The arrangements II

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POV of Jon Arryn, sixth moon ,284 AC

The familiar face was Maximilian who was wearing his blue clothes with gold trimmings and wearing the Prussian helmet with a pointed top.

Maximilian tapped the soles of his boots together emitting a high-pitched sound that drew the attention of everyone in the council to the slim figure of the Prussian

Who quickly removed his helmet and bowed slightly to us.

''lord hand, I had invited Maximilian to this meeting so that he could report our concerns to his lord, regarding the information that the master of coin has given us, I thought he would not come due to his delay, but apparently he made it,'' Varys said with a calm tone.

''That's right Lord Arryn, I apologize for my tardiness, but duty kept me elsewhere, a very important envoy from Essos arrived at my office and it was necessary that the matter be resolved as soon as possible because it was crucial for the interests of our bank'' said Maximilian putting his helmet back on and approaching us.

''An envoy from essos, Lord Maximilian, could you tell us what this meeting was about'', said Pycelle with much interest in the information.

''Well, I manage a bank, why would a person from across the sea come to me,'' Maximilian replied to Pycelle with a sarcastic tone looking at him.

'So what Varys told me that the Prussians get on terribly with the Maesters, it is true, if even Maximilian the least confrontational of the group, seeks conflict with them, the fight that happened in oldtown during the Prussian conquest has not healed.'

''I am glad to hear that your bank is on the right track, lord Maximilian, but being a foreign envoy I must ask you about the details of the meeting to avoid conflicts with the free cities'' Varys said in his friendly tone.

''Ah of course, Lord Varys it is always a pleasure to be able to help in the performance of a duty, the envoy from essos, to be more specific from the free city of tyrosh came to me to seal a deal for a loan, the city state is looking for funding for a new military campaign in the disputed lands coincidentally the cities usually turn to the iron bank for funding, as the amounts are usually considerable, but this time they decided to try their luck with us and lower interest'' Maximilian said while holding up a book strongly

''He requested a small loan for all that is needed for that long conflict that is usually fought in essos and luckily, we had the treasury full enough to make such a loan, so it is likely that in the future some tyrosh ships will come to withdraw the shipment of gold and silver that we committed, so it will not cause panic in your customs officers'' Maximilian finished standing upright and puffing out his chest.

''How much is this small loan?'', I asked the Prussian diplomat.

"Oh just the small sum of ten million golden dragons in gold and silver to finance the war for the next few years, although Tyrosh can raise the gold on his own through taxes, they prefer to have it all on hand to equip their mercenary armies and well we get a good cut for the interest" said Maximilian as if it were nothing and lowering his importance showing his well-kept teeth.

We all watched Maximilian for a moment to see if he wanted to rectify what he said, but apparently not, he was very calm with the huge amount of gold he lent as if it was nothing to the foreigners.

''The people of essos are known for their greed and deceit, just see their representatives here, what will happen if they don't pay him'' said Pycelle looking at Varys and then at Maximilian with an annoyed tone.

''In business, trust must prevail because without that first step the harmony that trade produces will never be reached, it is known that when trade is fair and bilateral, swords are put aside... but if someone tries to take advantage of this.... well, they will test the steel fist of the Prussian knights in battle because it is a humiliation that will not be forgiven and I don't think the other free cities will mind if we leave them the leftovers of what we leave... I can sit down'' Maximilian took strong steps making his boots echo around the room staring at Pycelle and then pointing to the empty chair of the master of laws who had not attended due to his trip to the river lands.

''Please lord Maximilian'' I said pointing to the chair.

''And well that would send the message that tyrosh is not to be lent money and no one would ever lend him that money, which would make it very difficult to raise finance for future wars and as far as I know, that conflict is very long, no one would be foolish enough to risk so much for so little.... we'll lord Arryn what your concerns are all ears and I will try to raise your doubts with the little information I have'' Maximilian said smiling as he repeatedly tapped his book which contained several loose sheets of paper.

''We are mainly concerned about the grain production you are having in the reach, we consider that it could destabilize prices if your growth projections are met'' said the master of coin to Maximilian.

''Oh, but isn't lower grain prices good for the small folks... lower prices means people will have more access to grain and hunger should be reduced, considering how badly the small folks have had it in this war of yours and your rather rude practices with the helpless peasants caused a lot of discontent this is a good way to deal with that problem'' Maximilian said in a calm tone.

''Lord Maximilian, that only benefits the cities and...'' Varys tried to say, but was interrupted by Maximilian.

''Ha, ha, ha... I know the answer lord Varys, I was only teasing you..... I understand the economic theory of feudalism and subsistence farming just as my lord saw your problems, grain must have a stable price, whether good or bad for the realm, too high prices the nobles will line their pockets with the income from the food and the small folks will starve as they try to beg for crumbs, very low the nobles will have empty pockets because of the tiny price of grains and the small folks will suffer, as the merchants will offer them low prices for it and they won't be able to complete their diet, everyone suffers because of the drastic change''Maximilian said laughing

''Ha, ha, very funny lord Maximilian, but supposing your lord is aware of this problem because he is so determined to increase grain production to such a level, it could destroy the market in five years with in the projections you delivered'' said Varys with a kindly tone

''Ah, well, it has to do with what was happening in our realm, the population of our territories greatly exceeded the population of the seven kingdoms, to say that our army was only a small personal retinue of the king.... well, many people lived in overcrowded conditions and the fertile lands were worth their production in gold, the slightest decrease in the productive chain would produce a famine that would kill millions by hunger... and unfortunately that happened several times... unlike you, we had annual wars against our neighbors even biannual, which generated great local famines, it is because of this that, the custom in Prussia is not to waste the arable land'' said Maximilian with a sad tone.

'What, only a small retinue?, but never has such a large army been assembled in the whole history of the seven kingdoms and probably in the whole known world'.

There was a lot of nervousness on the faces of the councilors, even Stannis was grimacing at the news.

''That's why we do this Lord Arryn'' said Maximilian ending with a warm smile.

''I understand that you do it out of culture, to your fear of mass starvation, but it puts the stability of the realm at risk'' I said a bit worriedly.

We understand your concern Lord Arryn, but that concern is unnecessary, although the supply of grains in the kingdoms will increase a little, most of it will be destined for other tasks that will avoid the fluctuation of the price of such a sensitive element, the liquors that currently is increasing considerably the demand everywhere in the seven kingdoms and essos is necessary a great quantity of grains for its production, as we also plan to destine another great part for the breeding of livestock animals''.

''I don't think it will be a problem that the price of meat and eggs will go down... and well, for also the breeding of horses the best horses should eat grains and not leave them eating from the pastures'' Maximilian said calming our worries.

''So that boy had already thought about the effects of his actions'' said Pycelle with a bit of distrust.

''Of course, unlike others, our interests are the stability of the seven kingdoms, as we Prussians are the most loyal vassals the Baratheon have, the most committed to making the rule of the rightful house be long and prosperous'' said Maximilian again lashing out at Pycelle.

Pycelle just grunted a little and said incoherent words.

'So I worry about nothing.... Wilhelm is younger than Robert and shows much more wisdom than the more senior nobles in the governorship.''

''Well about the salt and sugar...there is nothing to do, it does not affect stability, it will only affect some lords who will have to adapt or compete against us in supply and demand, which hopefully will happen nothing improves productivity more than fair and healthy competition''Maximilian spoke again.

'I must prepare myself for the complaints of my banner men'

''and speaking of efficiency I can take advantage of the fact that I am here for the approval of a project that will affect the oldtown autonomous zone although not directly, but my lord considers that respecting the agreement is the first thing'' said Maximilian taking the papers out of his book.

''The mander river has become the artery of commerce and communication in the reach and is vital for the whole territory, but we want to build a great engineering project that would increase the commercial efficiency with essos or all the commerce that must enter through the mander from the south, behold, the mander-honeywine canal, that seeks to join both rivers through a canal to connect the whole reach in a single waterway, reducing travel times and increasing the connection in the territory'' Maximilian said handing me several papers that were complex Prussian diagrams.

I handed them to Pycelle who only began to hesitate as he looked at them and he didn't seem to understand much either.

''We have made the calculations and the rivers have almost the same geographical height, the work will be done quickly and in two or three years we will have the canal built and increased the width of the Honeywine to allow the passage of commercial ships, linking the reach by only one river, reducing the travel time for all those who have our permission to use it'' said Maximilian smiling.

I handed those diagrams to everyone present to see if anyone understood them, but apparently no one could decipher them and honestly seeing so many numbers and lines was making my head hurt.

''It shouldn't be any problem, Lord Maximilian, send me the official proposal and I will mark it with the royal seal'' I answered giving back the diagram

''Thank you, lord Arryn a great step for the progress of the kingdom... well, I have a request from my lord about the tournaments, considering that we pay for everything, we wanted to add some new tournaments... nothing complicated, add new tournaments to encourage martial skills'' Maximilian said taking out more papers while he put others away.

''Tradition indicates only three tournaments, lord Maximilian nothing more'' said Pycelle.

The Prussian simply ignored what the Maester said, and his gaze was fixed on me.

''I think the king will be more than pleased to see more combat and martial displays, it is a request from the Prussian officers who seek tournaments with which they are more familiar... we Prussians practice fencing.... well most of us, not me, ha, ha, ha, in a friendly manner with armor a mask that protects the eyes and nose, but leaving unprotected the cheeks and lips to leave the marks of honor that my peers seek.''

''A Greco-Roman wrestling request that is practiced by Roon soldiers as it teaches their men to throw their opponents to the ground and overpower them very effective against knights if you are unarmed and well company fighting where three hundred men fight against three hundred, with blunt weapons and lots of armor for the fight, much like your melee, but by defined teams'' Maximilian said delivering all the information.

Varys showed a bit of annoyance at hearing that German surname, it seemed to remind him of something.

''*gasp*I'll talk it over with the king, I'll have an answer for you by the afternoon'' I replied to Maximilian.

''Great, well, with your worries calmed, and my work finished, my presence is not needed here'' said Maximilian standing up from the chair, he turned around, said goodbye taking off his helmet and bowing slightly and leaving the room.

'Robert won't deny it to him, he loves those things.'

''Well where were we at''I said to the council.

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