Chapter 52

I look at all the grain in front of me and frown. Because of the pandemic, we have a lot of excessive grain in our granary and silo.

"Yeah, it is too much. Whole grains last for a long time. The amount will double up by the next harvest. So we should think of a way to get rid of them. However, just throwing them away is wasteful. Hmmm…"

Black Death still spread across the world and hit merchants the worst. Because of their duty as a merchant, they often need to go from one place to the other, and they have a higher chance of getting infected or infecting other people. With fewer merchants going around because they were dead or just because they did not want to catch the black death, our trade is getting slower.

When this trade gets slower, our granary and storage will be full, and we need to build another granary. I already ordered another granary and silo to be built, but I know it will not be a long-term solution.

How should I reduce the number of grains inside the silo and granary without throwing them away to the sea? Hmmm… I guess we can give them away or sell them at a very low price. Or I can sell them to places where our merchants never venture. Which place can I sell these? Essos is filled with slavery, and I will lose support from the people if I decide to sell our goods to the slaver. Wait! There is one place where I can sell these foods.

"Bakir, I need five ships to prepare the grain."

"Hmmm? Do you intend to sell them to other parts of the world?"

"I want to sell them to the north."

"... Lorath or Ibben?"

"We already have both of them as our trade partners. We need someone new, and they are located in the North."

"The North of the Seven Kingdoms."

"Aye. We will make a trade with them."

"Are you sure, your highness? They are one of the three houses that lead to the Targaryen Dynasty's fall in Westeros."

"Yes, but they have the right reason for it. My father burned their Lord and heir just after my brother kidnapped their Lord's daughter. They are also not the ones killing all the innocent in King's Landing. So, yeah. We will have some trade with him."

"I will prepare the ship, your highness."

"Oh! Make sure to visit Braavos beforehand to hand another batch of potions to the Ragman's Town. I hear the people from Westeros come to Ragmans' Town because they hear there is a cure for Black Death there."

"Of course, your majesty."

"Good. Tell the merchant going there to put our usual price but accept it if they haggle for a lower price. Just make sure it was not too low."

"Of course, your majesty."

I nod my head and get out of the Granary with Bakir by my side. After checking the granary problem, I went to the harbor. After riding for about fifteen minutes, we arrived at the port, where I could see many people walking around.

Like before, I gave all the people here a smile and a wave while continuing to walk toward the port where all the ships docked. When I get closer, I can see Hernandes, the Harbor Master, the one taking care of all harbor-related jobs.

"Your Majesty! What can we Salty men do for you?"

I chuckle a little at his title for all marine-related people and say.

"I just want to do a quick inspection, if you don't mind."

"Of course not, your majesty! We will be more than happy to welcome you."

"Thank you."

"Please follow me. I will show you around."

I nod my head, and we follow him around. The first one we visit is the ships docking in the port.

"All the ships we have are in good condition. We just finished repairing the last ship that encountered a pirate on their way to the Summer Isle."

I look at the ship Hernandes points at and see a ship that is in good condition. I did not see any patching on the surface of the ship. I guess they already coat the surface with paint to hide the patching.

"Hmmm, do you have five or so ships ready to be used for trading?"

"Of course, your highness! If you order, all of the ships here are ready to go where you want."

"I did not need all of them. I only need five."

"That is easy enough. Can I ask where these ships go?"

"North."

"Ibben? Or Lorath?"

"Ah, not that far north. The North. One of the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros."

I can see him look at Bakir and then me a second later.

"Are you sure, my Lord? They are one of the three people that usurp your family rule in Westeros."

Haaaa, this again.

"Don't worry about it, Hernandes. I already told Bakir the reason why and you can ask him about it. Anyway, please prepare a large size ship for the trading."

"That much?"

"Aye. We will send a large number of goods to the North. You know that we have a LOT of excess goods because of the plague going on."

"I see. I notice there are fewer and fewer merchants coming to our kingdom lately."

"That's right. We need to introduce a new buyer, and the North is a suitable place to go."

"Understood. I will prepare the ship and tell Lorio to prepare the men to go with the ship when he gets back from his sea patrol."

"Ah, speaking of Lorio, I want to ask when he is back?"

"He should be back tonight or maybe tomorrow morning. Hmmm, just tell him to choose some people for this journey."

"Of course, your majesty."

"Good. Now… Let's continue."

All of us walk around the harbor for another thirty minutes before I decide to go back to the palace.

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|Eddard Stark - The Lord of Winterfell and the Warden for the North|

"Haaaaaa"

"What is it, my dear? You have been sighing for the past few minutes. What is it? What kind of trouble makes you like this?"

I look at my wife for a second before releasing another sigh.

"It is the food, my love. Unfortunately, we did not have enough of them for the next winter. Few merchants are coming to the North with the sickness going around the Seven Kingdoms."

The Sickness, or Black Death, as the people overseas called it, is already spreading to the North. With Black Death killing people everywhere, we could not have a stable supply of food from the other kingdoms.

The North buys their food from Vale and Riverland, but because of Black Death, they stop selling food for us.

"... I see. That will be a problem. The Citadel already declares we are entering fall, and I already see snow falling from the sky more frequently."

I nod my head and say.

"Aye. I have already received a few letters from the Lord around the North. They are concerned about our food situation. Their granary is not filled with food, and they are afraid that ice fishing will not solve the problem even when the Citadel predicts it will be a short winter."

If we cannot get other sources of food, many people will die, and I want to prevent it from happening.

I release another tired sigh before looking out of the window. What do I need to do?

"My Lord! My Lord!"

I snap from my thoughts when I hear someone shouting from behind the door of my solar.

"Get in!"

As the door opens up, I see one of the servants panting up and looking at me.

"My Lord! A merchant! A merchant came to Winterfell!"

"Really?"

"Aye! They are from Lunaria, and they are bringing a lot of food for us to buy, my Lord!"

My smile quickly dies down when I hear where they are coming from. Lunaria, the kingdom where the next generation of Targaryen rule.

'Promise me, Ned!'