Eagle of the Valley of Ice and Fire.

Chapter 318 Tyrion's Wisdom
Tyrion escorted Jaime with ruthless and impartial behavior.

In the military tent with music and singing and dancing.

It took quite a while to get from the Lion Gate to Casterly Rock.

Tyrion traveled and stopped, visiting almost every lord along the way in the West.

Uncle Kevan followed him and acted very businesslike in front of others, which made Tyrion feel relieved.

The lords along the way seemed to have lost their energy and looked listless.

As they should, Tyrion thought.

Although the farmland is no longer in ruins and the manor has been rebuilt, the castle was burned, the barns were empty, and the few cattle and sheep were left.
This scene is not a happy one at all.

What's more, they have to kneel before the half-humans they have always ridiculed and looked down upon.

"I will never kneel, dwarf!" The young lord refused to kneel and declared passionately, but at this moment his head was chopped off by Uncle Kevan and hung on the deserted inn.

After that, Tyrion held his horse's belly and thought about Kevan's behavior.

"You should remind them that although your father is dead, the lion is still a lion." Kevan emphasized again and again.

Tyrion's face was solemn as he looked at the tired soldiers around him and the red and gold battle flag of Lannister faltering in the wind.

"I am not my father," Tyrion replied, turning his horse. "I am not that tall, and I am not bald."

He said the last part quietly, I hope Uncle Kevan didn't hear it.

The times now are different. The oppression of Lord Tywin has passed, overshadowed by the raging flames of war and the endless smoke of war. People are exhausted and the lords are overwhelmed.

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Tyrion looked at his frail frame and shook his head.

This is the way to die.

Tyrion dismounted and personally untied the ropes that bound the little lord, and comforted his nephew, the only remaining heir.

"This place has become a wasteland. If you don't want to starve to death or be killed by bandits, accept this bag of gold dragons and follow the team to Casterly Rock. You can then go to Lannisport via the passage and live there."

"Can I follow you?"

Tyrion waved his hands quickly. "Seven Gods, I may be merciful, but I dare not allow the enemy of Lannister to enter the court of Casterly Rock."

"Otherwise you won't even know how you died in the end." Tyrion left here, complaining all the time.

James was drinking, as he did almost every day.

"We are not far from Casterly Rock," Tyrion reminded him.

Podrick served them two thick-cut grilled steaks, the beef was rare, red, and soaked in blood and sauce.

Tyrion touched it and found it was the temperature that Jaime liked.

He pushed the plate forward and watched James pick up the knife skillfully and cut the beef like butter, without any lag. He put the knife down and switched hands to the fork, chewing the beef with full relish in his mouth.

"You're gaining an appetite," Tyrion said, opening and closing his mouth. "I need you."

James put down his fork without stopping what he was doing with his mouth.

After chewing for a while, he paused and asked, "How can I help?"

"Uncle Kevan wants me to continue the way of ruling by Lord Tywin, but..." Tyrion stroked his chin, looked around the tent, stepped forward and tore off the golden lion pennant hanging above his head, "But now is different from the past. The lions are no longer as strong as before, and the princes are no longer wrapped in gold foil shoes and holding silver-handled swords. Now they are all beggars wearing animal skin robes, squatting in front of the statue of the Virgin Mary and praying for a bag of food. They have all become barefoot civilians."

Tyrion sat down beside his brother. "Do you know anyone else in the standing army of Casterly Rock?"

"Damion Lannister is in charge of them. Perhaps that person has been replaced long ago."

Tillyyan shook his head. "No, my father just died. Damian doesn't have time to get involved at this time."

Jaime picked up his glass. "Lannisport Guard?"

"Uncle Kevan has handed me the token." Tyrion pulled out a golden ring with a lion's head carved on it. "This team will not move."

"What do you need a standing army from Casterly Rock for? I thought Artis Arryn would give you enough support."

"Just like the Dornishmen recklessly ran into the Stormlands, I don't think the westerlies have much good feelings towards the Vale army. I'd better not cause unnecessary trouble." Tyrion moistened his wine and continued to answer: "Before the attack on Oldtown, I asked Kevan to do some work for me and took over a lot of work for merchant ships in Oldtown Port, so I saved a lot of food. With these soldiers, I can patrol the Westerlands, distribute food, and also help me."

Jaime narrowed his eyes, "I thought the common people in King's Landing had enough food."

"Merchants are all profit-driven. I was indeed surprised that Euron Greyjoy took over Oldtown so easily, but his actions before this also helped us a lot. For example, the grain ships have to be sold eventually. It is a blessing for the Oldtown Chamber of Commerce to find a buyer who can take it all in one fell swoop."

"Arryn?" Jaime asked.

"Of course I ask." Tyrion waved his hand to Podrick, who was wearing two layers of thick woolen clothes and sweating in front of the hot stove.

Pod brought the hot wine jug over, moved the lid, and let the steam escape.

Tyrion took the wet towel from Pod's hand and grasped the handle of the kettle. "He is still contacting horse traders in various places, including the Westerlands."

Jaime looked at him. "I'm curious, brother," he took the wine from Tyrion, "are you a Lannister now, or..."

"The future belongs to Arryn," Tyrion said with certainty. "We have always been good at taking the lead, but we must eventually adapt to no longer being the leader. Otherwise, it will be a disaster if we are not in the position to make decisions."

Jaime was silent for a long time. He knew clearly that all Tyrion was thinking about now was the identity of the Warden of the West during a special period and even the Duke of Casterly Rock. "What do you want to do?"

"The army is behind me. The size of the standing army and garrison will not be reduced. They will remain the same. We will lend a helping hand to our own lord who is in disaster now."

"Food? Golden dragon?"

"And labor," Tyrion said. "I have learned from the Hand's work at Harrenhal and the Green Fork. The standing army of Casterly Rock and the Lannis garrison have helped in the restoration of the domain. There is also the food brought from Oldtown and King's Landing, and our great gold mines."

"What if," Jaime thought sharply, "Greyjoy came to attack Lannisport?"

Tyrion took a sip of his wine. "If the gods had not been unfavorable to us, Robb Stark would have lost his life at Casterly Rock."

"You mean"

"Davon Lannister is good at defense, using the castle as a chain. He was also the commander of the Lannisport garrison."

"I'm afraid he's still fishing on the island."

"I will go to the island and ask him to be responsible for guarding Lannisport. I will give him military power and the income from the nearby gold mines." Tyrion said.

"Gold mine?"

"Yes," Tyrion said firmly. "There is no use gathering wealth now. Although one stage of the war is over, if those damph-haired ironborn bring their iron axes and the faith of the Drowned God into the westerly, the war will spread."

"I don't know Euron Greyjoy," said Jaime, "but the fact that he was able to take Oldtown and subdue most of Hightower's army shows that he is not stupid."

"But very arrogant. Have you seen his declaration of war?" Tyrion asked.

James shook his head.

"He can declare war for any reason, but religion is mixed in. Maybe he can conquer King's Landing, but it will be difficult for him to win the hearts of the people."

"There are no warrior sons now."

"You are wrong," Tyrion smiled knowingly. "The Riverlands and the Crownlands are full of followers of the High Sparrow. Even if they are not organized, they are still a big trouble. Now it is Harold Hatton, under the Prime Minister, who is dealing with them, but this is a military order from Lord Artis Arryn."

"On the surface, a military order?"

"Once the declaration of war is sent, even if the Warrior Son does not agree with us, we can still work together for a period of time. And once we cooperate, as long as we give him some benefits after the war and share some of the profits, there will be no need to worry." Tyrion said with a proud look in his eyes.

James laughed out loud, "What's your suggestion?"

"What else?" Tyrion opened his hands.

Tyrion was a little excited. He squatted on the chair, staring at the hot wine on the table, muttering to himself through the white steam:
"Earl Haital is a kind man. He released all the mercenaries he recruited before the war. I don't know if it's because of financial constraints or something else, but in any case, we will not be short of manpower."

James frowned, "How many mercenaries are there?"

"No less than 20,000. At least a quarter of them were sold to my father. The rest are mercenaries from the Reach and Stormlands."

"Are you planning to recruit these mercenaries?"

"There is no use in hoarding wealth in times of crisis," Tyrion said. "It would be better to move them to Lannisport and place them under the command of Davon. I remember that when he was commander of the Lannisport garrison, he made friends with many sellsword groups."

James narrowed his eyes, "You're really capable, brother."

Tyrion tapped his head. "Euron Greyjoy may be very capable and knowledgeable in military strategy, but there is a fatal impression surrounding his family and his people."

"What impression?"

Tyrion took a sip of his wine, careful not to burn himself, and sighed. "Ironborn, a bunch of poor, broke people."

Jaime and Tyrion looked at each other and couldn't help but smile.

"And Lannister." Jaime deliberately left out the second half of the sentence.

"Shit Lilakin!"

(End of this chapter)