The Wall was thousands of miles from King's Landing. With such a vast distance, Aegor dared not issue remote commands carelessly and risk repeating the same mistakes countless rulers had made before. He chose to trust his clever girl. He wrote back to commend Nina for her work and issued a series of clear directives: send wildfire to the North as soon as possible, transfer surplus funds to the Queenscrown along with the monthly supplies, and regularly dispatch new recruits who had completed training and were willing to report to the North. As for the remaining operations and micro-management of the Night's Watch within King's Landing, they would be entrusted to this apprentice brought by Tyrion.
Aegor had more pressing matters to attend to. He had envisioned a grand plan to manage the Free Folk who might be settled at the Wall, but plans could not keep up with change. The mountain clans had already moved into the Gifted Lands first… but that was fine. They were all human, and the same plan could be applied to the clansmen. In fact, due to their closer ties, they could be managed with even greater leniency. Aegor would have the opportunity to gradually learn and master the art of governance from scratch.
It seemed he would be very busy for quite some time.
The matter was of great importance, and with no one else to mobilize, he had to handle everything personally. He first consulted with the chief builder and arranged for the restoration of the abandoned fort. Then, he inquired with the quartermaster about the Night's Watch's reserves. Aegor did have some coin, but money could not instantly become grain and fodder. In the early stages of the clansmen settling near the Wall, all necessities would need to be cushioned by the supplies stored in the Watch's warehouses.
Housing was only the most basic requirement. To maintain the Wall's entire defensive system, there must be adequate provisions and fodder. In winter, the Gifted Lands yielded no crops and had little production capacity. This meant a complete and efficient supply chain was needed to provide constant support. For many reasons, Aegor hoped to take hold of this lifeline of the Night's Watch. The reason could be summed up in a single sentence: he did not intend to make wedding clothes for others.
Thus, Queenscrown became the key once more.
---
More than ten days later, he returned to what was now being called the Night's Watch logistics base. Compared to his last visit, the place had changed dramatically. The remnants of the ancient settlements scattered along the shore of the small lake had been completely cleared. In their place stood a nearly finished wall made from the salvaged stone. The presence of busy workers around the area was evident.
Perhaps it was because of the stone wall, or the deterrent posed by the soldiers left behind by Aegor, but although the Free Folk had appeared in the vicinity several times, they had never attempted to plunder. Instead, they had fled south at first sight.
"Well done, Yam," Aegor praised. "Next, focus on raising the wall. Soon, this place will become the only route for the North to send supplies to the Wall. It will also become a trade market, essential for the survival of countless new settlers in the Gifted Lands."
...
...
"New settlers in the Gifted Lands? A trade market? Ser, I don't quite understand."
"I brought the mountain clansmen from the west to help fight the Free Folk," Aegor explained. "I promised to feed every clansman who came down from the mountains. But to prevent them from hoarding their own food and relying solely on the Night's Watch for rations, I won't give out food directly. Instead, I'll give them coin and let them decide what to buy at the logistics department's distribution center."
"But what difference does that make?"
"A big one. If they're short on food, they'll spend all their money on rations. But if they have enough stored up, they might choose to buy clothes, daily necessities, weapons, and more," Aegor said. "This way, we avoid wasting food and reduce the strain on our supplies. And there's an added benefit: once the clansmen realize money can buy so many things, but I only give them just enough each month to keep them fed, they'll start wanting more."
"How can they get money in a desolate place like the Gifted Lands… besides robbing us?"
"There are two ways. One is to sell the resources from the mountains they control—timber, animals, minerals—to the Night's Watch logistics department. We can use those resources ourselves or transport them south to make a profit and subsidize our costs," Aegor said as he inspected the newly built Crown Town under Yam's management. "The other option, which is my primary goal, is to give them jobs. These clansmen are foreign aid I invited. I can't ask them to work for free, but I can use wages to lure them into working for the Night's Watch—patrolling, repairing the Wall, building roads, and construction. Where I come from, this is called 'work-for-relief.'"
"I understand," Yam said excitedly. "Compared to the Southerners, the clansmen will be incredibly cheap labor. What a great plan, Ser!"
"In addition, I might stir up some public opinion in the future—like saying that young people must have a house and a horse, and weapons forged from fine steel before they can marry. By creating an aspirational environment where more work means more pay and competition thrives, I'll push the new settlers in the Gifted Lands to strive and work hard of their own accord."
...
Can such a thing really work? This kind of governance strategy—something only rulers in the modern world might grasp—was undoubtedly a godlike plan to the people of this world. Yam imagined it and gaped in astonishment. "Can… this really work?"
"I don't know if it will or not. You can't force a cultural shift too blatantly. Wait until the conditions are in place, then let it unfold naturally. Let me warn you—keep this to yourself. Don't speak of it lightly. I don't want my friends in the Night's Watch thinking I'm taking advantage of them." Aegor nodded. "In fact, the Free Folk were my original target. They could've been even cheaper labor than the clansmen, nearly free. Unfortunately… let's not speak of it. Is there anything else to report here?"
"Oh… yes. Ser Rodrik of Winterfell has taken over Hornwood and executed the Bolton bastard who murdered the Lady of Hornwood. He's also released the soldiers you lent him. They arrived in Crown Town yesterday, per orders. I was just about to send someone to Castle Black to ask how to proceed when you arrived."
"The Bolton bastard was executed?" Aegor asked, frowning. He had a feeling things weren't that simple. "Are you sure? Any prisoners?"
"There's a fellow called Reek... The Lord of Winterfell thought the Wall was short on men, so he sent him along with other prisoners from the dungeon. I'm not sure about the details. Should I bring the soldiers to question them?"
Aegor narrowed his eyes, a distant memory stirring. "Yes. And bring that one called Reek as well."
A short while later, the dozens of soldiers Robb had originally assigned to Aegor and later borrowed by Ser Rodrik assembled in the small square newly built in Crown Town. At the same time, a slightly fat young man with greasy lips, long hair, and a stench like dung was brought forward.
"This is the prisoner you captured after killing the Bolton bastard?" Aegor asked grimly, staring at the foul-smelling man before him.
In the original timeline, when Ramsay Snow was captured by the Winterfell troops, he had swapped clothes with Reek and smeared himself with feces to hide from Ser Rodrik, successfully escaping notice. Later, when Theon Greyjoy took Winterfell, Ramsay was freed—and went on to commit countless atrocities, including mass killings and the burning of Winterfell.
But the people of this world were not actors in a play. Aegor now wondered: was this man before him the Little Flayed Man?
(To be continued.)
***
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