Game of Thrones: Joffrey the Chosen

Outside the Deer Horn Fortress, two gallows were erected.

Two thick horizontal beams cast long shadows in the morning sunlight.

Three were already hanging on one of the machines, swaying gently in the breeze.

The one next to it has five strapped to it.

The nooses around their necks hung loosely, and they stood on wooden blocks, their faces pale and their bodies trembling.

The scene, attended by thousands of people, was completely silent.

Only Joffrey's voice echoed across the open space.

"This crab farmer started the trouble and smashed someone's head with a wooden stick." He pointed to the body in the middle.

"Dozens of people have accused him of this."

"A life for a life, so he was hung here."

Joffrey moved his finger toward the body next to him.

"This royal soldier drew his sword and killed someone as soon as the conflict began."

"But he was then pierced through with a harpoon, which he deserved."

The crowd below swallowed hard.

"As for these few," Joffrey pointed to the five tied up beside him, "they were also identified as having injured someone."

"Tie him up here and keep him under observation for now."

"The wounded died, and so did they."

"The injured man is alive. Give him twenty lashes and release him."

No one spoke.

Joffrey waved his hand: "Summon the next witness."

Earl Bookwell stepped out of the crowd.

He entered the makeshift witness stand with great enthusiasm, facing Joffrey.

"I swear in the name of the gods that my words are true and honest."

"I accuse the lords of the Crab Claw Peninsula, Earl Brun, Baron Boggs..."

"To allow one's men to plunder the king's territory, trample wheat fields, destroy crops, and violate the peace under the king's rule."

He took a deep breath and glared at the Crab Claw Peninsula lords who were being held captive to the side.

"I demand that they be put on trial."

This is an unequal trial.

Everyone in Stallion is qualified to take the stage and make accusations.

They took turns stepping forward, pointing at the lords and listing the crimes committed by their men.

How many rows of wheat seedlings were uprooted? How many vegetable patches were trampled? Some people's houses were demolished and used as firewood? Some people's daughters were...

Some people couldn't continue their stories halfway through and had to be helped off by the people around them.

On the Crab Claw Peninsula, however, no one stood up to defend them.

Everyone huddled together, glared at menacingly by the royal soldiers around them.

The bald Earl Brun tried to speak several times, but was slapped back by the man in the golden robe next to him.

The trial lasted for several hours.

The captured lords went from initial anger to numbness, and finally just stood there blankly.

Finally, the last witness stepped down.

Joffrey stood up.

"According to military law, allowing soldiers to plunder, especially to seize the food of allies, is considered murder of friendly troops, which is equivalent to treason."

"He deserves to die."

The lords looked up in disbelief.

The crowd erupted in uproar again, but the sound was filled with cheers.

"If it were Lord Tywin, he would cut off your heads on the spot and hang them on the tips of his spears."

Joffrey looked at the ashen-faced lords and slowly added a sentence.

"But considering that you are on the king's orders to go to war, I have no authority to deal with this matter."

"Let's put this as a death sentence for now," Joffrey said.

"I can only temporarily suspend your command. You will be put on trial after you have an audience with His Majesty."

"But they cannot escape punishment."

"Shave his head and beard, and publicly flog him ten times."

"You also need to apologize to Lord Bookwell and the people of his territory on the spot."

"The damaged farmland will be converted into corresponding compensation. If there is no surplus, it will be deducted from the taxes of your territory."

Joffrey turned to the crowd below.

Is this a fair course of action?

A thunderous cheer erupted from the crowd.

"Your Highness is just!" "Your Highness is wise!" "Long live Prince Joffrey!"

In fact, most people didn't hear clearly; they were just joining in the commotion.

As the cheers subsided, Joffrey raised his hand, and the crowd gradually quieted down.

He then turned to the four thousand crab people who were being held captive.

"As for you."

"Half of them, weapons confiscated, were incorporated into the supply train."

"The other half were dispersed and incorporated into the ranks of other feudal lords."

"After the king's judgment, you will return to your unit."

Meeting adjourned.

Whispers immediately erupted among the crowd.

Several of the royal soldiers huddled together and began to whisper among themselves.

"Is His Highness protecting us?" a young soldier asked. "I only killed one, you both saw it, but he didn't mention it at all."

The people next to him quickly covered his mouth.

"Shh...Are you stupid? Still talking? You don't want to live anymore!"

The man couldn't help but glance toward the gallows.

Another veteran lowered his voice: "Nobody's identifying you, what are you doing sticking your head out? Want to get hung up there too!"

"But... so many crab people have died, will they agree?" The young soldier was still somewhat uneasy.

"Whether they agree or not doesn't matter." The old soldier gestured towards the crab people who were being reorganized. "Because of this, His Highness has agreed not to pursue the matter of making them hand over grain for the time being."

"We still need to share some with them."

"We'd better keep a close eye on them then, and not let them get away with it."

"That's right, that's right." The others nodded repeatedly.

Not far away, a group of crab people lined up, watching helplessly as their weapons were taken away in exchange for a piece of salted meat and a piece of hard bread.

No one objected.

They just wolfed down their food, their eyes fixed on the ground, without saying a word.

Several fully armed soldiers stood nearby, pointing their weapons at them, the tips of their spears gleaming coldly in the sunlight.

The hound had somehow appeared behind Joffrey.

"You did it on purpose," he said.

Joffrey didn't turn around: "What did you do on purpose?"

"Favoritism." The hound's voice carried its usual hoarseness. "Everyone can see that you favor the royal family."

Joffrey turned and looked at the crab people being reorganized in the distance.

Those whose weapons had been confiscated were walking dejectedly toward the supply train.

Those who were incorporated into other teams were watched like criminals by the king's knights.

"What did they say?" Joffrey asked.

The hound scoffed dismissively.

"What else can I say but praise you for being fair in your work?"

"It wasn't them," Joffrey shook his head. "It was the crab people."

"Think carefully about what slogans they shouted before the riot."

The hunting dog started scratching its head again.

After thinking for a while, his expression changed.

"Targaryen!"

Joffrey nodded and said nothing more.

"You guys really hold grudges," the hound added sullenly.

Joffrey still doesn't have a good way to command those six thousand royal soldiers.

He wasn't confident he could control the remaining four thousand people who still longed for the old dynasty, preventing them from causing trouble.

But it's impossible to kill them all.

These people are not enemy troops; on the surface, they are still their subjects.

They were sent on a mission by the king to serve the royal family.

Therefore, the only option is to break them up, to divide them, and to make them obediently walk to the Blood Gate under the supervision of Wang's soldiers.

As for fairness.

Joffrey looked up at the few slightly swaying corpses.

He gave the soldiers what he considered fair.

As long as no one identifies them, those who actually killed people can continue to carry their weapons and move forward with the group.

Joffrey mounted his horse.

"Let's go."

"His Majesty is already urging me at the crossroads of the Trident River."