In the early morning, the Red Fort was shrouded in a thin layer of mist.
The mist rises from Blackwater Bay, climbs along the city walls, and finally wraps around the spiers of the towering towers.
The sun had just risen from the sea level in the east, and the light was not warm enough, but it only dyed the fog a light orange-red.
Winter is coming.
Corleone Walking on the stone road leading to the Prime Minister's Tower, you can feel the chill in the air seeping through the woolen jacket, and your breath condenses into white mist in front of you, and then quickly dissipates.
He had walked this road several times.
The first time, he was Farmer who had just entered the royal capital from the Riverlands.
At that time, he was wearing dusty clothes, dusty from travels, and walked into this castle that was intimidating to countless people for a reward of 10,000 Gold Dragon.
That time, he met the most powerful person in the Seven Kingdoms at that time, the Prime Minister, sitting in his study, trying his best to gain the other person's trust and cultivation.
Last time, Corleone wore the white robe of the Kingsguard, sneaked into the Red Keep at night, reached the Prime Minister's Tower, and had a very friendly meeting with Tywin in his bedroom.
Now.
Corleone stopped, raised his head, and looked at the towering stone tower in front of him.
The Prime Minister's Tower glowed gray-white in the morning light, and every window was closed tightly, like countless silent eyes.
This time, he didn't have to rack his brains to please or be sneaky, but walked in openly.
Chancellor of the Exchequer.
Corleone The corners of his mouth raised slightly.
A few days ago, Tywin sent not only a pardon for the hound, but also a piece of parchment with a large seal of the king's hand on it, with his name written on it, appointing him as the finance minister of the Seven the Seven Kingdoms.
At that time Corleone looked at the appointment certificate and laughed for a long time.
I can't say I'm happy, but I think it's quite interesting.
Tywin Lannister's methods are always unexpected. Maybe he really didn't know how to bring down Corleone under the current situation, so he changed his method and tried to tie him down.
The best way is to let Corleone enter the Imperial Council, become part of this decadent system, and become one of our own.
But he was not naive enough to think that Tywin had any good intentions.
After all... ever since Robert Baratheon became the king, the position of finance minister has become the most difficult position in the entire royal council.
Thinking of this, Corleone put away his smile and continued to move forward.
The stone pavement underfoot was wet with dew, making it slightly slippery.
Crystal drops of water hung on the dead grass on the roadside, shining brightly in the morning light.
Several attendants ran past him. Although Corleone's face was unfamiliar, they still hurriedly saluted when they saw the exclusive badge belonging to the Minister of Finance on his chest.
"My lord."
"My lord."
"Thank you for your hard work, everyone." Corleone nodded slightly and did not stop. After all, the Prime Minister's Tower was right in front.
At the door, twelve Lannister Knights dressed in gold and red robes stood upright, with spears in their hands and swords on their waists, their eyes like torches, and each of them had a lion emblem embroidered on their breastplates.
The person in charge happened to be known to Corleone and was quite familiar with him.
"Corleone-sama.
Tybert·Hesban Ser's voice was smooth and capable. He bowed slightly to Corleone, put his right hand on his chest, and performed a standard knight's salute, which seemed formal, but also deliberately distant.
"All the adults from the Imperial Council have arrived and are waiting for you."
Seeing this, Corleone stopped and raised his head to look at the towering stone tower in front of him. The sun was shining down from the top of the tower, casting a long shadow on the tower.
"You must do a good job in safety, Tybert Ser."
Corleone said thoughtfully, his eyes still on the top of the tower. "The safety of the Prime Minister is very important."
As soon as these words came out, Tybert's face twitched slightly.
If others don't know, doesn't he still know?
The man who wore the white robes of the Kingsguard last time sneaked into the Hand's Tower in the middle of the night and put a sword on Tywin's neck.
Isn't it you?
But Tybert said nothing.
He just lowered his head slightly and replied honestly, "Of course, sir."
"We have recently added a lot of manpower. Now there are twelve knights on duty every day, one shift every four hours, and double the number at night."
After thinking about it, he deliberately added, "The number of guards in the tower has also increased. There are dedicated personnel guarding each stairway, and there are also hidden sentries."
Oops.
Quite professional.
Listening to Tybert's detailed and grand revelation of the defense of the Prime Minister's Tower to himself, Corleone couldn't help but raise the corners of his mouth slightly.
It seems that the old boy Tywin was really frightened last time.
But he just nodded without changing his expression, his eyes still fixed on the top of the tower. "It's not enough."
Tybert was stunned for a moment. "Sir?"
Corleone turned his head and looked at him. "Since the Conqueror Aegon established the Red Keep, the Royal Council has always been held in Throne Room."
Hearing this, Tybert frowned slightly. He didn't understand why Corleone suddenly mentioned this.
"Now the Royal Council is being held in the Prime Minister's Tower, which is abnormal in itself."
However, Corleone continued, "I know Lord Tywin likes it here. He has used this study for twenty years and is used to it."
"Habits are good, but sometimes habits can kill people."
He turned around and looked at those Lannister Knights who were standing straight.
"Twelve people, is that enough?"
"What if twenty or even fifty people come next time?"
"What if someone comes with a crossbow? What if they set up the crossbow on the rooftop opposite and wait for the Prime Minister to come to the window?"
Corleone hasn't finished speaking yet, Tybert's face has turned pale.
Although he also vaguely hopes that Tywin will die soon, but... do you have to say this here?
Haven't you noticed that the people around us are starting to look a little weird when they look at us?
Also.
This is the fucking Prime Minister's Tower!
Who has the guts to bring fifty men and set up crossbows around them...
"It is still necessary to restore tradition as soon as possible and move the Imperial Council back to Throne Room.
But just when he was thinking wildly, Corleone had already strode inside, laughing and loudly saying, "It would not be good if the safety of the Imperial Council adults cannot be guaranteed."
It's warmer inside the tower than outside.
But also darker.
Corleone was walking on the narrow spiral staircase, and his boots made a crisp sound on the stone steps.
My mood is calmer than last time, or rather... expectant.
After all, last time, he was holding a sword and had the mentality to kill Tywin first if it really didn't work out.
Arrived.
Without any hesitation, he stretched out his hand and pushed open the door.
The room was warm, and there was a fire burning in the fireplace, the wood crackling and the flames dancing.
A long table is placed in the center of the room, and several people are sitting around it.
From the inside to the outside, they are the Minister of Justice Kevan Lannister, the Director of Intelligence Varys, and the Grand Maester Pycelle.
Of course, sitting on the main seat is the Queen's Hand, Tywin Lannister.
His position was just facing the door, his green eyes reflected the figure of the visitor, and a kind smile that he hadn't seen for a long time appeared on his face.
"Welcome, our new Chancellor of the Exchequer."
Corleone:"???"
This location is a bit interesting.
Seeing everyone turning their attention to him, Corleone felt a little embarrassed.
If he remembered correctly, Tyrion had encountered such a move in the original plot.
At the royal meeting, everyone was vying for a position closer to Tywin, as if doing so would bring them closer to the center of power. Unexpectedly, they would also encounter it today.
It seems that this is Tywin's usual method. On the one hand, he shows his status and lets everyone know that he is the Prime Minister. On the other hand, it is probably to give Corleone a chance to show off his power.
But Corleone doesn't like this.
He did not sit down in a hurry, but put on a spring-like smile like Tywin and stepped in.
"Good morning, my lords!"
When he came to the table and stood still, Corleone pretended to look around. "I'm sorry, it seems I'm late, but please forgive me, Ring of Order just opened recently, so I'm really busy."
"Speaking of which... why didn't you see Mr. Tyrell?"
"Just last night, Lord Tyrell, on the order of King Your Majesty, returned to the River Bend to quell the rebellion."
Tywin did not speak. The person who answered him was Kevan, the Minister of Justice, and the old man glared at Corleone fiercely.
Everyone here knows more or less what the rebellion of the Redwyne family is all about. As the Minister of Justice, Kevan has a strong personality and has long proposed to send someone to arrest Corleone, the instigator.
Of course, every time he proposed something to Tywin, he was rejected outright.
Now I see that this person who may be the murderer of Paxter Redwin has appeared in front of me in a majestic manner. He has also become the Minister of Finance and will work with me in the imperial court from now on.
By not waving his sleeves and leaving directly, Kevan was able to show his respect to the prime minister's brother.
Here, seeing that Kevan looked unhappy, Corleone just glanced at him lightly.
Of course he knew about Mace Tyrell's departure last night. In King's Landing today, almost half of the entire golden robe is paid by him.
However, Corleone doesn't think that the Duke of Metz will be of any use.
If it were him, he would choose to sit tight in King's Landing, send Ravens to Horn Hill, order Randyll Tarly to drive troops to Oldtown, across the sea from Arbor, and then send orders to all coastal towns to take precautions.
At the same time, you can also ask your mother Olenna Redwin to write a letter to that boy Hopper, claiming to recognize his Arbor Earl position.
With Hopper's character, he would most likely bow down happily and immediately, return to the Iron Throne and rule as a lord, and this troublesome matter would be over.
Of course, if you go even more extreme, you can directly appoint Horas Redwin, who is a hostage in King's Landing, as Arbor Earl, and then give him a hundred or ten men to return to the fief to put down the rebellion.
But in that case, Arbor will be very lively, and it will probably fall into civil strife that has never happened in hundreds of years, even comparable to the strife between the two brothers Stannis and Renly.
Olenna, the old woman, would probably not allow it. After all, she also bears the surname Redwyne.
" Lord Tyrell returned to the fief to put down the rebellion. This is to share the Iron Throne's worries and fulfill his responsibility."
At this time, Tywin, who was sitting in the first place, finally spoke, "Just like we are sitting here."
As he said that, he took the initiative to spread his hands and invited Corleone to the chair next to Pycelle, which was the last seat. "Please sit down, Master Corleone, we are all very busy."
"That is true, Lord Tywin."
Varys, the intelligence chief, followed closely, and continued Tywin's words, "A lot of things have happened recently."
"Lord Roose Bolton of Winterfell sent a message saying that Stannis's fleet has arrived at the North and is now being repaired on the islands near White Harbor. It seems that some kind of secret agreement has been reached with the Manderly family."
"Although the assassination of Prince Oberyn has nothing to do with us, it happened in King's Landing anyway. Although the content of Prince Doran's letter to Prince Martell is relatively restrained, it still expresses dissatisfaction with the Iron Throne between the lines."
"He said that Emissary will be sent to King's Landing soon to take his brother back to Sunspear to recuperate."
"There is also news from across the Narrow Sea...
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Having said this, Varys sighed, seeming to feel a little tired, and rubbed his shiny forehead before continuing, "Daenerys Targaryen has taken her three dragons, successfully conquered Astapor, and liberated all the slaves."
"Now many people across the Narrow Sea call her "Liberator" Mother of Dragons"."
"It is said that she has eight thousand Unsullied under her command and is heading towards Yunkai. Of course, the Narrow Sea is a long way away. This was news two months ago. Now she may have conquered Yunkai."
After finishing almost all the recent information in one breath, Wallis raised his tired eyes and looked at Corleone: "Winter is coming, Lord Corleone. Everyone in the Imperial Council is as busy as a little bird preparing for food."
"So, please don't waste any more time, sit down and start today's agenda quickly.
, he said it with dignity, as if he was the most dedicated person in the imperial meeting.
However, Corleone tasted something different.
... There is something abnormal about this kid.
According to Varys's character, it is basically impossible for him to take the initiative to say so many words in a royal meeting. In and out of his words, he always told himself to sit down at the seat arranged by Tywin.
There is a ghost.
Although I haven't guessed what the other party is planning, Corleone knows one thing.
When someone with evil intentions tries to invite you to do something, never follow the other person's ideas.
What's more, he wasn't planning to sit down in the first place.
Face is a mutual thing. You, Tywin, wanted to appoint me as Chancellor of the Exchequer, but you were so cunning that you only gave me a seat at the table.
Why should I give you face?
"I'm sorry, Lord Varys, I didn't even know you were so busy."
Under the gaze of several people, Corleone knocked on the table and still stood directly opposite Tywin.
"But again, I don't have enough time today. Ring of Order's business is really good. There are dozens of Gold Dragon cars shipped in and out every day."
"There are also piers, casinos, Clinic... always crowded."
"You don't know, my eyes are dazzled when I see Gold Dragon. I count the money until I don't even have time to eat."
"In order to find time to attend this royal meeting, I not only didn't even eat breakfast, but also turned down a business worth thousands of Gold Dragon."
As he spoke, he actually sighed, seeming to be very troubled by this.
With that look, even though some of the people here are not too interested in money, they are still itchy with hatred.
"So." Knocked on the table again, Corleone stood up straight.
He looked around, and an inexplicable strong sense of oppression spread out around him, as if he was the leader of this imperial meeting, and said in a deep voice, "If you have anything to do, just tell me quickly."
"The soup is still simmering at home. I'm in a hurry to go back and have breakfast."
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