Torun Square City.
The air was filled with the mixed smells of charred wood, damp stones, and a faint stench of blood; a unique post-victory clamor enveloped the castle, which had just undergone a purge.
Lambad directed the farmers to move stones and timber, repair the damaged walls, and clean the castle of wolves, foxes, and bloodstains.
For several days in a row.
The castle, which had been plundered by Euron, gradually returned to its original appearance.
Garon stood atop the highest tower of the castle, gazing at the hills to the west.
He remained lost in thought, his gaze seemingly traversing space to reach the rocky shore.
"Lord Garen!"
Jon Snow's voice came from behind him, tinged with weariness and excitement.
"As you instructed, the soldiers of Torun have been incorporated into our ranks, and the city's defenses have been redeployed."
"As for those oath-breakers you hanged, their property has been distributed in part to the victimized people, as you commanded."
Galon didn't turn around, but simply gave a faint "hmm".
His gaze remained fixed on the direction of the rocky coast.
Jon Snow hesitated for a moment, then stepped forward and stood beside him.
"My lord, however, Lord Lambad doesn't seem to be very pleased with what we've done..."
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After hanging the cowardly minor nobles, Garon ordered Jon to take over their soldiers and property.
Lambad was naturally unhappy that these assets, which originally belonged to Torren City, had been taken over by Galon.
However, Galon helped him recapture Torunfon and executed vassals who disobeyed Tauha's orders. Out of consideration for his reputation, he couldn't say much.
"It's alright, we won't be staying in Torren for long."
Galon had anticipated this.
He was winning these people over not to control Torun City now, but to prepare for the next war.
"Yes, the remaining iron resources are no longer a threat. Our troops are clearing them out in sections, and the war will be over soon!"
Jon's face lit up with joy. "That way, we can head south to support Robb as soon as possible."
Galon shook his head slightly, his deep red eyes revealing a cunning far beyond his years.
He turned to look at Jon, then changed the subject and asked him a question.
"Jon, tell me, how did we win this war?"
Jon was slightly surprised, and replied without hesitation, "Of course it's because of your strategic brilliance and bravery, Galon! How could a mere Ironborn possibly be a match for you!"
"Haha..." Galon laughed twice, "Stop with the flattery, tell me what you've learned lately."
Jon's eyes flashed, realizing that Galon was testing him, and he began to think seriously.
"Our victory was achieved through infantry defense, cavalry assaults, and the utilization of the forests and hills of the north."
"While Ironborn were skilled in naval warfare, they were inept in land battles and unfamiliar with the terrain of the North. They rashly fell into a trap, leading to a disastrous defeat."
Galon nodded and praised, "Not bad, it seems you've indeed improved after all this training."
He paused, then looked towards the rocky coast and said in a deep voice.
"Although the Iron Islands lost this time, they haven't been crippled yet."
"What if they are not satisfied with their defeat and come back stronger?"
"They'll definitely learn from this experience next time they come."
Garon pointed ahead, "The North has a long coastline, and if the Iron Islands launch attacks at will, we'll be constantly on the move. What will we do then? Just stay in the castle and defend?"
Finally, he said firmly, "We need a boat!"
Jon's face was filled with confusion and doubt upon hearing the testimony.
"Galon, are you planning to take the initiative?"
"That's the ocean!"
"Among us Northerners, besides the Mandalay family of White Harbor, who else is familiar with the sea?"
"We should just stay on our land. Why bother with the treacherous sea? This... this is not our forte."
Galon fixed his gaze on Jon Snow, a cold, almost stern smile curving his lips.
He knew that Jon's ideas represented the vast majority of Northern nobles, who clung to tradition and viewed the sea as a perilous path and a boundary.
But as a transmigrator, Galon knew the vastness of this world and the importance of sea power, so he naturally had no fear of the sea.
On the contrary, the fleet is an important step in his future imperial expansion.
"A strength?" Garon shook his head slightly, but his tone was unusually firm. "Before Brandon the Shipburner, the North also had a naval force."
"Jon, you must remember this—ships are tools, they can be made of iron or they can be ours, the key is who controls them!"
His voice gradually rose, revealing a captivating vision and power.
Imagine, someday in the future...
"What a sight it would be if a fleet from the North appeared on their horizon while the Ironborn were comfortably hiding on the island?"
"What we need to do is not to forever passively defend the coastline, but to use their methods to go to their homes and return the war and destruction to them."
"That's what you call a permanent solution!"
Garon's words were like a bolt of lightning, cleaving through the fog that had been ingrained in Jon's mind.
He seemed to see the scene Galon had painted for him: Northern warriors riding the wind and waves, heading straight for Pyke City!
The idea was crazy, yet it possessed a captivating charm.
"Issue the order immediately!"
Garon stared at Jon and gave the order.
"Send out all cavalry, supplemented by local guides familiar with the coastal terrain, to thoroughly search every beach and every cave on the Rocky Coast that could conceal a small boat. The main focus is on finding the longships abandoned or hidden by the Ironborn during their defeat!"
"Once found, report it immediately and assign someone to guard it!"
The command was executed quickly and efficiently.
Galon's prestige soared after the Battle of Horned Mountain, and no one questioned his decision, even though it seemed so unorthodox.
In the following days, the search team brought good news.
Just as Galon had predicted, the defeated Ironborn fled in panic, leaving behind quite a few ships.
Some were dragged onto the beach and cut down, some were sunk in hidden shallow bays, and some were simply abandoned in the desolate reefs.
They vary in size and condition; some are almost intact, while others require major repairs.
Nearly forty longships were discovered in total.
Upon receiving the news, Galon immediately went to Rock Coast to check the situation in person.
Galon was overjoyed when he saw that more than half of the forty longships were usable.
"Now that I have these ships, it's time to go back and have a proper talk with Asha."
He gazed at the grey-blue, undulating sea before him, his thoughts drifting away once more.
"Asha is not only Baron's daughter, but also a key, a key that can unlock the gates to the Iron Islands."
"Killing her wouldn't do much good."
"But keeping her locked up indefinitely is a waste of resources."
"If we can use her..."
A vague but extremely tempting plan began to take shape in his mind.
Using Asha to blackmail Baron and the Iron Islands?
"I need more intelligence to gradually probe Baron's bottom line."
"But the Dragon's Horn must be put on the agenda."
He was already eager to return to the Iron Islands and talk to Asha.
Fortunately, Galon knew that his work of eradicating the Ironborn was not yet complete.
He patiently returned to Torun and stayed there for a few days.
When the scattered armies reunited at Torun, the month-long war in the North against the Ironborn invasion finally came to a brief end.
"It's time to go back!"
Garon ordered his army to march back to Winterfell.