Game of Thrones: The Road to Pirate King

Chapter 430 Three Strategies Needed for Long-Term Stability

Luo Xiong lowered his head and pondered for a moment, his voice as steady as a rock: "To achieve long-term stability, three policies are needed: First, reduce taxes to appease the people; second, broaden trade routes to increase revenue; and most importantly, strengthen the foundation through marriage alliances."

The marriage alliance was an expected plan.

Euron nodded and said, "The Gubler family has a suitable candidate. Chief Giord Gubler has more than ten daughters, and coincidentally, three of his sons are triplets—isn't that fate?"

He tapped his fingers on the table and chuckled, "As the eldest son, Greton Gubler, the family heir, will naturally return to the Iron Islands to inherit the family business. His two brothers, Glenn Gubler and Grumman Gubler, are perfectly suited to be the new queen's husbands, continuing the tradition of the Iron Islands' twin husbands."

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Upon hearing this, Luo Xiong bowed deeply, his voice carrying an unusual firmness: "Your Excellency is wise. When Queen Galoya established the system of dual husbands, it was to balance the power of the Yi and Lei tribes on the island. Now that times have changed, clinging to the old system is probably not a good strategy."

Euron chuckled softly and said, "Perhaps—Lord Luo Xiong himself harbors selfish motives?" He tapped the armrest of the throne with his fingertips, "Does he not want to see his own flesh and blood suffer the fate of being married to two men?"

Luo Xiong's shoulders trembled slightly, and he finally lowered his head, tacitly agreeing with You Lun's statement.

Youlun tapped his knuckles lightly on the armrest, making a soft, resonant sound. "For the sake of public good, to consolidate our rule; for private reasons, to fulfill your daughter's wish. I grant your request." He nodded slightly. "A woman marrying two husbands is indeed a unique and outdated custom on Thunder Island, and it should have been abolished long ago." He paused briefly, then asked, "How will the people of Thunder Island react to this sudden change of a century-old custom?"

Luo Xiong bowed deeply, his robe sleeves fluttering slightly in the wind: "Now that we have come under the rule of the Iron Islands, old customs should naturally be adapted to the new dynasty's atmosphere." When he raised his head, his eyes were clear as a mirror. "As for trouble—even if we maintain the status quo, the inevitable storms will not be any less."

The last sentence, tinged with a faint sigh, was clear in every word: "I think that when you conquered the world, you never feared any trouble."

Euron let out a low chuckle, his knuckles tapping on the bronze table, causing his wine cup to tremble slightly. "If I were worried about trouble, my fleet would still be anchored on Pyke Island, and our Ironborn should be feasting and drinking there. Since I've chosen the Eastern Expedition, determined to go to the ends of the known world, there's no trouble in this world I can't handle." He casually waved his hand and said, "Then you shall choose one of the two sons of Gubler that you find pleasing and marry him to your daughter."

Luo Xiong suddenly bowed deeply, the jade pendant striking the bluestone ground with a clear sound: "The person to marry my daughter is neither Guberle nor any other nobleman—" He looked up, his eyes burning with an unusual light: "It must be you, the Lord of the Sea Beasts."

You Lun's brows furrowed sharply, and he said coldly, "What makes you say that?"

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"Thunder Island is a precious gem laced with poison!"

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Luo Xiong, his sleeves fluttering, pointed towards the three cities outside the window and said, "The Turani are inhabited by the natives of Lei Island, where Cicero Arnold's orders carry more weight than the Empress's edicts; Lei Yi and the city of Yi Di Yiqi face each other across the sea, and the Yi cavalry could crush the strait at any moment!"

He held the broken braid above his head with both hands, knelt down, and said, "Only your sea-king-like behemoth can intimidate the barbarian lands, control the seas, and prevent them from reinforcing their troops onto Thunder Island; the people of Thunder Island in Turani worship the strong most, and your reputation for slaying Cicero Arnold with three strikes can subdue them and make them submit. This marriage is not a red thread, but a steel cable to tether a wild horse! Only you are suitable!"

The candlelight cast their shadows onto the "Jade Sea Territory Map," with Euron's shadow covering the entire Thunder Island.

Euron waved his hand and said, "The matter of the marriage alliance can be discussed later." He then asked, "Has the Empress's decree been delivered to the other two cities?"

Luo Xiong's sleeves fluttered slightly, and as he bowed, his jade pendant jingled softly: "At dawn this morning, I dispatched three messengers to the two locations."

.

Euron said calmly, "Then we'll wait and see."

"It depends on whether they choose to kneel and worship, or whether I need to personally invite them."

Euron smiled and said, "It seems you'll have to put in a lot of effort to appease the people of Ray-Ma and stabilize your old army."

Luo Xiong bowed slightly, his words clear and calm: "Within Lei Ma City, there are four main groups: the native inhabitants of Lei Island, the merchants from the barbarian lands who live for profit, the lower-class citizens seeking survival and security, and the city guards who were originally part of the royal family." He explained in detail, "There's no need to worry about the barbarian merchants. They come for profit and will leave for profit. As long as the trade routes are open and the rules are clear, they will be the most compliant group."

"The local indigenous people and the large number of lower-class citizens of Lei Island can be appeased simply by being lenient. If they have food to eat and clothes to wear, and can see hope in their lives, their hearts will naturally be at peace."

"The ones who need the most careful handling are the former city guards whose weapons have been confiscated. They need to be completely disbanded, reorganized, and placed under the direct command of Iron Citizen officers in order to prevent future troubles."

Upon hearing this, Euron let out a low, ambiguous hum: "Hmm. If it weren't for your planning here, if my Iron Islands men were to handle things themselves—" A cold, fierce glint flashed in his eyes: "I'm afraid it wouldn't be so meticulous. Inevitably, we would have to use thousands upon thousands of heads, letting the blood flow like rivers, to truly intimidate people."

Luo Xiong's expression immediately became extremely complex. He remained silent, only lowering his head further and nodding slightly. In that gesture, there was both relief at having avoided a bloody massacre, and a trace of heaviness and helplessness as a surrendered subject who had personally participated in the old order of his homeland.

You Lun took in the fleeting complex expression on Luo Xiong's face and smiled, "I know a little about your past, but I don't know how much of the rumors are true and how much is false."

Before Luo Xiong could respond, You Lun leisurely recounted that long-forgotten history: "At the end of the Golden Heaven Dynasty in the Yi region, the Scarlet Dynasty established its capital in Xingdu, historically known as the Luo Dynasty. Its forty-third emperor, Luo Bao, was the ruler who brought about the downfall of the country." You Lun's eyes locked onto Luo Xiong, and he continued, "And you, the last bloodline of this Luo Dynasty flows in your veins."

Luo Xiong remained calm, as if listening to a story unrelated to himself, and bowed slightly, saying, "Sir, those are all old stories from many years ago, and no one cares about them anymore."

""

"Hahaha," Euron laughed loudly, "no matter how old the past is, it can't change the fact that you were once royalty."

Luo Xiong did not argue further, but simply smiled awkwardly, hiding all his emotions behind that helpless smile.

Euron changed the subject, speaking casually, "Alright, let's not dwell on the past. Tonight, invite the Queen and your daughters, and we'll dine together." A hint of interest flickered in his eyes. "I'd like to try the unique flavors of the food from Thunder Island and the barbarian lands."

Luo Xiong immediately bowed and accepted the order: "Yes, I will arrange it right away and make sure the imperial chefs present their best dishes."