The Mountain of Ice and Fire

Clang!

The Mountain's greatsword was drawn. The Scarlet Smoke Beast attacked with the speed of a red blur. In the terrified eyes of Estermont Follard, a cold light flashed. A chill ran down his neck, and his head flew.

As blood sprayed, before the head even hit the ground, the Scarlet Smoke Beast had already retreated to Joffrey's side, as if the Mountain hadn't moved at all.

A drop of blood slid from the tip of the Ice greatsword.

The chieftains hadn't even had time to react before Estermont Follard was dead at the Mountain's hand.

The Scarlet Smoke Beast advanced and retreated like lightning, like light, like smoke, its movements perfectly attuned to its master's thoughts, unbelievably fast.

With a slight squeeze of his legs, the Scarlet Smoke Beast knew to advance. A slight movement of his left leg, and it went left. A slight movement of his right leg, and it went right. A gentle tap with both legs, and it retreated. Forward, backward, left, right, at will.

No one on the outside could detect any sign of the Mountain controlling the Scarlet Smoke Beast, as if the beast was acting entirely on its own.

"Warriors of the Claw Peninsula, do you dare to desecrate the Blood God?!" the Mountain roared!

His voice was like thunder, his presence like a god of slaughter!

The thousands of tribal warriors, the garrison soldiers packed onto the walls, and the two thousand Clegane infantry behind the city gates were all as silent as the grave.

The Mountain's roar was like the booming of a great bell, like the explosion of thunder, filled with an aura of being the only one who mattered between heaven and earth.

The Mountain's words were carefully chosen. The Blood God was the highest, and only, deity of the Claw Peninsula people. They would sooner sacrifice their lives than desecrate the Blood God.

"Lady Dorea Qoherys, come out!" the Mountain shouted. He killed with a sudden attack, retreated like lightning, and then roared his demand, leaving no gap in between.

The Mountain firmly controlled the situation with his intimidation.

*

Without the Claw Peninsula people's faith and worship of the Blood God and the Scarlet Smoke Beast, the Mountain wouldn't have dared to kill so rashly, despite his power. From the moment the Claw Peninsula people saw him, the Mountain knew that they didn't have a firm resolve to take back the Scarlet Smoke Beast. When they saw the Mountain riding the Scarlet Smoke Beast, they were more filled with shock and fear: shock, and dread!

Shock at the harmony between the Scarlet Smoke Beast and the Mountain, and dread stemming from their fear of a king. According to their faith's prophecy: the master of the Scarlet Smoke Beast is the king of the peninsula!

The Blood God faith was both an advantage and a disadvantage. Whatever it was, as long as he understood it, he could use it!

The Mountain knew the situation was dangerous. A slight misstep could trigger a bloody battle.

He had his own selfish motives and plans – even if the king didn't order Estermont Follard killed, the Mountain would have killed the leader.

Estermont Follard decided to challenge the Mountain. After receiving the news in the Tower of the Hand, the Mountain decided to kill the leader first.

A flock of dragons without a head. For the Claw Peninsula people, who were never truly united, it was easier to control them without a leader!

But there was a problem: he had to complete Lord Tywin's order. Lord Tywin was plotting great things for the Seven Kingdoms and didn't want any complications. He ordered the Mountain to return the Scarlet Smoke Beast.

The Mountain wouldn't return it, but he couldn't openly defy the order. He needed a fig leaf, a fig leaf to prevent both sides from falling out, and that was King Joffrey Baratheon.

The king's order outweighed the Hand's order!

The Scarlet Smoke Beast was invincible, the mount of a king – this view was deeply rooted in the hearts of the Claw Peninsula people! The poison of poisoned arrows and the poison of miasma couldn't kill the Scarlet Smoke Beast.

Just like some of the Targaryen family were immune to fire, the Scarlet Smoke Beast was naturally immune to poison!

As for the death of a tribal chieftain, the other tribal chieftains didn't care. The tribes weren't a true alliance and harbored deep grudges against each other.

With Janei's help, the Mountain also knew the history of the Claw Peninsula like the back of his hand!

In the Mountain's knowledge structure, there was the principle of taking risks, and he had also experienced the temptation of seeking wealth in danger, especially in the world of Ice and Fire.

In the Tower of the Hand, the Mountain made his plans. At the Mud Gate, he acted!

Deliberate and then act!

*

A person slowly walked out from the tribal cavalry. Lifting the black hood, it was a woman with teeth as black and shiny as gemstones: Dorea Qoherys – a blood witch, the bridge between the tribes and the Blood God on the Claw Peninsula.

"Madam, the Scarlet Smoke Beast broke free from its cage, followed me all the way, and repeatedly blocked my path to acknowledge me as its master when we were about to leave the Claw Peninsula. If the Blood God cannot be desecrated, then I am the king of the Claw Peninsula!" The Mountain slightly squeezed his legs, and the Scarlet Smoke Beast, understanding his intentions, arrived right in front of Lady Dorea Qoherys as soon as the Mountain finished speaking.

Dorea Qoherys drew a silver dagger. Joffrey was about to question her with majesty when the witch rolled her eyes, her two dark eye sockets facing the king. The young king felt a constriction in his heart, his mouth agape, and he was immediately unable to speak!

The Mountain took off his iron gauntlet. Dorea Qoherys's silver dagger slashed down, leaving a scarlet streak on his palm. The Mountain stared intently. If the Blood God really existed, if the prophecy really represented the will of God, then the Mountain was indeed the master of the Scarlet Smoke Beast. There was no doubt about it.

The tribal warriors were used to it, but the king, the Kingsguard, and the garrison soldiers were speechless – what was the Mountain doing? What was that witch doing?

Dorea Qoherys put the silver dagger into her mouth, closed her lips, and pulled the dagger out of her mouth. It gleamed with silver light, all the blood on the dagger left in her mouth.

Inside and outside the city walls, nearly ten thousand people were silent!

If the situation changed, the Mountain also had a backup plan: capture Dorea Qoherys, and the peninsula warriors would basically be unable to move!

Every step, the Mountain had calculated! Whether to go left or right, it was all the same!

One red heart, two plans!

In this world, besides God, there is also wisdom!

*

"The Blood God must not be desecrated!" Dorea Qoherys said, raising the dagger. She spoke in the Claw Peninsula dialect, with its unique pronunciation.

The king, the Kingsguard, the garrison soldiers, and the Clegane infantry all looked at each other, not understanding what this meant.

The peninsula tribal soldiers also looked at each other, their faces showing hesitation.

Dorea Qoherys wanted them to recognize the Mountain as the king of the peninsula. The Scarlet Smoke Beast acknowledging him as its master, the Blood God's will descending, all conformed to the rules, but the Mountain was not a Claw Peninsula person.

Clang!

A person drew his sword, it was Wagner Galbart, the chieftain of the Galbart tribe from the peninsula, a promising young chieftain. He was the Mountain's newly appointed commander-in-chief of the royal fleet, the captain and general of the King's Fleet. He drew his sword, dismounted, came before the Mountain, knelt on one knee, and presented his longsword with both hands, declaring his allegiance and proclaiming the Mountain as the king of the peninsula.

The second youth also dismounted, it was the Mountain's foster son, Landon Galbart of the Galbart tribe, his father was George Galbart, the captain of the Hammer of the royal fleet who had died in battle.

Landon Galbart drew his sword, knelt, and swore to proclaim the Mountain as the king of the peninsula!

Comer Waynwood, the eleven-year-old Mountain's squire and the head of House Waynwood, was the third person to draw his sword. He knelt before the Mountain and swore to proclaim Lord Mountain as the king of the peninsula, and swore to be loyal until death!

Then Dewey Waynwood, the leader of the Waynwood family who led the troops this time, knelt beside the head of the family, Comer Waynwood, presented his sword with both hands, and swore to proclaim the Mountain as the king of the peninsula, and swore to be loyal until death!

Soren Lynderly, the head of House Lynderly, was the fifth leader to swear to proclaim the Mountain as king.

Then the witch Dorea, who was riding on horseback, swore to proclaim the Mountain as the king of the peninsula.

The Mountain shouted: "Whoever desecrates the Blood God will not be spared!" He drew his greatsword, his brows furrowed and his eyes glaring!

The chieftains no longer hesitated, knelt together, drew their longswords and swore to proclaim the Mountain as king.

Four thousand tribal warriors, the cavalry dismounted and knelt with the infantry. As if in an instant, a large number of warriors knelt in unison before the Mountain's Scarlet Smoke Beast. Only the Mountain and the witch Dorea were riding on horseback.

The Mountain accepted the oath of the Claw Peninsula tribal generals with equanimity.

Loras Tyrell's eyelids twitched slightly. The Mountain's personal strength was already the strongest in the country. Even the Tyrell family's private army was only five thousand. Now the Mountain had first obtained Dragonstone, and then obtained the allegiance of the Claw Peninsula through the Scarlet Smoke Beast. The power of his troops was too sharp and unsettling.

The garrison soldiers looked on in surprise and uncertainty. This was possible?! It was as if a magician was performing a deceptive trick. The people of the Claw Peninsula suddenly proclaimed the Mountain as the master of the peninsula?

What was going on? They couldn't believe it at all!

The Mountain bowed to Joffrey and said: "Thanks to His Majesty the King's divine power, the tribal leaders of the Claw Peninsula have submitted to the Mountain. I am loyal to His Majesty the King, with unwavering loyalty, even unto death. My subordinates are also His Majesty the King's most loyal and fearless soldiers. Your Majesty, you have already conquered the entire Claw Peninsula at the Mud Gate. Court scholar Locke will record this great achievement for Your Majesty today."

Joffrey was overjoyed. He had easily done what his father Robert had failed to do, right at the Mud Gate.

His literary and military achievements were comparable to those of his father, who had conquered the world with a warhammer: "Lord Gregor Clegane, the Duke of Dragonstone, you are the first warrior of the Seven Kingdoms, your military might is invincible. In the name of Joffrey I of House Baratheon, King of the Andals, the Rhoynar, and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and Protector of the Realm, I hereby declare Lord Gregor Clegane, the Duke of Dragonstone, as Master of War and Master of Ships of the Seven Kingdoms, and King of the Claw Peninsula."

The four Kingsguard were all shocked and their faces changed! They all knew who really had the say in the royal palace now – the Hand of the King! The position of 'Master of War' suddenly announced by the king had never existed in the small council.

The armies of the Seven Kingdoms were all in the hands of the great lords in various places. In wartime, the king only needed to issue orders to the great lords, and there was no unified position of Master of War to manage them.

On the city wall, the garrison soldiers were also surprised!

The Mountain dismounted from the Scarlet Smoke Beast, respectfully and humbly, and said: "I, Gregor Clegane, thank His Majesty the King for his grace. Gregor Clegane and the Clegane army will always be loyal to His Majesty the King, the gods are my witness!"

Loras Tyrell couldn't believe it. He was the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard and had a privilege that no other minister had: he could advise the king without being punished!

The Lord Commander of the Kingsguard could advise the king on anything, and he could say anything that contradicted the king. Other ministers might be punished for saying it, but the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard was exempt from punishment.

Loras Tyrell rode forward, but he closed his mouth and silently retreated after only looking at the young king's profile.

Boom!

The Clegane army cheered!

The Mountain was the Master of War of the Seven Kingdoms, the King of the Claw Peninsula, and the Duke of Dragonstone. They were all happy and excited.

The Mountain thanked the king for his 'grace' and turned to face the Claw Peninsula soldiers: "Warriors of the Claw Peninsula, rise."

The generals rose with a roar.

"In the name of the Blood God, in the name of the Scarlet Smoke Beast, in the name of the Clegane family's honor, and with the Protector of the Realm of the Seven Kingdoms, Joffrey I of House Baratheon, as witness, I, Gregor Clegane, hereby swear to bring salt and water, cloth and iron to the Claw Peninsula; the glory and wealth of warriors."

The Mountain raised his right hand, drew a dagger, gripped the blade of the dagger tightly in his right hand, pulled the hilt with his left hand, the dagger slashed across his palm, his right hand opened, raised high, blood gushing from his palm, shocking.

The Mountain rode the Scarlet Smoke Beast and raised his bleeding right palm high to the tribal warriors!

"In the name of the Blood God!" the Mountain shouted.

The tribal leaders drew their short knives and daggers, slashed their palms, blood gushing out, and they also raised their bloody palms high: "In the name of the Blood God!" the leaders shouted.

Doro ro ro ro!

Doro ro ro ro!

Thousands of tribal warriors raised their swords and shouted together! Unsettling!

King Joffrey was overjoyed. It would be even better if the Mountain's army and his grandfather's Westerlands army could fight in the city! If there was anyone in King's Landing who could make his grandfather a little wary, it would be the increasingly powerful Mountain! Scholar Qyburn was right, as long as he kept rewarding the Mountain, his grandfather would be very unhappy.

What made his grandfather unhappy was what Joffrey liked to do the most!

"Mountain, today is the great day of my imp uncle, and also the great day of our conquest of the Claw Peninsula. Warriors of the Claw Peninsula, come into the city, and in the name of the king of the Seven Kingdoms, I will host a banquet for you in Cobbler's Square."

The leaders looked at the Mountain. The Mountain nodded, and the leaders said in unison: "Thank you, Your Majesty!"

*

Night, in the Tower of the Hand, in the king's bedroom with two fireplaces.

The atmosphere was heavy and oppressive. The following people were inside:

Hand of the King Tywin, Queen Mother Cersei, King Joffrey, Master of Whisperers Kevan, Master of Laws Mace, Master of Coin Littlefinger, Scholar Qyburn, Master of Ships Mountain, Commander of the City Watch Addam Marbrand, and Lord Commander of the Kingsguard Loras Tyrell.

Hand of the King Tywin said: "Your Majesty, you must abolish the position of Master of War. It didn't exist in the past, it doesn't exist now, and it won't be allowed to exist in the future."

"I will not abolish it," Joffrey said contemptuously.

"Your Majesty, I'm afraid that in ten days, the people of King's Landing will have no food to eat," Lord Mace said softly.

Joffrey stared at Mace Tyrell: "Lord Commander Loras Tyrell, if Lord Mace continues to talk nonsense, I order you to cut him down!"

Mace Tyrell and Loras Tyrell both stiffened.

The atmosphere in the bedroom solidified, suffocating!

Knock knock knock!

Someone knocked on the door, followed by the Hound's voice: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty the Queen Mother, Lord Hand, Tyrion Lannister requests an audience."

"Let him in!" the king and the Hand of the King said in unison.

The king wanted his dwarf uncle to come in so he could find an excuse to go to the bedding ceremony and get away from these courtiers; while the Hand of the King knew that this dwarf son was somewhat resourceful, and in this stalemate, perhaps this ugly son had some useful words.

Tyrion Lannister entered, laughing, "What's with the long faces on my wedding day? Did you all lose your shirts gambling?" He glanced at his father, *this is an evil father*, he told himself; his gaze swept over Joffrey, *this is an evil nephew*… his eyes finally landed on the Mountain's face, *this is an evil Mountain*…

"Uncle Imp, are you here to invite us to the wedding games? I can't wait!" Joffrey stood up and said.

"No, my dear nephew, I've already heard about your great feat of conquering Crackclaw Point today. Your sudden creation of the position of Master of War is truly admirable! Very clever!"

"Tyrion…" The Hand of the King rebuked.

"Oh, of course, why not?" Tyrion Lannister chuckled. "Doesn't the Hand of the King think there should be a Master of War in the Small Council? We have Masters of Laws, Ships, Whisperers, and Coin, why not War? Hmm?"

Cersei, Tywin, Kevan, and Mace all gasped!

Duke Tywin's sharp gaze turned to Tyrion Lannister!

Tyrion, oblivious, swayed over and poured himself a glass of wine. "Father, I remember your words about forbidding me to drink excessively. After this glass, I swear I'll quit."

"Ser Loras Tyrell!" Cersei said coldly.

"Your Grace, the Queen Mother!"

"Please escort our groom to the bridal chamber in the Maidenvault. It's his wedding night, and I fear the bride is growing impatient!"

"As you command, Your Grace."

"No, no, no!" Tyrion reached out to stop Loras. "My sister, my father, my uncle, and my nephew, just one more sentence and I'll leave, just one sentence. I still think my nephew's position of Master of War is cleverly created, just wondering who is more suitable to sit on it."

This sentence was loaded with hidden meaning, and everyone's eyes were fixed on Tyrion.

Tyrion took a sip of wine, praising, "Good wine!" His gaze swept over everyone with blatant disregard, as if everyone present was trash—"If the Hand of the King, His Grace the King, and Her Grace the Queen Mother don't mind, I can recommend two people to be the Master of War. The first is me, Tyrion Lannister, witty and versatile, learned and knowledgeable, a drinker and a whorer, though that was in the past. He knows how to fight, is strategic, well-read, and worldly."

Duke Tywin's gaze gradually turned unfriendly!

"Of course, if you don't think I'm suitable, then I think there is someone you all think is suitable, and who I also think is suitable, Prince Oberyn Martell of Dorne. What do you all think? I'll raise my hand first, although my vote is useless."

Tyrion Lannister raised his hand.

The sharp look in the Hand's eyes softened, Cersei's tense face also relaxed, Mace, Kevan, Loras, the Mountain, all secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Prince Oberyn Martell was on his way from Dorne to King's Landing to attend the wedding of King Joffrey and Margaery Tyrell. Tywin was trying to find a way to win over the Martell family of Dorne. This position of Master of War was much better than being the 'Independent High Justiciar' under Mace.

Tyrion Lannister's sentence catered to the interests of all parties and also took care of his nephew's royal dignity: not abolishing the position of Master of War.

The Mountain said, "I agree to choose Oberyn Martell as the Master of War!" He looked at the King, signaling the King to make a concession.

Joffrey snorted heavily, hating his grandfather even more in his heart.

"The Mountain, you must also remove the title of King of Crackclaw Point! The barbarians on that peninsula are not worthy of entering King's Landing." Duke Tywin raised another issue, he wanted Crackclaw Point to not belong to the Mountain. The Mountain was too powerful and had to be suppressed.

"The Blood God cannot be profaned, Hand of the King!" The Mountain said coldly. "I have already given up the position of Master of War, the tribes of Crackclaw Point are loyal to me, and I am loyal to His Grace King Joffrey Baratheon the First."

It was His Grace King Joffrey Baratheon the First, not Tywin Lannister.

The Mountain resolutely tore off the fig leaf between him and the Hand of the King. Since you are pressing me step by step, then there is no need to yield anymore!

*

ps: According to the update rules, 1 chapter today; but 1 chapter extra to thank you for the reward. My 1 chapter is the sum of two chapters of 2,000 words. According to the reward count, 3 chapters are owed.