"Chopsticks?"
"Yes, chopsticks."
"What does it look like?"
"They're just two simple bamboo sticks of the same length, round at the bottom and square at the top. They're definitely more convenient for eating noodles and picking up vegetables from soup. Maester Harry said that Gregor is planning to have chopsticks and other cutlery made of silver."
"Chopsticks made of silver? If you're using chopsticks, why would you need a knife to cut roasted meat? Do you have a picture of chopsticks?"
"...Uh...Madame Harry only mentioned chopsticks in his letter to me, there was no picture..."
"A private message from Harry?"
"Yes, sir."
"Show me your private messages."
"Yes, sir!"
*
Casterly Rock was a city built inside a massive rock about twenty miles long, fifteen miles wide, and seventy meters high. Calling it a massive rock would be a more accurate description than a stone mountain.
To ensure sufficient natural light within Casterly Rock, numerous giant skylights were cut into its outer shell. The top of the rock was also fitted with countless large panes of glass. Despite this, even in broad daylight, in the heart of the city, torches still burned brightly in some corners and secluded spots.
These torches are cared for by dedicated personnel and are kept burning year-round.
Casterly Rock is traversed by a spiraling avenue that connects to the avenue leading to the Lion's Mouth. This avenue, like a spider's web, links with many other major and minor roads within the city, forming its transportation network. At the end of the spiral avenue lie the Lannister Grand Stable and main castle, the Maester's Tower, the cavalry barracks, stables, and kennels. A path behind the Grand Stable leads directly uphill to the towering watchtower atop the hill.
Gregor led his cavalry, a total of sixty-three men, eastward from Clegane Keep, up the seaside promenade, past the high walls of Lannisport, and northward along the promenade. An hour later, the cavalry suddenly appeared at the Lion's Mouth section of Casterly Rock.
The Lannister soldiers guarding the city gates saw Gregor approaching on horseback from afar—he was enormous, and his horse was a fine steed, a head taller than any ordinary horse. Behind Gregor, the three-headed hound standard was held by the burly miner Blackstone. The gatekeepers dared not delay and hastily opened the several gates that had not been opened before.
Three large city gates stand side by side, resembling the mouth of a lion.
Gregor and his party of six riders galloped side by side into the Lion's Mouth, heading straight for the city's spiral avenue. The guards at the city gates and the patrolling soldiers inside immediately snapped to attention and saluted Sir Gregor, but he ignored them completely, just as he had before. He didn't even bother to grunt or look at them, and roared past. Whether they were soldiers, captains, centurions, or generals and knights, Gregor paid them no heed.
His subordinate officers and soldiers were equally arrogant and disrespectful. The six cavalrymen rode abreast up the spiral avenue, which rose higher and narrower as they went. The spiral avenue was the city's main thoroughfare, connecting other important roads and radiating throughout the city. All the avenues were bustling with people, some driving horse-drawn carriages and oxcarts, and many carrying loads.
Casterly Rock has a natural harbor within its walls, where many people conduct business. The fine silks and exquisite porcelain from across the Narrow Sea are sourced from this small harbor next to the Hall of Heroes. Over thousands of years, the sea has eroded a very deep depression at the base of the rock, allowing some cargo ships to navigate directly into Casterly Rock to unload their goods.
This small port thus supported many small merchants and porters. Most of the horse-drawn carriages, oxcarts, and laborers carrying loads on their heads and shoulders on the main road came from the western port, delivering goods to shops and households throughout the city.
Gregor crashed into everything in his path, and the coachmen and others hurriedly abandoned their horse-drawn carriages and oxcarts, fleeing down the spiral road.
The road was lined with shops and houses, and there were many adults and children coming and going. Gregor and his group, without any regard for the crowd, shouted and cursed loudly from afar. People scattered in panic, like stray dogs or fish that had escaped a net.
The knight, Sweet-Talking Raff, blew the whistle, directing his cavalry to follow Lord Gregor's unbridled gallop.
This arrogant cavalry column, not slowing down at all, kicked over many roadside stalls on the city's main streets. Those who were slow to dodge, or those who stood on the roadside to avoid danger but didn't escape far, were lashed out by some of the cavalrymen's whips. Amidst the screams of the poor souls falling, the cavalrymen laughed and rode away.
For ordinary people, being beaten at will by Gregor's soldiers was a common occurrence; if anyone was to blame, it was themselves for not dodging quickly enough.
On the viewing platform of the Great Training Ground, Tywin Lannister saw a three-headed hound banner fluttering high as it raced down the Spiral Avenue.
A glint of admiration flashed in Tywin's eyes.
He actually liked Gregor's knife very much, but Tywin never said so or offered any praise. The rewards he bestowed upon Gregor were never substantial, never comparable to those of other nobles; he did this intentionally.
Never feed a vicious dog too much!
Gregor's knife is terrifying, sharp, and loyal.
When Gregor got into trouble, even slightly serious problems, he would always tell Tywin Lannister the whole truth without ever lying. Tywin was always very pleased with this. Many high-ranking nobles didn't understand why Tywin protected such a scoundrel as Gregor, giving him important positions and shielding him when he tarnished the honor of noblewomen. What they didn't understand was that Gregor's loyalty and honesty towards Tywin far surpassed theirs.
Suddenly enlightened and becoming intelligent, Gregor produced snow salt, military whistles, and chopsticks. This information was also proactively provided by Gregor to Maester Harry, who reported it to Duke Tywin Lannister; Gregor's loyalty remained unchanged.
This vicious dog knows who its master really is.
However, even if Gregor wanted to hide it, he couldn't. The Maester Harry beside him was one of Tywin Lannister's eyes.
Gregor galloped into the parade ground, where five cavalry centurions were already lined up to greet him.
Gregor was the general of these five centurions.
Tywin Lannister maintained a force of five hundred Lannister cavalry. All the centurions among them were Lannisters. The Lannister family had many branches in the Westerlands, concentrated in Lannisport, the largest city in the Westerlands. Some of the cavalrymen came from Lannister branches, while others were direct or collateral relatives of the Lannister family and its branches.
This elite and loyal cavalry unit of five hundred men was under Gregor's command. In peacetime, this most powerful guard cavalry regiment simply had no opportunity to demonstrate its strength.
"Lord Gregor!"
The five centurions shouted in unison and saluted Gregor from their horses.
This most loyal cavalry unit rarely ventured out into the world. Gregor usually patrolled the borders, arrested criminals, and cracked down on disobedient nobles, leading his band of commoner outlaws, including Sweet-talking Raft.
Gregor ignored the polite greetings from the five Lannister centurions. He had always looked down on Lannister centurions, considering them cowards and scoundrels who were just pretending to be noblemen in front of him.
In addition to his family's cavalry regiment, Tywin also possessed a thousand-strong Freeman professional legion, a mixed cavalry and infantry unit, which would be under Gregor's command and jurisdiction in case of trouble.
Sweet-talking Raft and his ilk were junior officers from a mixed cavalry and infantry regiment. Because of their cruel and bloodthirsty nature, they were kindred spirits with Gregor, and they were fascinated by and worshipped Gregor's various evil deeds, taking him as their role model.
Gregor opened his mask and raised his hand toward Tywin Lannister on the viewing platform. His voice boomed like thunder: "Your Grace, behold the Knights of Raphtalia practicing their cavalry with military whistles."
Lord Tywin Lannister nodded in agreement! He already knew from the letter that Gregor had knighted Laugher and given him the surname Clegane.
It is no exaggeration to say that Gregor's voice was like thunder.
Every general in this world has a set of special techniques for training their shouting. They practice almost every day, just like how wandering singers practice their voices every day, cavalrymen practice riding every day, and archers practice shooting every day.
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