The Mountain of Ice and Fire

Chapter 794: Prime Minister the Mountain: Anyone who dares to start a civil war will be eradicated!

The new King Gendry Baratheon sat in the central position at the Small Council table.

He placed his hands on the table, felt it was inappropriate, and then put them under the table, but that felt even more inappropriate. He hesitated, moving his right hand to the table and clenching it into a fist, which made him feel a little more settled. He glanced at the Mountain, then at Cersei, and then back at the High Septon, and he realized that he felt like everything he looked at was somehow wrong.

Gendry Clegane didn't lack strength, but he lacked confidence. In front of people like the Mountain, he lacked even more confidence.

The blacksmith profession and his bastard status brought him a deeply rooted inferiority complex from childhood. This inferiority complex was okay in front of other people, and completely absent in front of commoners and soldiers, but inside the Red Keep, under the aggressive gazes of these Small Council members, that inferiority complex was like a bubble in clear water, automatically rising from the depths of his heart.

The Mountain said, "Your Majesty, the situation is special. Your coronation and celebration cannot be held immediately. We need to deal with the most important state affairs first."

"…Father…uh, I agree with what you said…then let's deal with the most important state affairs…"

Cersei Lannister took out the crown that she had prepared long ago. She handed the crown to the High Septon. The High Septon took it, chanted a few hymns, and placed the crown on Gendry's head: "Your Majesty, the formal coronation and celebration will be held in the Great Sept of Baelor. Please give me three days to prepare."

"…Yes, High Septon…I give you three days to prepare…"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

"Your Majesty!" Littlefinger spoke, with a mischievous smile, "The most important state affair for the kingdom right now is to elect a Prime Minister to help Your Majesty handle national affairs. The Hand of the King is Your Majesty's indispensable and most important Small Council member."

"Your Majesty, I agree with Lord Petyr Baelish's proposal. The kingdom's first and most important state affair is to appoint a new Prime Minister. I nominate Duke Gregor Clegane.", Grand Maester Qyburn said slowly, "In terms of merit, the people and nobles of Westeros owe the Mountain their lives. He led the allied forces north, personally killed the Night King, completely annihilated the White Walker army, and saved all of our lives. This is the first time in eight thousand years, and it is the same as the miracle created by Azor Ahai, the Bringer of Light, eight thousand years ago, unprecedented and unmatched."

The High Septon and the Small Council members nodded frequently, with no one dissenting.

Grand Maester Qyburn continued slowly: "Your Majesty, no one in the Seven Kingdoms has more merit than Gregor Clegane. In terms of state affairs, Gregor's negotiation with Daenerys was also miraculously successful. We did not lose a single soldier and forced Daenerys' two hundred thousand strong army to retreat, and they compensated us with fifty thousand warhorses and even gifted us a white dragon. Speaking of which, Arianne Martell, as a new dragon rider of the kingdom, Your Majesty should also consider how to reward her appropriately."

Littlefinger smiled: "Grand Maester, let Your Majesty appoint the new Prime Minister first. Once the Prime Minister is decided, we will discuss Prince Arianne Martell's reward." Littlefinger cut off the old Qyburn's nagging.

Littlefinger didn't want to listen to old man Qyburn's rambling!

Then, Littlefinger raised his hand: "I propose Gregor Clegane as the Hand of the King."

Bronn, Varys, Qyburn, and Roose Bolton all raised their hands.

Five votes!

The situation was settled!

The High Septon also raised his hand, which was a very important statement. The High Septon represented divine authority, and his position in the hearts of the people and nobles surpassed that of the king.

The Kingsguard Captain Barristan Selmy raised his hand, Lady Cersei raised her hand, and Gendry Baratheon I also raised his hand.

The Mountain as the Hand of the King, passed unanimously, including the vote of His Majesty the King himself.

Loud applause rang out in the council chamber!

When Gendry took the king's position, there was no such applause. The Small Council members did not have genuine respect and conviction for Gendry Baratheon. Gendry was only supposed to sit on the Iron Throne, while the Mountain became Prime Minister based on real military achievements and political ability.

Gendry Baratheon I said, "Father, Prince Arianne Martell's reward, what do you think the kingdom should reward her with?"

"Arianne Martell is the Princess of Dorne, a vassal of Your Majesty. She is not lacking in money, status, or power," Littlefinger said, "All the positions in the Small Council in the Red Keep already have the most suitable people: Justice, Finance, Military, Naval, Intelligence, Grand Maester, Commander of the City Watch…"

"Lord Petyr, Prince Arianne Martell needs glory. Your Majesty only needs to reward her with glory," Grand Maester Qyburn said slowly.

"Glory?!" Gendry didn't know how to reward Arianne Martell with glory. He looked at the Mountain for help.

The Mountain said, "Your Majesty, you only need to praise and commend Prince Arianne Martell in the throne room in front of the courtiers and generals."

"Bestow a title upon Prince Arianne, Your Majesty," Lady Cersei said faintly.

"Mother, what title?"

Gendry was illiterate and couldn't think of any titles.

"What title, I can't think of one for a moment."

"White Dragon Knight, unparalleled in the country," the Mountain said, "Your Majesty should bestow upon Prince Arianne the title of Unparalleled Dragon Knight."

"A good title, and you can also ask a craftsman to cast a jade token of honor, with Prince Arianne Martell's name engraved on it, and below it, 'White Dragon Knight, Unparalleled in the Country.' Both the front and back are carved with white dragon reliefs," Grand Maester Qyburn said.

"The time to carve a dragon relief on a jade token is not short," Littlefinger Petyr Baelish smiled, "Your Majesty can first verbally reward the title, and the matter of carving the jade token can be handed over to the Prime Minister to complete and announce."

Gendry looked at the Mountain: "Father, what do you think?"

"Okay, I will arrange for someone to carve a beautiful jade honor token to reward Prince Arianne Martell," the Mountain said, "Your Majesty, everyone, let's not discuss Prince Arianne Martell's matter anymore. Let's move on to the next state affair, the treason of former Prime Minister Mace Tyrell. What are your opinions, everyone? Does the Minister of Justice need to establish a court for a public trial?"

"What is the Prime Minister's intention?" Kingsguard Captain Barristan Selmy said.

"The evidence is conclusive. The letters are physical evidence, and Varys is a witness. I don't think there is any need for further trial. The King can directly pronounce the sentence."

"Sentence? Then how should Lord Mace Tyrell be punished?" Gendry asked. He knew nothing about these legal provisions.

"According to the law, Lord Mace Tyrell should be sentenced to hanging," Lady Cersei said faintly.

"Madam, Lord Mace supported the fight against the White Walkers," the Mountain said.

"Merit cannot offset crime," Lady Cersei said impartially, "Mace was the Prime Minister, and the White Walkers took all the races of the Seven Kingdoms as their enemies. Everyone should do their best to support the fight against the White Walkers. Those who refuse to support should be sentenced to hanging. Lord Mace supported the Northern Allied Army with food and military supplies. This is what he should have done, and it is not a great achievement. But as Prime Minister, he made preparations to open the city gates and surrender to the enemy in order to save his own life. This treason cannot be forgiven."

"Okay, I agree with Mother's judgment. I sentence Mace Tyrell to hanging," Gendry's blood surged with Cersei's words. He was an honest boy, full of justice. Lord Mace's merit was what he should have done, his duty; but as Prime Minister, he committed treason, which was too much and unforgivable.

"Your Majesty, Lord Redwyne of the Arbor, Earl of Ashford, Earl of Caswell, Baron Fossoway, Kingsguard Garlan Tyrell, they all participated in the Prime Minister's treasonous actions. Once Daenerys' army reached the city, these were the people who would open the city gates. Garlan Tyrell would lead the Tyrell family knights to take control of the Maegor's Holdfast drawbridge first, and pseudo-Queen Margaery Tyrell participated in the treasonous planning and the battle plan after the city was breached," the little Master of Whisperers Bronn Clegane stood up and said.

"Lord Bronn, do you have proof?" Barristan Selmy's face suddenly turned grim. He heard the name of Kingsguard Garlan Tyrell, who was his white-robed brother.

"The evidence is conclusive, Ser Barristan."

"What evidence?"

"There are witnesses and physical evidence," Bronn Clegane said, "I will hand this evidence over to the Minister of Justice, Lady Cersei Lannister."

Littlefinger smiled: "Ser Barristan, Prime Minister Mace wanted to open the city gates to welcome Daenerys' army into the city, so he must have arranged the actions of his generals. Who is responsible for killing the soldiers at the city gates, who is responsible for opening the city gates, who is responsible for taking the Red Keep, who is responsible for controlling the courtiers and royal family members in Maegor's Holdfast? This is a secret plan. You wouldn't be foolish enough to think that Lord Mace wouldn't have any battle plan after the city was breached, would you? If the Mountain hadn't suddenly ridden a dragon out to control the situation, once Daenerys' army attacked the city gates, I think the first person Garlan Tyrell would kill would be you."

"Why?" Barristan Selmy stared at the smiling Littlefinger with a pale face.

"Because your existence poses the greatest threat to them. Once the city is breached, are you definitely going to fight to the end?"

"Without a doubt."

"That's it. If you are killed first, the King's Landing royal guard and city watch's strength will suffer the most severe blow. The soldiers will be in chaos, without command, a complete mess."

Barristan Selmy said coldly: "Garlan Tyrell will not violate his oath."

"Mace Tyrell can commit treason, Garlan Tyrell won't violate his oath? Would he raise his sword and kill his father and sister? You are really stupid, Ser Barristan," Littlefinger mocked.

Barristan Selmy's face flushed red: "…………" He glared at Littlefinger, but Littlefinger smiled even more happily.

Gendry was disgusted by Littlefinger's words, but he thought what Littlefinger said was right.

"Mother…"

"Don't call me that in the Small Council, Your Majesty," Cersei said dignifiedly and solemnly, "Call me Lady Cersei, or address me by my official title."

"…Yes, Lady Cersei…Those people who participated in Lord Mace's treasonous plan, should they all be charged with treason?"

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"Should they all be sentenced to hanging?"

"According to the law, all should be sentenced to hanging."

"Your Majesty," Barristan Selmy stood up, "If Lord Redwyne of the Arbor, Earl of Ashford, Earl of Caswell, Baron Fossoway, Kingsguard Garlan Tyrell, and Margaery Tyrell are sentenced to hanging, the entire Reach will rise up against us, and the kingdom will break out into civil war again."

"Civil war? Anyone who dares to provoke a civil war will be eradicated!" the Mountain said slowly.

As soon as this was said, the council chamber fell into a strange silence.

Barristan Selmy sat down, his throat moving up and down, swallowing a mouthful of saliva.

Littlefinger's soft laughter broke the suffocating silence: "Your Majesty, let's vote. Anyone who participated in Lord Mace's treasonous plan, no matter who it is, will be hanged." Littlefinger raised his hand.

"I propose that Lord Mace be sentenced to hanging, and the rest be given a way out, so as not to provoke a rebellion in the Reach," Barristan Selmy raised his hand.

Two people raised their hands, two different opinions.

Gendry looked at Cersei: "…Mother…Lady Cersei…According to the law…"

"Your Majesty, according to the law, treason is punishable by hanging."

"I agree to sentence them to hanging!" the Mountain said, "Your Majesty has just ascended the throne and needs to establish authority, and even more needs to maintain the absolute dignity of the law. My vote goes to Lord Petyr's proposal."

"I agree with Ser Barristan Selmy," the High Septon slowly raised his hand. His vote was very weighty, but it was only one vote.

The score was two to two!

Cersei raised her hand: "I vote for the national law, sentencing all traitors to hanging."

Three to two!

"I agree with Ser Barristan's proposal, sentence Lord Mace to hanging, and let the others go, to avoid civil war," Roose Bolton raised his hand, "My vote goes to Ser Barristan's proposal." Roose was undoubtedly a damned fellow. His brain was as heavy as his heavy axe.

Three to three!

Everyone's eyes were fixed on Varys, Bronn, and Qyburn.

Varys raised his hand: "All hanging!"

Four to three! The proposal to sentence them to hanging was leading by one vote.

Bronn also raised his hand: "All hanging!"

Five to three!

But there were still two votes!

Moreover, the King had the power to veto, unless he wasn't sitting here.

"…Uh, Lady Cersei, Lord Mountain, I don't want any more civil war, I've been through civil war…with my friend Miss Arya Stark…Civil war will kill too many innocent people…I agree with Ser Barristan Selmy's proposal," Gendry Clegane stuttered, and he raised his hand.

Five to four!

There was one vote left, but it was no longer important, the King had the power to veto.

Everyone's eyes turned to Gendry in unison, and Gendry's eyes were fixed on Grand Maester Qyburn. His heart was hanging, he didn't know who Qyburn would support.

Qyburn understood Gendry's gaze. He looked at the Mountain and said slowly, "Your Majesty, I abstain."

Barristan Selmy smiled.

Littlefinger's face changed, his eyes also changed, and the mischievous smile on his face completely disappeared.

Gendry Clegane lowered his hand and looked at Jeyne, "Lady Jeyne, Grand Maester Qyburn abstained. Five to four, Lord Petyr's proposal wins. I declare that all those involved in Mace's treasonous plot will be hanged."

Gendry noticed the strange looks on everyone's faces, and a feeling of bewilderment arose in his heart. He didn't realize he was creating a new history. "Ser Gregor, Ilyn Payne has already fled with Jaime. We need to appoint a new Master-at-Arms."

"Then arrange for someone from House Martell of Dorne to be the Master-at-Arms of the Red Keep in King's Landing."

"Very well, I agree!"

Balon Swann's smile froze on his face. He knew that war was coming again: civil war!

The High Septon's eyes were strange, but he remained silent.