Ice and Fire: Reign of the Dragon.

Chapter 221 The Silver Dragon Has Its Own Rhythm
"Father, Xiaojie and Dan sent back news." Lingol looked around and spoke softly while standing beside Longzel.

"What are you standing for?" Diana tugged at her eldest son's clothes, motioning him to sit down.

"Mother, this is an official matter. I will deal with it immediately after I finish reporting to father. You just sit there and don't worry about me." Lingol did not take the seat that his mother was going to give up, but gently changed a stirring stick for his mother.

Longzel nodded with satisfaction. As his eldest son grew older and spent more time involved in the affairs of the territory, he had indeed become a suitable heir. At least he had no problem maintaining the stability of the family, and he was also adept at handling important affairs.

"Tell me, my dear grandson, how did the son of young Aegon plan to take over the disputed lands?"

"Almost no plan, father." Ringol smiled bitterly and shook his head. "The king didn't even gather enough intelligence. He didn't even know the financial backers of the big mercenary groups near the Myr Plateau, nor the relationship between the guys in the Mangrove Coast, the Weeping Coast, the Stone Forest Hills, and the Myr Lake Plain. He also didn't know the power struggles within Myr and Lys, or the open and covert struggles between the Rogaar family and the Iron Bank."

Longzel raised his eyebrows. At this moment, Daenerys came back carrying Igor, whose little face had been washed. Although Daenerys was naughty, she knew not to interrupt when her father was reporting to her grandfather. So she put her brother on the carpet next to Longzel obediently, and sat down herself, pretending to carefully observe the flowers planted by her grandmother Diana.

But both Ringol and Diana knew that the child's mind must be on the military and political affairs that Ringol reported to Longzel.

This girl has been interested in these things since she was a child - but it is only limited to interest. Apart from that, she has no other ideas or progress. The military and political affairs her father mentioned are like her toy sword. They are fun things to Daenerys, but not something she must persist in learning or doing.

Igor was still a child after all. After being tossed around by his sister, he felt a little sleepy. He swayed his little body a few times and then lay down on the carpet. Diana smiled and pulled a warm blanket from behind Longzel to cover the child.

You little brat, you’re better at pretending than me.

Daenerys glanced sideways quietly and saw her brother who was also hiding in the blanket and turning his head quietly. The girl looked at her brother with a strange expression of "this is okay". Compared with their mother, her brother has spent more time with her. Daenerys knows her brother even better than her parents.

This guy must not be sleeping, he is also eavesdropping.

Of course, this child, who was not even five years old, did not understand anything. He simply thought his father's voice was especially nice when he was talking about serious matters. And his grandfather's voice was also very nice no matter when he heard it.

"Then why?" Longzel smiled and closed his eyes, continuing to enjoy the midday sun.

"Dragon." Ringol sighed. "Your Majesty is not like his father, nor like King Jacaerys I. Both of them knew that the role of dragons is not to kill the enemy with dragon flames, but to deter them. However, your Majesty is not the King Maegor I in the records. He chose to use his dragons to expand the kingdom's territory instead of attacking his own people."

Ringol smiled. He knew very well that the records of Maegor I were not consistent with those in history books. He was indeed crazy and violent, but his suppression of the church and the annihilation of the religious armed forces and the nobles who resisted the Targaryen rule did lay the foundation for Jaehaerys I to win over the hearts of the people and strengthen the royal power.

Who can tell right from wrong, merits from demerits?

However, pouring blood and fire on the Eastern Continent, which could open up more living space for the kingdom, was indeed better than wasting strength in a civil war.

"Your Majesty believes that his dragons are enough to compete with thousands of troops. Prince Viserys's sons also fully support His Majesty's actions. Together with Dan and Xiaojie, His Majesty's expeditionary force has six adult dragons: Dreamfyre, Seasmoke, Vermax, Horntide, Cendros and Skyblaze." Ringol stroked his smooth chin. He was still not used to growing a beard. But when he listed the names of the six dragons, Ringol couldn't help but be surprised: "Since the destruction of Valyria, this is the first time that so many dragons have fought at the same time. His Majesty must be confident, and he should be confident."

"Go on." Longzel still had his eyes closed, showing no emotion.

"Except for Prince Lucerys Martell and Prince Quinlan Dayne, the rest of the dukes agreed to send out elite troops after the Great Council. At least they are veterans and the second and youngest sons of nobles. They are well-equipped and skilled in martial arts. With dragons present, they will abide by discipline. The two princes of Dorne also began to gather troops and warships during this period. This war has indeed received the support of the princes of the kingdom."

"They have no reason to refuse." Longzel said calmly.

"Your Majesty's plan is to quickly occupy Rikka Lakron on the Mangrove Coast, use this city as a base, first eliminate the warlords on the Weeping Coast and the Mil Lake Plains, and then eliminate the mercenaries on the Mil Plateau and Mil-Loyna Mountains."

"He has dragons, so he can do this. Even with the mainland behind him, my lovely grandson doesn't need to worry about food supplies." Longzel opened his eyes: "But this is based on the complete support of several families with fleets."

"The Redwyne family could not refuse the king's call." Ringol nodded. "The king agreed to Earl Redwyne's request to exempt wine tax for five years in exchange for the entire Redwyne fleet. The royal fleet and the Velaryon fleet have already merged. The Red Kraken even offered to provide the Iron Fleet. The Martell family's fleet, if you can call it a fleet, is irrelevant."

"So my lovely grandson doesn't know who is in the caves of the Weeping Coast?" Longzel was too lazy to move, but he still raised his hand to stroke his beard. "Or does he think that the Red Sea Monster can completely eliminate those stubborn guys on the coast with the Iron Race? Those guys are richer and more cunning than the Iron Race. They lost the Stepstone Islands, and the Weeping Coast is their last base."

Lingol shook his head. "Your Majesty doesn't know. Even if he does, with six dragons here, he would think the pirates can't cause much trouble. Besides, the Red Sea Monster promised to send 10,000 iron men." Longzel's mouth twitched. "Lingol, if I asked you to lead troops to conquer the disputed land, what would you do?"

"I will not fight a war without preparation and confidence." Lingol still stood straight: "Father, our territory has the Silver Blood Army absorbing the nobles who cannot inherit the land. I have calculated with Lord Hoffa and others. At least before Igor's grandson, our territory can still maintain balance."

"If." Long Zeer smiled. "If you were the one organizing it, what would you do?"

Ringol thought about it.

"Just as my father brought Dorne to heel, I will bring the Disputed Lands to heel."

Longzel turned to look at his son: "Huh, can you tell me the details?"

Lingol thought for a moment and said in a deep voice: "Father, can you tell me whether the army I lead is only from the borderland or from the kingdom?"

"up to you."

"Whether it's the army of the kingdom's nobles or our army, using war to solve war is not the best outcome. Before everything starts, I need all the intelligence on the disputed land. The warlords there are full of conflicts. Those mercenary groups of four to five thousand people have deep resentment towards the big mercenary groups. Some of the big mercenary groups are even more ambitious. Even the Iron Bank has to take care of their face. Kago Khal's Karasa is also in that area. The conflicts are already deep-rooted. We only need to intensify them, and we can gain a disputed land that can be divided and won over."

Lingol seemed to understand what his father meant.

"Our agents will shed their blood for us, and the reward is the land they already own. If they want to rebel later."

Ringol's eyes suddenly turned cold.

"Dragon and Iron will keep them obedient."

Longzel nodded with satisfaction: "How can you guarantee that you will resist the urge to take action against the sinners who surrender to you, my son?"

"It's easy." Ringol smiled. "I'm not alone. Dan and Orion are better at dealing with those disgusting maggots than I am."

"So, you know what I mean?"

Lingol nodded. He naturally understood what his father meant. It was very simple. The Vareses family would not give up their interests in the disputed land, but Darren's work was too rough and Vareses could not clean up for him.

Therefore, being prepared and on standby at all times, but not taking action easily, is the rhythm of the Silver Dragon in this expedition.

In the face of Daenerys's dazed eyes and Igor's drowsy but curious eyes, Ringol took a few steps back and left the garden on the top of the tower.

It left behind a warm and joyful scene.

Diana quietly sipped the drug-laced drink in the cup, Longzel dozed peacefully, and even the noisy Daenerys curled up and dozed off in boredom after seeing her brother fall asleep soon.

Only Sebastian was still reading. Although he was young, he loved studying the most among the three generations of children. Even the conversation just now did not affect the little Sebastian who was immersed in the book.

He believed that knowledge was power, and particularly enjoyed his great-uncle's notes on dragons.

And under the huge Dragon's Nest City, teams of cavalrymen riding Varese's Silver Blood Horses were training in helmets and armor.

They are ready.

(End of this chapter)