Chapter 167 If You Don’t Agree, Feed the Dragon

Clay didn't want to tell Daenerys and Barristan what impact cheap handicrafts would have on the palm-sized economy of Westeros.

The vast majority of the population in Westeros are farmers, and all their extra income is to take the saved food or the simple products they make and go to the market to exchange for other things.

If Clay really agrees to the so-called free trade without tariffs, the huge shipping volume will crush the farmers' little space.

For example, King's Landing has a population of nearly one million, and it is impossible to be self-sufficient with the royal territory. Therefore, the Reach, which is responsible for feeding the population of King's Landing, in addition to confiscating part of the food, most of it comes from Bought from farmers.

But now, due to a series of complex reasons, such as terrain restrictions, safety issues, transportation capacity limits, etc., the price of food from the Reach to King's Landing, the lords of the Reach have to pay several times the original cost.

If the royal family had not been taken advantage of, this loss-making food transportation would have stopped long ago.

But now, if tariff-free sea trade is established, then the nobles of the Reach will soon discover the fact that the food they buy from Braavos is actually better than the food they transport from the Reach themselves. It's even cheaper.

At this time, do you need to think about whose food the royal family will use?

And once they choose to buy the food shipped from Braavos and form a long-term dependence, a problem will immediately arise. The farmers in the River Bend cannot sell the food they have worked so hard to grow.

You know, the Hebend area, apart from being rich in food, does not have advantages in other fields. If the food in the territory becomes unsalable in a large area, you can imagine what will happen.

And this logic is not limited to the agricultural field. As long as there is a local price difference between the two sides, this situation can be extrapolated infinitely and swallow up all the industries it can swallow.

Soon, when the local economy of Westeros is completely sucked dry by the vampires from these trading city-states, what awaits Clay and Daenerys is a large-scale collapse of the entire country's economy.

The entire Targaryen dynasty has not seen a few peasant uprisings in three hundred years. Clay and Daenerys estimate that they will see this scene appear under their rule. How can I put it, this sense of déjà vu is simply It's too strong.

Don't think this is alarmist, in fact, any monarch of Westeros in the past has sternly rejected similar claims from Braavos, if they had any.

This is bullying Daenerys and Clay's fragmented court, which has no economic talents, so it dug such a big hole for them in the treaty, waiting for the stupid two to jump into it in pairs. .

"In short, by signing this thing, we are equivalent to conquering Westeros for the people of Braavos. Everything else can be discussed, but this one, there is no way!"

Clay slapped the armrest and made the final judgment. Now, he and Daenerys have formed a close relationship in every sense. After Daenerys is familiar with his abilities, she never gives in to Clay in major matters. Thunder restraint.

Therefore, Clay's words were equivalent to a complete death sentence for the loan contract brought by Taichu Nestos.

"Then Your Majesty, I'm going to tell that Tai Chu that we reject their "goodwill". Where did he come from and where did he go back?"

Barristan asked.

"But Clay, we need the gold from the Iron Bank. Don't forget the plan you told me before. Without enough gold, this city cannot turn around."

Daenerys reminded Clay that there is no one else but her who truly understands what Clay is thinking.

"That's it. So, Ser Barristan, let him wait for three days, and then go and tell him that we agree to his contract, but we require that the amount of gold be doubled, and we will not accept the arrival in batches."

"Also, you should talk to him about any terms that require us to pay a return now. In short, do as little as you can, and avoid it if you can. Anyway, I guess they won't care about him."

"But Your Majesty... what you just said..."

"Do as I say, Ser Barristan. You are the executor, not the decision-maker."

"Forgive my rudeness, Your Majesty."

"Go ahead..."

When Clay and Daenerys were the only ones left in the hall, the latter immediately said:

"Clay, are you not planning to repay the Iron Bank loan at all?"

"Snapped"

"..."

Clay succeeded in the attack and immediately ran away. Daenerys blushed slightly. Although she gritted her teeth, she did not pursue him because Clay's action had verified her suspicions.

"This bastard... I won't let you get out of bed tomorrow!"

Daenerys thought angrily.

Of course Clay knows how cruel the Iron Bank will be in retaliating against debtors, but the question is, what if the Iron Bank is gone?

Such a big iron bank is standing there, which is a big target. What they rely on is nothing more than a team of debt collectors represented by faceless people.

But the problem is, the faceless people work for them because it is profitable. If one day, a fire and a raid completely destroy the entire Braavos, you will see if the faceless people will still work for these elegant people. Do bankers work for free?

The best destination for something like a bank is to act according to the will of the country, and Braavos simply does not have the size to support a country.

Therefore, if Clay doesn't do this, in a few years, someone will always find an opportunity to completely destroy this iron bank that is poisoning everyone.

It's just that at the moment, Clay doesn't have the ability to directly go to war with the Iron Bank or Braavos.

Dragons are not omnipotent. If they were really that powerful, the Valyrian Free Fortress would have conquered the world long ago. How could Westeros be such a mess now?

Therefore, at this stage, Clay's attitude towards the Iron Bank of Braavos is to borrow money like crazy and, of course, not pay it back.

Only after he ascended the Iron Throne and gained complete sovereignty of Westeros would he take action against Braavos. It just so happened that most of the repayment clauses in the loan contract were implemented from that time.

…

Three days later, Tychu Nestorth, who was impatient to wait, was finally notified and returned to the hall filled with Targaryen's black and red dragon flags.

Unlike last time, this time, Clay was the only one on the throne. He leaned lazily on the throne and tapped the armrests with his fingers carelessly, looking confident.

Although the contempt and disgust in his heart were as wide as the strait, Taichu Nestos still looked polite on the surface. He caressed Clay's chest and said lightly:

"It's an honor to see you again, Your Majesty. I hope that these three days of thinking will add more smooth factors to our next conversation."

Clay nodded and glanced at Barristan Selmy who was standing aside, clad in armor and restored to his Kingsguard attire.

The old knight felt the gaze of his monarch, nodded slightly, took out a new scroll from his arms, stepped forward, and handed it to Tychu Nestos, who was a little confused.

"Your Majesty, what is this?"

"Open it and take a look. These are the changes we have made that we think are reasonable based on the terms you proposed before. The envoy may wish to take a look."

Clay said nothing, and Barristan answered Tychu Nestos' question for him.

Frowning fiercely, he realized that these guys weren't that easy to fool, and there was an unhappy look on his face, making his whole face look a little distorted.

Shaking open the scroll, Tychu Nestos carefully read the newly drafted terms. He had long been familiar with the original terms, so he subconsciously compared them in his mind.

He found that these guys had required major concessions from the Iron Bank for what they had to pay now, but not many changes had been made to the terms after winning back the throne.

For Tychu Nestos, a man who consciously understands the ways of wealth, he believes that this is the Targaryen dynasty, and the current financial situation is very bad, so he refuses all the terms that must be paid now. .

But the real killer move of the Iron Bank, the terms that would control the economic lifeline of the new kingdom of Westeros after the war, these guys have barely modified.

Taichu Nestos thought for a moment and decided to agree to the treaty. As an envoy, he had this authority.

As long as these guys accept the most important terms, it will be a complete victory for him. When he returns to Braavos, he can also give a perfect explanation to the big bankers of the Iron Bank.

But on the surface, he made an extremely angry expression, and his voice turned cold for a moment, and he said:

"Your Majesty, is this plan an insult to the Iron Bank? I cannot accept such conditions!"

Clay didn't coddle him at all and said directly:

"It doesn't matter if you don't agree. Then go to my dragon's mouth and think it over. I believe the Iron Bank will send another person who can negotiate. Ser Barristan, please take our envoy to my dragon. I I think it must be hungry."

This was not in Clay and Barristan's previous script, but the old knight reacted quickly and immediately realized that his Majesty was about to start performing again, so he was forced to play a supporting role.

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

The long sword at his waist was unsheathed, and with a flash of light, it was placed directly on the neck of Tychu Nestos.

"Let's go, Mr. Messenger."

Taichu Nestos was speechless. He didn't expect these barbarians to overturn the table. Shouldn't the two sides negotiate back and forth for several rounds at this time, and finally both sides take a step back and reach an agreement?

Is it necessary to be so grumpy? He also fed himself to the dragon. Did he not even leave his own bones?

Guy who lacks basic etiquette!

Raising his hand, Taichu Nestos said helplessly:

"Okay, you win. Your Majesty, your dragon should eat something else. I may not suit its taste."