Ned raised an eyebrow, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "A grand ambition, Cregan. How do you intend to pull it off?"
Cregan's face was set. "It's mainly about developing our lands and boosting our trade. We have resources we don't even realize we possess. We just need to push in the right direction and make wise investments. I've got plenty of ideas that could make us rich."
"Like what?" Ned asked, intrigued. As Warden of the North, he wanted to see their homeland thrive.
"First, we need to get back on our feet," Cregan began. "We've come through a great war, and with winter just ending, our food stocks must be low. Unfortunately, we import most of our food, mainly from the Reach and the Riverlands. You've married Lord Tully's daughter, so you could negotiate some better prices, but we can't rely on that forever."
Ned nodded, deep in thought. "You're right. We have agreements with the Riverlands, and while Lord Tully has helped us a bit, prices are still steep—especially after the war and the harsh winter. What do you suggest?"
Cregan leaned in, his eyes bright with conviction. "The best way is to grow our own food and become self-sufficient. I know it's a tall order, but we can aim for that. For instance, the New Gift is largely wasted in the hands of the Night's Watch. They don't have the men to tend such a vast expanse of land. Ned, you should write to King Robert and ask him to return it to us. We could establish new holdings and keeps, which would protect villages and help develop the land. It would also aid the Watch in more ways than one."
Ned furrowed his brow in thought. "The New Gift is fertile and could truly benefit the North if used properly. There would be political hurdles, but it's doable. Securing the New Gift would not only bolster our food supply but also strengthen our defenses against wildling raids."
Cregan nodded eagerly. "Exactly. By establishing new holdings and keeps, we can safeguard our people and cultivate the land. The North has always been resilient, and with the right focus, we can thrive. This would also provide opportunities for younger sons or warriors who distinguished themselves in the war. You could grant them lands there."
Ned smiled, a flicker of hope kindling in his heart. "Very well. I'll draft the letter to Robert. Is there anything else?"
"Yes," Cregan continued, his enthusiasm undimmed. "We need to diversify our food supply. Instead of relying solely on the south, which often exploits us, we should look to foreign lands like Braavos or Pentos for imports. The North suffered when Brandon the Burner torched our navy. We need to rectify that by building our fleet, which can protect our coasts and facilitate trade with other regions. We have vast forests for timber to construct a strong navy. A formidable fleet would allow us to embark on voyages and bring back valuable goods like spices from places such as Qarth."
"We could replicate the successes of the Sea Snake."
Ned interrupted Cregan, sensing he was getting carried away. "Cregan, that would require significant investment and time. Right now, it's not feasible. We need funds to buy food from the south and perhaps to develop the New Gift if Robert grants it back to us. That's our priority."
"Of course, I understand. But I have another idea, a design to boost our wool and textile industry, which would free up our funds and even increase our wealth," Cregan said.
"What is it?" Ned leaned in, intrigued. He was keen to explore any opportunity to enhance their wealth and make better use of their people.
"I've designed a better way to clean the wool and a machine to weave it into high-quality threads for making cloth," Cregan said, promising to send Ned the details that night in a more polished manner.
"But there's one more thing. We have a resource that no other kingdom has, yet we haven't made use of it," Cregan added.
"Huh? What resource?" Ned asked, intrigued.
"Ice," Cregan replied.
Both Ned and Benjen exchanged puzzled glances.
Seeing their confusion, Cregan took a breath, ready to explain. "Think about it. We have access to vast quantities of ice. In warmer lands, ice is a luxury. We could harvest it and transport it to southern markets, where it's highly sought after for preserving food and cooling drinks. Imagine the wealth we could generate from this."
Ned raised an eyebrow, considering the idea. "But how would we store and transport it without it melting?"
Cregan nodded, anticipating the question. "We can create insulated storage pits, lined with straw or sawdust, to keep the ice from melting too quickly. With a sturdy fleet, we could ship it during the colder months when it's abundant, and the profits could be substantial."
Benjen, catching on, added, "And it could help us establish trade routes. We might also attract merchants looking to buy ice, boosting our influence in the region."
Ned leaned back, a thoughtful look crossing his face. "It's an intriguing idea. We've overlooked the value of ice. If we can make it work, it could indeed strengthen our economy."
Cregan smiled, sensing the excitement in the air. "Exactly. We just need to act swiftly and seize this opportunity while we can. Winter has just ended, and the lakes have yet to thaw."
Ned nodded, the wheels of his mind turning. "Let's gather our people and start planning. If we're to make this work, we'll need everyone on board."
Without wasting a moment, Ned strode out of the Godswood, flanked by Benjen and Cregan. He asked the guards to summon Maester Luwin, Steward Vayne Poole, and Ser Roddrick Cassel to his solar.
The three men arrived shortly after the Stark brothers reached the solar, their expressions curious. Ned wasted no time, gesturing for them to take a seat.
"Thank you for coming on such short notice," he began, his tone serious. "Cregan and I have been discussing a new opportunity for the North—one that could bolster our economy and strengthen our position in the realm."
Maester Luwin raised an eyebrow, while Vayne and Ser Roddrick exchanged glances, intrigued by the urgency in Ned's voice.
"We're considering the potential of ice," Ned continued, explaining the plan with growing enthusiasm. "With the lakes still frozen, we have a chance to harvest it and trade with the south when the climate becomes a little warmer in the south. I want your thoughts and strategies on how to make this a reality."
"Harvesting ice and selling it to the south? I must say, this is quite an intriguing idea," Maester Luwin remarked, glancing at Cregan.
"Why not?" Cregan replied, his eyes bright with conviction. "Ice can be used to preserve food and vegetables for a longer period and to keep drinks cold. We just need to store it properly and transport it south, preferably to places like Dorne. They would surely appreciate a cooler wine and ale during their scorching summers."
Ser Roddrick stroked his chin thoughtfully. "The logistics would be challenging, but if we can manage to keep the ice intact during transport, it could indeed be profitable."
"I've already thought of that," Cregan said, his confidence evident. He began to explain the process of storing ice, maintaining its quality, and transporting it effectively.
"First, we'll need to harvest the ice from the lakes in large blocks. Once we've cut the ice, we can move it to insulated storage pits lined with straw or sawdust. These materials will help keep the ice from melting too quickly."
He continued, "For transport, we can use sturdy wagons covered with heavy tarpaulins. We can fill the gaps with more straw to provide additional insulation. Timing will be crucial; we should aim to transport the ice during the colder mornings when the temperature is low."
Ned leaned forward, intrigued. "And how far do you think we can transport it before it begins to melt?"
Cregan considered the question. "If we plan carefully and have enough manpower, we could likely transport it to key trading hubs like White Harbor or even further south. The goal is to reach places like Dorne before the heat of summer truly sets in."
"Agreed," Ned said, feeling a sense of purpose growing within the group. "Let's put together a timeline and gather the men we'll need for the harvesting. If we work together, we can make this a reality."
OOO
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