Chapter 472
2021-01-06
Chapter 472 Calm before the stormThe rest of the catastrophe.
Along with the vigorous post-war reconstruction, intense and orderly preparations for the war were also underway.
Because of the new life, the land grant has neither a culture of oneself, nor a commendable story except for the history of Night's Watch and the thrilling war that just ended - the lack of background usually leads to a collective The lack of centripetal cohesion, fortunately, land grants have other advantages to make up for the shortcomings.
There are no many interest groups that are intertwined and have complex relationships with each other. The frictions and conflicts between a few tribes have also disappeared before the big stick of law and the common threat... In all mankind In front of their natural enemies, everyone is each other's brother and comrade-in-arms. With a clear goal and direction, everyone's energy will go to one place, and the resistance is so small that it is not worth mentioning at all. At this moment, the entire power of this land is under the command of the Night's Watch Legion Lord Commander, working hard in the same direction.
After a "long and meticulous search and investigation", Legion's official spokesperson finally "reluctantly" announced: According to the analysis of clues collected and found by the Rangers, the remaining Others who slipped through the battle of Long Lake have been Through the trail, over the mountains, through the hole in the Gorge defense line that was torn during the attack and fled back to beyond the wall.
In order to take revenge for the fallen comrades, in order to restore the vast and fertile land in Saibei into a livable area, and to ensure the survival and safety of the descendants of all human beings, the Supreme Command of Night's Watch issued an official The way of the document has turned the original rumors into a battle plan with a fixed schedule: Legion will organize the elite next month, enter the Saibei through the Wall to pursue the last remaining enemies, until they are completely wiped out, and completely paint the picture for this magnificent war. Last stop!
Black clothed soldiers who swore their vows, Red God believers who fought for their gods, a large number of aborigines who wanted to go back to beyond the wall and regain their "freedom", who wanted to make achievements but failed to cut them by accident. A land-grant Warrior from the Others... Thousands of hearts beat for this epic expedition, their pure minds don't realize it: just put down the Dragonglass weapon and pick up the ordinary sword, and the obsidian shard in the bomb In exchange for iron nails, all the preparations made by the land-givers for the extermination of Others can be turned to the southern expedition with one order; the direction of the testing ground is roaring, said to be the new weapon of the nemesis of Others, smashing flesh and blood The body can destroy the masonry fortress with much higher efficiency and speed than the Others and the dead!
Under an exciting and fiery atmosphere, the undercurrent has begun to flow quietly.
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A few years ago, Igor dropped a few notes at King's Landing, using the rumored formidable power to lure the Vale rebellion and drive away Littlefinger...not only with The unexpected form exceeded the goal, and the more wonderful thing is that there is no second person in the world to participate in this matter, and there is almost no possibility of leaking.
And now, he wants to start an unreasonable war, "repaying the Queen's help" gives Night's Watch an excuse to give up neutrality... but only so that the land-grant residents have no reason to object It is far from enough. While preparing physically, Igor also needs something else, so that the people under the rule of oneself can also fully support the next south expedition psychologically.
House Stark's mother and daughter three have been escorted on their way back to Winterfell, and dozens of small "Lightbringers" have also been on their way to serve as Night's Watch ambassadors all over the Seven Kingdoms. But in addition to these gestures and positive publicity... Igor needs the sword of rumors to cheer him up again.
No one can be singlehanded forever to spread the word, guide the wind and count on top secret. Igor is now in a high position, and he has countless pairs of eyes staring at everything, and it is even more impossible that he still ends up doing this dirty work himself. So... he has long started to invest resources and energy in cultivating the media communication and public opinion control departments that belong to oneself. Before the official confirmation of the Night's Watch headquarters, the news of the "beyond the wall expedition" was repeatedly hyped to maintain the popularity, and it was the "Night's expedition" that did not exist on the bright side that kept this topic in front of the land-grant residents. "Watch Propaganda Department".
In addition to testing the public's attitude and building momentum to strategically deceive the outside world, this move is also one of the many trial operations and actual combat drills of the "Defense and Propaganda Department" that has been secretly built for a long time.
The exercise was as successful as ever, which once again proved the organizational perfection and work execution ability of the Ministry of Observance and Propaganda. So, Igor began to boldly draw out this invisible new weapon, wielding the invisible edge to stab the enemy.
Quietly, another new rumor, just like the news that the "beyond the wall expedition is about to start" spread like wildfire, is scrambling, murderous-looking for complete elimination. The land-granters prepared by the natural enemies of mankind spread out: the king sitting on the Iron Throne in the south, and a large number of his nobles who have never been to the north of The Neck, enjoying the protection of the land-grant military and civilians. At the same time, it has yet to acknowledge Night's Watch's acceptance of the people beyond the wall. They have even been quietly contemplating - when this upcoming expedition beyond the wall is over, they will order the mountain clan to move back to the mountains, and at the same time force the Night's Watch Legion to expel all the wildlings previously accepted back to beyond the wall.
...
Stannis has always been a master who can do it without beeping, and he won't, and can't, risk offending North by vetoing something that Robb Stark has acquiesced to. Not to mention that he is now racking his brains about how to deal with the threat of "two Targaryen" to keep King's Landing and the throne, where does he have the time, mind and courage to manage the land grant far beyond a thousand li?
This statement has neither reliable source nor logic in itself. Anyone with a little common sense and brain can see it as a rumor at a glance. But the sanity of a person is always inversely proportional to the anger value - the land-grant people who survived the war heard this news, and it was already very valuable, how many people can calmly analyze it?
The land givers do not expect a group of nobles who have never met to thank or reward them at all, but they cannot swallow the breath of being abandoned one's benefactor after achieving one's goal; the original beyond the wall There are many lives that are not rare at all within the wall, and no one wants to go back to beyond the wall - but it is one thing to choose to return home, and it is another thing to be driven back like a lost dog!
Soon, anger centered on Queenscrown, swept all directions like a tsunami.
The rumors have been spread, and what Igor has to do next is to wait for it to ferment naturally, and when it slowly expands to the point where it is about to lose control, then stand up and poke it out, All the destructive power is harvested for one's own use, making "beyond the wall expedition" suddenly become "Southern Expedition Seven Kingdoms" becomes reasonable, even as it should be by rights.
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Macro-building is essential, and fine-tuning is not to be missed.
Yara Grejoy wasn't the only one who came to the office to make deals with Igor. In the days to come, Igor continued to actively or passively meet with the leaders of the land-grant forces.
The content of the conversation is of course not telling them directly, "beyond the wall expedition is just a hoax. I'm actually preparing for the southern expedition. I hope you will follow when the time comes", but to beat these people first. Take precautions, by all possible means, to ensure that anyone who has the ability to influence or influence the situation in this coming storm...even if not used by oneself, will not become oneself's enemy.
As Ser Denys Mallister, who was killed in Shadow Tower, said, anything in the world can be traded - given the right timing and price.
From this point of view, in fact, doing politics is often like doing business. The only difference is that businessmen can only trade commodities and currencies, while politicians can take everything they can think of. Form a partnership or form an alliance.
For those mountain clans who have been helping from the very beginning, Igor chose to appease and reiterate that the original contract is still valid, and the land grant will always have their place; for those who are willing to give up their original life and settle down in the south of Wall , acknowledging allegiance and corvée taxes in exchange for protection and living beyond the wall tribes, Igor promises to always recognize their land-grant status and never deport them; to those who still want "freedom" Igor, the younger half of the Kneelers, agreed with them to get together and leave: when it is determined that the north side of the Wall is safe in the future, they will be allowed to return to beyond the wall, and even a little necessary "separation fee" will be included to prevent them from having to start all over again—— Buying and selling cannot be done with benevolence and righteousness. Even if they cannot become a family, at least ensure that they will not become enemies or be used by enemies.
Inside Night's Watch: To conservatives and opponents who are concerned about the future, Igor vows to keep Night's Watch duties and Wall defense first even while fighting for the Queen, never disbanding the Black Shirt Legion ; For those who do not object to Igor's actions but do not want to participate in the civil war in the Seven Kingdoms to set up Sect, Igor promises not to force them to participate in the war, they only need to remain in the Grant and Wall; only those who... have the will and If you want to get rid of your existing destiny and have the value and ability to use for oneself, Igor will be careful to penetrate a little bit, promise them the reward they want, and prepare them at the same time - both physically and psychologically of.
Igor made arrangements to kick a lot of nobles off the Game of Thrones table in his plan to send Queen to the top, in addition to satisfying Daenerys' noble wish to "break the wheel", but also There is an important reason: these nobles who are about to be extremely unlucky, their wealth, estates and titles, have been written by Igor into real or empty "checks" along with all the land grants. What the latter is doing is to spread this pile of checks that seem aimless, but in fact, it is accurate and clear, to buy support followers, allies and strength for oneself... and the promise that the neutrals will not make trouble at the critical moment.
…
Another busy day came to an end, and Igor sat behind his desk, sipping a delicious hot soup while listening to reports from his subordinates.
"The rumor has been discussed everywhere in Queenscrown, and people even started to gather outside the inner castle gate to ask for your opinion on it, and the guards persuaded them to disperse...but so far, the impact is still only Confined to the perimeter of town. I expect it will take another week or two for it to spread throughout the land grant. Propaganda can take action to speed up the process, but it will lead to exposure, and if it falls in the eyes of the people... ..."
"No, don't take any action, let it spread naturally." The so-called rumors open their mouths, refute rumors and break their legs, rumors are similar to conspiracy to some extent, and they are not afraid of external forces . Igor is not afraid of some bullshit, but according to his original plan, two weeks is just right, "In the name of yourself, make some semi-official statements, reduce the fire and control the intensity of this rumor, and ensure that Don't burn our oneself until the time is right."
"Understood." Without further explanation, Humfrey caught up with the train of thought instantly, "Also, Miss Asha has drawn up a list, and she needs your help. She provides these materials and equipment, as well as a small number of useful people."
Igor took the list and glanced at it. They are all ordinary things, and the land is not inexhaustible, but there is no shortage of them. at this point. But there are people, and the list is impressively some Ironmen crew members who had followed her and were captured in the battle on the coast - obviously, these are Asha's confidants, people she completely trusts.
"Give it all to her, all the supplies are counted as 1,000 Golden Dragons, and you can mark them with a random unit price later." In fact, even if you take into account the soaring prices due to the war, these things are in larger cities. I can also buy it with 100 Golden Dragons, but Igor is not a charity. "As for the manpower, there are one hundred Golden Dragons. As for the ones who 'escape' or are 'released' by us, you can make a decision after discussing with her."
"en. Ask me: Does Queenscrown have poison or someone who can use poison or mix it?"
"Poison?" Poison's hands are ready, "I don't know, have the healers asked about it?"
"I asked around and shook my head, only Qyburn Maester said oneself 'a little bit of medicine and medicine' . But he is busy with the gunpowder granulation project, do you see?"
Humfrey almost forgot Igor, although this guy Qyburn was named for his ability to make nitrile and brought the land grant , in the bones is an almighty mad scientist, he said a little bit... I'm afraid it's still modest.
"Let him try his best to give Miss Greyjoy advice and help without delaying the business. Well, his advisors and staff are also worth 1,000 Golden Dragon. Be a gift."
"Well, Qyburn Maester would be delighted to know that oneself's labor is so valuable." Humfrey made a harmless little joke, then changed the subject, "There is another A small caravan came from the south at noon today. One of them went to the guard outside the inner castle to ask you to see you at night. He claimed that he had an important message from Winterfell and had to tell you in private. I saw his words flickering and sneaking. It's not like a good person, so let's see it first, you see... do you want to see it or drive it away?"
——
(end of this chapter)