, while some onlookers cheered loudly, while others cursed angrily.

Finally, an old woman leaned out of the window and poured a bucket of foot-washing water over the heads of the two boys, thus ending the fight.

The farmers, hiding in the shadow of the city walls, stood beside their wagons, shouting: Apples, potatoes, pumpkins, blood melons.

Riding through the city, Arthur had already bid farewell to "Iron Hand" Jessling Bywatt.

Although Iron Hand's clothes were shabby, his muscles were well-developed and his eyes were like iron; it was clear that he had trained hard.

Iron Hand was unlike those ordinary golden-robed knights; he possessed the abilities of a good knight.

Unfortunately, Iron Hand's family was poor and he couldn't get the title of knight.

Judging a knight's skill is quite simple: look at his muscles, his physique, the calluses on his hands, and whether there are any signs of deformity in his hands from drawing a bow or gripping a sword. That will usually give you a pretty good idea.

"Iron Hand" was also unlucky. The Bywatt family was not a wealthy family to begin with; they were a small family that was practically unknown.

He was also a collateral branch of the Bywatt family, which meant he was practically a nobody.

Furthermore, Iron Hand is a strict samurai with a strong sense of justice who dislikes flattery and embezzlement; it's no wonder he couldn't rise to the top.

Thus, despite possessing considerable martial arts skills, he was relegated to a minor official guarding the city gate.

Such a person is a true lone minister with a sharp sword, someone who helps the poor rise to prominence by risking their lives.

Later, in order to repay the kindness shown to him by the Little Demon, he died in the Battle of Blackwater.

Arthur didn't try to win over "Iron Hand"; he just maintained a casual relationship with him.

Interactions without mutual benefit are often the most profitable; all investments require time.

Walking through the capital, one feels the bustling crowds and the lively atmosphere.

The banner of the River Ann family saved Arthur a lot of trouble.

The heir to the Count of Harrenhal, whose curse and wealth were well-known, and who was a renowned and powerful prince.

Arthur also had a feeling of unfamiliarity.

The flags fluttering on the city walls are golden, not jet black. The place where the three-headed dragon once raged and spewed flames has become the territory where House Baratheon's crowned stag gallops proudly.

Tywin Lannister, in particular, was too ruthless, cracking down hard on his former royalist friends from the River House.

Tywin Lannister slaughtered King's Landing, plundering the city in the name of Robert Baratheon.

Tywin Lannister wreaked havoc on the Targaryen family, and Lord Commander Manley Stokworth was killed in battle. Lannister soldiers took the opportunity to loot and plunder.

Survivors and low-ranking members of King's Landing, such as Jeremy Lake and Allisa Thorne, were required to don black and join the Night's Watch, or face execution.

After the social circle is disrupted, it's really hard to know where to start and socialize again.

Arthur rode his horse at full speed, seeing the winding alleyways and the straight, wide roads.

Arthur saw the charred ruins of the dragon's lair on Rhaenys Hill, a desolate wasteland.

Then I saw the sacred Basilica of Belvedere, with its seven white towers and crystal gleaming on top.

King's Landing originally had three main buildings: the Dragon's Lair, the Great Cathedral, and the Red Keep.

The abandonment of the dragon's lair, which represents the dragon's military power, also indicates the loss of the dragon family's violent machinery.

One more thing: in King's Landing, nothing can be hidden from Varys the Spider.

This is common knowledge, and Arthur, with his keen senses, could naturally spot those who were observing them unintentionally—the elderly, children, gatekeepers, and prostitutes.

Varys's "little birds" are just as famous as Bloodraven's "eyes," the difference being that Bloodraven possesses the abilities of a great wizard and shapeshifter, while Varys, in addition to his paid spies, also has his army of little birds.

Arthur had nothing to hide, so he let Varys see it.

To Varys, Arthur was still a child.

Moreover, eunuchs have always been happy to see anything that could damage or undermine the stability of the Baratheon dynasty, and they remain silent about it.

Just like the affair between Lannister siblings Cersei and Jaime, Renly Baratheon later formed an extraordinary friendship with the Tyrell family.

These two bombs were so big, but Varys simply covered them up and didn't let them explode immediately.

Renly didn't decide to rebel after Robert's death; rather, his ambition grew with age.

While Robert was still alive, Renly, as the Lord Chief of Justice, had a plan to marry Margaery Tyrell to Robert, thus uniting with Eddard Stark. This was a direct attempt to wage war against the Lannisters and cause a complete upheaval.

Varys is a bastard, he's just plain evil. He'll buy time for "Little Aegon" by making the Seven Kingdoms bleed to death.

Arthur first traveled through King's Landing, carrying gifts that he intended to present to the King's steward in advance.

After that, he'll have free time; he can just wait to see Renly's investiture.

Arthur, accompanied by his servants, arrived at the Red Keep in a carriage loaded with gifts.

Red Keep consists of seven massive drum towers reinforced with steel fortifications, a huge and imposing tower, a domed hall with enclosed bridges, barracks, dungeons and granaries, and thick protective walls riddled with arrow slits, all constructed of light red stone.

"Who goes there?" asked the crossbowmen and guards at the Red Keep.

"Arthur Hoan, Heir to Harrenhal and Earl of Whitewall, I present a gift to His Majesty on the joyous occasion of His Majesty's investiture of Renly as Duke!"

"Good day, Master Arthur." The towering bronze gates of the Red Keep remained open. The chief steward politely but somewhat coldly invited Arthur Hean to bring in his gifts, saying he could leave after the inventory was completed.

In addition to gold and silver gifts, the Hean family also gave cheese, sweet corn, and wine.

This is fairly standard and in line with the level expected this time.

"You may leave now, Master Arthur. The gifts will be deposited into the treasury. You can wait to attend the investiture ceremony," the chief steward said with a smile.

Leave the gift, get out.

As for the reception staff, the chief steward of the imperial court is sufficient.

Although Rivertown is a second-tier major lord below top noble families such as the Tyrells and Starks.

But now it is the era of the Baratheon dynasty, and the Baratheons are not familiar with your River.

Everyone knows that the Earl of Harrenhal is inextricably linked to the Dragon King, their relationship even stronger than that of Tully.

The Red Fort wasn't very big to begin with, and given the previous royalist incident, it wasn't appropriate to keep this group of people living there.

Therefore, Arthur did not receive the same treatment as Tyrell, who was allowed to live in the Tower of Virgins.

"Thank you, Steward. It is the greatest honor to serve His Majesty." Arthur said politely, neither humble nor arrogant, as he led his men away from the Red Keep.

To save face, there were quite a few people at the ceremony this time.

River Ann could have easily stayed in the Red Keep by hanging around, but since he was a staunch Royalist before, he decided against it.

Since they had brought tents, they stayed by the river that night.

Not far away, in an attic at the opposite corner of the Red Keep, a bald man with a "braised egg" hairstyle was observing everything happening in front of the Red Keep using a Milton lens.

Varys was wearing soft leather slippers and had a strong perfume scent on him.

On Varys's desk were sheets of paper depicting Arthur and Iron Hand talking, and sheets of paper depicting Arthur traveling through King's Landing.

Not only Arthur, but other prominent figures would be detected the moment they arrived in King's Landing.

King's Landing's designated sentinel system, Varys.

"Our poor little bat. It's a pity that our great heroes Robert and the eagle Arryn are both cold-blooded," Varys chuckled as he watched the River An army emerge again.

Varis was very familiar with the Harrenhal lineage, and he kept track of all the prominent lords.

The Earl of Harrenhal was one of the most powerful lords closest to King's Landing, and he was full of resentment.

“House Riveron has Harrenhal and Whitewall, and their sweet corn sales are making them quick money. Once Riveron recovers faster, they'll want to return to the center of power,” Varys pondered carefully. “But the bats are too foolish. There's no place for them in King's Landing. Even the lions and roses have no place in King's Landing, let alone the bats. They'll eventually realize they need to follow a new, true king.”

"He'an won't affect the overall situation, so let them be. This world needs a true dragon."

For Varys, even the losers will eventually become supporters of Aegon.

Even if the powerful warlords like He'an were to feign resentment, they still harbored hatred in their hearts and might not have wished to turn the tables on him.

Varys's overall strategy was to stall for time.

On the one hand, it allows Baratheon's palace bombs to continue accumulating energy for a massive explosion.

Cersei, Renly.

Cersei's pregnancy was the result of adultery, while Renly's taking over Storm's End created a real split.

On the other hand, it's to buy time for "Little Egan" to develop.

Only great chaos, only bloodshed and suffering for the seven kingdoms.

The best time for Aegon to return is when people hate deer and lions.

Aside from the bigger picture, neither the River, nor Tully, nor the Starks will be affected for the time being.

For Varys, while River Ang is worth paying attention to, it is still a secondary position.

The little bat is nothing to worry about.

Varys's plans were still focused on King's Landing and the court.

The royalists need revenge, and Varys will groom a leader for them—what a perfect plan.