The Young Lion

Act 2 Ch 2 Touring a Factory

Joffrey and Tyrion worked well into the evening going over official reports and court documents. He answered what questions he could from his bewildered uncle while they read the reports from his administrators. Currently due to his lack of time on his hands Joffrey couldn’t oversee his projects personally, so he left them in capable hands of his administrators. 

Tobho oversaw his industrial sector which had expanded and increased the number of Baratheon processes and beehive ovens. They now had an official factory and all the iron and steel moved like clockwork. The employees were paid fair wages and worked eight hour shifts with paid breaks. He split the work cycles between twenty first century daytime and night time shifts and had them rotated for maximum efficiency. He had already sent him new designs for projects to do with his agriculture project and new weapons and armor for his royal guard.

Jacelyn, his commander, was left in charge of the recruitment and command of his newly established Royal guards. They had completely overthrown and replaced the Gold Cloaks and now patrolled the streets keeping the King’s peace and upholding his laws. Their brutal and efficient display of martial prowess had apparently inspired many of the young lads from the slums who rushed to apply for the chance to become one of them. 

Joffrey had no use for undisciplined mutts and ordered Jacelyn to put the able-bodied youths through the “gauntlet” and find out who was worthy and who wasn’t. Their training remained just as brutal and unforgiving to peel the youths like onions and rebuild them into Royal guards like he had done personally with his first Cohort. His ultimate goal was to create a united royal army and do away with every lord having his own personal army and banner-man in the future. He found it quite ironic considering it was probably one of the only good ideas that the real Joffrey had ever had.

As for his textile industry, he had gathered all the tailors and the embroiderers throughout the city and offered them the chance to work in his new textile factory. Though the factory was built it currently worked at minimum capacity with only a single unit of each of his inventions set in the large building. Those inventions being the spinning jenny, the flying shuttle, the water frame, and the spinning mule. With the city being built next to the Blackwater bay, Joffrey already had plans in the works to utilize water power for both his steel and textile industries.

At the moment he could only produce small quantities of clothing, but it was more than enough to supply his citizens and appease his court. And with his fashion sense of the seventeenth century he knew only they would be the only ones able to produce the clothing styles that soon would flood the market place. Joffrey remembered reading how in England clothiers became the largest source of income for the country into the late middle ages. So he decided to jump start the revolution in Kings Landing creating another lucrative business for the crowns to pay off their debts.  

With all these upcoming businesses Joffrey would be able to set a yearly interest payment to the Iron Bank in Braavos. It would keep them appeased and also make sure they would never consider backing any of his enemies' armies. As the evening got late Joffrey dismissed his new hand and decided to end their business there for the evening. Tyrion left more confused than before on what happened to his nephew and where he had acquired all of these brilliant ideas. He knew he would have to investigate this mysterious change in him. 

After the dwarf left Joffrey was alone in his room drinking out of his cup.

“You can come out now, Varys.” He called out.

Varys then slowly made his way from one of the secret passageways in the walls. The Red Keep was full of them and Varys knew almost every single one. After he entered he approached his king and stood by the right side of his desk.

“So what do you think?” Varys asked.

“I think he has potential as a future partner, he’s intelligent enough that's for sure but.”

“But?” he inquired.

“He drinks way too much from his years of abuse from his father which could prove to be a liability going forward.” He said massaging his temples.

“So how do you want to proceed?” He asked, putting his hands in his sleeves.

“I want you to gain his trust, work him slowly and steadily, and if he proves to be worthy we’ll bring him into our fold.”

“And if he proves to be unworthy?”

“We’ll throw him into the sea.” He responded coldly. “We don’t have time to tolerate anymore obstacles, Varys.” He said looking up at his new partner in crime.

Varys bowed his head understandingly to Joffrey’s words.

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“Do you bring any news from the front?” He asked gesturing for Varys to sit while he poured him a drink.

“Yes, as a matter of fact I do.” He said as he took a seat and accepted the king's gesture.

“Go on then.” He said as he drank from his cup.

“My little birds sang me many songs this morning. Robb Stark and his men are engaged with your grandfather in Riverrun though most of Tywin's forces remain at Harrenhal. Lysa Arryn has sent out her armies a force of some forty-five thousand strong and currently stationed at the Redfort.” He said, taking a sip from his cup.

“Any news on my two uncle's movements?” 

“Renly’s army of a hundred thousand are currently resting near Storm’s end in the Stormlands. While Stannis remains at Dragonstone with only five thousand men and a handful of ships.”

“Not for long” He thought, knowing that Stannis would use blood magic and assassinate Renly and claim his bannermen.

He knew after that happened Stannis would come to take King’s Landing and he needed to be prepared before that.

“Anything else?”

“Yes apparently Theon Greyjoy has been seen sailing for the iron islands in an attempt to sway him to Robb's side.”

“That's not going to end well.” He said aloud as they drank from their cups.

“Probably not” Varys agreed.

“Well let's focus on what we can control.” He said standing up from his desk followed by Varys. “You focus on Tyrion and I’ll focus on capitalizing on this chaotic situation.” He said with a smile that Varys returned.

Varys then bowed his head and left the way he came, leaving Joffrey once again alone in his room.

“So much to do with so little time.” He said aloud letting out a loud sigh. “Soon a stag will fall, the kraken will betray the wolf, and the old lion will be cornered. It’s perfection everything is proceeding just as I’ve planned.” He said with a smile looking up at the ceiling in his seat.

[The Next Day]

The clash of steel could be heard early in the morning, in the training grounds of the Red Keep. Joffrey was currently clashing swords against Sandor Clegane while Barristan watched from the side. He had added him to his daily skill training regime to get used to going up against a bigger stronger opponent. Barristan was great at correcting his form and teaching him the proper technique, but due to his age he couldn’t utilize a mace, or flail, or great sword. So he had asked the hound to spar with him regularly to allow him to get accustomed to facing such weaponry. He knew that the first time facing such weapons shouldn’t be in a real battle.

“Step to the right.” Barristan instructing from the side lines.

Joffrey followed his instructions, bobbing and weaving, avoiding the large metal ball attached to the chain. He blocked with his heater shield and slashed and hacked at the mountain of a man. The flail finally clashed against his shield, denting it and forcing Joffrey to drop it. He front rolled away from another strike before popping back up to his feet.

“Aim for the joints in the armor, they are always a weak spot, your grace.” Barristan added.

Joffrey agreed with his assessment, slashing and hacking at the hounds knees and elbows. For the first time the hound started to get an agitated look on his face as the young king continued to strike him and avoid his training flail. After a few more moments of a back and forth contest Joffrey went to block with his sword and the chain wrapped around the blade. The hound then yanked the sword out of his hand completely disarming the king. The hound then took a moment to gaze at the defenseless king, before proceeding to punch him in the face sending his ass to the dirt.

Barristan grew enraged at the hounds actions and readied to draw his sword when Joffrey held his hand up.

“Hold!” He shouted as he wiped the blood from his nose.

“Your grace, this man just-” But before he could finish Joffrey interrupted him.

“Did as he was commanded.” He said as he picked himself up from the dirt. “In a real battle your opponent won't show you consideration because of some lofty titles.”

Sandor looked at the king with some respect after hearing his realistic and mature answer.

“Thank you for another good training session Sandor, but I think that's enough for this morning.” He said with a smile patting the hounds shoulder.

“You’ve made great progress in just three weeks, your grace.” He said respectfully. “You should be winning tourney’s in no time.”

Joffrey just looked at him as he wiped the sweat from his face with a towel.

“I don’t give a fuck about tourneys.” He said flatly surprising Barristan and Sandor.

He knew real battles were on the horizon and so he didn’t have time to waste playing war like some of the peacock knights of his city. Joffrey then set down his towel and drank some water to quench his thirst. After he finished wiping his sweat off, he turned to head back inside the castle.

“We’re done here.” He said as he started to walk. “Barristan, be sure to deliver those reports to my chambers later this evening.”

Barristan and Sandor both bowed their heads to their king.

“I know, I will.” He responded dutifully.

Joffrey then made his way to the baths to watch off his morning grime and then change. He had business to discuss with Tobho this morning anyway. Then he planned to stop by the training grounds and speak with his vice commander. As he soaked in his new spacious bath he hoped that Tobho made some progress on his recent requests when he visited him today.

After arriving in his industrial sector, it had completely changed from the last time he was there. He now had three steel production lines, an arms factory, an armory, and a fledgling textile factory. The industrial sector was now bustling with hundreds if not a few thousand of workers who were all hard at work products to usher in the new era. The machinery used to produce the equipment was all water-power based. There were creation assembly lines in place to make the process smoother. As such it was quite the site to behold, Joffrey figured there wasn’t another city on the entire continent with such advanced engineering sector. The best part being that it only grew by the day.

As Joffrey approached Tobho old shop, which had become his office, he saw the older man hard at work looking over designs he had recently sent him. The office was very disorganized with papers and sheets covering almost every flat surface. Joffrey understood the pains of paperwork well, as he had countless long nights of endless piles of paperwork. As such he was understanding when his administrator didn’t even notice when he entered. He cleared his throat causing the focused man to look up from his desk with an annoyed expression.

“You grace!?! He shouted quickly changing his expression upon recognizing his patron. “I’m so sorry I didn’t see you come in.” He scrambled to his feet to greet him.

Joffrey raised his hand gesturing for Tobho that he could remain sitting. After brief hesitation he sat back down into his leather chair, while Joffrey sat down across from him.

“What brings you here, your grace?” 

Joffrey chuckled slightly at the various designs and documents Tobho had been looking over before his sudden arrival.

“I’m just here to check on things. How are the designs coming along?”

Tobho let out a heavy sigh and vented some of his frustrations to his king, who took it all in stride.

“They’re coming along fine but we’re a little stretched thin with the refugee issues.” He sat exhausted. “It's times like this I wish I had a young red haired beauty to release some bent up frustrations with.” He said jokingly.

He couldn’t help but laugh at the old man's joke.

“You should try the red light district.” He said, still chuckling. “Ask for the whore by the name Ros, I hear she has a thing for older men.”

“Thanks for your grace but I’m busy enough as it is.”

“So how are the factories coming along?” He asked getting back on the subject at hand.

Tobho smiled with a hint of pride on his face; all of his efforts were starting to bear fruit.

“What was that saying before? Everything running like a wheel built wheel?”

“That’s good to hear; I see a lot of men working here. Are they receiving proper compensation and getting the necessary rest?”

Tobho grinned hearing his king's question.

“Of course and they’re quite grateful for it. Many of these men are from other cities and regions of the kingdoms, and they had expected to be slaved to death in these factories; like many miners or stone masons used to be before your reforms. Despite the hard work they are quite happy about the pay and their schedules. Unfortunately there will always be some lazy bastards who will complain about how unfair their lives are no matter what you do.”

Joffrey nodded his head hearing his administrators words; what he said was true, you couldn’t please everyone no matter how hard you try. Though at least they were afforded a proper wage, working hours, and safety standards unlike most parts of Westeros at this time. The exceptional growth in the crown's wealth through Joffrey’s reforms was staggering. It allowed him to increase his workers wages and set up performance bonuses on top of it. As such the middle class was slowly starting to grow at the very heart of the kingdoms. Though it was still in its early stages the capital was beginning to shift from the feudal era of nobles and serfs. To one of industrialization and multiple classes.

As the pair walked through the factory exchanged pointers and Joffrey lent his wisdom on some of their works. After going over their inventory Joffrey stopped and asked Tobho about one of his projects he had requested of him.

“By the way Tobho have you made any progress with what we discussed before?”

Tobho grinned ear to ear hearing Joffrey’s question.

“As a matter of fact your grace we finished the first batch this morning.” He said smiling. “Unfortunately we will require more time for your other requests.” He said looking down a little disappointed.

“It's alright.” Joffrey said, putting his hand on his shoulder to reassure him. “I’m sure you will accomplish it in time. For now please have that batch brought to the training grounds this afternoon. I want to demonstrate them to my Royal Guards.”

“Of course your grace.” He said smiling.

The pair continued to walk and talk about Joffrey’s projects that were in the works.