Maester Luwin sent letters to King's Landing in Eddard's name, and both Jon Arryn, the Hand of the King, and King Robert replied.
Eddard had expected the reply from Robert to be written by Grand Maester Pycelle. Instead, it was personally penned by Robert himself. In the letter, Robert greatly praised Eddard's plan to expand Winter Town, hoping the new town would be "as magnificent as Storm's End and as noble as the Eyrie." It seemed Robert hadn't quite grasped that Eddard was building a town, not a castle.
However, Robert generously promised to recruit a hundred blacksmiths or blacksmith apprentices for Eddard in the Stormlands, the Crownlands, and King's Landing. Once the "prosperous new town" was completed, Robert would bring the royal retinue to the North for its first royal tour.
Jon Arryn promised to recruit three hundred experienced stonemasons in the Vale and send them to Winterfell. In addition, Jon Arryn recommended an architect named Townes, who was staying at Robert's court.
In his letter, Jon Arryn mentioned that Townes had previously designed luxurious mansions for the Magister of Tyrosh. Upon arriving in King's Landing, Townes had been petitioning Robert, hoping to construct some "great projects" to match King Robert's "great reign."
According to Townes's plan, Robert should build a new city 100 miles south of King's Landing to divert the flow of people. He also proposed repairing the Dragonpit, rebuilding Summerhall, and widening the Kingsroad by a third.
Robert, who loved luxury, had surprisingly taken an interest in these impractical plans. Jon Arryn worried that Townes's presence at court would further drain the treasury, so he recommended Townes to Winterfell to serve Duke Eddard.
Following Maester Luwin's advice, Eddard had Theon Greyjoy write to Balon Greyjoy, the ruler of the Iron Islands, hoping to recruit some Ironborn blacksmiths and ship designers. Balon had yet to reply.
Now, from Seagard, the Stone Coast, Bear Island, Saltpans, Flint's Finger, and the Ice Bay, several watchtowers had been erected along the western coast of The North. The garrison at Salt Forts guarded the coast while also refining sea salt. Eddard Stark believed that the number of pirate raids on the west coast would decrease significantly.
In the great hall of Winterfell, Eddard stopped Theon Greyjoy.
"What's going on with your father? He hasn't replied to my letters."
Theon said helplessly, "I reckon my father isn't happy about The North setting up Salt Forts to fend off pirates. He might see it as a provocation."
Eddard laughed. "Building Salt Forts to defend against pirates on the land of The North is hardly a provocation."
Theon said, "We Ironborn often say, 'What is yours is mine, and what is mine is mine.' We long for the Old Way. When the Ironborn see watchtowers on the coast but don't dare to charge, they naturally feel a sense of loss. My father might not be able to accept reality."
"My lord Eddard, I am very sad. Although you treat me like your own child, my father refuses to respond to Winterfell's requests. Doesn't he care about my life or death? I am his only surviving son!"
Eddard touched Theon's hand, signaling him to relax. "I would never take out my anger on you because of the Blacksmiths or shipwrights. Don't overthink it."
Eddard Stark wasn't surprised that Balon Greyjoy refused to send any Blacksmiths or shipwrights. After all, many Northerners despised the Ironborn, and the Ironborn hadn't forgotten how the North had helped King Robert suppress their rebellion. Eddard's only concern was whether the incident at Salt Forts would provoke Balon.
Although Balon had bent the knee and sworn to Robert to restrain his Ironborn, ending the Old Way, the Ironborn still raided, preferring to plunder the Stepstones or the distant seas across the Narrow Sea. Balon had even declared that any Ironborn who raided anywhere within the Seven Kingdoms would be drowned upon their return to the Iron Islands.
But Ironborn pirates, like poachers and smugglers, were still rampant, appearing throughout the Seven Kingdoms, albeit on a small scale. Rumor had it that Balon shared the spoils brought back by the raiders, indulging the Ironborn.
Eddard didn't get the Blacksmiths and shipwrights from the Iron Islands he was hoping for. Fortunately, the Northern bannermen didn't disappoint him. Deepwood Motte sent twenty carpenters, and the Dreadfort sent thirty stonemasons from the Lonely Hills.
Ever since Domeric Bolton, heir to the Dreadfort, had stayed in Winterfell as a foster son, Roose Bolton was noticeably more enthusiastic about the orders from Winterfell. In a letter to Winterfell, Roose Bolton stated that the first batch of arrow towers and saltworks in the Dreadfort's fiefdom had begun construction.
The Ryswells of the Rills sent three experienced Veterinarians. The Rills had always been an important source of warhorses for the North, not only possessing skilled cavalry but also many who understood how to judge and raise horses. These three Veterinarians were very skilled at treating horses. Eddard had them work under Hullen, the stablemaster of Winterfell. Winterfell's stables had no shortage of grooms, but there were too few veterinarians.
Greatjon Umber sent a fat man named Gevin, who had raised pigs for twenty years in the Umber household and knew how to breed, cure, and deliver piglets, as well as how to care for sows after they gave birth. Eddard put Gevin in charge of Winterfell's pigsty.
Lady Barbrey Dustin sent thirty Brickmakers. Eddard arranged for these people to work with the brickmakers recruited by Winterfell to build a brick factory south of Winterfell, preparing to produce bricks.
Herman Tallhart of Torrhen's Square dispatched fifty cavalrymen to help Winter Town maintain order. Lord Cerwyn sent sixty laborers to help build houses in Winter Town, and Lord Hornwood sent a batch of tailors.
Many residents of Winter Town couldn't afford needles and thread. Eddard Stark assigned the seamstresses to Septa Mordane, allowing them to stay at Winterfell and help the people mend their clothes, earning a few copper pennies.
Lord Wyman Manderly had sent blacksmiths, craftsmen, and carpenters. Lord Wyman had also sent a message with the grain convoy departing from White Harbor to inform Duke Eddard that he had already chosen a shipyard location in White Harbor. Shipwrights invited from Braavos had also arrived in White Harbor. Once the shipbuilding workers were in place, construction could officially begin.
Eddard walked to the forge in Winterfell, where Mikken was hammering iron. Mikken was tall with silver hair and a burly build, but he looked small next to Hodor, who was almost seven feet tall.
Hodor was a stableboy, but he often came to the forge to help out in his spare time. Moving iron blocks was a tough job, but not for Hodor. He was incredibly strong, and the iron blocks felt like straw in his hands.
Mikken saw Eddard. "Lord Eddard, people often say that blacksmithing is a job for simpletons, that it doesn't require brains. But look at Hodor, and you'll see how wrong that is. Hodor's build is perfect for blacksmithing, it's just a shame he's not very bright. Otherwise, after all these years of helping me, even the dumbest apprentice would have become a master by now."
Eddard smiled, "Hodor is a simple soul."
Mikken put down his hammer. "Lord Eddard, I heard you recruited many blacksmiths. Am I going to lose my job? I was hoping to serve at Winterfell until the day I couldn't anymore."
Eddard said, "You are my best blacksmith. I recruited blacksmiths to prepare for the forge in Winter Town. We will be mass-producing weapons and armor. Those blacksmiths will be under your command, because I will put you in charge of the forge."
Mikken chuckled. "That's good. Are we really going to war?"
"Winter is Coming. Best be prepared."
When the lords of the Seven Kingdoms went to war, they conscripted soldiers. Many were fishermen, farmers, and shepherds hastily assembled into armies. These men brought their own equipment, some even using sickles and hammers as weapons. For ordinary soldiers, leather armor was a luxury, let alone chainmail and plate armor.
Armor and swords were expensive to produce, but Winterfell needed to store a good supply, which would give them an advantage when mobilizing for war.
Mikken stroked his hammer. "I don't think there will be any more wars. Robert has firmly taken the Iron Throne, and now there's peace and prosperity."
Maester Luwin hurried over, holding a letter.
"Lord Eddard, Salt Forts on our coast has been attacked. Over twenty people are dead, and the watchtower has been destroyed."
Eddard was startled. "What? Have the Ironborn on the west coast become so brazen? Those damned Ironborn."
Maester Luwin was panting.
"Lord Eddard, it wasn't the west coast, but the east coast, Seal Bay, the Umber's territory. The enemy wasn't Ironborn either, but wildlings from Skagos, the Stoneborn!"