Chapter 47 Variables (Three in One)

Prime Minister Otto stood up first: "Your Majesty, I have to remind you that although Dorne is currently in turmoil, this does not mean that we can completely conquer Dorne. A little carelessness will quickly destroy the good situation."

"Your Majesty Prime Minister, you might as well speak frankly." Archmaester Melos rubbed his neck ring. He has a neck ring in politics and diplomacy and has a certain understanding of Otto's thoughts. To be honest, Grand Maester Melos was also worried that Viserys I would be a hothead and order the conquest of Dorne.

On the other hand, the Captain of the Iron Guard, Kriston Cole, seemed a little dissatisfied, but he suppressed this emotion in his heart, at least he could not show it now.

After all, he is also from the Borderlands. This heroic Captain of the Iron Guard comes from a small noble family in Blackport. His father once served as the steward of the Dondarrion family. His brother is still serving the Dondarrion family as a knight in the Borderlands. , even absent from the war in the borderlands to vent their anger against Dorne, which made the proud captain of the Iron Guard quite unhappy.

However, in front of the king and queen, the captain of the Iron Guard could not show this attitude. This is disrespectful to the royal family.

"Your Majesty, I think the royal family should provide support for Prince Ronzel's revenge." Sir Christon found the right moment and made a suggestion before Prime Minister Otto spoke. The captain of the Kingsguard is not only the leader of the royal guard, but also the leader of the royal guard. He is also the military minister of the royal family. Responsible for advising the king on military matters. "Or at least ask Duke Baratheon and Duke Tyrell to allow the border nobles to send troops to assist. In this way, the royal family will not lose the opportunity to fight for benefits in this war."

"White Knight, the Dorne problem is not just a military problem." Otto said patiently: "It is also a political problem. Dorne now has four kings. Let's not talk about the strength of the Uller family. The Dane family is focused on unifying the West. Dorne, for the time being, has no time to care about the problems in East Dorne. The key to this melee lies with the Yronwood family and the Martell family. Neither family has the ability to swallow up the other in one go. If the external force only slightly stirs up, then The two families can fight until they ask for outside help to enter. Sir Tyran, I have no intention of targeting your family. Just like a lion fighting a wolf, if the stag enters when both sides are exhausted and both sides are injured, then the final The winner is the stag, but if the stag enters rashly, he will be attacked by wolves and lions. "

"My Lord Prime Minister, you are not just targeting my family." Sir Tyran Lannister laughed: "It's a pity that Duke Stark is far in the north and Duke Baratheon is still recuperating at Storm's End. Otherwise, They should really listen to the Prime Minister’s wonderful metaphor.”

But what Otto said does make sense. Ronzel successfully tore Dorne apart, but if the Iron Throne rashly enters the scene, Dorne will most likely be reunited. But if the external pressure is not so great.

Before fighting against the outside world, you must first make peace with the inside.

There are no idiots in the royal council of Viserys I, and naturally everything is clear.

"Your Majesty, Duke Beaumond Baratheon has written a letter requesting the Iron Throne to allow the stormland princes to raise troops and horses. However, Duke Beaumond also guaranteed that these troops and horses will only be used for border defense, and he will not start a war without authorization." , Grand Maester Melos added. "I think the adults in the Reach will also sympathize with the kingdom's difficulties."

"That's natural." Otto has already written a letter to his brother, Earl Hobart Hightower, and his nephew, Sir Mond Hightower. As one of the largest nobles in the South, the Hightower family has the ability to suppress the nobles of the Reach. , to keep them calm. The only flaw is that Ser Mond Hightower’s wife, Samantha Tully, comes from the Tully family that is participating in the war. This makes many nobles in the Reach believe that the Hightower family is behind their backs. They had a hand in this war.

"Your Majesty, I think it is necessary for me to inform you of the current situation of the treasury." Earl Linman Bisbury coughed and drew everyone's attention back: "No matter how the kingdom finally decides to intervene in this matter, Every war requires enough gold. It is a pity that although there are 1.5 million gold dragons in the national treasury and no less than 3 million gold dragons mixed with impurities, if the war starts, it will cost so much It will be an astronomical sum." The old earl looked into the king's eyes. "The planning and construction of King's Landing requires money, and the maintenance of several roads requires money. Your Majesty must consider the situation of the treasury and whether the people of King's Landing can afford the tax increase after the war."

The king had calmed down by now. "So what do you think the Kingdom can do now?"

"Your Majesty, do nothing." Prime Minister Otto said: "Leave the front line to the right people." He said: "Ignore the envoys of Dorne, if they come to King's Landing. When the time is right, we will enter again. ”

Viserys nodded slightly. Although he knew Otto's ambition, Otto's ability was even more outstanding. A capable careerist, if he used it well, the benefits to the kingdom would be endless.

"My lords, there is another question." Lord Jasper Wilder, Minister of Justice, said: "What if the Dornish people want to marry Prince Ronzel?"

Everyone looked at the king.

Yes, if the Dornish people wanted to maintain their relationship through marriage, it would be difficult for Ronzel to find a reason to refuse, but the royal family's goal is to control the Varese family as much as possible within the royal family's reach.

It's a pity that all the daughters of the family's age are already married, so they can't do such a thing as breaking up the engagement.

"Your Majesty, the top priority is indeed the marriage issue of the Varese family. Prince Rey can wait, but Prince Ronzel and Prince Valar are both sixteen years old." Count Linman Bisbury was half-finished. He didn't continue, but everyone knew what he meant.

Search among the major princes as soon as possible, lest Long Zell actually marries a Dornish man, which would be a great pleasure.

"Let's discuss this matter next time." Wesseliston felt very worried. This kind of thing is indeed difficult to deal with. A little carelessness can lead to big problems.

"Grand Maester, Otto, you are responsible for identifying girls of appropriate age." King Viserys gave the order.

After the meeting, laris Strong, who had a crooked foot, limped in the corridor of the Red Keep with a cane. He pursed his thin lips and seemed to be thinking about something. Otto walked quickly past him and gave him a confused look. "Lord Laris, do you have anything to say?"

"No, sir." Laris smiled. "I am just feeling the decisiveness of Princess Rhaenyra. Now Prince Jakaris and Prince Lythris are on the front line of the Dorne War. A royal member who personally goes to war will be worthy of praise in the mouths of bards and people. He is a hero, especially if he has won a victory, I think the people will probably praise the little prince for his bravery behind the prince."

Otto's expression changed. "Lord Laris, it is the bounden duty of the royal family to share the worries of the kingdom. I am proud of the two princes."

"Your Excellency is truly the pillar of the country." Larisse bent down. "Hail to you, our good Prime Minister."

Otto nodded slightly and walked towards the Prime Minister's Tower. Queen Allison is already waiting in the main hall of the Prime Minister's Tower.

"Your Majesty, you are the queen." Otto couldn't help but sigh when he saw his daughter standing nervously in front of the fireplace. "You should be with the king at this time."

"Father, I need your opinion." Queen Allison didn't care about anything else, she directly lifted up her skirt and ran to Otto. "Rhaenyra's son has achieved military success, but my son is still rotting away in King's Landing. Aegon is idle all day long. Aemond has nominally mastered the largest dragon in the world, but he has only actually ridden it once."

"You want Aegon and Aemond to join the battle." Otto covered his head helplessly. "My good daughter, my queen, war is not a child's play. Princess Rhaenyra's sons are just joining the army for qualifications. The battle in Dorne has two mature dragon knights. Aegon and Aemond are only involved. It would give the Dornish people an excuse to integrate."

"Then Rhaenyra's son is not an excuse?" Allison was a little unhappy, but she continued to persuade her father. "It is an indisputable fact that members of the royal family have participated in the war, and the bards of King's Landing have begun to sing of their bravery."

"They have a legitimate name." Otto was a little impatient. "They entered the war in the name of the squires of Prince Ronzel and Prince Valarr. No one can stop a squire from following his knights into battle."

"Prince, prince." Allison smiled. "Father, have you forgotten that you promised to sell them one, oh, or two daughters?"

"Alison, these things are not necessarily connected." Otto suddenly felt a deep sense of powerlessness.

"My son can't be worse than Rhaenyra's son." Allison took a few steps closer again, forcing Otto to take a few steps back. "A good prince cannot lack military merit."

"I understand, I understand." Otto did not dare to say harsh words to his daughter at this time. "The time has not come yet. When Prince Longzel has established a foothold in Dorne and the war situation becomes clear, the Iron Throne will naturally send troops to maintain peace. That is the best time for the princes to send out. 'Peacemaker', 'Mr. 'Liberator', 'Unifier', 'Prince of Peace'. These titles are more popular among civilians than warriors."

"but"

"Allison!" Otto finally found the opportunity to interrupt the queen. "You are the queen, and you should be by the king's side at this time. Not..." He glanced around. "Instead of being with your father in the Prime Minister's Tower."

"I know." He seemed to understand that his father would eventually use such an excuse to deal with him. In the end, Allison muttered "I am the queen" and quickly left the Prime Minister's Tower while holding up her skirt, leaving Otto to let out a sigh of relief.

"Aemond, what are you waiting for?" Great Aegon excitedly asked his attendants to put on leather armor for him. Aemond, who had a crystal clear sapphire in his eye socket, stood quietly next to his brother, holding his arms. Watching my brother look left and right in front of the mirror. After admiring his heroic appearance, Aegon flipped up his hair and walked quickly to his younger brother. "Ride on Vhagar. Let's go to the stone road today. Vhagar will take a slower pace, but three or four days will be enough."

"Are you crazy?" Aemond glanced at his brother's hand on his shoulder and said calmly.

"I'm not crazy." Big Aegon looked at his brother's remaining eyes. "This is a good opportunity. Uncle Longzell won a great victory. Now the stone roads and large areas of Dorne have been returned to the kingdom. The whole of Dorne is a piece of sand. We only need to go around Dorne. There will be bards praising our bravery when we come back. Aemond, think about it, as long as you go there, you will hear your wonderful name in all the taverns and brothels in the future. Isn't this great?"

"Did father allow it?" Aemond looked at his brother who choked back with his blue gem eyes.

"But, yes."

"My brother." Aemond pulled Great Aegon's hand off. "Do you understand what the consequences will be if two real princes ride dragons to the present Dorne?"

"What." Great Aegon was stunned for a moment, then shuddered immediately: "They will think that a full-scale war has begun."

Aemond rolled his eyes at his brother, but he was not hopelessly stupid. "I looked at the map and the war report, brother, have you seen it?"

Great Aegon shook his head. But he was still trying to defend himself: "I heard them say that Dorne is now divided into several pieces, and the largest Yronwood and Martell are about to fight each other's brains out."

"Without external support, Yronwood could not have defeated the Martell family so smoothly. In the Great Dune surprise attack, Lewyn Yronwood defeated Prince Cooren's nearly 10,000 troops with 1,500 cavalry. This was impossible without sufficient intelligence support. This can only mean one thing, that the Yronwood family finally decided to rebel with the support of our dear cousin."

Aemond continued to explain for Great Aegon. "With the support of a dragon king who accidentally swallowed up the entire Dorne in one breath, the Yronwood family has enough confidence to challenge the Martell family, but it will be different if we go there. The balance will be broken, and Prince Keoren can mobilize the Dornish people's resistance to the Targaryens. Dorne, which has been scattered into a piece of sand, will also be reunited."

Aemond looked at his brother whose breath was gradually weakening, and said calmly: "Besides, my Vhagar and the dragons of my two cousins ​​are not afraid of scorpion crossbows, what about your Sunfire?"

Great Aegon trembled instantly. His beautiful Sunfire was a young dragon. Although it was gorgeous and majestic, it did not grow to the thickness of the scales of an adult dragon. The huge scorpion crossbow could still hurt it.

"Oh, I know." Great Aegon looked at the leather armor on his body and lowered his head reluctantly. "But our nephew has already won military merits, and people in King's Landing are already praising them"

"Oh, they are really so strong." Aemond curled his lips.

In the shadows, Helena quietly watched the conversation between the two brothers, and returned to the bedroom without saying a word. She quietly looked at the extinguished brazier and fireplace, wondering what she was thinking.

Dragonstone.

Princess Rhaenyra, who had given birth to a healthy baby boy, looked at the letter in her hand for a long time without saying a word.

In the cradle beside her was sleeping her newborn son, little Viserys, named after her father. What made the princess feel sorry was that the dragon egg in the cradle of the silver-haired baby had not hatched. This was different from her previous sons.

There were crisp footsteps outside the door. Prince Daemon pushed the door open in a tight suit.

"The child is sleeping." Princess Rhaenyra reminded her husband who was about to be intimate with her son. "Have you read the war report sent back from the south?"

"I saw it." Daemon said softly: "Dragonzer has learned the lessons of the previous Dorne War." He sat down next to his wife. "Stop it. He has succeeded in stirring up internal strife. When the time is right, Dorne will be his."

"Can't the lord of Dorne think of this?" Princess Rhaenyra asked.

"Greed makes people short-sighted. My dear." Daemon smiled and whispered: "Even if they realize it, they will not let the benefits go away. As long as they hold the idea of ​​integrating Dorne before dealing with Longzel, we will be invincible."

"You found good knights for Xiaojie and Xiaolu." Rhaenyra smiled and whispered: "I have heard singers call them brave princes. I heard that the people of the borderland are very supportive of Xiaojie and Xiaolu because they eat and live with the soldiers during the war."

"This is a good thing." Daemon smiled and said: "Enough legendary stories will make people ignore the rumors."

"But I still have to pray to the Seven Gods." Rhaenyra looked into her husband's eyes: "After all, they are my sons. I am still panicked when they are in danger."

"Let's go together." Daemon held his wife's hand. "The gods will bless them."

The ruins of Weir City.

Longzel's main army chose to set up camp here, and the people who originally belonged to Weir accepted the rule of the new lord smoothly.

After all, they exempted taxes for a year, made a big tax reduction, brought cheap food, and even paid for the construction of fortresses and camps.

Although the Dornish are unrestrained and don't pay much attention to the rules that northerners like to pay attention to, they are still people after all. The Dornish have their own set of honor system. Longzel defeated Ullen Weir, defeated all the members of the Weir family, and defeated many nobles. The Dornish who advocated military force would naturally worship him, especially Longzel defeated several knights who came to challenge him.

The Dornish hate conquerors, but admire generous heroes.

So Longzel's governance was surprisingly smooth, and the people of the border and the population brought by Longzel began to gradually fill the population gap in Weir.

"Prince Longzier of the Vareses family, Lord of Dragon's Nest, Key to the Bone Road, Governor of the Marches, Guardian of the Stone Road, Silver-blooded Noble, Descendant of the Emperor of Valyria, Slayer of the Serpent, Destroyer of Tollan."

"Stop, stop, stop." Longzier waved his hand helplessly, indicating that there was no need to read so much. Valar next to him had already started to laugh secretly, but Hoffa Law-Keeper still had a stern face, and stood upright on both sides of the lord with the Dothraki boy Ago. Hoffa's lips moved, as if he was silently reciting Longzier's title.

Edric Dondarrion stopped reading the nickname at the end. "I have released my oath of submission to Lord Baratheon and have been recognized by the Duke. Your Highness, all the lords of the Borderlands should kneel down and pledge allegiance to the true Governor of the Borderlands." He glanced at Earl Gerold Selmy and Earl Donald Tarly. "From today, the Dondarrion family of Black Harbor will worship the Vareses family as the feudal lord. Purple lightning will split all obstacles for you. From today, until the collapse of Black Harbor and the death of the last Dondarrion, our loyalty will be entrusted to you and your family. The old and new gods bear witness to this. Today is the same, and it will remain the same every day."

Edric put the sword in his hand and raised it above his head.

Longzel smiled and took the sword from Earl Edric. "I accept your loyalty. The Dondarrion family will always have a place in the hall of Dragon's Nest."

"It is an honor for Dondarrion, Your Highness." Earl Edric said respectfully.

The soldiers who had made meritorious contributions in this war followed the earl and stepped forward one by one to receive their rewards.

The grandson of Miles Hermosa, who was given a surname, obtained a piece of land near the Dornish Sea and became a wealthy knight.

Rodrik Isabur, a valley mercenary knight who killed several knights of the Uller family in the battle and led a team to eliminate hundreds of Dornish infantry, also obtained a small piece of land in the Red Mountains.

Longzel generously rewarded them with enough money to build a small castle.

This made the two new nobles burst into tears instantly, and they swore to the Seven Gods to serve the Vareses family for life.

"Your Highness."

A woman's voice came from outside the tent, and a woman in a coarse cloth skirt walked in with a tall and thin little boy.

"My husband, Abel Hayden, is the lord of Tianqiao City. He died bravely during the invasion of the bastards of the Weir family. I would like to ask..." The woman choked when she mentioned her husband, tears streaming down her face. Her son was very sensible and helped his mother wipe her tears.

"Your Highness, my mother wants to ask you to issue an imperial decree to reconfirm the Hayden family's ownership of the Tianqiao City territory." The little boy stood up and spoke the request clearly in the common language.

"This is what I should do." Longzel looked at the boy. "The loyal and brave should not be let down." He looked at Earl Edric on the side.

"Sir Abel is a loyal and brave knight." Earl Edric did not hide the merits of his subordinates. "He fought for my son and died on the battlefield with my son in the end."

"What's your name?" Longzel asked.

"My name is Revil."

"Very good, little Revil, are you willing to join my court?" Longzel walked down from his seat and came to his mother: "I will personally write an edict to confirm the territory of the Hayden family. Madam, do you agree that Revil will go to my court? I will arrange the best teachers and accommodation for the descendants of the loyal knights."

"This is an honor for the Hayden family, Your Highness." The woman hurriedly lifted her skirt and saluted. "The Hayden family will always be your sharpest sword."

Longzel touched little Revil's head and returned to his seat.

The next one to come in.

A Dornishman.

I went to check it today and it recovered well. Today, I combined a large chapter into three chapters, and then I will gradually increase the number of words in two chapters.