Lannesport.
The main castle of Count Odde, the reception hall.
Long table.
Earl Odd and Maester Bancroft stood before the long table, with their beloved daughter Rosamund Lannister between them, her big eyes blinking in wonder as she watched Jenny Westerling draw a strange shape on a piece of parchment with a quill pen.
Submerged bend.
This was a secret that Sir Gregor had never revealed.
A few days ago, when Earl Odd went to Clegane to sign a cooperation agreement with Sir Gregor for a noodle shop, he went to the outhouse and noticed a surprising detail.
There was no noticeable odor in the latrines of Fort Criggan.
The count looked around but couldn't discern any secret.
The water rushed down into the pit, but it remained pitch black. However, no strange odor came back from the pipe.
In the Count's own castle latrine, the odor lingered for a long time.
Even in Casterly Rock, where Lord Tywin Lannister's latrines are decorated with gold and are magnificent, they still have an unpleasant odor.
Because the sewage pipes are connected to the space of the house, the air circulation will inevitably bring about the flow of odors in the air.
However, the latrines in Fort Criggan did not have that obvious, unpleasant odor.
The outhouse window was open, incense and candles were lit in the corner, and there was a faint sense of freshness in the air.
The odor disappeared without a trace.
This greatly surprised the Earl.
The Earl consulted Gregor at Clegane Castle, but Gregor ignored the Earl's question and talked about other unrelated topics.
Today, Ser Gregor is escorting Miss Jenny and Earl Gavin to Casterly Rock to prepare for their wedding. Time is of the essence; there are only five days left until the date set by Earl Tywin.
The wedding was held in Casterly Rock, and Tywin Lannister hosted it as Jenny's father.
Gregor and Jenny's group would pass through Lannisport on their way to Casterly Rock, so they took the opportunity to visit Earl Odd. The guests and hosts had a pleasant conversation, and during the meal, Earl Odd once again asked about the secret to eliminating odors in the latrines. Gregor then consulted with the inventor, Miss Jenny, who agreed to tell Earl Odd the secret.
Jenny asked for a pen and paper and drew a partial structure of the sewage pipe buried under the outhouse: a water trap.
Jenny finished drawing, but before she could finish writing the annotations, the grey-robed scholar Bancroft already fully understood: the structure was very simple, just a straight pipe with a bend in the middle; the principle was even simpler, using the position of the bend to isolate the air flow between the upper and lower pipes with water, blocking the odor below the bend, preventing the odor from the sludge tank from entering the room through the sewage pipe.
To put it simply, once you understand it, everything is incredibly simple. So simple it's obvious at a glance, but the real challenge lies in how to open your mind and come up with this idea.
The difference between geniuses and ordinary people is just a tiny bit: a breakthrough in thinking thinner than a sheet of paper. It's a simple truth that's obvious at a glance, yet you just can't think of it, can't understand it, and haven't even considered it.
Bancroft's astonishment and admiration were beyond words.
"Miss Jenny, you are the most intelligent lady I have ever met. If this sinkhole bend were placed in the University City, it would surely win the grand prize for ingenious ideas in the field of basic construction." Bancroft's praise and admiration overflowed from his words.
The City of Learning is the only place on this continent that trains scholars.
The Citadel, it truly is a city. It encompasses scientific research in all fields—astronomy, geography, mechanics, agriculture, and so on—purely scientific, having absolutely nothing to do with the mysticism. While there is research on wizardry and faith, it's merely to complete the Citadel's comprehensive coverage of all its fields and has little to do with the mysticism; its primary focus is on studying the evolution and history of religious beliefs.
Miss Jenny modestly said, "Everyone understands the structure and principle of a sinkhole. I was just a little lucky to get the idea first and try to make it. Please don't praise me too much, sir."
Count Auder's eyes gleamed: "Scholar, if we promote this Submerged Bend in the City of Academia and apply for a prize, how much would we receive?"
"The reward for a new invention is based on its value, with one hundred gold dragons being the minimum for any recognized invention. If the Citadel sells it to the Royal Family for nationwide promotion, Miss Jenny will receive an even greater reward, which I imagine should be between five hundred and one thousand gold dragons. In addition to the money, there is eternal honor. Jenny Westerling's name will be written into the chapter on ingenious inventions in the Citadel's foundational buildings, known and celebrated by generations of maesters, scholars, and apprentices."
Gregor said, "Miss Jenny, would you be willing to publicize the invention of the sinkhole and promote it nationwide through the City of Colleges?"
Miss Jenny said, "Now that Clegane already has it, and Lord Odd of Lannisport knows about it, I am willing to hand over the invention of the Submerged Bend to the Citadel and then promote it throughout the country. However, before handing it over to the Citadel, I would like to ask my father, Lord Tywin, for his opinion."
Earl Odd, Grand Maester Bancroft, Sir Gregor, Earl Gavin, and Maester Harry all nodded in agreement.
As he descended the seven steps, Big Ironhead Chiswick shifted restlessly, his mind filled with anxiety.
Lord Mountain agreed to come to Earl Oder because he promised to rescue his brothers in the underground dungeons of Lannisport. They've been here for so long, but Sir Gregor seems to have forgotten the purpose of their visit. First, they chatted about meaningless things, then they drew some structural diagrams of the sinkhole, and now they're discussing nationwide promotion. He's really getting impatient.
Beside Chiswick, the knights, including Pollifer, stood quietly without showing any displeasure. Count Oder's captain of the guard, Gna Lanny, along with four centurions, Bard, Barrow, and others, remained composed, quietly watching the adults on the platform discuss the wonders of the Submerged Bend, something they knew nothing about.
At some point, the discussion around the long table on the high platform about the wonders of Sunken Bend turned into a discussion about the pirate problem in the waters of Lannisport. Gregor said, "Count, I have a way to add two more warships to your navy to fight the pirates."
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Earl Odd was overjoyed: "Sir Gregor, please teach me the method."
Gregor looked down at Chiswick on the steps and laughed, "Chiswick's former Blade Squad had two warships, specializing in maritime escort missions. After Chiswick and his brothers were captured by you, sir, the brothers on those two warships went to sea to become pirates. If you just release those brothers from the underground dungeon and let Chiswick lead them to the sea to persuade his former Blade Squad brothers to surrender and become part of the more glorious navy, wouldn't that mean two more warships and two fewer pirate ships?"
Count Auder chuckled, "Good idea, but I wonder if Chiswick would be willing to go through the trouble of making this trip?"
Chiswick was overjoyed and quickly said, "At Lord Gregor's command, I will do my utmost to ensure that the brothers on those two ships are willing to accept the reorganization and become a force in your navy."
"Alright, it's settled then. Lord Gregor, you've given me the secret of Sunken Bend and helped me gain two more warships. What can I do for you? Just tell me, and I'll do my best!"
Gregor said, "Count, the warship and its crew are yours, and Chiswick and his dozen or so brothers are mine."
Miss Jenny smiled and said, "My lord, the Clegane Hundred Cavalry Regiment is still short of a dozen men. Although Lord Gregor's territory is much larger, there are few people in the territory, so it is difficult to even gather a hundred cavalrymen to protect the territory."
"Miss Jenny, Sir Gregor, in case Chiswick fails to subdue those two pirate ships, I will still make up the shortfall of one hundred cavalry for Clegane." Earl Odd smiled broadly, in a good mood. "Since Your Excellency has the Royal Guard, you will certainly need a cavalry reserve to replenish your ranks. How about this, Sir Gregor, after the wedding, you come to my port of Lannis to recruit cavalry reserves. I will give you up to fifty men."
Gregor knew perfectly well that if Chiswick and his men got involved, the pirates on those two ships would surely surrender. The Earl spoke very eloquently and with great camaraderie, but in reality, he had gained a great advantage.
But Gregor knew he couldn't develop a navy. First, he didn't have a port at all, and second, he couldn't rapidly expand his military strength out of thin air, as that would arouse jealousy and suspicion.
The quality of an army is more important than its quantity!
Strive for excellence first! Do every step to the best of your ability!
"Very well, Earl, it's settled then." Gregor made the final decision.