Chapter 496 Savage kneels down

The tunnels in the Great Wall are narrow and winding, and many of the savages are either too old, sick, or injured, and their progress is very slow.

Ed Stark frowned and looked at the black snake-like team outside the Great Wall and said:

"Your Majesty, it will probably take two or three days for all the wildlings to pass through the Great Wall. We need to set up defenses outside the city to prevent the White Walkers from attacking again."

“Okay, you go and make arrangements. Remember to prepare more flammable materials such as firewood, the corpse is afraid of fire.”

 “Yes, Your Majesty.”

After Ed left, Samwell looked at the savage army for a while and asked again:

 “How much food is left in Castle Black?”

Everyone was silent for a moment, and finally Eddie, the steward, stepped forward and handed a volume of notes to the king, saying:

 “Your Majesty, these are the inventory statistics from three months ago…”

Samwell took it and browsed it casually for a few times, then stared at Eddie for a long time and said:

 “Take me to the warehouse to have a look.”

 “Yes, Your Majesty.”

 The two descended the Great Wall through the lifting iron cage. Eddie found a torch and led the king into the underground passage of Castle Black.

This underground space, called the Worm Path by the Night Watchmen, is dark and lightless, twisting like a maze.

It is of little use in the summer, but when the cold wind blows in winter, this is the most convenient and stable passage between buildings.

At the same time, this is also the best storage space.

The two people's footsteps echoed in the narrow worm passage. After walking for a long time, they finally met Vic, the warehouse manager of Castle Black, at the intersection of four worm passages.

After Vic saluted the king, he took off the key chain hanging on his chest and opened the solid oak door of the warehouse.

“Your Majesty, here are oats, wheat, barley, and barrels of semolina.”

Samwell entered the warehouse and glanced around, finding that the room the size of a basketball court was almost full, with strings of onions and garlic hanging from the beams.

Vic led the king to another warehouse:

“Your Majesty, this room is full of vegetables, such as carrots, dried peas, potatoes, apples and pears.

This is meat, beef, pork, lamb, cod, all well frozen, as well as some ham and smoked sausages.

This is spices and nuts, and olives..."

Samwell looked from room to room, saying nothing the whole time.

This made Eddie and others quite uneasy. It was not until all the warehouses were seen that he smiled and said:

“Your Majesty, you see, our food reserves in Castle Black are quite abundant.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.” Vic also helped. “The long summer that just passed has been very fruitful, and the lords have been particularly generous. With our current reserves, we can probably support the Night’s Watch for three years.”

 “But what if we add wildlings?” Samwell asked.

"Savages?" Eddie frowned, "But Your Majesty, they don't need us to support them, right?"

"Most of them don't need it," Samwell said. "I will arrange for the wildlings who are willing to become citizens of the Seven Kingdoms to go south to the Stormlands. As for the wildlings who don't want to kneel, they will all rush to the Wolf Forest and let them find their own way to hunt and gather. Spend the day.

However, there will still be some savage warriors, about seven to eight thousand people, who will stay to help defend the Great Wall.

 The food for these wildlings needs to be solved by the Night's Watch Legion. "

"Seven or eight thousand?" Eddie opened his mouth. "If that's the case, within five months, we will only have carrots and oatmeal to eat, and after that we can only drink horse blood."

“Horse blood is good, too.” Vic tried to lighten the mood. “There’s nothing better than a cup of hot horse’s blood on a cold winter night. It’s best if you sprinkle a pinch of cinnamon on top.”

"People will get sick, Your Majesty." Eddie didn't want to pay attention to his companions. "Soldiers must ensure their nutrition during the war, otherwise their gums will bleed and their teeth will become loose.

 With your permission, I suggest that the winter food rationing system be implemented immediately. If we are careful with our budget, it should be able to support us for a little longer.

 But the best way is to hope that King's Landing can provide support. "

 At this point, he looked at the king expectantly.

 The king did not disappoint him.

"Of course King's Landing will support you." Samwell stated, "Before I set out to go north, I had ordered people to prepare food and dragon crystal weapons. They will transport these things to Eastwatch by sea. You will send people to receive them when the time comes. "

 “Great!” Eddie exclaimed excitedly, “With your support, we won’t be afraid of more savages coming.”

"Don't take it lightly." Samwell said, "Not only the wildlings, King's Landing will also send troops to support them, and they also need to eat."

 “How many troops will you send to the Great Wall?”

"The vanguard army consists of seven thousand troops. The scale of subsequent support will be adjusted based on the situation of the Great Wall. Therefore, Castle Black's food reserves are key." Samwell paused and asked, "How often do you count the food reserves?"

 “Generally half a year.”

“It’s too long. From now on, it will be changed to once a month. And immediately arrange manpower to start counting again.”

 “Yes, Your Majesty.”

 After that, Samwell left the warehouse and returned to the ground.

At this time, the sun has already set in the west, and the dim and dim sunlight stretches the shadows. The sky is divided by black flowing clouds, like gray and white tattered flags.

“It’s just past noon, and it’s almost dark.”

"Yes, Your Majesty, since the coming of winter, the days have become shorter and shorter day by day, and the nights have become longer and longer. Perhaps one day, the sun will never rise again, and Westeros will usher in A long, terrible night."

 Samwell looked at the dim sunset and remained silent for a long time.

 Three days later, all the savages finally passed the Great Wall.

 During this period of time, neither the White Walkers nor the corpses appeared again.

 It was another group of people who came to the Great Wall.

They are Bran Stark and others who went north to the land of eternal winter to look for the "Three-Eyed Raven".

Eddard Stark was extremely excited to see his long-lost son. Robb Stark and Jon Snow were also very happy. They carried their younger brother and shouted at the city gate.

However, Bran's reaction seemed very dull.

Although he was also smiling, if you pay close attention, you can see that it was just a polite smile, not a heartfelt smile.

Eddard and his son were immersed in joy and may not have noticed it, but Samwell could see it clearly from the sidelines.

And he knew that this Bran Stark was the designated heir of the "Three-Eyed Crow".

Thinking of the intervention of the "Three-Eyed Crow" when he fought Euron Greyjoy the "Crow's Eye" last time in Blackwater Bay, he felt that the other party might have something up his sleeve.

 After the Starks had finished their old relationship and recovered from the initial excitement, Samwell stepped forward.

“Your Majesty,” Bran lowered his head as he sat in the bamboo basket on Hodor’s back, “please forgive me for not being able to salute.”

"It's okay." Samwell waved his hand nonchalantly, "Why didn't Brynden Rivers follow you to the Great Wall?"

"Brynden Rivers?" Before Bran could answer, Jon Snow exclaimed, "The **** son of Aegon IV? Lord Bloodraven? Is he still alive?"

As both bastards, Jon once admired this famous **** from the Seven Kingdoms very much, and even regarded him as his idol for a time.

"Yes and no." Brendan said, "Of course Brynden Rivers can't live for so long. Now he has become a part of the weirwood, at the junction of life and death, so he cannot leave the land of eternal winter. burrow."

“Why do you want to see Brynden Rivers?” Eddard asked.

"This is a long story, father. I will tell you slowly later." After Bran finished with his father, he looked at the king again and said:

“Your Majesty, the Three-Eyed Crow asked me to remind you to pay attention to the Horn of Winter.”

Robb immediately agreed:

“Yes, Your Majesty, I actually don’t think it’s a good idea to let the savages keep the Horn of Winter. If they blow the horn and let the Great Wall collapse..."

"They won't blow the horn of winter at will." Ed said, "Don't forget, they are also on the south side of the Great Wall just like us. If the Great Wall collapses, what will they do to stop the White Walkers?"

“But this is still a hidden danger after all.” Jon Snow also said.

"If possible, I would also like to get the Horn of Winter back." Samwell shrugged helplessly, "Unfortunately, the previous plan went awry due to the appearance of the White Walkers, and the queen of the King Beyond the Wall is particularly keen. Sensing something strange about me, he hid the Horn of Winter.

Now that they are on guard, it will not be that simple for us to find the Horn of Winter. "

"I can find the Horn of Winter," Bran Stark said firmly.

"You?" Ed looked at his son suspiciously, "How do you know where the Horn of Winter is hidden?"

“The gods have opened my eyes, Father, so that I can see things that ordinary people cannot.”

 Samwell had no doubts about this.

 The "Three-Eyed Crow" can be said to be a guy who has turned on the perspective. It is not surprising that he can know where the Horn of Winter is.

 “Then can you get the Horn of Winter back?” Samwell asked.

 In fact, he didn't trust the savages to keep the Winter Horn. Who knew whether the other party would suddenly go crazy.

"I am willing to serve you, Your Majesty." Bran put his left hand on his chest and said respectfully.

"Very good, I hope you can give me a surprise." After Samwell finished speaking, he turned and left to catch up with these fathers and sons.

Ed frowned and asked, "Bran, are you really sure you can get the Horn of Winter back?"

“Of course it’s true, father.” Bran’s left eye flashed with a blood-red glimmer, “Although the gods took away my legs, they gave me a third eye.”

Eddard Stark stared at his son blankly, finally feeling a strong sense of strangeness.

 For a moment, he didn't know whether to be happy or worried about Bran's change.

 The next morning, the sun climbed onto the horizon later than usual.

When Samwell came to the castle hall, the wildling leaders, led by Mance Rayder, were confronting the officers of the Night's Watch.

 The atmosphere is colder than the winter wind.

 "Caesar! You don't keep your word!" Mance shouted angrily, focusing on the huge horn carried by the king -

Horn of Winter.

　　Yes, Bran Stark found the place where the wildlings hid the Horn of Winter and stole it as a gift to Samwell.

 “How can I not be trustworthy?”

 “You promised before that you could let the wildlings save the Horn of Winter!”

"Yes. I did promise." Samwell said, but then the conversation changed, "But you obviously don't have the ability to save this horn. So, in order to prevent accidents, I can only take it and destroy it. .”

As soon as the last two words were spoken, everyone saw the king's hands burning with fire.

 A swishing sound.

 Golden flames shot out from around the horn and exploded.

"The Horn of Winter?" Samwell said, "No, it should be called the Horn of Darkness. If the Great Wall collapses, the long night will follow. Humanity will also face catastrophe!

 I will never let this happen! "

Mance Rayder was shocked by Caesar's words. He watched the horn being engulfed in flames and failed to speak to dissuade him.

Perhaps deep down in his heart, he also hopes that this horn will be completely reduced to ashes.

The flames are still raging, like golden silk wrapping the winter horn. The mysterious lines of the golden carvings are melting in the fire, and a heart-stopping aura suddenly fills the air.

 But everyone unconsciously took a few steps back.

 Finally, the horn was completely reduced to ashes in the golden flames.

　　Samwell stood alone on the ashes, facing everyone in the hall, and turned into a blond man with golden eyes.

  A more vast and majestic sacred aura circulated in the hall than before, making everyone feel the urge to worship from the bottom of their hearts.

"The long night is coming, and the ancient evil is resurrecting." Samwell said in a cold and grand tone, "Male and female, old and young, the people of the Seven Kingdoms and the wild people beyond the wall, the fate of all mankind will be tested. .

　At this moment, only I can lead you to defeat the long night and usher in the long summer that will never end.

 Mance Rayder, and all the leaders and chiefs of the tribes beyond the wall, my previous commitments remain valid.

 As long as you are willing to bow your knee to me, you can become my people.

I will provide you with food, shelter, and shelter. All I ask is that you work for me, pay taxes to me, and kneel to me.

Those who do not want to kneel, you can temporarily stay in the Wolf Forest. When the long night is over, you can return to the north of the Great Wall and continue to live your unrestrained life.

 Now, make your choice.

Either embrace the light or retreat into the darkness!

 Choose me, or choose death and ignorance! "

As soon as he finished speaking, golden flames rose up around the king, like giant golden dragons circling and surrounding him.

 The surging heat surged in the hall, completely dispelling the chill of winter. For a moment, it seemed as if midsummer had descended on Castle Black.

This scene made everyone feel awe-inspiring, and they were no longer so resistant to the king's rather arrogant words just now.

 If anyone can really lead mankind to defeat the long night, perhaps only this king of the Seven Kingdoms is the most likely.

The first to come forward and kneel before the king was Segon, the leader of the Thenns, followed by Rattleshirt wearing clanking armor made of bones and leather, and then the two clan chiefs of the Hardfoot came to the king. Then he knelt down in front of the king, and then an old witch who was revered by the wild people along the Milk River, the chief of the Crow Hunter tribe, and even a giant walked heavily and fell down in front of the king, speaking words that others could not understand, and speaking loudly. The wooden hall rumbled.

 More and more savage leaders kneeled before Caesar.

　　Whether they do it from the bottom of their hearts or just bend their knees in order to survive, they will become the people of the Seven Kingdoms.

 But there were also many savage leaders who stood aside and did not move.

They tried their best to resist the terrifying coercion emanating from Caesar, stubborn and resolute.

 Finally, Mance Rayder stepped forward on their behalf and asked:

 “Caesar, what about those who don’t want to kneel? You will still let them...”

“Go to the Wolf Forest.” Samwell said, “You are still free. But you must send no less than one-tenth of the tribe’s population to participate in guarding the Great Wall.”

"good."

 (End of this chapter)