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

Shouts, feasts, fine wine, smiling faces.

The banquet nights in the Throne Room are so captivating that it's hard to tear yourself away.

All the lords and noblewomen, knights and celebrities were cheering for Robert's reign, as if the golden age of eternal summer had arrived.

There was no war, no conflict, only harmony.

Extravagance and debauchery already erode one's ambition, let alone in such a decadent and decadent time.

Now is a time for enjoyment and development, and it has little to do with the crisis of war.

"Definitely." Arthur smiled and exchanged pleasantries with his cousin Edmure. The two seemed to get along very well, but there was still some awkwardness between them.

Just look at Edmund's social media posts; most of them are from the likes of Piper, Vance, Melissant, and Blackwood, all powerful figures in the West River region.

The extensive network of waterways and the scars of war effectively shut down the Tully family's social circle.

Arranged marriages, servants, adopted children—in the end, perhaps only self-interest remains the most real factor.

After Edmure left, Arthur met Earl Jason Merison, an old-fashioned knight.

Before Arthur, Earl Jason of the Sea Frontier City in the Western Riverlands looked like an eagle.

He was a tall, thin man with a clean-shaven beard, brown hair mixed with white, and a pair of fierce blue-gray eyes.

His face was haggard but sharply defined, with high cheekbones.

Arthur was no stranger to Count Jason, who was also a member of the Martial Highlands of the Riverlands.

As a coastal castle, Haijiang City bore the responsibility of providing early warnings of the Iron Invasion to the people of Sanhe.

However, after Aegon's conquest, the Ironborn's invasions shifted direction, harassing the Westerlands, the Reach, and the North, while harassing the Iron Islands less frequently.

During Robert's Rebellion, Lord Jason killed three of Rhaegar Targaryen's vassals at the Battle of the Trident.

In the original story, Greyjoy rebelled, and Count Jason killed Rodrik, the heir of King Balon, at the foot of the castle, driving the Ironborn back to the sea.

There aren't many outstanding knights in the Riverlands these days; Earl Jason, "Blackfish," Earl Blackwood, and Earl Brecken are among the best.

The only awkward thing is that they are too old, and Blackfish has gone to serve the Erin family.

The younger generation in the river region now seems insignificant.

"Good evening, Earl Jason," Arthur said to the old knight.

"You are very polite, young man. Please give my regards to Count and Countess Walter," Earl Jason replied simply.

The Merissant family is known for their chivalry, politeness, and courteousness.

Even if they were enemies before, things have faded now.

After the first major purge, the kingdom's rule was basically established.

The power structure in King's Landing has changed, but most of the feudal lords remain the same.

"I will certainly bring your goodwill back to Harrenhal," Arthur said confidently.

"I've heard the River family spends all their time on the farm; it seems they're doing quite well," Earl Jason said simply in a low voice, raising his glass of red wine and clinking it against Arthur's.

"I'm sorry to have made you laugh, Earl Jason. It's the height of summer, and recovery is the most important thing right now." Arthur swirled the lemonade in his glass and returned the smile.

"Indeed, the people, like the land, need to be appeased. Harrenhal is suitable for agriculture and animal husbandry, while Seafront City is more important for its docks and fishing; they actually complement each other." Count Jason nodded; this was perhaps the most crucial word.

"That's certainly true. I hope the friendship between Seafront City and Harrenhal will be as sweet as a song." Arthur and Earl Jason exchanged pleasantries, both feeling quite happy.

Earl Jason looked at Arthur with a complicated expression, having originally thought that Herenville was gradually declining.

But the Herenberg heir appears to be of extraordinary character and handsome.

If Arthur is skilled and capable, Harrenhal may be able to recover.

In contrast, his successor, Patrick, as a member of Edmund's inner circle, seemed to have been assimilated by Edmund.

He's good at eating, drinking, and having fun, but his other talents are really mediocre.

Even if it's the chivalry that Earl Jason is so proud of, his son Patrick is just a second-rate scoundrel.

I wonder if the Tully family trained their servants in the same way that Wu Dalang ran his shop—they couldn't tolerate talented people, and those who followed them were all rather mediocre.

The two exchanged a few more casual words until Earl Jason got up and left.

Sir Lucas casually murmured, "It seems Earl Jason also has a request."

Arthur put down his cup. "We each have our own needs."

The Iron Throne had no objection to economic cooperation.

The better the vassal's economy, the better the Iron Throne's tax revenue.

Moreover, the Iron Throne is now subconsciously bridging the gap between royalists and rebels, and after collecting the fines, it stops there to save face.

Because the Targaryen family suffered such a crushing defeat, they were reduced to just two cats and one mouse.

All the feudal lords were filled with a peaceful optimism and began to scramble to make money again.

And that is indeed the case; if Daenerys hadn't pulled off some incredible feats, the Targaryens would have been completely wiped out.

This is also why Earl Jason is anxious.

Count Jason possesses the bravery of a knight, but also a touch of the cunning of a merchant.

Unlike Earl Blaken and Earl Selwyn, Earl Jason wasn't in a hurry to marry off his daughter; he came to discuss a serious business partnership with Arthur.

The fiefdom of Haijiang City is not that large, but although the bloodline is noble, it also has a dock.

However, the income and expenditure of Haijiang City have always been mediocre.

The ancient River King rejected the expansion of towns like the Beauty Market, Salt Field Town, and Haroway, which could have become cities, making it difficult for them to expand and ultimately preventing them from forming cities.

Compare Frey and Hean.

Although they were nouveau riche, they were indeed wealthy. Both Frey and Hean could amass large armies by paying tolls for their vast fiefdoms.

After the guests and hosts had enjoyed themselves to the fullest, the banquet came to an end. All the princes, knights, and noblewomen left the throne room with smiles and laughter, returning to their residences.

Arthur walked briskly, feeling that he had gained a lot today.

Darryl, Mouton, Frey, Tass, Brecken, Melissant.

The world is hilarious, all come for profit.

Wherever there is benefit, there will be a way to communicate.

On the throne, Jaime Lannister watched the guests depart, lost in thought.

James certainly saw Arthur; that black bat was too conspicuous.

Sir Oswell is dead, but James was quite moved to see his grandnephew today.

Since we are descendants of an old friend, we should at least show our respect.

If he hadn't joined the White Knights, Jaime would have been a member of the distinguished guests, not a security guard.

Cersei was still pretending to please Robert as she led the drunken Robert away.

"Good wine, bear, bear, girl." Robert laughed heartily.

He has a kind of affability, a rough yet approachable affability, rather than arrogance.

Robert and Cersei's relationship has always been strained.

But Robert never relinquished his rights as a husband, and besides, their relationship was still superficially acceptable.

James followed behind them, his anger burning even more intensely.

Robert pardoned Jaime on Jon Arryn's advice.

But he still remembers the jokes Robert and James made.

"You've already killed one king, don't kill another."

Robert himself was a carefree and easygoing person, not one for many complicated schemes.

But the King Killer was different. He was a petty man and never forgot the vulgar joke Robert played on him.

This situation made James feel even more like an incompetent lover.

James couldn't help but think of his youth, when people were so bright, especially on his first day as the White Knight.

When the brothers in white robes are together, they are a group of true heroes.