The late autumn breeze is comfortable and gentle, mixed with the fragrance of plants and flowers, gently blowing through the mountains and forests.

At the eastern foot of the Crimson Mountains, Samwell and dozens of people walked slowly along the rugged stone road at the foot of the mountain.

"Your Majesty, according to your request, we have made relevant investigations. I have to say that the irrigation system you envision is indeed feasible and the prospects are very attractive. Once completed, it will add tens of millions of acres of arable land to the Storm Land! Edgar's face glittered with excitement and even fanaticism.

He was a scholar of Fallen Wood City, and had built cisterns and canals for the Fell family.

But upon hearing about the Storm King's plan for a water irrigation system, Master Edgar was immediately shocked by the grand plan.

Throughout the history of the Seven Kingdoms, perhaps only man-made miracles such as the Great Wall of Desperation can be compared.

So, after receiving the invitation, Maester Edgar did not hesitate to come to Storm's End, determined to take part in a great project that was destined to be remembered for eternity.

"Your Majesty, please look." Master Edgar pointed to the mountain stream that flowed ahead, "The source of the hydraulic project can be built here. The Crimson Mountains block out the moist air currents from the Narrow Sea, and there is abundant precipitation, and you can see multiple streams flowing out of the mountains.

These natural mountain streams point us to the elevation of the terrain, and with a little repair they become natural ditches. The first reservoir was about 200 acres, 80 feet deep, and the bottom was paved with gravel, and when it rained, the water in the mountains skyrocketed, and it was easy to fill the reservoir.

The artificial ditches that extend from the reservoir are ten feet wide and five feet deep, with steps down every 1,000 feet, with a drop of 12 feet to prevent silting, and embankments that rise nine feet above the ground on either side.

To make it all the way to the Wende River, about 300 reservoirs would need to be built along the way, and the entire artificial river would be 700 miles long, running through the north-central part of the stormland, flowing from southwest to northeast, and finally flowing into Blackwater Bay.

A network of ditches extends in all directions along the way, adding nearly 50 million acres of arable land to the storm land! ”

Samwell was also thrilled to hear this, but asked cautiously:

"How long will it take to build such an artificial river?"

"It depends on how much human and material resources you can mobilize......"

"There will be 100,000 workers in the early stage, and it will slowly increase to 500,000 in the future, or even more." Samwell said, "As for the material support, you don't need to worry, the guarantee is sufficient." ”

The governor, Gavin Mande, frowned when he heard the number of laborers, but he didn't say much.

Maester Edgar was greatly encouraged and excitedly said:

"If you can guarantee at least 300,000 laborers to build the canal, I estimate that this great project will be completed in just three to five years!"

At this time, Gavin opened his mouth and reminded:

"Your Majesty, the construction of a large-scale water conservancy project is probably not only a matter of manpower and material resources, because this ditch has to cross the territory of dozens of lords of the Storm Land, and how to obtain the consent of these lords and let them cooperate is also a big problem."

Samwell actually thought about it from the beginning.

Large-scale water conservancy projects are the product of a centralized system, and in Westeros, a place where the system of partitions is practiced, it is bound to encounter many obstacles.

Don't look at the Stormlands Lords have already recognized the Storm King and sworn allegiance to Samwell, but allegiance is allegiance, even if the Storm King has no right to dictate the affairs of the vassal's own territory.

"I'll solve the problem of coordination with the major lords. Start with the direct territory of Storm's End. ”

"Yes, Your Majesty." Master Edgar replied, looking confident, "When we build a canal and add a lot of farmland, the rest of the lords will be more willing to cooperate when they see its benefits." ”

"Yes." Samwell smiled.

In fact, the real reason why he is so confident is that winter is coming.

The Stormlands are located in the southern part of Westeros, and while they are not as cold as the northern valleys and rivers, the temperature is also greatly reduced.

At that time, only cold-tolerant crops such as rye, potatoes and sugar beets will be planted in the fields, and food production will be greatly reduced, and famine will be inevitable.

And Samwell knew that the coming winter would be unprecedentedly long and difficult, and that the lords of the Stormlands would hardly resist joining this water conservancy project that would greatly increase the area of arable land in the face of the constant starvation of their people.

As long as the artificial river can be built, it will not only reduce the impact of famine, but also greatly increase Samwell's prestige, and more importantly, the resulting artificial river management coordination mechanism will be able to shake the foundation of the feudal system.

Samwell will also take this opportunity to strengthen his control over the Stormlands and become the true Storm King.

This is also the real reason why he would rather spend a lot of manpower and material resources to build this water conservancy project.

"Master Edgar, you will take the lead in the construction of this water conservancy project, and you will tell Gavin directly what you need to do, and he will fully cooperate."

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Master Edgar took a deep breath, his eyes glinting, "I will definitely complete this unprecedented water conservancy project for you!" ”

After deciding on the construction of the water conservancy project, Samwell rode back to Storm's End.

I happened to meet Margaery Tyrell who was returning from an outing.

During this period of time, Margaery did not sit idle in the castle, but continued to go out and make rounds as the queen of the stormlands, convening women's courts, giving alms to the poor, and paying attention to people's livelihood......

Gavin Mander had mentioned before that the queen had won the love of many of the people of Storm's Castle with her charming and amiable attitude, and her popularity among the people was no less than that of him, the Storm King.

"Your Majesty, you're back." Margaery quickened her pace to meet her, and there was a more graceful and luxurious taste between her eyebrows, and her bulging belly under the snow-white cashmere cloak added a hint of maternal brilliance to her.

She was followed by Brienne Tas, dressed in armor.

Samwell first nodded to Brienne, then gently hugged his wife, and said:

"Well, it's been two days since I came back. I just went to talk to the scholars and craftsmen about the planning of the water conservancy project. ”

Margaery took the man's arm, and the bird leaned on him like a human, and walked side by side towards the room:

"I've heard Gavin say it's a big project. But now that the stormland has just settled down, will it be a bit urgent to mobilize so many laborers to build water conservancy? ”

"Winter is coming, and the Stormlands need more arable land, so it's not in a hurry." Samwell patted his wife's soft hand, "Don't worry, I know it." ”

"Okay." Margaery was a woman who knew how to measure, and when she saw that her husband had made up his mind, she said no more.

And she hasn't asked about the high court, as if she really doesn't care.

Samwell also went to court.

This is a tacit understanding between the two.

Entering the room, Samwell helped his wife take off his cloak and light the beeswax.

In the jumping flames, a delicate fragrance filled the room.

"The Bukele family invited me to cruise to Coppergate, Sam, do you have time to go with you?"

"I'm afraid I'm not available. I'm going to the other side of the Narrow Sea. Samwell hesitated, but decided to tell his wife the truth, "Kathu has identified the whereabouts of Daenerys, the last princess of House Targaryen, and I'm going to meet her." ”

"It turned out to be her." Margaery didn't show the slightest change on her face, "I've heard about her and her three dragons. Sam, you'd better marry her, and then the nobles of the Seven Kingdoms will be more willing to accept you on the Iron Throne. ”

Samwell looked sideways at his wife in surprise.

Margaret smiled, "What's wrong?" How strange is it for you to wear the crown of Aegon the Conqueror, and to marry two wives like him. ”

"You don't mind at all?"

"It's a little bit. But I'm sure you won't snub me because of your new wife, right? ”

Margaery raised her face and looked at the man.

"Of course not." Samwell knew what to do at this point, so he lowered his head and kissed her red lips.

The woman's body gradually became soft, melting like water in the man's arms.

Samwell picked his wife up by the waist and strode to the bedroom.

……

The next morning, the sun shone through the windows on the spotless floor.

Margaery put her hands on her cheeks as she looked at the back of the white dragon that was getting smaller and smaller in the sky, and her gaze gradually lost focus.

It wasn't until there was a knock on the door that she woke up from her distraction.

"Come in."

Brienne Tus pushed the door in, bowed, and said:

"Your Majesty, are you going out today?"

"No, it's a day off today." Margaery lazily curled up in the sofa chair, gently stroking her bulging lower abdomen, "You can also take a break, you don't have to stay with me all the time." ”

"Okay." Brienne saluted again and turned to leave.

But when she got to the door, she turned back again, as if she wanted to say something, but she didn't know how to speak.

"What's wrong, Brienne?" Margaery laughed, "Say whatever you want, I won't blame you." ”

Brienne hesitated for a moment, but said bluntly:

"Do you really not mind that His Majesty Caesar has a second wife?"

Margaery did not answer, but asked rhetorically:

"Do you know the language of the Tyrells?"

"Forever."

"Yes, endlessly." A faint sadness appeared on Margaery's face, "In the past, grandmother always disliked the unimposing language of the clan, and she has been trying to transform the Tyrells family in her own way, trying to make this family more worthy of the status of the lord of the river.

But alas, she failed.

Maybe the Tyrells don't have strong genes in their blood. ”

Margaery looked at Brienne and smiled gently:

"It's like not every woman can wear steel armor like you. For me, gentleness is the best armor. ”

As she spoke, Margaery's gaze turned to her bulging lower abdomen, and her eyes became softer:

"More importantly, I will give birth to a boy for Caesar, an heir."

(End of chapter)