Chapter 25 The King’s Mind

"Well done, short swordsman!"

"Well die, Dornish bastard..."

Shiliu won the duel and was immediately greeted by countless cheers and cheers.

The referee asked him if he should continue to compete?

Xiliu carried the iron sword on his back, bowed to the king and others in the audience, and smiled: "Of course, I want to win this game."

Viserys had a somewhat favorable impression of the foreign swordsman who killed the Dornish youth, and watched as if he were watching a show.

Xiliu is an outstanding swordsman. He fights all the way in the arena and defeats several opponents one after another.

The contest lasted until noon, with the sun high in the sky.

Viserys drank a lot of wine and admired Xi Liu's elegant swordsmanship, and was in a good mood.

Feeling that the sun was getting warmer, he called off the martial arts competition.

Viserys stood up from the chair, relieved his tired waist, and said with satisfaction: "What a hearty competition!"

Following his movements, the eyes of the audience turned to him one after another.

"Invite the swordsman from the foreign kingdom to come forward. The king wants to speak to him."

Viserys ordered the attendants behind him.

The attendant nodded, quickly walked down from the auditorium, and whispered to the referee.

Soon, Shiliu walked to the edge of the duel field, knelt on one knee and looked at the high platform.

Viserys looked down condescendingly and asked puzzledly: "Swordsman, why don't you come up to the stage?"

Xiliu put the sword on his knees and said loudly: "I fight for honor. When I win the championship in the martial arts tournament, I will devote myself to His Majesty."

"honor?"

Viserys was noncommittal and said with great interest: "There are five days left in the tourney. If you can win the championship, I can grant you one wish."

"Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty."

Xi Liu thanked him humbly.

Viserys stopped waving for him to leave, took Rhaegar's hand, turned around and left the venue.

As soon as the king left, the other guests naturally followed.

…

After returning to the study in the Red Keep, Viserys left his son and daughter behind and asked questions.

"Aren't you curious why I promised that swordsman?"

Rhaegar looked confused.

Rhaenyra shrugged and said boringly: "You once said that the best way to see through a person or a thing is to observe over time."

"Very good, it seems you still remember what I said."

Viserys smiled slightly: "A qualified person in power will nip risks in the cradle."

"In the meantime, we can fully investigate the source of the risk."

Rega said confusedly: "If we don't take action in time, won't we suffer backlash?"

"That's right, so what I want to teach you is to always be aware of potential dangers and don't take it lightly."

Viserys gave the example of the Stepstone Islands War and said: "The Stepstone Islands are located between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait and are a very strategic location."

"When the Three Women Kingdom invaded, do you know why I didn't take the initiative to send troops?"

Rhaenyra's expression paused and she stared at her father for a long time before saying, "Because you don't want to start a war and be questioned by the whole country."

"Wrong. Strictly speaking, the war on the Stepped Stone Islands was about protecting the country. Later generations will only record the king's bravery and greatness, defeating the hateful pirates of the Three Women Kingdom."

Viserys disagreed with her answer.

He looked at Rhaegar and asked, "What do you think?"

Rega frowned and said uncertainly: "Because someone will fight against the Three Women Kingdom..."

"Yes, that's right. Rhaegar, you are very talented."

Viserys clasped his hands and laughed, praising without hesitation: "The Three Women's Kingdom invaded the Stepstone Islands. The first and most severely affected family was the sea serpent Corliss' family. He will never sit idly by and ignore it."

Rhaenyra was puzzled: "So what? Let the pirates plunder your people, let the sea serpents sound the horn of war, and win the victory and honor of the war on behalf of the king."

In her opinion, the king's responsibility should be to defeat the Three Women Country without hesitation.

Instead of indulging his ministers to send troops and affecting the royal power.

Faced with his daughter's doubts, Viserys was not angry and patiently explained:

"When the Three Women's Kingdom invaded, your mother died in childbirth. Rega was comatose when she was born and could not be the heir."

"According to tradition, my brother Daemon is naturally supported by the ministers and is ambitious for the Iron Throne."

"And I insist on choosing my daughter, you, as my heir."

"Later, a fierce quarrel broke out with Daemon, and he was driven out of King's Landing in anger."

As he spoke, Viserys looked at Rhaenyra expressionlessly: "Do you think the situation at that time could the royal family bear the risk of starting a war?"

"But we have dragons and lords from all over the place who have sworn allegiance!"

Rhaenyra tried to argue with her father.

"Dragon? There are dragons in Dragon Cave and Dragonstone Island. How many dragons could go on the battlefield at that time?"

“Even if an army is sent to attack, who should be the commander in chief on a rough sea?”

Viserys asked rhetorically.

Rhaenyra's face froze, and she realized what the problem was.

Viserys said with a serious face: "At that time, the royal family had no dragons that could go on the battlefield, and the most suitable candidate for commander of the navy was the sea serpent Corliss."

"Daemon has Colakxiu, and I can also go to war with the army..."

Rhaenyra was still about to argue, but Viserys interrupted directly:

"Damon was driven away by me personally. He just lost the chance to become the heir. Will he remain loyal to me or you, the heir, regardless of his past grudges?"

"Never! I won't lower my face and ask Damon for help."

"Syrax is a young dragon who has never been on the battlefield. I am not stupid enough to send the newly selected heir to the battlefield, waiting for the bad news that you have been assassinated one day!"

The sharp words were like a sharp sword, piercing Rhaenyra's fragile heart.

She was speechless, knowing that was the truth.

Viserys stopped lecturing his daughter and said instead: "Looking at the current situation, the royal family only sent three thousand soldiers. The sea snakes Corliss and Daemon, bearing the stigma of starting a private war, tried their best to defeat the Three Women Kingdom for the kingdom."

"And what are their contributions and rewards?"

"Wrapped in years of hard fighting, spending countless manpower and material resources, just to occupy a deserted stone archipelago?"

Viserys picked up the wine glass and took a sip, his eyes calm: "They won't get anything!"

"The family of the sea serpent Corliss was severely wounded by this. They left the Stone Steps Islands and returned home in despair to lick their wounds."

"Your uncle Daemon spent a large number of the Second Sons who followed him, abandoned the Crown and the Stepstones and returned to King's Landing, bowing his head to my brother and begging for peace."

"In the same time, the heir I chose grew up smoothly, and the kingdom was peaceful and peaceful."

Walking to Rhaenyra's side, Viserys said word by word: "My daughter, do you understand?"

Rhaenyra was struck by her father's foresight.

Her simple mind had never imagined so many twists and turns.

For a moment, the light and shadow of the father in front of me intersected with the father in his memory who showed a flattering smile to everyone.

Both familiar and strange.

Rhaenyra pursed her lips, lowered her head and said:

"Father, the Seven Gods have given you unparalleled wisdom, but I have doubts about you, and I am deeply ashamed of this."

As a king, Viserys was indecisive, but he was not ignorant of politics.

Thank God for the favoritism and the reward of 2,000 points.

Thanks to Cave 13 for the reward of 100 points.