Chapter 216

"I'm stopping all the construction work of the roads in my lands for now." He said, shocking everyone in the room. He had after all, shown a very aggressive front when it came to building roads in his lands so that one day they would reach every nook and cranny.

He opened a chart with the map of the North in it and showed it to his small council. The Head of the roads and infrastructure department specifically.

"The construction workers and materials will go to the North." He said pointing at the Last Hearth. "I want them to build a road from Last Heart to Castle Black. And then an adjacent road from one end of the Wall to another for the easy of supply transport."

"I also plan to send half of my builders to the Wall where they'll start the construction of the castles. Starting with Castle Stonedoor, Hoarfrost Hill, Ice Mark and The Nightfort. I want these four castles built to the prime and then expended until they could hold 5000 men. I do not know how you do it. Hire more builders from Assahi if you much. I want it done by the end of the year."

His head of the Roads and Infrastructure looked a little overwhelmed but nodded anyway.

"Tyrion. You'll also help him in this." He said to the Castellin of Bolton Port "The expansion of my fleet is no longer as important as it was before. Now, I want you to focus on this project. The fleet can be expanded next summer." If they survive this Winter.

"Are you sure my lord. With a larger fleet, we'll be able to bring more resources." Tyrion said.

"Yes. Aside from the materials for the cement, we have all the other materials here in the North. And now that the other lords are allowing me to take their resources for almost free, we shouldn't have a problem in that department. Any other question."

"Yeah. How many castles does the other lords have?" Tyrion asked.

"The Starks have command over two. The original 3 of the Nights Watch will remain theirs although the Karstarks are going to reinforce them with their own men and resources. The Umbers and Manderlys also have combined command over 3 Castles. The other 6 remaining castles have been distributed among the other houses of Ryswell, Dustin, Whitehill, Foresters, Cerwyn, Hornwood and Tallhart. House Reed and Flint has been asked with rebuilding Moat Cailin and reinforcing them so that the North won't be vulnerable from the South. House Glover, Mormont and Fisher has been charged with building new boats and defending the West Coast so that the Iron borns won't dare attack us while the East Coast has been given to the us and the Manderly. House Manderly has also been given the order to build a War Fleet of it's own though I don't think that they'll be able to accomodate a very large one. About 30-40 war galleys at most. Anything else anyone want to know?"

"They seem to have given you a major amount of the work and the castles My lord." Celly, the CEO of his businesses said "You're not only charged with building the roads, you're also charged with providing food, weapons and armors for half the price. And now they expect you to hold 4 of the 18 castles while even the Starks are only holding 2. It seems unfair."

"Oh but it really isn't Celly. In fact, I was the one who asked for the command of 5 castles."

"What? Why would you do that?" Tyrion asked.

"Because currently, about 1 million of the total 5 million people in the North live in my lands. But the real deal is this. House Bolton itself earns twice as much as all the other houses in the North combined. And even with giving away the food and weapons for half the price, we're still a fair bit ahead as they also have to give their resources away for free."

He was not even lying. Even if he didn't count any of the Wealth he brought over from Valyria, his house was still earning twice as much as all the other houses in the North combined.

And he expected to only grow richer in the future.

Tyrion picked up his jaw and asked "Is there anything else my lord."

"Yes. Aside from the legions I already have, I am building 4 more of 3000 men each. I'll give the command of one to Walton, one to Tyrion, one to Tormund and the last one to Mance Rayder."

"Are you sure you want to give me the command of one of them?" Tyrion asked while pointing at himself with a nervous laugh "I mean… I'm not much of a warrior."

"You'll job will not be to fight but to lead. I'll also give all four commanders 10 of my elite swordsmen to each of the commanders. All decked with magical armor and all strong enough to fight and kill a White Walker. Your only job will be to administer and lead. And I've confidence that you'll not fail me Tyrion."

Tyrion looked shocked at how much confidence he was showing in the man and simply nodded.

"Are you not taking the command of any of the castles my lord." Karsi asked. Her belly was bulging. He could guess that she was 6-7 months pregnant already. That must have been the time before he left for the 2nd expedition.

It seems like Varko had not sat ideal at that time.

He would have to make sure that Karsi gives a safe birth as many women die during childbirth in this era and he didn't want that to happen to her. Mostly because Varko deserved so happiness but also because Karsi was a very capable person and one of his generals.

"No. I'll be at the head of the command chain but will not lead the defense of a castle personally."

"And what about us?" Bronn asked while pointing at himself, Karsi and Rakoro who had by now trained 1,000 men as horse archers and was training another 1,000 men. "Are you going to sit on our thumb and just watch."

"No. Karsi will lead 5000 men and be charged with the defense of my lands or even the West Side of the North in case either the Lannisters or the Ironmen attack there and the Glovers, Mormonts and the Fishers fail. I'll also give her 4 wargs and half my giants for this task.

Winterhold and Bolton Port already has a sizable garrison of 4,000 and 2,000 men each along with the 2,000 policemen who could be used as reserve. But be prepared just in case."

Karsi didn't reply but simply bowed to him.

"You and Rakoro on the other hand, will be in charge of the offense. Your 7,000 men and Rakoro's 1000 horse archers will be charged with attacking."

"Attacking. Who?" Rakoro asked.

"Anyone that I point you at." He said "In cases of emergencies, I can even send you to the wall to reinforce the castles with fewer men. Is that understood."

Both of them nodded.

"Anything else?"

"Transporting the master builders from other places will take a lot of gold my lord." His Head of R&I said.

"Don't care for the costs." He replied "The Treasurer will provide you with all the gold necessary. Just don't skim too much from it."

The man laughed nervously and Tyrion suddenly said "You can marry Myrcella my lord."

Everyone else in the room stopped what they were doing and stared at the dwarf.

"I mean. After the King broke your betrothal with Sansa, you could have used it to your advantage to marry my niece. She's a kind, gentle and sweet girl and would grow up to be as beautiful as her mother. It'll also give us a connection to the Royal house which would be a great boon in and of itself."

"My marriage in not on the table Tyrion. I've sacrificed a lot for my people. But I'm not getting a life long partner only for some future connections." He said "I'll marry for love and that is final. Anything else."

"Will you go on another expedition North of the Wall my lord?" Walton asked and he nodded.

"I will. But not for some time. And I'll only take a handful of people with me this time."

"Won't that be dangerous." Karsi asked and he shook his head.

The meeting continued for the next 2 hours during which he explained and mapped a future for his lands for the coming few years.