Chapter 21: Fiscal Reform and the Confrontation with Littlefinger
Lin Hao's "King's Landing Economic Revitalization Plan" exploded like a bombshell in Eddard Stark's study.
Eddard and Maester Luwin spent an entire afternoon barely digesting the groundbreaking concepts Lin Haohad proposed.
"Hodor, your ideas... they are truly too..." Maester Luwin's beard trembled with excitement as he struggled to find the right words, "Too incredible! If it can truly be realized, let alone a single tourney, there would likely be enough funds for another Usurper's War!"
Hope rekindled in Eddard Stark's eyes.
He looked at his bastard nephew with an expression full of appreciation and a hint of awe.
He increasingly felt that Hodor's mind contained a vast and profound world that he could not fully comprehend.
"But," Eddard's brow furrowed again quickly, "to implement this plan, one person is unavoidable—Petyr Baelish. The kingdom's finances have always been firmly in his hands. If we try to take food from his bowl, he will never stand for it."
"Of course he won't." Lin Hao was well aware of this. "So, we cannot directly contend with him; instead, we must use an 'open conspiracy.'"
"An open conspiracy?"
"Exactly." Lin Hao's eyes sparkled with wisdom. "We won't touch his position as Master of Coin, nor will we question his existing tax system. We will only do one thing—propose to His Majesty the King the establishment of a 'Royal Port and Trade Commission,' directly led by the Hand, aimed at'sharing His Majesty's burdens and generating revenue for the kingdom.'"
"Our slogan is 'increase revenue,' not 'cut expenses.' His Majesty the King's biggest worry right now is a lack of funds. If we tell him we have a way to earn him a large sum of money without touching a single coin from the treasury, do you think he will refuse?"
Eddard's eyes immediately lit up.
Though Robert was incompetent, his desire for money was very real.
This proposal was exactly what he wanted!
"As for Littlefinger," Lin Hao continued, "at the Small Council meeting, he has no reason to object. Objecting to the King making money? He cannot bear that accusation. At most, he can feign compliance and cause trouble behind the scenes. But as long as we secure the King's authorization, we will hold the legal high ground. Then, if he dares to interfere, we will have every right to cut off his claws!"
These words made Eddard's blood boil. He felt that the frustration he had experienced everywhere in King's Landing finally found an outlet!
"Good! Let's do it!" Eddard slammed his hand on the table, making up his mind. "Hodor, this 'Commission' will be entirely your responsibility! I will give you authorization, I will give you men! I want to see what tricks those southern schemers can pull!"
...At the Small Council meeting the next day, when Eddard Stark formally presented the proposal, it indeed caused a stir, just as Lin Hao had predicted.
King Robert, hearing there was a way to make money without spending any, immediately became enthusiastic and expressed strong support on the spot.
Lord Renly Baratheon and others, pleased to see House Lannister and Littlefinger thwarted, also expressed their agreement.
And Littlefinger, Petyr Baelish, maintained his signature benevolent smile from beginning to end.
"The Hand's idea is truly refreshing." He was the first to stand up and express support, his tone so sincere that no fault could be found. "I completely agree. It is the honor of every subject to share the burdens of His Majesty the King and the kingdom. If the Commission has any financial needs, my treasury will fully cooperate."
He acted flawlessly, as if he were truly a loyal subject devoted to public service.
But in the depths of his grey-green eyes, Lin Hao caught a fleeting, cold glint like that of a venomous snake.
Lin Hao knew that a feud had officially begun.
After the meeting, Littlefinger "coincidentally" met Lin Hao in the corridor.
"Lord Snow, you are truly young and promising," he greeted with a smile, as if they were old friends.
"Lord Baelish flatters me," Lin Hao returned the smile. "I merely offered some immature suggestions to the Hand. Whether they succeed still depends heavily on the support of pillars of the realm like yourself."
"Of course, of course." Littlefinger leaned in closer and whispered in a voice only the two of them could hear, "However, the waters of King's Landing's port run very deep. It's good for young people to be ambitious, but be careful not to accidentally fall in and drown. After all, drowned people can't even cry for help."
It was an outright threat.
Lin Hao's smile remained unchanged, but his eyes suddenly sharpened.
He likewise lowered his voice and responded, "Thank you for the warning, Lord. However, I've also heard that during the North's winter, there's a kind of wolf that excels at fishing in icy waters. They wait very patiently for the fish to leap out of the water themselves, and then, they bite through its throat in one go."
After speaking, he no longer looked at Littlefinger's suddenly stiff smile, turned, and walked away.
At the end of the corridor, the sun was shining brightly.
Lin Hao bathed in the sunlight, a cold curve on his lips.
He knew that the war between himself and King's Landing's greatest "fisherman" had officially begun.
Chapter 22: Vigorous Port Reform
With dual authorization from the King and the Hand, Lin Hao's "Royal Harbor and Trade Committee" was established with astonishing speed.
Eddard Stark kept his promise, assigning all fifty of his most elite and loyal North Territory Guards to Lin Hao's command.
Although these men did not understand business, their strict discipline and absolute obedience made them the best candidates for restoring order and deterring troublemakers.
Lin Hao's first act in office targeted Lan Ni Men Wharf, the most chaotic and lucrative area in King's Landing.
This was a gathering place for smugglers, thieves, and various grey industries.
Previously, the City Watch (Gold Cloaks) had turned a blind eye to the area, as they received a substantial "tribute" each month from the gang leaders.
Early that morning, as the wharf workers and vendors began their daily business as usual, fifty guards, cloaked in the wolf sigil and armed with North Territory longswords, led by Lin Hao, swept through the entire wharf like a cold wind.
"By order of the Hand, the Royal Harbor Affairs Committee is established! From today, all berths, warehousing, and transactions at Lan Ni Men Wharf shall be under the unified management of the Committee!"
The loud voice of a North Territory Guard echoed throughout the wharf.
Everyone was stunned.
Soon, several gang leaders, looking like local thugs, approached menacingly with over a hundred ruffians armed with clubs and daggers.
"Where did these Northmen come from, daring to cause trouble on our turf?" the one-eyed leader growled, "Do you know the rules here? If you want to do business, you have to ask our 'Mud Gang' first!"
"Mud Gang?" Lin Hao, on horseback, looked down at him, his eyes as calm as a deep pool of water. "I haven't heard of them. I only know that this is the King's land."
"It seems you prefer a beating to a toast!" The one-eyed man sneered, waving his hand at his subordinates. "Brothers, give these Northmen a taste of what we're made of!"
Over a hundred ruffians charged forward with shouts.
However, they faced the elite of the North Territory, seasoned by countless bloody battles with wildlings!
"Form ranks!"
At Lin Hao's command, the fifty North Territory Guardsinstantly formed an impenetrable shield wall formation.
Longswords thrust out from the gaps in the shields, uniform and precise, like the quills of a porcupine.
The ruffians at the forefront didn't even have time to react before they were run through by the sharp longswords.
"Pfft!"
"Pfft!"
Blood splattered!
In just one encounter, over a dozen ruffians fell into pools of blood.
The disparity between a disorganized mob and a regular army was vividly demonstrated at this moment.
The remaining ruffians were terrified by the bloody scene and retreated with cries of alarm.
"Trying to run?" A cold glint flashed in Lin Hao's eyes.
He leaped from his horse, moving like a ghost, and charged directly at the one-eyed man who was still barking orders.
The one-eyed man was startled and raised his machete to resist.
But before his blade could even be fully raised, the scabbard of Lin Hao's sword struck his wrist, precisely and swiftly.
"Crack!"
His wrist snapped!
The one-eyed man let out a pig-like shriek, and his machete clattered to the ground.
Before he could react, Lin Hao's knee slammed into his abdomen.
In excruciating pain, he doubled over like a cooked shrimp and collapsed.
Lin Hao placed a foot on his chest, the tip of his unsheathed longsword resting steadily on his single eye.
"Now, I'll ask again," Lin Hao's voice was not loud, but it clearly carried across the entire wharf, "Whose territory is this?"
The one-eyed man trembled, feeling the icy killing intent emanating from the sword tip. He had no doubt that if he uttered a single wrong word, the sword would mercilessly pierce his only eye.
"It's... it's His Majesty the King's territory! It's the Hand's territory! It's... it's yours, my lord!" he shrieked, using all his strength.
Lin Hao nodded in satisfaction and withdrew his longsword.
He looked around, at the cowering ruffians and vendors, and announced loudly:
"From today, Lan Ni Men Wharf will no longer have a 'Mud Gang,' nor any other gangs! All wharf workers must register with the Committee; we will provide stable work and wages for everyone!"
"All merchant ships must pay fixed 'berth taxes' and 'transaction taxes' according to their tonnage and cargo value! We will ensure order at the wharf and guarantee the safety of your goods and persons!"
"Thieves, robbers, and smugglers, once discovered, will be severely punished without leniency!"
"Of course, if anyone is willing to voluntarily report crimes, the Committee will provide generous rewards based on the value of the information!"
A series of policies, combining both deterrence and incentives, quickly established a brand new order on the chaotic wharf.
This scene was witnessed by a person in an inconspicuous corner of a teahouse in the distance.
"Quite interesting."
Littlefinger Petyr Baelish held his teacup, watching the young and upright figure on the wharf, a playful yet cold glint flashing in his grey-green eyes.
"It seems my young friend from the North not only has sharp claws but also sharp teeth," he murmured to his attendant.
"My lord, do we need to..." The attendant made a throat-slitting gesture.
"No, no need." Littlefinger shook his head, a foxy smile appearing on his face. "The game has just begun. Killing him would be too easy. I want him to watch with his own eyes as everything he painstakingly built crumbles in an instant."
Chapter 23 The Joint Strangulation of the Golden Robe and the Ministry of Finance
Lin Hao's thunderous methods quickly took effect.
Under the absolute deterrence of force and the policy of "rewards for reporting," the deeply entrenched dark forces at Lan Ni Men Wharf were uprooted in just three days.
Dozens of gang leaders and key members were apprehended by the North Territory Guards and handed over to the Prime Minister's personal guard for custody.
The order at the wharf was unprecedentedly clear.
Immediately after, Lin Hao implemented his commercial reforms.
He re-divided the wharf area, establishing "Bulk Cargo Zone," "Container Zone," and "Storage Zone," greatly improving the efficiency of cargo loading, unloading, and circulation.
He also introduced the concept of "Customs Gold Certificates."
All merchants who paid taxes would receive a certificate issued by the Committee and stamped with the Prime Minister's seal.
This certificate was not only proof of tax payment but could also be used as collateral for a certain amount in several large merchant houses in King's Landing that cooperated with the Committee.
This measure greatly revitalized the merchants' cash flow and was met with unprecedented welcome!
In just one week, the tax revenue of Lan Ni Men Wharfreached the total of an entire month from before!
When Lin Hao personally handed over the first batch of taxes, a full five thousand gold dragons, to Eddard Stark, the Warden of the North was so excited he couldn't speak.
He looked at the glittering gold coins in the box and, for the first time in King's Landing, experienced the pleasure of controlling the situation.
King Robert, upon hearing of this, was even more delighted, praising Lin Hao profusely at a banquet in front of all the ministers and bestowing upon him the title of "Royal Trade Advisor." Although it was merely an honorary title, it was undoubtedly the greatest affirmation of his achievements.
Lin Hao's prominence was unrivaled for a time.
However, the more successful he became, the more he touched upon the core interests of certain individuals.
A joint strangulation campaign against him was quietly brewing in the dark.
The first to make trouble was the City Watch, also known as the "Gold Cloaks."
Lan Ni Men Wharf was their largest source of illicit income, and now that Lin Hao had completely shut it down, Commander Janos Slynt had long harbored resentment.
One day, as a merchant ship from Pentos was unloading at Lan Ni Men Wharf, a squad of Gold Cloaks suddenly rushed in, demanding to search the cargo on the grounds of "suspecting contraband on board."
The North Territory Guards, responsible for order at the wharf, immediately stepped forward to block them.
"This is the territory of the Harbor Affairs Committee! Without the Prime Minister's warrant, no one is allowed to search arbitrarily!" the captain of the North Territory Guards, a man named Jory, shouted sternly.
"Prime Minister?" The Gold Cloak centurion sneered, "We are acting on the orders of the Master of Coin, Lord Baelish! The Treasury suspects this ship of tax evasion and smuggling, and we have the right to seize it!"
They directly invoked Littlefinger's name.
Swords were drawn, and the atmosphere instantly became extremely tense.
Just then, Lin Hao arrived upon hearing the news.
"What's going on?" he asked coldly.
"Lord Hodor!" Jory immediately stepped forward to report, "They want to forcibly search the merchant ship!"
Lin Hao looked at the Gold Cloak centurion, his gaze sharp as a knife: "Lord Baelish's orders? Where is the warrant?"
The centurion clearly hadn't expected Lin Hao to come personally; his eyes darted nervously, but he still stiffened and said, "The warrant... the warrant is on its way! We are just following orders!"
"Without a warrant, it's an illegal intrusion," Lin Hao's voice was devoid of emotion, "Jory, I authorize you. Anyone who trespasses on the wharf and disrupts normal trade order, regardless of their status, is to be apprehended! If they resist, kill them without mercy!"
"You wouldn't dare!" The Gold Cloak centurion was both shocked and enraged.
But before he could finish speaking, Jory and the North Territory Guards behind him had already drawn their gleaming longswords!
That chilling killing intent from the North, like that of an ice wolf, instantly made the Gold Cloaks present weak in the knees.
Although they were numerous, in terms of combat power, they were not on the same level as these North Territory elites.
"Apprehend them!"
At Jory's command, the North Territory Guards pounced like wolves and tigers.
The Gold Cloaks offered a few symbolic resistances, then were beaten crying and screaming, their weapons confiscated, and all were tightly bound.
Lin Hao's toughness once again deterred everyone.
However, he knew this was just an appetizer.
Littlefinger's counterattack would certainly not be so simple.
Sure enough, that afternoon, the Treasury announced the freezing of all accounts of merchant houses cooperating with the Harbor Affairs Committee, citing "unclear accounts of the Harbor Affairs Committee and suspected corruption," and dispatched tax officials to conduct a "thorough investigation" of all accounts since the Committee's establishment.
This move was a complete undermining!
As soon as the news broke, the entire business community of King's Landing was in an uproar. Those merchants who had just built trust with the Committee immediately became anxious.
The newly established "Customs Gold Certificate" credit system was fragile and vulnerable in the face of the Treasury's state machinery.
Littlefinger didn't even need to show his face; with just one order, he brought everything Lin Hao had painstakingly built to the brink of paralysis.
Eddard Stark, upon hearing the news, was furious and immediately wanted to confront Littlefinger face-to-face.
But Lin Hao stopped him.
"My Lord, don't be impulsive." Lin Hao's expression was more serious than ever, "Since he dares to do this, it means he has made thorough preparations. If you go to him now, you will only fall into his trap, and it will be of no help."
"Then what do we do?!" Eddard was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan, "Are we just going to watch him destroy the situation we've worked so hard to build?"
"Of course not."
A cold, snake-like glint flashed in Lin Hao's eyes.
"If he wants to play dirty, we'll play along to the end."
"He has his schemes, but I have my ways to counter them."
"It's time to let him taste what 'pulling the rug out from under' feels like."
Chapter 24: Counterattack! Igniting the Fuse of the Private Salt Market
In the study of the Tower of the Hand, the atmosphere was so oppressive it felt as if water could drip from it.
Eddard Stark paced back and forth, his face filled with anxiety and anger.
Littlefinger's combination of moves caught this upright man from the North off guard, leaving him with strength but nowhere to use it.
"Hodor, what exactly is your plan?" he couldn't help but ask.
Lin Hao, however, appeared unusually calm. He walked to the map of King's Landing hanging on the wall, his gaze falling on an inconspicuous place—Flea Bottom.
"My Lord, do you know who the biggest private salt dealer in King's Landing is?" he suddenly asked an unrelated question.
"Private salt dealer?" Eddard was taken aback. "How would I know such things? That's the City Watch's business."
"No, they can't manage it. Because the biggest private salt boss in King's Landing is none other than the Commander of the City Watch, Janos Slynt himself," Lin Hao calmly dropped a bombshell.
Eddard Stark's eyes instantly widened, his face full of disbelief.
"This... this is impossible! As Commander, how dare he..."
"Why wouldn't he dare?" Lin Hao's lips curved into a sneer. "In King's Landing, power is the best pass. Slynt, relying on his Gold Cloaks, monopolizes the private salt trade in all of Flea Bottom, earning profits annually that are probably more than ten times his salary from the King."
"And this business, if it didn't have a 'big shot' backing him and providing protection, do you think a commander from such a humble background could manage it so smoothly?"
Eddard was not a fool; he instantly understood Lin Hao's implication and blurted out, "Are you saying... Petyr Baelish?!"
"More or less," Lin Hao nodded. "Littlefinger needs money to fill the treasury's deficit and to cultivate his own power. And private salt is undoubtedly one of the fastest and most secretive ways to make money. He and Slynt, one providing protection, the other handling operations, are like grasshoppers tied to the same rope."
Eddard Stark listened with a pounding heart; he felt that this city beneath his feet was rotten from the inside out.
"This... this is simply lawless! I must go and report to the King immediately, to have them..."
"It's useless, My Lord," Lin Hao interrupted him again. "You have no evidence. Littlefinger acts meticulously, never leaving any direct handle. If you rashly accuse him like this, he will only bite back, claiming you are seeking personal revenge."
"Then what should we do?" Eddard felt like he was punching cotton, immensely frustrated.
"He wants to cut off our financial path, so we will burn his granary first." Lin Hao's eyes gleamed with a dangerous yet excited light.
"My Lord, I need your authorization."
"What authorization?"
"Authorize me, in the name of the Harbor Affairs Committee, to supply 'Royal Fine Salt' to all incoming ships, without limit and without price increase, starting today!"
"What?!" Eddard and Maester Luwin exclaimed simultaneously.
Salt, in any era, was the most important strategic material and source of revenue, strictly controlled by the government.
The price of official salt had always been high.
And now Lin Hao intended to disrupt the entire salt market at a fair, or even low, price?!
"Hodor, have you gone mad?" Maester Luwin urgently asked. "If we do this, not only will we not make money, but we will also lose all the funds we have! This is suicide!"
"No, this is not suicide." Lin Hao's smile was full of confidence. "This is... dumping."
"Littlefinger and Slynt's private salt flourished because its price was cheaper than official salt. But no matter how cheap, they still need to make money. What we are going to do now is to completely crush their market with the lowest prices, regardless of cost!"
"If they sell for ten copper pieces a pound, we'll sell for eight! If they drop to eight, we'll sell for five! We have the Hand's authorization, the 'Royal' name, our salt is better quality, lower priced, and has stronger credibility! Tell me, which salt will the commoners in Flea Bottom choose to buy?"
Eddard Stark listened, dumbfounded. He seemed to see a war without gunpowder, yet more bloody than swords.
"But... where will our money come from? We can't last long at all!" Eddard pointed out the most crucial problem.
"We don't need to last long." A sly glint flashed in Lin Hao's eyes. "We only need to last until... someone else can't hold on before us."
"Littlefinger might be able to keep his composure, but Janos Slynt, that fool, when he sees his biggest source of wealth uprooted, what do you think he will do?"
"He will... lash out!" Eddard instantly understood Lin Hao's entire plan.
Lin Hao's true purpose was not to make money by selling salt at all!
He intended to use commercial dumping to force Janos Slynt, Littlefinger's hidden 'moneybag,' to expose himself and reveal his weaknesses!
Once Slynt, to protect his private salt business, used the Gold Cloaks to violently interfere with the Committee's 'legal salt sales,' he would fall into Lin Hao's carefully laid trap!
By then, he would be caught red-handed, with irrefutable evidence!
Eddard Stark could then, as the Hand, legitimately uproot this biggest cancerous growth that Littlefinger had planted in the City Watch!
"Good... what a brilliant 'lure the snake out of its hole' strategy!" Maester Luwin stroked his beard, trembling with excitement.
A piercing light also burst forth from Eddard Stark's eyes.
He looked at this young man, whose schemes were interconnected and whose calculations were flawless, and for the first time, a thought arose in his mind:
Perhaps he really could defeat those Southern vipers in this game of power.
"I authorize you!" Eddard Stark no longer hesitated. He took out his Hand's seal from his bosom and pressed it firmly onto a blank authorization form.
"Go forth and do it, Hodor!"
"The sky over King's Landing, it's time for it to change!"
Chapter 25: The Salt War Breaks Out, Slynt's End
With a single command, the entire Harbor Affairs Committee immediately began operating like a precise war machine, running at high speed.
Lin Hao used all the liquid funds in the committee's account to purchase an entire ship's worth of sea salt from a salt merchant from Braavos, at a price slightly above market value.
Immediately, notices bearing the 'Hand of the King's' crest were posted throughout the streets and alleys of King's Landing.
"To celebrate the Hand of the King's appointment and to show concern for the people's livelihood, the Royal Harbor Affairs Committee specially offers 'Royal Refined Salt'! Price: five coppers per pound! Limited quantity, first come, first served!"
Five coppers!
This price was only half of the official salt price, even cheaper than the low-quality private salt found in Flea Bottom!
As soon as the news broke, all of King's Landing erupted!
Countless common people flocked to Lan Ni Men Wharf, forming queues several miles long.
They looked at the snow-white, clean 'Royal Refined Salt,' personally guarded by North Territory Guards, and then at the unbelievably low price, almost believing that the Old Gods had manifested.
On the first day, the Harbor Affairs Committee's warehouse sold nearly ten thousand pounds of salt.
On the second day, the news spread throughout King's Landing, and sales tripled directly.
On the third day, even residents from some surrounding towns and villages came by carriage to snap up the salt.
Lin Hao's salt war, like a tsunami, instantly shattered King's Landing's impregnable private salt market...
At the City Watch headquarters, in the office of Commander Janos Slynt, there were sounds of breaking porcelain and angry roars.
"Useless! A bunch of useless people!"
Slynt's ugly face was contorted with rage.
He pointed at the trembling private salt dealers' bosses kneeling on the ground and cursed:
"Didn't you say that all of Flea Bottom was our territory? And now? Three days! Only three days! We can't even sell a single pound of our salt!"
"Commander, this... this isn't our fault!" one boss said with a mournful face, "The salt that northerner sells is cheaper than our cost price! And the quality is better! We... we can't compete with him at all!"
"I don't care!" Slynt roared like an enraged bull, "You go now, take your men, and smash that damned wharf for me! Pour all their salt into Blackwater Bay!"
"But Commander... there are North Territory Guardsguarding it, they... they really dare to kill people!"
"What are you afraid of?!" Slynt kicked over the chair beside him, "This is King's Landing! This is our territory! No matter how arrogant those northerners are, can they be bigger than us Gold Cloaks?!"
However, just as he was about to issue a death order, a Gold Cloaks guard ran in, looking flustered.
"Commander, bad news! Lord Petyr Baelish sent word, telling you... telling you not to act rashly under any circumstances, and especially not to use the Gold Cloaksto cause trouble at the wharf."
"What?!" Slynt was stunned, then became even more furious, "Why?! Are we just going to watch that northerner smash our rice bowl?! What does Lord Baelishmean by this?!"
The attendant who delivered the message looked troubled and could only relay Littlefinger's original words: "Lord Baelish said this is a trap. The other party wants to force you to act. Once you use official power to interfere with legitimate commercial activities, the Hand of the King can immediately send you to the execution block on charges of 'abuse of power and collusion between officials and merchants.'"
Slynt trembled all over, as if a basin of cold water had been poured over him from head to toe, and he instantly calmed down.
Only then did he realize that he had almost walked right into the trap carefully laid by the other party.
"Then... what should we do?" he asked, somewhat at a loss.
The attendant shook his head: "Lord Baelish didn't say. He only said to endure."
"Endure?!" Slynt's eyes turned red, "Every day we endure, we lose hundreds and thousands of gold dragons! How can we endure this?!"
He paced anxiously around the room like a trapped beast in a cage.
He dared not disobey Littlefinger's command. But watching his gold mountain being dug away, he simply could not swallow this insult.
The enormous financial losses had already made him lose his basic judgment.
"Can't use the Gold Cloaks... can't use official power..." he muttered to himself, a hint of mad ruthlessness flashing in his eyes.
"Good! Since official means won't work, we'll solve it the underworld way!"
He suddenly turned around and gave his final command to the private salt dealers' bosses:
"You, right now, immediately gather all the capable and reckless desperadoes in the city! Tonight, I want you to set fire to that damned wharf warehouse!"
"Remember, do it cleanly! Just say the dockworkers were careless and knocked over a candle!"
"As long as their salt is burned, I'd like to see what they'll use to fight me!"
Janos Slynt, pushed to the brink, finally chose a shortcut to hell.
Chapter 26: Lure the snake out of its hole and catch the criminal red-handed
The night in King's Landing is never truly silent.
But at Lan Ni Men Wharf, tonight was unusually quiet.
After several days of frantic buying, the first batch of "Royal Fine Salt" from the Harbor Affairs Committeewarehouse was almost sold out.
Lin Hao also took the opportunity to announce that the second batch of sea salt was on its way, urging citizens not to panic.
On the wharf, apart from a few patrol teams made up of North Territory Guards, there was none of the daytime hustle and bustle.
However, beneath this calm, a dangerous aura was quietly spreading in the darkness.
Lin Hao was not resting in his room.
He stood silently on top of the tallest warehouse on the wharf, dressed in a black, close-fitting outfit, like a hawk in the night, overlooking the entire area.
Beside him were Jory, the captain of the North Territory Guards, and ten other elite archers.
They had all drawn their bowstrings, and their arrows gleamed with a chilling light in the moonlight.
"My Lord, are you sure they will come tonight?" Joryasked in a low voice.
"They will," Lin Hao's tone was very certain. "Janos Slynt, that fool whose head is muddled by greed, definitely won't be able to endure for too long. Littlefinger won't let him use the Gold Cloaks, so he can only resort to these underhanded methods."
"Hmph, a bunch of rats from the gutter," Jory spat disdainfully.
Lin Hao said nothing, just waited quietly.
His Dragon King's Blood endowed him with night vision and perception far beyond ordinary people.
Any rustle within several hundred meters could not escape his ears and eyes.
Time passed, minute by minute.
Just at midnight, when the entire city was plunged into deep slumber, dozens of dark figures, like ghosts, quietly crept out from the dark alleys around the wharf.
They held torches, oil cans, and various weapons in their hands, and although they deliberately lightened their steps, the undeniable banditry exposed their identities.
They were precisely the thugs and desperadoes Slynt had hired with heavy money.
"They're here," a cold killing intent flashed in Lin Hao's eyes.
He did not immediately order an attack, but waited patiently, waiting for the biggest fish to swim into the net itself.
The group of thugs was clearly familiar with the layout of the wharf; they avoided several overt patrol teams and headed directly towards the largest warehouse storing salt.
The warehouse door was locked, but this was not difficult for them.
Several people took out tools and quickly pried open the lock.
"Quick! Pour all the oil on! Burn this place down!" the scarred leader urged in a low voice.
Dozens of people immediately rushed into the warehouse, beginning to liberally douse the sacks and wooden planks with the lamp oil in their hands. The pungent smell of lamp oil quickly filled the air.
Just as they were about to light the fire!
An unexpected person, leading a squad of Gold Cloaks, suddenly appeared at the warehouse entrance.
It was none other than the Commander of the City Watch, Janos Slynt himself!
He was clearly still uneasy about these thugs and had personally come to "supervise the battle."
He thought he had done it without anyone knowing, but he didn't realize that his every move had already fallen into the hawk-like eyes on the rooftop.
"My Lord, why have you come?" The scarred man, seeing Slynt, quickly stepped forward and said fawningly.
"Enough nonsense! How are things progressing?" Slyntasked impatiently.
"Don't worry, the oil has been poured. As soon as you give the order, this place will immediately turn into a sea of fire!"
"Good!" A fierce satisfaction flashed in Slynt's eyes. "Light it! Burn it clean! Leave no trace!"
"Yes!"
The scarred man grinned menacingly, raising the torch in his hand high, about to throw it onto the sacks soaked in lamp oil.
However, at this very moment!
"Whoosh—!!!"
An arrow, like a bolt of lightning in the night, descended from the sky with a sharp whooshing sound!
It accurately pierced the scarred man's raised wrist!
"Ah!!!"
A shrill scream pierced the tranquility of the night.
The torch fell from his hand, landing on the ground, and before it could ignite the lamp oil, it was fiercely stomped out by a foot, wearing a North Territory boot, that suddenly appeared.
"Who?!"
Slynt and all the thugs were greatly startled, and they suddenly looked up.
They saw that the warehouse roof was, at some unknown point, filled with North Territory Guards holding bows and arrows!
And at their forefront, the young man in black was slowly lowering his longbow, his eyes as cold as the eternal ice of the North Territory.
"Commander Janos Slynt," Lin Hao's voice, like a judgment from hell, "coming here so late, and bringing so many 'friends,' are you planning to help me guard the warehouse?"
At the same time, countless torches instantly lit up all around the warehouse!
Hundreds of North Territory Guards and members of the Prime Minister's Guard, armed with swords and shields, surged out from the darkness, surrounding the entire warehouse so tightly that not even a drop of water could get through!
Leading them was the Prime Minister himself, Eddard, clad in heavy armor and wielding the greatsword "Ice"!
He looked at the panicked faces in the warehouse, at the cans of lamp oil on the ground, and then at Janos Slynt, whose face had instantly turned ashen white. In his grey eyes, a raging fire burned.
"Commander Slynt!" Eddard's voice, like the winter wind, swept through the hearts of everyone present. "Do you have anything else to say?!"
Slynt trembled all over; he knew he was finished.
He had fallen into a trap, a trap tailor-made for him, one from which he could never recover!
Caught red-handed!
Chapter 27: Beheading Slynt and shocking King's Landing
"No... it wasn't me! It was them! They were going to set the fire!"
In the face of absolute despair, Janos Slynt chose the most foolish and pathetic response: denial and scapegoating.
He pointed at the thugs, who were already scared witless, and screamed at the top of his lungs, "My Lord Hand! I received intelligence that villains intended to set the docks ablaze, and I specifically brought men to apprehend them! These people are all witnesses!"
He didn't even believe his own words.
Eddard Stark looked at his ugly face, his eyes filled with such disgust and anger that it almost solidified.
"Apprehend?" Eddard sneered, his voice full of icy killing intent, "My men saw with their own eyes and heard with their own ears that it was you who ordered them to light the fire!"
"This is a frame-up! It's this North Territory bastard framing me!" Slynt completely lost his mind, pointing at Lin Hao on the rooftop, roaring like a mad dog.
Lin Hao merely looked at him coldly, as if he were looking at a dead man.
Eddard Stark no longer wasted words on him.
He raised his greatsword, Ice, its Valyrian steel blade shimmering with a cold light like moonlight.
"Janos Slynt," Eddard's voice was like a final judgment, "as the Commander of the City Watch, you knowingly broke the law, colluded with merchants, and condoned your subordinates' smuggling for profit. Now, you have hired ruffians with the intent to burn down the royal warehouse. Your crimes are heinous!"
"I, in the name of the hand of the king and Warden of the North, sentence you to death!"
"Execute immediately!"
The last four words exploded like thunder in everyone's ears.
Slynt went limp and collapsed to the ground, a foul, liquid smell emanating from his crotch.
He never imagined that Eddard Stark would dare... would dare to execute him, the City Watch Commander, on the spot without a trial by the king!
"No! You can't kill me! I am a commander appointed by the king! You don't have that authority!" he shrieked in terror.
"In the North Territory, we have an old saying." Eddard Stark walked towards him step by step, his greatsword looking particularly menacing in the firelight, "The man who passes the sentence must swing the sword."
"This is the law of House Stark!"
He stood before Slynt, ignoring his snot- and tear-streaked ugliness.
"Hold him down!"
Two tall North Territory Guards immediately stepped forward and, as if grabbing a chick, pressed Slynt firmly to his knees on the ground.
Eddard Stark raised Ice high.
"No—!!!"
Slynt let out his last, unwilling roar in life.
"Pfft—!"
Blood splattered!
An ugly head, filled with fear and disbelief, flew into the air, tracing a bloody arc before rolling to the side with a "gurgle."
The headless corpse crashed to the ground, its blood staining the soil of King's Landing.
The entire dock fell into a dead silence.
Everyone was stunned into speechlessness by this bloody and shocking scene.
The thugs and ruffians were even more terrified, kneeling on the ground and kowtowing like pounding garlic.
Eddard Stark, in the most direct and North Territory way, declared his resolve and iron fist to all of King's Landing!
He flicked the blood from his sword, his gaze sweeping over everyone present, finally settling on the Gold Cloaks, who were also pale with fear.
"From now on," his voice was cold and authoritative, "the City Watch will be temporarily taken over by me, the hand of the king!"
"All those involved in tonight's events are to be arrested and interrogated thoroughly!"
"The rest of you, return to your posts! If there is any unrest, Janos Slynt will be your fate!"
With that, he sheathed his sword, turned, and strode away, never once looking back at the corpse.
On the rooftop, Lin Hao watched all of this, his eyes filled with complex emotions.
He had successfully lured the snake out of its hole, eliminating Slynt, Littlefinger's minion.
However, Eddard Stark's unyielding and decisive handling of the situation had also completely pushed himself against all the old powers in King's Landing.
This was a double-edged sword.
It deterred the petty criminals but also stirred up a hornet's nest.
He could almost foresee the terrifying political storm that would erupt when this news spread throughout the Red Keep at dawn tomorrow.
And the center of that storm would be his uncle, this stubborn and overly honorable Warden of the North.
"Trouble has only just begun..."
Lin Hao sighed softly, his figure disappearing into the night.
Chapter 28: The Storm in the Court and the King's Suspicion
When the first ray of morning sunlight shone into the Red Keep, the news of Janos Slynt's immediate beheading exploded like an 8.0 magnitude earthquake, instantly rocking the entire power center of King's Landing.
In the small council meeting, the atmosphere was so tense it was almost solidified.
Robert Baratheon sat on the iron throne, his face so gloomy it looked like it could drip water.
His hungover head was a tangled mess, churned by this sudden news.
"Eddard!" His voice was filled with suppressed rage, "You had better give me an explanation! Who gave you the authority to execute a City Watch commander I appointed, without a trial?!"
Eddard Stark stood ramrod straight in the center of the hall, clad in armor, his expression firm and unyielding.
"Your Majesty, Janos Slynt's crimes were undeniable, with evidence and culprits caught red-handed. As commander, he embezzled funds, monopolized the private salt trade, and even hired arsonists to burn down the royal warehouse. Such crimes are tantamount to treason! As hand of the king, I have the right to deal with any criminals who threaten the security of the kingdom!"
His voice was strong and resonant, his words hitting home.
"Evidence?!" a sharp voice rang out.
Petyr Baelish, the Master of Coin, known as "Littlefinger," stepped out from the crowd. His face, usually adorned with a smile, was now etched with indignation and sorrow.
"Lord Hand, everything you've said is merely your side of the story!" He bowed deeply to the King on the iron throne, "Commander Slynt has diligently served in King's Landing for over a decade; if he has no merits, he at least has put in hard work. You, merely because of some so-called 'evidence,' held a private trial for him in the dead of night and summarily executed him. This… how is this any different from a tyrant?!"
"By doing this, where is the law of the kingdom? Where is Your Majesty's authority?!"
Littlefinger's words were truly insidious!
He cleverly elevated Eddard's actions to the level of challenging "royal authority" and "law," directly striking the most suspicious and sensitive nerve of King Robert.
As expected, Robert's face grew even darker.
He didn't care whether Slynt was corrupt or loyal; what he cared about was that Eddard Stark, his most trusted brother, dared to bypass him and resort to extrajudicial punishment!
In his eyes, this was an open challenge to his authority!
"Eddard, you are too presumptuous!" Robert roared.
"Everything I did was for the kingdom, for Your Majesty!" Eddard still stubbornly defended himself.
"For me?" Robert laughed in anger, "For me, you killed my commander and took over my City Watch? What's next, do you plan to take over my Kingsguard, and then sit on my chair?!"
These words were extremely harsh.
The air in the hall instantly dropped to freezing point.
Everyone was silent, as if frozen in fear.
Renly Baratheon tried to step forward and say a few words for Eddard but was glared back into silence by Robert's angry look.
Varys, like a smiling Buddha, stood in the corner, a mysterious smile on his face, as if none of this concerned him.
Lin Hao stood behind Eddard, taking in everyone's expressions.
He knew things were heading in the worst possible direction.
Littlefinger, with just a few words, had successfully alienated the King and the hand of the king, pushing Eddard Stark into an isolated and helpless position.
This was the political game of King's Landing.
Here, truth and justice were far less important than power struggles and human suspicion.
Eddard Stark looked at his suspicious and angry brother on the iron throne, and for the first time, a deep disappointment and weariness showed in his eyes.
He finally understood how naive he had been to try and rectify the corruption of the South with the laws of the North.
"Your Majesty, I had no intention of offending your authority." His voice grew slightly hoarse, "I was merely fulfilling my duty as hand of the king. If you believe I acted improperly, you may revoke my authority at any time."
He was retreating to advance, hoping to use his resignation to rekindle Robert's trust.
However, under Littlefinger's instigation, Robert only perceived this as a threat from Eddard Stark.
"Good! Very good!" Robert stood up from the iron throne, pointing at Eddard's nose, and roared, "Do you think I wouldn't dare?! Eddard Stark, I now command you, immediately surrender command of the City Watch! Go back to your Tower of the Hand and reflect properly! Without my order, you are not to meddle in any affairs of the city's defense!"
With that, he stormed off, leaving the entire court of officials exchanging bewildered glances.
What should have been a righteous judgment ultimately ended in Eddard Stark's crushing defeat.
Although he had eliminated Slynt, he had also completely lost the King's trust.
Littlefinger watched Eddard Stark's lonely yet stubborn back, and a venomous, triumphant sneer flickered in his grey-green eyes.
He knew he had won this round.
From now on, this "hand of the king" from the North would no longer be able to stir up any trouble in King's Landing.
Chapter 29: Tyrion's Return and a New Storm
The storm in the royal court quickly spread throughout King's Landing.
Eddard Stark, the hand of the king, was publicly reprimanded by the King and stripped of his temporary jurisdiction over the City Watch.
This news caused the various factions, which Lin Hao and Eddard had just managed to suppress, to stir once again.
The reforms of the Harbor Affairs Committee also stalled as a result.
Without the strong support of the Hand, the tax officials of the Treasury once again became emboldened, using various excuses to obstruct and audit the trading companies cooperating with the committee, leaving merchants in despair.
The entire situation seemed to have returned to square one, or even worse than before.
Inside the Tower of the Hand, the atmosphere was bleak and somber.
Eddard Stark had locked himself in his study, spending his days dealing with irrelevant documents, his expression forlorn.
He couldn't understand why, despite his actions being for the good of the kingdom, he had ended up in such a predicament.
Sansa, due to her father's loss of power, became even more cautious and walked on eggshells in front of Prince Joffrey and Queen Cersei.
Only Arya continued to practice the sword skills Lin Haotaught her every day, seemingly unconcerned by these political troubles.
Lin Hao saw this and felt anxious.
He knew that Eddard Stark had fallen into a dead end.
The rift between him and the King gave Littlefinger and others countless opportunities.
If this continued, before Daenerys even crossed the sea, House Stark itself would be destroyed by these southern schemers.
"We must find a new breakthrough to break the deadlock."
Lin Hao pondered ways to break the situation every day, but the web in King's Landing was simply too intricate.
Just then, the return of an unexpected person cast a new stone into these stagnant waters.
Tyrion Lannister, the "Imp," had returned from the Wall in the North.
He did not return directly to the Red Keep, but chose to stay in a brothel owned by Littlefinger.
When Lin Hao received this news, he knew his chance had come.
That night, he went alone and quietly to the brothel.
After paying the madam a silver stag, he easily found Tyrion, who was surrounded by women and tipsy, in the most luxurious private room.
"My friend, it seems your journey to the North was not too pleasant," Lin Hao said with a smile, sitting opposite him.
"Hodor?" Tyrion was surprised to see him, then waved his hand, dismissing the two scantily clad prostitutes.
"Pleasant?" He poured himself a drink with a self-mocking laugh, "Nearly being arrested by a foolish Tullywoman as the murderer of her nephew—that hardly counts as pleasant."
He was referring to the incident where he was caught by Catelyn Stark at the Crossroads Inn on his way back to King's Landing.
"I know about that," Lin Hao nodded, "and I also know that the person who framed you used a Valyrian steel dagger."
Tyrion's drunkenness instantly sobered up considerably.
His heterochromatic eyes, one green and one black, stared intently at Lin Hao: "How do you know?"
Not many people knew about this matter.
Lin Hao did not answer directly, but slowly took something out of his embrace and placed it on the table.
It was that exact Valyrian steel dagger he had confiscated from the assassin's hand!
"Clink—"
The crisp sound of the dagger hitting the wooden table made Tyrion's pupils instantly contract to pinpricks!
"This… this dagger… how did you get it?!" he exclaimed, losing his voice.
"Because its true owner originally intended to use it to kill me," Lin Hao calmly stated, "but he failed."
Tyrion's brain, stimulated by both alcohol and shock, raced.
He suddenly remembered that in Winterfell, the owner of this dagger, Petyr Baelish, Littlefinger, had personally told Catelyn that he had lost this dagger to him!
A terrifying thought, connecting all the clues, exploded in his mind!
"It was him!" Tyrion's voice trembled slightly with anger, "He framed me! He wanted to provoke a war between House Lannister and House Stark!"
"You are very clever, my friend," Lin Hao said, nodding approvingly.
"That bastard!" Tyrion slammed his fist on the table, then looked at Lin Hao with an extremely complex expression, "Then why are you telling me this? With this dagger, you could completely accuse him, clear your uncle's name, couldn't you?"
"As I said, I have no evidence," Lin Hao shook his head, "Littlefinger could say that he accidentally lost this dagger and someone picked it up. No one would believe a bastard's word against a Master of Coin who holds the kingdom's purse strings."
"Then you…"
"I need an ally," Lin Hao's gaze became fervent and sincere, "an ally who is clever enough and influential enough. An ally who is also considered a thorn in Littlefinger's side, someone he wishes to eliminate as quickly as possible."
"And you, Tyrion Lannister, are the most suitable candidate."
Tyrion looked at the gleaming dagger on the table, then at Lin Hao's deep black eyes that seemed to see through everything, and fell into a long silence.
He knew that Lin Hao was telling the truth.
He also knew that if he agreed to Lin Hao, it would mean he would formally be embroiled in a life-and-death struggle against a top schemer like Littlefinger.
"Why should I trust you?" he asked after a long while.
"Because of this."
Lin Hao placed the bat emblem, pierced by a spear, which he had found on the Night Bat Group assassin, next to the dagger.
"This is… the Night Bat Group's insignia?!" Tyrion was astonished again, "You… you even fought them?"
"On the way to King's Landing," Lin Hao said faintly, "Someone didn't want me to arrive in this city alive."
Tyrion looked at the emblem, and a cold sweat broke out on his back.
He finally understood what a crazy and powerful enemy he was facing.
And he finally understood what terrifying strength and mind this seemingly young Northern bastard possessed.
"Alright."
He took a deep breath and picked up the wine glass on the table.
"I agree, we form an alliance."
"For… pulling that damned fish, who loves to scheme behind the scenes, completely out of the water!"
Chapter 30: Alliance reached, aiming for the martial arts tournament
"To yank the fish out of the water."
Tyrion drained his cup of wine, his eyes gleaming with vengeance and excitement.
His alliance with Lin Hao had, for the first time in this cold family and city, given him a true "kindred spirit" with whom he could fight side-by-side.
"Excellent." Lin Hao also raised his glass. "Then, our first target will be the upcoming Hand's Tourney."
"A tourney?" Tyrion was somewhat surprised. "What do you plan to do there? Do you intend to personally compete and win the forty thousand gold dragons prize money? I admit your swordsmanship is strong, but winning in a competition filled with such monsters isn't an easy feat."
The "monsters" he referred to were renowned top knights like "The Mountain" Gregor Clegane, "Knight of Flowers" Loras Tyrell, and his own brother Jaime Lannister.
"The prize money, of course I want it." Lin Hao smiled. "However, that's secondary. My true objective is to use this tourney to short Littlefinger's 'bookmaking'."
"Short the bookmaking?" Tyrion was very curious about this new term.
"Yes." Lin Hao's eyes gleamed with the shrewdness of a financial player. "For a grand tourney like this, a fellow like Littlefinger, who never misses a chance to profit, definitely won't let this opportunity to make a fortune slip by. He will undoubtedly set up a betting pool, allowing all the nobles and wealthy merchants in King's Landing to wager on their favored knights."
"And he, as the bookmaker, can rake in huge profits by carefully calculating and controlling the odds. This is probably the fundamental reason he's willing to support the King in holding this money-burning event."
Tyrion immediately understood Lin Hao's meaning, and his eyes lit up: "Are you saying… we bet?"
"No, we won't be gamblers; we'll be… 'snipers'." Lin Haoshook his head. "Littlefinger will surely set up a few hot favorites to win, such as your brother Jaime, or the Knight of Flowers Loras. Their odds will be very low, but many people will bet on them to win."
"And what we need to do is find an 'underdog' that no one expects, and then, on our own 'offshore bookmaking' with ridiculously high odds, place a heavy bet on him to win!"
"At the same time, we must also find a way to make those favorites 'accidentally' drop out of the competition."
These words sent shivers down Tyrion's spine.
This was no longer gambling; this was blatant financial fraud and match-fixing!
"This… this is too crazy!" Tyrion couldn't help but exclaim. "Not to mention where we'd find such an 'underdog' capable of an upset, just making high-level experts like Jaime and the Knight of Flowers 'accidentally' drop out is an almost impossible task!"
"Where there's a will, there's a way." Lin Hao's smile was full of confidence. "As for the 'underdog', I already have someone in mind."
"Who?"
"Someone you wouldn't expect." Lin Hao played coy. "A hungry, bloodthirsty 'Hound' who is despised by everyone but yearns to prove himself."
"Sandor Clegane?!" Tyrion cried out in surprise.
He never imagined that the "underdog" Lin Hao had chosen would be The Hound, that violent, ugly man who spent his days as Prince Joffrey's bodyguard!
"Exactly, him." Lin Hao nodded. "He hates his brother 'The Mountain' to the bone, and he despises the hypocritical title of 'knight'. The Mountain will also participate in this tourney. What do you think will happen if these brothers meet in the arena?"
"They'll fight to the death!" Tyrion had no doubt about that.
"That's enough." Lin Hao said. "A Sandor Clegane filled with vengeful fury, focused solely on killing his opponent, his combat power will absolutely exceed everyone's imagination. He is the sharpest dagger in our hands."
"And we just need to give him a gentle push from behind."
Tyrion looked at Lin Hao's calm, yet somewhat terrifying face, feeling his blood boil.
He loved this feeling!
This feeling of manipulating everyone, of using wisdom and conspiracy to leverage immense wealth and power!
"Good! I'm in!" He slammed his hand on the table. "I'll figure out the money! My father may not like me, but I can still get hundreds of thousands of gold dragons in capital from the Lannister treasury!"
"Excellent." Lin Hao stood up. "Then, from now on, you'll be responsible for raising funds and setting up the 'offshore bookmaking'. Remember, the bookmaking must be secret; Littlefinger must not detect it. And I will be responsible for delivering a 'gift' to our Mr. The Hound, a gift he cannot refuse."
The two exchanged a smile, everything understood without words.
An unprecedented financial strangulation plan targeting "Littlefinger" thus began.