Chapter 5 Funding
"Okay, let's send it here."
Early the next morning, at the gate of Highgarden, Earl Landau stopped the eldest son.
Samwell stopped and said with a smile:
"Father, brother, take care all the way."
Dickon stepped forward and gave Samwell a bear hug, saying:
"Brother, remember to come to Horn Hill to see me often!"
Samwell remembered his father's warning not to go back, the corner of his mouth twitched, and he nodded perfunctorily to his brother.
Earl Randall let Dickon and the guards go first, but he stayed behind.
Seeing this, Samwell knew that his father still had something to say.
Sure enough, after a moment of silence, Earl Randall said:
"Beware the women of House Tyrell."
Samwell was taken aback when he heard this.
Before he could speak, Earl Landau continued:
“They are very smart, but they often cannot see their place.”
After saying this, Earl Landau didn't explain any more, turned around and left.
Samwell looked thoughtfully at the figure of his father and his party going away.
When he first watched the TV series, he actually didn’t pay much attention to the Earl Randyll, he just remembered that the other party was very powerful in war.
But after this contact, Samwell discovered that the Lord of Horn Hill was quite secretive.
This person doesn't like to play tricks and tricks, and has never participated in the competition for the Iron Throne. He seems to be just a loyal and powerful thug under the command of the Tyrell family.
However, thinking back carefully now, Samwell discovered that the low-key Earl Landau in the play actually entered the cabinet quietly and became the Minister of Justice of the Kingdom.
Such a person is definitely not simply good at fighting.
And the reminder he reminded himself just now must be because of what "Queen of Thorns" Olenna said at the banquet last night.
Although Earl Randall has given up on the eldest son, he still does not want him to be used by the women of the Tyrell family.
In fact, without Earl Landau's reminder, Samwell would be vigilant.
After all, he knows very well that the men of the Tyrell family are relatively mediocre in politics, but those women, especially the grandmother and daughter Olenna "Queen of Thorns" and "Rose of Highgarden" Margaery, are quite mediocre in politics. A high-ranking player in this game of power.
They found themselves this time, they must have a plan.
However, Samwell was not too worried.
After all, he is familiar with the direction of the plot, and he is also clear about the temperament and ambition of the woman of the Tyrell family. On the contrary, the other party thinks that Samwell is just a cowardly waste who is rejected by his biological father.
Such a lack of information is his opportunity!
Thinking of this, Samwell packed up his mood and returned to the castle.
Led by the maid, he came to a courtyard, where "Queen of Thorns" Olenna was waiting for him.
As soon as he entered the door, Samwell found that Margaery was there.
This "High Garden Rose" was standing among the rose bushes, holding a freshly cut golden rose in her slender white hands, and inserting it into the half-finished flower basket.
At this time, Margaret looked focused. Her straight and beautiful nose bridge and slightly tight red lips gave her a demure and beautiful temperament. Even though she was standing in a corner of the courtyard at this time, people felt that she was the only one in the courtyard. center of.
Hearing the sound of Samwell's footsteps, Margaery turned her head and smiled sweetly, then raised a flower basket to greet her:
"Sam, what do you think of this flower basket I made?"
Samwell touched his chest and saluted: "As beautiful as you!"
"Then I will give it to you, my knight."
Samwell quickly took it and bowed his head in thanks, as if he didn't dare to look into the girl's eyes.
Following Margaery, Samwell walked into the gazebo in the courtyard.
Olenna was drinking honey flower tea in the pavilion, looking at Samwell with a smile at this moment, stretched out her hand and said:
"Sit down, young knight."
Samwell stepped forward to salute, and then sat down opposite Olenna.
"Dear Mrs. Olenna, I wonder what you want from me?"
"Please tell me."
Olenna spread out a prepared map, spread it on the table, and then drew a circle on it, saying:
"I suggest you try to develop here."
Samwell looked intently, and saw that the place Olenna pointed to was impressively located in the south of the Reach, at the western foot of the Crimson Mountains, on the north shore of the Summer Sea, near the mouth of the Turbulent River.
"Here..." Samwell rubbed his chin and asked humbly, "Madam, why do you suggest me to develop here?"
Olenna took a sip of herbal tea and said with a smile:
"The undeveloped places in the Reach are mainly in the Crimson Mountains, and the place I pointed out to you is near the mouth of the Turbulent River, which is also convenient for you to carry out maritime trade in the future."
Samwell nodded, but seemed to hesitate a bit:
"But ma'am, there are many high mountains in the Scarlet Mountains, I'm afraid it's not convenient to build a castle..."
Olenna smiled slightly:
"Have you forgotten where Casterly Rock City and Eagle's Nest City were built? Although it is difficult to build a mountain city, it is easy to defend once it is built. Moreover, there are a large number of free people living in the Crimson Mountains. people. But if you can get their support, you don’t have to worry about the population of the territory.”
Samwell knew that the "free folk" that Mrs. Olenna spoke of was actually a name for the wildlings living in the Crimson Mountains. They were descendants of the Andals and the ancestors, with dark skin and short stature. Accepting the control of the lord, they hid in the vast red mountains and formed primitive tribes. They lived by gathering and hunting, and often went down the mountain to plunder nearby villages and towns.
The Lords of the Reach near the Crimson Mountains tried many times to wipe out these wildlings, but all failed.
After all, the Crimson Mountain Range is too big, and the savages hide in it, but there is no one to be found. As soon as the lord's army left, they came out to loot wantonly, which was very annoying.
These savages who are hostile to the Riverbend people are also one of the biggest obstacles for Samwell's development this time.
Of course, according to Mrs. Olenna, if Samwell can subdue these savages, they will also become the largest source of population in the new territory.
Samwell touched the back of his head awkwardly, putting on a timid look:
"But ma'am... I am worried that if I go there, I will be torn alive by those ferocious savages in the red mountains before I can gain a foothold..."
"The Tully family has always been rich in excellent fighters, and I believe you will not let me down." Before Samwell could speak, Olenna immediately said, "Don't worry, the Tyrell family has always wanted to control Forget the wildlings, so if you take my advice, I'll pick a hundred soldiers from the family guard to go out with you."
Sam Well's eyes lit up immediately, and he swallowed the words he was going to refuse.
In fact, after seeing the place Olenna pointed him to, Samwell had a preliminary guess about the "Queen of Thorns" plan.
She wanted to use and control herself, but Samwell didn't want to use the power of the Tyrell family to open up territories.
These one hundred soldiers are too important to him at this time, of course, it would be better if there were more...
So, Samwell continued to shrink his head, hesitating: "Madam, a hundred soldiers...isn't it a bit small..."
"Is this too little?" Olenna became a little impatient, "In the distant Heroic Era, when 'Green Hand' Gars came to Highgard to open up, there were not a hundred people around him!"
Seeing this, Margaret smiled and said:
"Sam, I believe that with your ability, you can definitely open up a territory here! How about it, I still have some personal savings, and I can use them to support you."
As she spoke, Margaery took out a dark green money bag and stuffed it into Samwell's arms.
Samwell touched the heavy purse, immediately put on a look of great encouragement, patted his chest and said that he would definitely live up to the expectations of Mrs. Olenna and Miss Margery.
Olenna smiled with satisfaction, and was overjoyed, and ordered the housekeeper to prepare five golden-tailed prawns for Samwell to pack and take away.
Samwell naturally accepted all comers without hesitation.
After Samwell left, Margaery sat down beside her grandmother, hugged her arm affectionately, and asked:
"Grandma, why did you ask Sam to develop there?"
"Since you don't even know what I'm up to, why are you using your own savings?"
Margaret shook her grandmother's arm, and said coquettishly:
"Cooperating with grandma to complete the layout, isn't this what I should do. As for the reason for this layout, it doesn't matter, anyway, I'm sure you're right after listening to you."
"Little cunning!" Olenna smiled and nodded her granddaughter's nose, "Then try to guess my intentions."
Margery glanced across the map: "It should be for Dorne, right?"
"Smart." Olenna nodded in satisfaction.
"Then why don't you send a brave knight to pioneer? Instead, let someone like Samwell..."
"It's an important location, but it's also a barren land. It's difficult to produce. In addition, there are savages harassing it, and it's close to Dorne. It's difficult to establish a territory with the conventional method of development. Therefore, I need to borrow this Tully family In the name of abandoning a son, to take some less honorable means." Olenna explained a little vaguely.
Margaery frowned: "But grandma, wouldn't it be... not good for you to use people from the Tully family like this?"
"What's wrong? Such a waste who was abandoned by the family, without our support, do you really think he can complete the development by himself? Of course, our support is not free, but this is the price he should pay. .”
Olenna looked towards the lush courtyard outside the pavilion, and sighed after a while:
"The more beautiful the rose, the more the sharp thorns are needed. If I don't do some things, do I still expect your stupid father to do them?"
(end of this chapter)