"Sam, think about my proposal again."

Even if he had been rejected, before leaving, Prince Daolang still did not give up persuasion.

Samwell looked at the persistent Prince of Dorne, smiled, and said:

"Let's start with some simple collaborations and cultivate trust first."

Prince Daolang asked with interest, "What kind of cooperation?" ”

"Tariffs." Samwell said, "In order to strengthen the commercial exchange between the Bend and Dorne, I propose that they be exempted from customs duties. ”

Prince Daolang's tone was a little playful: "Can you make this kind of decision on behalf of Hewan?" ”

Samwell smiled mysteriously, "That's what I need to worry about." What do you think? Your Highness Dao Lang, this kind of small cooperation can strengthen the foundation of mutual trust between the two sides, would you like to give it a try? ”

Prince Dowron stared at Samwell's eyes for a long time before he said:

"The full exemption from tariffs is a bit excessive. Let's cut it in half. ”

"Halving?" Samwell reluctantly agreed, "Yes, but the tax rate must not be raised." ”

"Yes." Prince Dao Lang smiled and said, "I will send an envoy to the High Court to sign the contract." Hopefully, this can be the beginning of a rapprochement between Riverbend and Dorne. ”

"May the friendship between Riverbend and Dorne last forever."

"Friendship lasts forever."

Prince Daolang lowered the curtain of the carriage, and the carriage started and slowly drove out of Starfall City.

Samwell didn't stay in Starfall for long, and left by boat that afternoon with Margaery, under Natalie's reluctant gaze.

The companions took with them three knights and a thousand soldiers recruited from Starfall City.

In fact, the war potential of the Dane family, even if it was greatly damaged by the previous defeat, is far more than that, but Samwell does not want to hollow out the defense force of Starfall City, after all, he also needs the Dane family as the eastern barrier of Hawksbill Island to prevent some Dornish from having a hot brain to sneak attack his lair.

After leaving Starfall City, he did not immediately return to the High Court, but went to Eagle's Beak Island first.

The return of the lord was naturally warmly welcomed.

This enthusiasm was even more intense when it became known that their lord was officially engaged to Miss Margaery Tyrell.

Samwell took Margaery around the territory and made a gesture of proximity before returning to the castle and convening a meeting of his retainers.

This time, Cheman Huya ended the expedition and returned to the territory, and after seeing Samwell, he was also honest, and he didn't dare to be a demon, but he exuded an awe-inspiring aura that could not be concealed, and it seemed that there was no less killing outside during this time.

Samwell didn't bother to reprimand him anymore, after all, this person had indeed made a great contribution to the development and growth of Eagle's Beak Island, and most of the population of the territory was obtained by the Qiman through the continuous annexation of the wild tribes in the Crimson Mountains.

According to the calculations of the governor Gavin, the total population of the territory is now approaching the 100,000 mark, and a territory of this size, even in the rich riverbend, is not small.

The valley of Eagle's Beak Island could no longer accommodate so many people, so it could only be dispersed outside the valley and the surrounding villages and towns.

The position of village chief, which had been abandoned, had to be reactivated to manage the increasingly prosperous village.

In addition, Samwell also made a decision to canonize his governor Gavin as a baron, and give him the most prosperous of the outer villages and towns, the town of Blueskin, as a fief.

The town of Blue Skins was originally the gathering place of the Blue Skins tribe, because of the existence of silver mines, and now it has formed a large-scale town around silver mining, refining, casting and other industries, and Samwell gave this town to Gavin this time to reward the other party for his diligent help in managing the territory.

Of course, the town's silver mines were not included in the bounty, after all, it was an important source of income for Eaglespew, and Samwell couldn't just give it to Gavin.

When Gavin asked the lord for a surname, Samwell thought for a moment and said:

"I recruited you as an acolyte on the banks of the River Mandeb, so you should take Mande as your surname."

"Yes!" Gavin exclaimed excitedly, "I, Gavin Mande, offer unparalleled loyalty to the great Viscount Samwell Caesar, may the Seven Gods bear witness to me, and the Mande family will serve the Caesar family as the highest glory for generations to come!" ”

Samwell withdrew his sword and lifted Gavin up:

"You will continue to serve as the governor of Eagle's Beak Island, as for your own territory, send an acting mayor, and the castle, let Victor bring someone to help you build one."

"Yes, sir."

After the retainers' meeting, Samwell summoned Melisandre alone.

I don't know if it's an illusion, but the red-robed witch seems to be younger than the last time we met.

Her fiery eyes seemed to be able to see into people's hearts, so that all thoughts and thoughts could not be hidden.

Samwell avoided her gaze and asked:

"How many followers of the Lord of Light are there in the realm now?"

"About three or four thousand."

"So much?" Samwell was slightly surprised, you must know that although the Lord of Light has many believers in the Essos continent, but in the Westeros continent, there is no foundation for faith at all, this woman has just been in Hawksbill Island for less than two months, and she has actually brought so many believers.

"It's all the power of the true God." Melisandre reverently said, "The long winter is coming, and your people are already feeling the chill, and they will spontaneously gather around the fire, praying for warmth, for light, for salvation. ”

Samwell smiled, didn't say more, and asked instead:

"My brother Deakon Tully, remember, you performed a resurrection spell on him that day in the city of Heaven and City, but it didn't work. However, he did come back to life. ”

Melisandre did not seem surprised when she heard this, and said:

"As long as we serve sincerely, the Lord of Light will answer prayers."

"But something went wrong with Deacon's memory." Samwell looked back at Melisandre's flaming eyes, "Lost a lot of memories, and added some memories that shouldn't have belonged to him, do you know what's going on?" ”

"Whatever changes happen to him, it is the arrangement of the true God."

Samwell was clearly not satisfied with such an answer, and he persistently asked:

"Answer me head-on, Lady Melisandre, is this a side effect of the resurrection, or is it the arrangement of the Lord of Light, and if so, what is the purpose?"

"No mortal can guess the intentions of the true God." Melisandre pointed to the flames jumping in the fireplace in front of her, "It's like the shadows of the flames are more than one, they jump and change, they never stand still." ”

Samwell stared into the witch's eyes with a gloomy expression.

Melisandre approached slowly, and said in a soft but firm tone:

"I'm not prevaricating you, Lord Caesar. Witchcraft is like a sword without a handle, and to master it is to be prepared to bleed. And even if a mortal holds this sword, he cannot really grasp it with his fragile flesh and blood.

Of all the witchcraft I have learned, resurrection is the most dangerous and sharp sword without a handle. Every time I held it, I could only pray for the guidance of the true God, and I never dared to wave it in vain. ”

Samwell's brow furrowed even tighter.

Seeing this, Melisandre persuaded:

"Master Caesar, why should you bother about this? Your brother has been blessed by the Lord of Light, and his path has been laid out by the true God, which is the highest honor. ”

"Deacon is my brother." Samwell said in an unkind tone, "Not a tool of the Lord of Light. ”

"We are all instruments of the true God." Melisandre said reverently.

"I'm not anyone, or any tool of God!" Samwell said word for word, "Neither is my brother. ”

Melisandre looked at the man quietly, her face as calm as the windless sea:

"Mortals cannot resist the will of the true God, and it is better to accept the arrangement than to struggle in vain."

"Lady Melisandre, are you willing to be an instrument of the true God yourself?"

"I am right now."

"Nope. You still have autonomy and feelings...... Well, I'm sure you still have. But if one day, you lose both of these things, what difference are you from a walking corpse? ”

"The self-consciousness of mortals always leads to ignorance, and as for the ...... of feelings," Melisandre's fiery eyes did not fluctuate at all, "that is the burden and weakness of mortals. ”

"But it's also a source of happiness." Samwell stared at the red-robed witch in front of him, "Lady Melisandre, haven't you ever loved someone?" ”

Melisandre fell into a rare silence.

"Meryl......" There was a distant cry in her ears, conveying reluctance and pain through the burning fire and rushing ashes.

"Seven!" A sonorous voice interrupted everything.

Melisandre came to her senses, her fiery lips moving, and finally she didn't speak.

Seeing that he could not find an answer from the witch, Samwell said no more and turned away.

Out of the door, Samwell called Baron Gavin and asked:

"How many soldiers are there in the territory now?"

"Fifteen hundred." Gavin blurted out, then added, "Another five hundred have completed their training, but lack weapons and equipment......

"Don't worry about weapons and equipment." Samwell was now on his thighs, full of confidence, "Then gather 1,800 people, and tomorrow morning, I will take them to the High Court." ”

"Yes, sir." Gavin nodded in response, "Who are we going to fight against?" ”

Samwell let out a long breath and looked eastward, as if he could see the vast expanse of land on the other side of the Crimson Mountains from thousands of miles away:

"Stormlands."

(End of chapter)