Game of Thrones: I became a crown prince for a day.

Chapter 623 Two Smokes on the Sea

King's Landing, the vestibule of the Red Keep.

Rhaegar walked at a brisk pace, speaking briskly, "I heard that the docks are full of Volantis' ships?"

"The mud gate is still a little small."

Darren followed beside him, joking seriously.

Nephew Maekar returned to King's Landing with more than a dozen large ships of specialties from the continent of Essos, and was loading the goods at the dock.

Daeron was young and brave, so he asked abruptly, "I heard about what happened to Lord Lionel."

This was a prime minister who had done his job well, but he was not protected.

Rhaegar was silent for a moment, then nodded gently: "Lord Lionel's efforts will be rewarded."

The eldest son was attacked, and several dukes and earls loyal to the royal family were killed.

Even if the eldest son intends to take revenge personally, he still wants to get some interest in advance.

The only question is who is behind this.

The Iron Islands, the Bluffs, or the remnants of the Three Kingdoms?
Seeing his elder brother's smile fade away, Daeron knew he had said the wrong thing and changed the subject: "It is not necessarily a bad thing for Lord Lyonel to retire and return home. Although his two sons died, Ser Harwin left him three lovely grandchildren."

"Oh, that's good."

Rhaegar was a little stunned and asked confusedly: "When did Harwin get married?"

I haven't heard that the commander of the capital garrison got married.

"It's a marriage with the daughter of a minor noble in the West Territory. The wedding was hastily held in Stonehedge City."

Darren read a lot, and he smiled and said, "I also heard that Lord Leonor named a blond grandson Laris in memory of his youngest son with bent feet."

Rhaegar was also happy, and was taken aback: "Blond hair and blue eyes?"

The Strongs' physical features are brown hair, snub noses, and an unusually tough caste.

"Yes, all three grandsons have blond hair and blue eyes, and their high nose bridges make them look very heroic."

Darren continued to chatter.

Hearing this, Rhaegar suddenly fell silent.

Could it be that a marriage in name only created the miracle of changing caste characteristics?

"What's wrong, brother?"

Darren realized it later and fell silent.

He lowered his head helplessly and picked at the thin skin on his fingernails.

Damn it! I’ve wasted so many years of reading!
As they walked, Rhaegar couldn't stand it anymore and asked in a muffled voice, "Where is Aemond?"

No matter who the real culprit is, let’s start with the Ironborn in the Iron Islands.

If I don't kill them until rivers of blood flow, I would be letting down my loyal and honest old ministers.

"As soon as Aemond left the battlefield, he ran to Storm's End."

Darren looked embarrassed.

Looking at the submissive look on his face, I knew there was something fishy.

Rhaegar's eyes narrowed and he said unhappily, "His marriage to Cassandra is over, why would he go to Storm's End?"

He was not welcome in the Stormlands.

Darren had an indescribable expression, and hesitated, "Um, Madam Elena..."

I can’t say any further.

Rhaegar frowned, wondering why he mentioned the widow of Lord Borros.

"He, the two of them..."

Darren's face flushed with embarrassment, and he gritted his teeth and said, "Emond abandoned Lady Celine and got involved with Lady Elena."

"what?"

When Rega heard this, his eyes went dark.

"He! How dare he?"

Rhaegar almost staggered and lost his balance, gritting his teeth in hatred.

She is the widow of a duke of a realm and the regent with half the real power in Storm's End.

Even if you count by age, she's not younger than Allison!
"Brother, don't be angry first."

Darren said seriously: "Emond is not in trouble, but his private life is not very decent."

“It’s more than indecent!!”

Rhaegar couldn't hold it any longer.

As far as he knew, the deceased Cassandra and the unmarried Flores had both had relationships with Aemond.

This is not enough, do we have to raid their lair?

"How does Allison teach her children!"

Rhaegar rolled his eyes, waved his hand and walked on. "Send a message to the ravens at Storm's End. Have Aemond ride his dragon to attack the Iron Islands. We must teach the Ironborn a profound lesson."

It should be used or should be used.

He left so much of a mess behind, and he wants to mess it up like Aegon did?
cant!
……

The next day, an imperial meeting was held.

Rhaegar sat in the main seat, with his father Viserys and uncle Daemon on either side.

The remaining ministers were arranged on the left and right.

Across the conference table, Aemon and Maekar sat side by side, facing their father who looked dignified.

dong dong!

"My Lords, we have won the battle of Qohor. What shall we do next?"

Rhaegar struck the black stone ball with green patterns and looked around.

"Of course we should fight!"

Aemon was excited and was the first to raise his hand to speak.

Meka's face was tense, and she secretly pulled her brother's sleeve with her little hand, signaling him to be quiet.

Rhaegar glanced at the two little ones and chose to ignore them: "Who can tell me?"

The eldest son is not in King's Landing, and the second and third sons are also future princes of a city, so it is necessary for them to have access to power in advance.

But, they have no say.

The scene was somewhat deserted. Damon leaned back in his chair and said nonchalantly, "I agree with my nephew's suggestion. Foreigners will not be honest unless they are beaten."

"Yes."

Eamon smiled and looked very motivated.

"Quiet!" Rhaegar shouted, interrupting his second son's nonsense.

Compared with the eldest son and the third son, even the weak-willed fourth son, this kid is a thorn in the side.

After being taught a lesson, Aemon wilted like a blade of grass.

Then, Rega glanced at his uncle and said seriously, "Tell me what you think. The Four Cities Alliance has not been seriously injured yet."

During the tenth year of the long summer, the prophecy of the conqueror loomed.

There are two urgent matters to be done in the kingdom!
1. Strengthen centralization and be able to call up an army large enough to resist at any time before disaster strikes.

2. Quell threats outside the mainland, led by the Quad Cities, the Iron Islands, and the Basilisk Islands.

Only after these two issues are resolved can we have the capital to overcome all difficulties.

Daemon had never heard of the prophecy in "A Song of Ice and Fire" and had his own considerations: "With Qohor as a nail, the family will truly gain a foothold in the continent of Essos."

After a pause, he pulled out a map of two continents from the conference table and pointed to the location of Norvos: "The Four Cities Alliance will have the advantages of geography, military, and money, but they cannot unite, and their strength will be greatly reduced."

Damon pointed out the enemy's loopholes and grasped them accurately: "As long as the defense line of Novos is destroyed, the Four Cities Alliance will not be able to cross the Novos Mountain, and one man will be able to block ten thousand men."

Rhaegar's brows furrowed slightly, and his eyes dropped.

The northern part of the eastern continent of Essos is crisscrossed with mountains, of which the most famous is the Nossus Mountains, which span the four directions of east, west, south and north.

With the advantage of the dragon, if they could capture it, the other three city-states would not be able to unite their forces. Even within the continent, they would not be able to cause any impact on Qohor.

"That's a good idea."

Viserys stroked his chin and hesitated, "But after this battle, the treasury has suffered a great loss of money. Continuing the war is not conducive to the turnover of funds."

Most of the national treasury's income comes from the three city-states on the other side of the strait.

If the war lasts for a long time, maritime trade will also come to a halt.

"Father, we don't have much time, we must resolve this as soon as possible."

Rhaegar warned quietly, worried about the situation in the North.

Just a few days ago, he received news from the Great Wall again.

The wild men outside the Great Wall gathered together and approached in a mighty force.

There are rumors that there are giants and mammoths among the wildling army.

This is very unusual and goes against common sense.

Viserys said sadly, "You know, war costs money."

"That's right. The national treasury can't afford that much money."

Lin Man's eyes were blurry, and he spoke slowly and methodically, "The income of the three city-states was invested in the construction of the Stone Steps Archipelago. Some time ago, they also allocated funds to the Green Blood River. The cost was very high."

As a qualified finance minister and treasury manager, even the king would not be able to spend a single gold royal.

Spending more than income can ruin a country.

Before Rhaegar could refute, Daemon retorted first: "Lord Linman, you know how fierce the war on the other side of the sea is. It is more troublesome than sitting in a pile of money and counting it."

Not only was he sarcastic, but he also spoke in a sarcastic tone.

Lin Man was old and was so angry that he blew his beard and glared: "Prince, no one forced you to go to war. My family's children and grandchildren have also sacrificed their lives for the country."

"Haha, what a loyal generation."

Damon took a sip of wine, a smile on his face.

How can a minister who has never seen war understand the cruelty of blood and fire?

Seeing the quarrel intensify, the casual Tailan spoke cautiously: "Your Majesty, I think it is still necessary to fight, but it may be better to go to Slaver Bay."

His brother was still in the dungeons of Slaver's Bay.

"Please be quiet for now, Lord Tailan."

Rhaegar glanced at him, speechless.

Tailan smiled awkwardly and huddled up obediently.

The other ministers, the Grand Secretary and the Chief of Intelligence remained silent.

Justice Minister Jasper hesitated for a moment and whispered, "Your Majesty, whether there is a war or not, King's Landing needs a qualified prime minister."

“This is a most constructive suggestion!”

Viserys' eyes lit up and he slammed the table in agreement.

Leonor's resignation caused him considerable psychological pressure.

Rhaegar looked around and saw that the ministers were not interested in the war, but were very enthusiastic about electing a new prime minister.

"Ugh!"

With a sigh in his heart, Rega waved his hand casually: "According to what you said, are there any good candidates?"

He knew the characters of these ministers, including his father, too well.

Experts in internal fighting, amateurs in external fighting.

He knows nothing about important matters and tries to shirk responsibility by pretending to be deaf and dumb.

They kept arguing over trivial matters, like they were shopping for vegetables in a busy market.

Without a decision on the election of the prime minister, they can't discuss a battle plan.

After saying this, Rhaegar held his forehead with one hand and looked back to the side below.

Damon smiled playfully and raised his glass to toast his nephew.

He just couldn't stand the situation of the imperial meeting back then, and spent all day hanging out in the capital garrison and the flea market.

Rhaegar winked, indicating that they would talk privately later.

"Uh-huh." Damon drank the wine in big gulps and held the dark sister around the waist.

As a dragon prince, you must fulfill your duties.

……

Time flies, three days later.

Shipwreck Bay.

"Hiss!"

An ugly mud dragon flew across the bay, flapping its muddy brown wings.

It's a little ugly, but it's huge in size.

No matter which direction you look from, it has a sense of absurdity that is a mixture of viciousness, ugliness and ugliness.

"Faster, sheep thief!"

Aemond rode on the dragon's back, wearing a slim black shirt and his long silver hair fluttering.

The single eye swept across Dorne below, revealing unruly hatred.

The man and the dragon moved swiftly and disappeared into the clouds in the blink of an eye.

……

I do not know how long it has been.

"Hiss!!"

A rapid dragon roar rang out, and a giant light silver dragon rushed out from the thick clouds.

Near the Stone Steps Islands, several pirate ships from the Three Women's Kingdom were running rampant.

boom--

The sea smoke plunged down and sprayed all over the sails and deck.

The pirates were trying to intercept a cargo ship from Oldtown when it was instantly engulfed in dragon flames.

After getting rid of the familiar enemy, Haiyan Dragon held its head high and flew back to the sea of ​​clouds with nimble movements.

However, when dodging the scorpion crossbow, his sideways movement was a little stiff.

There was a big hole in the wing membrane of one of the dragon's wings, which was caused by the last injury that had not healed.

Blah blah blah...

The waves crashed and the pirate ship gradually sank.

boom--

A pale shadow crossed the vast sea and rushed into the high clouds.

If you look carefully, you can see that there is a bloody cut on one side of the gray and white wing membrane.

The slender, sharp dragon tail swayed back and forth, and the tip, which looked like a bee sting, was stained with a layer of coagulated blood.

Two smoky dragon shadows flashed by one after another, and the sea surface returned to calm.

"There's a boat here, look!"

The sunken ship had been extinguished, and a pirate ship from the Three Women's Kingdom was approaching slowly.

Smelling the sulphurous smell of the nearby dragon flames, a dozen pirates did not dare to stay any longer and hurriedly looted the half-looted ships in the old town.

“There are people here.”

A bearded pirate opened the hatch, and sunlight shone onto a group of sallow-faced slaves.

Facing the light, the two silver-haired men hugged each other, their purple eyes showing hope.

"saved."

(End of this chapter)