Chapter 194: Game of Thrones
Rhaegar Targaryen put away Orphan-Maker. The longsword was unparalleled in sharpness; even if it wasn't as good as Blackfyre, it was still a peerless treasure. Blackfyre and Dark Sister were the ancestral swords of House Targaryen; Rhaegar felt they were more extraordinary than other swords. Secondly, many believed that Blackfyre, like the Iron Throne, was a symbol of royal authority and a claim of destiny. It was the sword wielded by Aegon the Conqueror, a symbol of the True Dragon, and held special significance. Years ago, Aegon IV bestowed Blackfyre upon Daemon Blackfyre, which became the excuse for House Blackfyre to claim legitimacy, subsequently causing much trouble and igniting several Blackfyre Rebellions.
Rhaegar stood in the Painted Table Chamber, the rugged outlines of the map symbolizing the land beneath his feet. All of Westeros was his foundation. Rhaegar's gaze seemed to cross the ocean, flying to distant Lys and Myr, the two major Free Cities across the Narrow Sea. A vacation resort, the city of lust, Lys; the city of craftsmen, Myr. At this moment, he wondered what the Council of Governors of the two cities was thinking.
Rhaegar looked at the vast, boundless sea. Being at the highest point meant seeing the highest scenery. The Narrow Sea was always stormy, seemingly endless. If he wanted the Seven Kingdoms to be stable, he must have a powerful fleet, and he must control the Stepstones externally to force the Third Daughter to kneel. The affairs of the current generation should be solved by the current generation. The Stepstones must remain in the hands of the Iron Throne; he who does not plan for the whole cannot plan for a single region. Otherwise, that godforsaken place would always be a pirate den, disgusting the Iron Throne at every turn.
The opportunity was already at hand. Rhaegar felt that the timing, geographical advantages, and human support were all present. The Third Daughter was disintegrating and attacking each other. Since the Iron Throne occupied the Stepstones, it naturally would not let go of this golden shipping lane. Taking the Stepstones had many positive effects for the Iron Throne. Strategically, controlling the shipping lane sustained the Narrow Sea Fleet and allowed control over the entire eastern coastline. Whether it was the Ironborn or the Third Daughter, they would be unable to care for one another and could no longer plunder wantonly from the sea. Financially, the customs of Oldtown, White Harbor, and Gulltown were basically solidified, and they still had to share profits with local lords, whereas the Bloodstone customs office was completely developed by the Iron Throne and could earn a large amount of gold. Furthermore, in terms of public sentiment, expanding territory was one of the greatest honors for a monarch. Nothing made the people prouder than forcing the arrogant Third Daughter to kneel and the Iron Throne occupying the Stepstones, not to mention that the smooth and safe shipping lanes also greatly benefited the people. The world where only the Third Daughter was injured had arrived.
Rhaegar looked at the ocean east of Dragonstone. The royal family had little profit to gain in the west, nothing more than those broken islands of the Iron Islands. If the Iron Throne wanted to be great and wealthy, taking action toward the east was the only choice. However, the reputation of the Valyrian Dragonlords on the Eastern Continent was already notorious. Now, wanting to return to strengthen and dominate again, he certainly needed to maneuver and use diplomacy. Except for Braavos, which was built by slaves, almost all other Free Cities were colonies. Back then, they were bossed around by the Valyrian Dragonlords and would absolutely not tolerate seeing the Dragonlords rise again, dominated by arrogant Dragonlords and magic dragons. The various actions of Rhaegar Targaryen reminded them of the return of the ancient Valyrian Dragonlords, the dance of magic and dragons, the sign of the ancient Valyrian True Dragon.
Why did the assassin come to kill him when the Black Wall was built? Because the timing for assassination was hard to find, and more importantly, the Valyrian Road and the Black Wall were inseparable. The two trump cards of the ancient Dragonlords to conquer the world: one was the roaring magic dragons, and the second was magic and black technology. Valyrian technology was far ahead. If Rhaegar Targaryen truly mastered those magic and technologies, even if just the basics, as long as he slowly integrated the power of Westeros and made the Black Wall and Valyrian Road bloom everywhere in Westeros, the war potential of Westeros would be fully mobilized. The hope for Lys and Myr to retake the Stepstones, or even protect themselves, would be even slimmer. The dragons grew bigger by the day; by then, if the people of Westeros used such troop-producing technology as the Black Wall and the roads, there would be no need for a confrontation at all.
"Do the two cities of Lys and Myr have the courage to directly tear up the contract and attack the Narrow Sea Fleet?" Rhaegar was not certain, but he felt there was such a possibility. The people of Lys and Myr could not endure this anger; the situation would become increasingly unfriendly to them. Westeros occupied the Stepstones with no intention of leaving, and now that they had established the Bloodstone customs office to collect taxes and earned vast amounts of gold, how could they possibly give up this route? Some merchants in Lys and Myr would definitely lose sleep and be indecisive. Without the Stepstones shipping route, they could not only collect money but also could not plunder slaves to sell to the pleasure gardens.
Rhaegar looked at the map of Westeros, guessing the advance routes of Lys and Myr. In reality, there might only be one: the Lys and Myr fleets attacking the Narrow Sea Fleet to destroy or seize the defensive castles on the Stepstones. Lys and Myr could not set out north, cross Driftmark and Dragonstone to directly attack King's Landing; that would be too risky. During the Dance of the Dragons, the fleet of the Third Daughter only bypassed Dragonstone to attack and plunder Driftmark, as House Velaryon was a great house back then and attacking Driftmark was profitable. Now, Driftmark had declined, and Driftmark and Dragonstone were complete fortresses at sea. Gnawing at them was pointless. Especially Dragonstone, which was originally a military outpost of Valyria, easy to defend and difficult to attack. The most important battlefield at the moment would surely fall on the Stepstones.
Rhaegar chose to lie low and wait, accumulating strength in secret. Currently, Ser Barristan Selmy controlled the Kingsguard, Brynden controlled the Narrow Sea army, and Lucerys controlled the Narrow Sea Fleet. On the surface, it was chaotic, but inside, it remained as steel. Rhaegar had fully prepared for the sudden change in the situation and the outbreak of war.
Rhaegar temporarily lay low on Dragonstone for several months, but his intelligence network was still executing meticulously. From King's Landing, Planky Town in Dorne, to Pentos, to Tyrosh, Lys, and Volantis. Many people knew Rhaegar was on Dragonstone, and many messages were transmitted densely. Oldro in Pentos, Marajo in Volantis, and so on. Political contracts all came because of people, and cooperation was built on trust. They could not help but worry about the safety of their partner. After the assassination in Rosby, Rhaegar lay low on Dragonstone and did not show himself. Whether he was alive or dead, ordinary people could not know. The originally peaceful Narrow Sea environment now began to have whirlpools and mysteries.
In Rhaegar's hands were the messages guided by his various information channels. The situation was pushed forward link by link.
Regarding the messages from Volantis, Planky Town, and Pentos, Rhaegar did not reply, letting them wait. If the messenger did not reply, it was easier to muddy the waters.
In King's Landing, Ser Barristan Selmy implemented the will of Rhaegar Targaryen very well. King Jaehaerys was already cooperating with his performance, and the public sentiment in King's Landing could be utilized. The louder the discrimination in King's Landing, the easier it was to confuse the enemy.
Rhaegar had replied to the letter from his lover at Storm's End; the answer was still to wait. Lady Roberta was a wise girl and must know his intentions. However, Shiera, the Archon of Tyrosh, did not write to him, which made Rhaegar feel a bit strange. He didn't know if it was because Shiera was cold or because she had such confidence in him.
"The diplomats from the embassies of Lys and Myr are sending messages to their mother states without stopping, and they have even been besieged and intimidated by mobs in King's Landing." Rhaegar looked at the letter mailed to him by the Rat Catcher from King's Landing. The atmosphere was so heated; could it be that Lys and Myr were not tempted yet? Rhaegar thought for a moment and told the Rat Catcher to continue spreading those exaggerated false messages, diffusing the atmosphere of panic in King's Landing.
Rhaegar also sent a letter to the commander of the Narrow Sea, Brynden Tully, which was delivered by a reliable person. "Maintain a strong stance, do not give an inch of sovereignty over the Narrow Sea! In the face of provocations from the Lys or Myr people, you must impose severe sanctions!" Rhaegar wrote to Brynden. They mostly still believed that the Narrow Sea Fleet was putting on a show to cover up the loss of their greatest combat power.
As long as Brynden Tully could understand Rhaegar's meaning and use tough measures to clash head-on with the people of Lys and Myr, he did not believe these people would not take the bait. Who knew that under the fragrant bait, there were sharp hooks everywhere. He had released false messages and lay low on Dragonstone; such a good feast could not go without guests. The killing trap was already prepared; it just depended on who entered the trap first.
Rhaegar watched the letters leave in their respective directions by raven or sailor. This was the Game of Thrones.
Rhaegar believed in using orthodoxy to engage and using surprise to win. In politics, deception and conspiracy were everywhere. Since someone had assassinated him in Rosby, it was feasible for him to create a fake illness.
Rhaegar used the assassination attempt in Rosby as an opportunity to use force against force, pushing the development of the situation. Apart from warships, dragons and Dragonflame were the biggest killing traps. Since the Two Daughters hoped to assassinate the Dragonrider, and with the Dragonrider's life or death unknown, Rhaegar did not believe the Two Daughters were not tempted, but being tempted did not mean having the courage to be reckless.
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