Chapter 211 No Delay

Chapter 209 No Debts

"A Lannister must pay his debts.

"The people of Braavos also have a proverb that the Iron Bank must not be delinquent."

Today, the Red Keep Hall is still filled with the well-known bigwigs of the Seven Kingdoms, but there are fewer people than usual, only four people left.

Not long ago, she became the Queen Mother from the Queen, and now behaves like a lioness, with more cruelty than prestige and wisdom.

The Minister of Finance Petyr Baelish, who was born in a small family, is eager for power and status, has an innate talent for money and trade, and has greater ambition than intelligence.

The bachelor's necklace is made of twenty-four kinds of metal pieces, hanging heavy from the neck to the chest, and looks knowledgeable, conscientious, and conservative.

And the intelligence chief Varys, who can't easily believe anything.

Opposite them, sat a man in a monotonous gray-brown coat.

This man's name is Naho Di Mitis, dressed simply and with a simple background, is an envoy of the Iron Bank of Braavos.

His purpose of coming to King's Landing seems to be quite simple, to collect debts from the Iron Throne.

It is said that the money was borrowed by Petyr Baelish to pay for King Robert I's expenses.

In short, the King of Westeros owes a large sum of money to the Iron Bank.

Just now, the Queen Regent told the envoy of the Iron Bank that the Iron Throne decided to postpone the repayment of the debt and guarantee it with the honor of the Lannister family.

Envoy Nacho Demetris also politely responded to the decision of Queen Mother Cersei, and the Iron Throne must repay the debt immediately.

"Your Excellency, please know what kind of crisis the kingdom is facing. A group of ambitious people are about to rebel, and the Iron Throne urgently needs a golden dragon to quell the rebellion. Now, the king needs the Iron Bank more than ever. "

Cersei's pleading words did not cause any reaction from Nacho Demetrius, but made the other ministers of the seven kingdoms frown.

This queen regent only knows how to play some self-righteous tricks, and she always lacks some sophistication when dealing with major issues.

This is not the time to gain sympathy by being miserable. It is unwise to owe money to the bank and tell the bank directly that you will face a major crisis.

This is the fact. Nacho ignored Cersei's cleverness and answered very firmly:

"We who serve the Iron Bank face life and death tests no less than you who serve the Iron Throne."

"War will lead to economic chaos in Westeros. Therefore, the Iron Throne must immediately repay a large sum of money, and before the war subsides, the Iron Bank refuses a new round of loans. "

After listening to Naho's tough request, the ministers of the seven kingdoms had different expressions.

The Minister of Finance Petyr Baelish showed just the right disappointment and anger. He is a master in this regard.

Grand Maester Pycelle acted helpless. He has always been like this. He always wanted to have a biased influence in political events, but he was very timid and did not have much political wisdom.

Varys was still expressionless. No one knew what he had in his hands, and no one knew what he was thinking.

Just as the Queen Regent was about to launch the final weapon, Cersei's cousin and the object of her affair, Sir Lancel, walked into the hall.

The young knight looked at Varys with complicated eyes, and then handed the secret letter in his hand to Cersei.

After a moment, Cersei threw the secret letter away angrily, and like a lioness, she roared as if she saw her cubs injured.

"You, you sent people to see Stannis and Renly, and you actually abandoned the legitimate king. I cannot forgive you. "

"Come here, come here, where are the Kingsguard, kill this traitor."

The Kingsguard rushed into the hall and captured Nacho Demetrius, but did not kill him directly.

The scene was silent for a moment, and the ministers and knights were waiting for the Queen Regent to vent her emotions and calm down.

Stannis Baratheon is the eldest brother of the former King Robert, the Duke of Dragonstone, and served as the Sea Lord in Robert's Privy Council.

He and the late Hand of the King Jon Arryn discovered the true life of the current King Joffrey.

After Robert's accidental death, Stannis refused to acknowledge Joffrey. As the legitimate heir, he raised an army and declared himself the king of the Seven Kingdoms.

Renly Baratheon is the younger brother of Robert and Stannis, the Duke of Storm's End, and the former Minister of Justice of the King's Council. He has also declared himself king.

Someone familiar with the three Baratheon brothers once made such a comparison:

"If Robert is real steel, then Stannis is pure iron, black, hard and strong, but also easy to break. Like iron, it will break before it bends. As for Renly, he is like shiny bright copper and looks beautiful. "

Stannis has strong military ability, which earned him a reputation in the War of the Usurper. His uncompromising and upright character are well known in the Seven Kingdoms, and his words are trustworthy.

However, not many people are willing to support and follow him, and his fiefdom Dragonstone is also very poor, without enough food and troops.

But with the financial assistance of the Iron Bank, it would be different.

Stannis can always raise a mercenary army, and with his military ability and experience, he will become very scary.

As for Renly, those who believed in Stannis and were unwilling to follow a stubborn king all turned to him who looked "shining", even though his succession order was lower than his brother.

It can be said that Renly did not need the support of the Iron Bank, but with the help of this power, he would be even more powerful.

In addition, King Joffrey violated the decision of the Council of the Kings and executed Eddard Stark, the King of the North. Given the character of the Northerners, they would definitely rise up for revenge.

In other words, before the attitudes of other lords were clear, the Iron Throne had already identified three powerful enemies.

This would be an unprecedented civil war that would affect the Seven Kingdoms.

Even if the Queen Regent's brain was not working well, she could feel the imminent pressure. Now was not the time for her to be proud and willful.

Cersei, who gradually calmed down, waved away the Kingsguard, and she did not apologize to Naho.

Influenced greatly by her father, Duke Tywin, she knew that interests were the most reliable allies, so she said bluntly:

"I am willing to put one-third of the royal property in the Iron Bank for safekeeping. My request is that the Iron Bank cannot fund any rebels, and must provide another loan to the royal family, and the royal debt must be repaid after the war is over."

"No!"

"Absolutely not!"

As soon as the Queen Regent finished speaking, Grand Maester Pycelle and Finance Minister Petyr exclaimed at the same time.

Varys also looked at Cersei in surprise. He thought he knew this woman well enough. She was vindictive and greedy, and she was greedy for power, glory and love.

It was not difficult for him to predict every step she took, but he never thought that he would come to this point.

In fact, he didn't know Cersei well enough.

In this regard, Cersei's two younger brothers had a clearer understanding of her.

Jaime Lannister believed that his sister was not lacking in intelligence, but judgment and patience.

Tyrion Lannister's description is more accurate. Cersei cannot distinguish the important from the unimportant. The longer she waits, the angrier she will become, and the angrier she becomes, the more stupid she will do.