138 Smile in front, intrigue behind
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Pov of Wilhelm Von Hohenzollern twelve moon 285 AC
"All right... Janna, Willas, pack your things. We're going on a journey to the north of The Reach. Let's be proactive and try to solve the problem before it escalates, considering the time it takes for information to reach us. If we move quickly, we'll be there before the news reaches unwanted ears," I said after some thought. Both nodded, and we all began to prepare for the journey, which should take a couple of days. I made sure they loaded a cart with chests of gold, as a substantial compensation could likely resolve the issue.
"Does anyone know where Roon is?" I asked my knights who were preparing the horses.
"My king, Generalfeldmarschall von Roon rode yesterday afternoon to Cidel Hall to make preparations for next year's recruitment, and then he'll go to Ashford to check if the forges are ready for the increased orders of armor. But the final destination is Goldengrove, to ensure the looms in the area are also prepared for making clothes for the recruits. Do you need me to send him a message?" one of the Teutonics said.
"No, that mission is more important than anything. We need to rebuild our army as soon as possible, as many must know that I have an army of officers but no soldiers to lead," I said as I mounted my horse.
Once everything was ready, we rode north, while Janna traveled in her carriage, wanting to show her how she should act in the future regarding her duties. The journey took longer than it should have, as Janna's carriage obviously couldn't travel at the same speed as riding on horseback.
But as we approached the northern border of The Reach, we encountered something that left everyone astonished.
"God, there must be more than fifty thousand serfs here. What the hell are the Westerosi doing to trigger this mass migration? This is not a small-scale problem; this is a powder keg for a war." The farmlands in this area were completely destroyed. There was nothing salvageable, as the serfs must have razed them, given that the Teutonic knight in charge of this part of the border authorized it.
I turned to see the others' reactions, and Willas looked with his mouth open, and Janna with a worried expression.
"This is what happens when you do a poor... no, terrible job as a lord. Your serfs escape, and now it seems it's my problem to solve it as soon as possible before this local problem escalates into a kingdom-wide issue," I said, looking at Willas.
"What... what... what will we do, my king? These are too many entire villages; they must have been completely emptied," Willas said, looking at the enormous serf camp that had formed.
"It all depends on the reaction of the affected lords. If they receive compensation, the problem doesn't end here. What will we do with so many people? They're not like the millions of serfs remaining in our territory. They have homes; these serfs don't. And we don't have places to settle them immediately. Furthermore, we don't know if they'll keep coming, and if we send them back, the problem that caused it won't end. They'll escape again because the lords will punish them severely, and this time, they won't gather in one place and try to enter through all the uncontrolled areas of the border; they'll simply enter the cities, and we won't be able to do anything to stop it," I said to Willas.
Finally, we began to approach the large refugee camp receiving help from the Teutonic Order and aid sent by some governors closer to this area.
When we were close, I saw how one of the Teutonic knights carried two children on his shoulders and held a girl's hand, leading a massive group of children who followed him and even wore his helmet.
"Hermann, I need a report on what has happened here in the last few days," I said, looking at the Teutonic knight.
"I'm sorry, little ones, but I must answer my king's questions... Please, my helmet... my king, Brother Captain Hermann at your service," said the knight to the children, putting down the ones he had on his shoulders and putting on his helmet again to bow, and almost all the children imitated him.
"My king, in the last few days, many people have come to your domains in search of a better future. Due to the mistreatment they have suffered under the pagan rulers of the lands of the rivers, these people have been forced to leave their homes, where their ancestors have lived for generations, upon hearing that your territories overflow with abundance due to your unwavering devotion to your people. That is why they humbly request that you take them under your care and protection, as the chosen one of God to safeguard His flock on the earthly plane," said the Teutonic knight.
"I can see that, but I need the numbers. How many people request this protection, and what are their conditions?" I asked the Teutonic knight.
"Yesterday, the number reached fifty-eight thousand people, including children and adults. But every day more arrive, and the number hasn't stopped growing. Every day, there are more, and the conditions they arrive in are not good. Sick with the multiple diseases that plague the bodies of the unblessed, people who have suffered hunger, individuals who haven't eaten in days, and even wounded. I'm afraid the pagan lords of the lands of the rivers have begun to take extremely harsh measures against their own people," said the knight.
"Thank you for the report, Hermann. Are there any governors in the area, or have they not made their presence known yet?" I asked the knight.
"No one has come yet. They've all been busy with their respective duties, but the nearest governors have sent several police groups to maintain order as much as possible and have sent food and clothing aid," the knight replied.
"You can go; continue with your work," I said to the knight, who happily turned his attention back to the children.
I waited for the knight to leave, and that enormous group of children followed him.
"See, Janna? Like those children never took their eyes off the Teutonic knight. This is what you must achieve when you lead the charitable orders of the Prussian state. Most people have never received any help or consideration from the upper classes of society, and that creates a gap. Your duty is to close that gap, let people know that we care. The moment they know that, they will defend us fiercely," I said, looking at Janna, who was watching the whole event with interest.
"I understand... So, should I...?" Janna said nervously.
"Yes, seize the opportunity. Enter this refugee camp and win their hearts. The people of Westeros are so accustomed to mistreatment that the moment they see genuine kindness, they will be enchanted. This will be very easy because the Teutons have already won them over. Look at how many are kneeling there, praying to a cross; it means many gladly received our help. Let them know they can come to you for food, clothing, or assistance," I said, looking at Janna.
'Let them voluntarily place the leash around their neck and tighten it on their own'.
Janna went into the refugee camp with Willas, accompanied by several Teutons carrying food and clothes for the refugees. For almost an hour, I inspected the conditions of the camp, and although, with all the help the Teutons had gathered, the serfs faced considerable hardships, there were no altercations inside, as people seemed to view the Teutonic knights as they had always presented themselves: defenders of the weak. Seeing their heroes kneel before me, many did the same.
When the serfs started surrounding the Tyrell duo, I withdrew, as my contact with the spy network of the Riverlands had to be somewhere.
In the shadow of one of the few trees on a hill, I met a Finn who was waiting for me.
"My king," said the Finn, removing his mask.
"What the hell is happening in the Riverlands exactly? I thought it would be a few thousand, but we almost have an army of serfs at our gates," I said, looking at the Finn, who was gazing north.
"The power of words... In almost all the Riverlands, where war destroyed almost everything, there are rumors that life in the south is almost perfect. There is food, security, well-paid work, and, above all, legal protection against the nobles. The only problem is that the Faith of the Seven is not the official religion. Think about the effect those words have on people who were fed up with taxes, hunger, bandits, corrupt tax collectors, and mediocre harvests, with no solutions from their nobles."
"Moreover, all the southern lords are overwhelmed by the number of serfs escaping in mass. This has already slipped out of their control. Their dens are not enough to stop them all," the Finn said, pointing to another group approaching the camp.
"What do you make of this? Any advice?" I said, seeking the spy's opinion.
"I think it's a problem without a good solution. Whatever you do, the problem will persist. I assume you've already analyzed the consequences of possible reactions from the Riverlands lords, but they are greedy. They might look the other way if you throw them a bone, but it has to be something in the medium term, as what truly matters to that group is their income. They might stop barking if you give them a business or one of their monopolies, obviously not under your control, but perhaps joint control, as it forces them to collaborate with you. But there's always the possibility that they want it all," the Finn said.
"Where are the Riverlands lords?" I asked again.
"Mostly by the river to the north, the Blackwater Rush. They're trying to stop everyone they can, although with no luck. For every one they stop, five others escape. And waging a war against your own people is making many guards look the other way or..." the Finn said with a smile.
"Are they deserting?" I said with a serious tone.
The Finn nodded.
"With the war, the nobles can no longer rely on hereditary families of men-at-arms, and they had to recruit from all their villages. Those men have families, and honor and loyalty are not as enduring as helping your loved ones escape from an oppressive regime," the Finn said, smiling.
"Thank you for the information. Go back to your men and inform me how things continue to unfold," I said as I got back on my horse and decided to ride towards the Blackwater Rush.
With my group of knights, we rode north, and after an hour of riding, we reached the river. Large groups of serfs could be seen to the north of the river, probably waiting for the water to recede, as this river is known for its powerful currents.
We rode towards the bridge that connected The Reach with the Riverlands, and I noticed that the guard was quite reinforced, as there were almost no men guarding an unimportant bridge.
We passed without problems and noticed a camp with several heraldries. I managed to be let in without much delay, as I wanted to meet with the lords as soon as possible. But it drew a lot of attention that there were a large number of people who were chained.
'I hope I can end this with diplomacy.'
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