Chapter 128: Dragon Reign, Border Wall
Daemon and Gael rode their dragons, bringing their children, flying over the Narrow Sea, approaching Tyrosh.
Bronze Fury Vermithor and Silverwing followed Daemon closely.
Daemon's sons, Little Aegon, Little Jaehaerys, and Little Baelon, sat in wooden boxes suspended beside Caraxes's saddle, allowing Daemon to look after his sons at all times.
Soaring tens of thousands of feet in the air, the strong winds were like ferocious living creatures, constantly baring their fangs, tearing at the Dragonriders on the dragons' backs, their cloaks flapping wildly, especially when they were over Shipbreaker Bay, where storms were frequent. Several times, Daemon felt the strong winds trying to push him off the dragon's back.
Gael was afraid of the strong winds in the sea near the Stormlands, but Daemon greatly enjoyed the winds' kisses. When riding his dragon, Daemon felt as if he was his mount, Caraxes, his wings drinking in the strong winds, looking down on everything on land and sea.
Laenor rode the young dragon Seasmoke. His sister, Laena, was not a Dragonrider, so she could only sit behind Laenor's saddle. Laenor, with the adventurous spirit of a young man, rode Seasmoke as a scout, reconnoitering ahead. Seasmoke was also the first dragon to arrive over Tyrosh.
The Kingsguard and the Dragon's Servants Army on the walls of Tyrosh, and the residents of Tyrosh in the streets, were ecstatic upon seeing the dragons in the sky. The residents of Tyrosh could not yet distinguish each dragon, but the Kingsguard soldiers who had followed Daemon for many years could. They could identify each dragon by its size and color.
After Seasmoke arrived over Tyrosh, Meleys the Red Queen became the second dragon to arrive in Tyrosh. Princess Rhaenys, the Dragonrider, had become Daemon's right-hand woman in the Three Daughters. The brave and skilled Princess Rhaenys was widely beloved by the people. People in the streets of Tyrosh began to cheer.
When Blood Wyrm Caraxes and Dreamfyre appeared over Tyrosh, the Kingsguard soldiers patrolling the city walls and streets, the Dragon's Servants Army, the Dragon Guard of the Dragonpit, and the freed slaves all knelt before the King and Queen on the dragons' backs. As the dragons soared over Tyrosh, the dyers and shoemakers in the Dionysus Plaza, the travelers in the taverns, the patrons and prostitutes in the brothels, the Red Priests and Red Priestesses of the R'hllor Temple, and the sailors in the port all became boisterous. Everyone looked up, gazing at Blood Wyrm Caraxes descending from the sky, and King Daemon and Queen Gael on the dragon's back.
Tyrosh was a military outpost built by the Freehold of Valyria. The inner city and castle were constructed using the lost Old Valyria stonemasonry techniques, making them incredibly sturdy. The wide city walls were spacious enough for multiple carriages to gallop, allowing dragons to land directly.
Lord Roderick Dustin, the Wolf of the Barrows, the regent left behind in the Three Daughters, along with Master of Coin Domingos, Maester Michiel, Captain Delaine of the Dragon Guard, and others, welcomed Daemon and Gael.
Blood Wyrm Caraxes lay prostrate on the ground, the scales on his neck appearing to ripple like needles, showing a blood-red hue in the sunlight. Kingsguard soldiers nearby quickly stepped forward and lifted down the boxes beside the saddle. Daemon successively carried his sons out of the boxes. Gael leaped down from Dreamfyre's saddle, and her sons rushed into Gael's arms, then into the arms of Aly Rivers and Terra Uller.
Aly Rivers and Terra Uller were the wet nurses for Daemon's sons, so Daemon's children had always been very close to these two.
The Tomb Wolf showed a rough smile, "Your Majesty, you have finally arrived in your loyal Tyrosh."
Aides Tom Staunton and Matthew Tyrell helped Daemon remove his armor. Daemon asked, "How is the war in Myr?" On his way to Tyrosh, Daemon was most concerned about the war in Myr.
The Tomb Wolf said, "Qabac, the exiled governor of Myr, recruited three mercenary companies to attack Myr. Constantine, the calm and collected commander of the Dragon's Servants Army, led the Dragon's Servants Army to close the gates of Myr and hold fast, greeting the enemy with crossbow bolts, boiling oil, and falling logs. The mercenary companies recruited by Karbak suffered heavy losses crashing against the walls of Myr and could only go to attack the Disputed Lands, but their supply lines were cut off by the Vale knights, the Reach knights, and the Dothraki cavalry. Now the mercenary companies can only retreat to the eastern border regions."
The enemy was repelled before the dragons even made a move, which disappointed Daemon somewhat. Daemon often merged with the dragons' souls, and he knew very well that dragons craved blood, slaughter, and flame.
Daemon pouted, "My dragon army hasn't even marched, and these useless mercenary companies have already collapsed? I was looking forward to riding a dragon and leading the charge myself! My Valyrian Steel sword, Dark Sister, has been thirsty for blood for a long time. It's truly disappointing."
Strictly speaking, the dragons had not been idle. Vhagar frequently appeared in the Velvet Hills and plains of Pentos, and many Pentos estates were burned by Vhagar's dragonfire.
The Pentoshi believed this was Daemon's retaliation, using sorcery to control Dragon Vhagar. The Pentoshi had offered a large bounty and sent some dragon-slaying heroes to hunt Vhagar. However, without exception, these heroes became Vhagar's snacks.
The Tomb Wolf said, "Your Majesty, although the enemy's attack on Myr was thwarted, their next offensive is expected to return soon. An exiled Tyroshi noble, who calls himself the Tyrosh Grand Prince, has recruited mercenary companies and declared he will march on the Disputed Lands. Furthermore, the exiled governors have recruited powerful tribes from the Great Grass Sea; Lamiqiao's tribe has over forty thousand mounted warriors, and they have already crossed the Rhoyne River and are approaching the border regions of Myr."
Gael's eyes widened, and she said in alarm, "Forty thousand mounted warriors? That number is too terrifying. Does it include all the men, women, and children in the tribe?"
Maester Michiel, who answered, stroked his chain, looking humble, "Queen, Lamiqiao is now the strongest Khal on the Great Grass Sea. In the past year, he has absorbed several tribes. His followers exceed a hundred thousand, and the number forty thousand mounted warriors might even be conservative."
Daemon held Gael's hand and said gently, "Forty thousand Dothraki cavalry may seem a bit intimidating, enough to make Lamiqiao dominate the Great Grass Sea. However, warhorses are destined to be dragon food. Moreover, we also have a Dothraki cavalry composed of Great Grass Sea warriors. They have already helped us defeat the enemy and proven themselves when resisting the mercenary companies' invasion."
The Dothraki cavalry was formed by Daemon from several small tribes on the Great Grass Sea. The men, women, and children of these tribes were settled by Daemon in the Dragon Estate in Myr, and the able-bodied became Daemon's cavalry. Currently, the Dothraki cavalry numbers about three thousand.
Ser Ronald Florent, who considered himself a fervent follower of the Seven, frowned upon hearing Daemon praise the Dothraki. "Your Majesty, it was actually our Westerosi knights who defeated the enemy. The Dothraki? They are nothing but uncultured savages."
Daemon disliked Ser Ronald Florent somewhat; he had a pair of prominent ears and constantly boasted about the Seven. If Ser Ronald Florent hadn't been brave and skilled in battle, Daemon would have exiled him long ago.
Daemon said, "The Dothraki cavalry excels in horsemanship, combat skills, and mounted archery. Dothraki warhorses are also superior and better adapted to the climate of the Three Daughters. Ser Ronald, to respect our enemies is to respect ourselves."
Ser Ronald Florent said proudly, "Your Majesty, the anointed knights of Westeros are undoubtedly superior to Dothraki cavalry, because knights have strength bestowed by the Warrior, courage bestowed by the Mother, and the Crone to light their path to charge. What do the Dothraki have?"
"If Your Majesty doesn't believe it, you can hold a tourney in Tyrosh, let the Dothraki cavalry and Westerosi knights compete in the same arena, and the champion of the joust will surely belong to a knight."
The Tomb Wolf flared his nostrils. "Ser Ronald, if you truly think you're so great, go kill a few more enemies on the battlefield, instead of poking people with a stick at a tourney. A tourney is just a children's game in spring. Now it's winter, and it's wartime. Who cares about a boring tourney?"
After the arrival of the Sea Snake and Princess Rhaenys, Daemon and Gael, accompanied by the Small Council, came to the castle's Council Chamber.
Everyone took their seats, and Lord Roderick Dustin, the Wolf of the Barrows, said, "Your Majesty, during your absence from Tyrosh, we have, as per your instructions, implemented the household registration system in Tyrosh, Lys, and Myr.
Currently, we have established household registration files for over two hundred thousand residents of the Three Daughters, including prisoners, bastards, farmers, master-at-arms, alchemists, Red Priests, and Moon Singers; all are recorded."
Master of Coin Domingos, his powdered face adorned with a fawning smile, said, "Your Majesty, the household registration system is truly a great invention of yours.
As long as we levy taxes based on the headcount in the household registration files, it will be a substantial amount of revenue each year.
We should impose heavy taxes on artisans, merchants, and brothel madams."
Daemon said, "The Three Daughters is a Dragon Kingdom I have just conquered, and it should lighten the burdens on its people with light taxes and fewer corvée duties.
If my people find that the taxes they bear are heavier than during the rule of the slave traders, how can they love the Dragon?"
Domingos blinked, his hands nervously twisting, "Your Majesty, due to the Three Daughters being at war with the surrounding Free Cities, our maritime trade volume has sharply decreased.
Customs revenue and foreign trade taxes have plummeted, so we must collect more taxes to maintain our massive financial expenditures."
"Many blacksmiths, artisans, dyers, and others, including myself, were merely humble slaves before Your Majesty arrived with the Dragon.
It was Your Majesty who granted us, these slaves, the status of free men, so it is only right to collect a bit more tax from them."
Daemon showed a sharp smile, "No one wants to pay more taxes, especially those laborers like artisans, blacksmiths, and shipbuilders.
The sharp decline in trade volume is only temporary; my brother, King Viserys, and Westeros will become the Three Daughters' most important trading partners.
As for opening up new sources of revenue, I have a complete plan, and you can just follow my plan."
Subsequently, Daemon presented a parchment plan, which detailed plans for establishing shipyards, armories, dye works, textile mills, reclaiming wasteland in the Disputed Lands, constructing Dragon Roads, building temples, opening a Dragon Academy, and establishing dairy farms and apiaries, and candle factories.
Domingos stared at the plan for a while, his eyes wide with admiration, "Your Majesty, you are truly a business genius!
These plans may take many years and a lot of money, but once successfully implemented, they will be great projects that benefit future generations."
The three cities of Tyrosh, Myr, and Lys are very prosperous, heavily relying on maritime trade.
Now that Daemon has conquered the Three Daughters, the Free Cities of Essos, such as Pentos, Norvos, Volantis, and Braavos, out of fear of the Dragon, have all announced their joining a grand alliance against Daemon.
This has led to the trade of the three port cities of Tyrosh, Myr, and Lys being directly cut in half.
To break the economic and military blockade of the surrounding Free Cities, Daemon decided to develop the Disputed Lands.
The Disputed Lands are a vast territory in the southwestern corner of Essos, south of the Myr Sea and west of Volantis.
This fertile, large cape is also known as "Essos' Heel."
The three cities of Myr, Lys, and Tyrosh are all situated around "Essos' Heel."
Throughout a long history, the discordant Three Daughters were constantly at war, and years of conflict turned the Disputed Lands into a wasteland of bones and ashes.
Only after Myr, Lys, and Tyrosh formed the Triarchy did the Disputed Lands show some signs of recovery, but then the Triarchy immediately went to war with Daemon, and the Disputed Lands were once again engulfed in war.
Now that Daemon has completely defeated the Triarchy, he is determined to turn the Disputed Lands into his granary.
In the Small Council, Daemon loudly declared, "The Disputed Lands are comparable to the Reach; the soil is fertile.
In the future, this place will be covered with estates and become the granary of the Dragon Kingdom."
The Sea Snake let out a hearty laugh, a pure gold chain around his neck, symbolizing his status as Hand of the King of the Three Daughters.
"Your Majesty, the residents of Myr, Lys, and Tyrosh value commerce and maritime industry more.
The Great Salt Sea is the lifeblood of the Three Daughters, not farmland.
In my opinion, instead of farming, it would be better to purchase directly from Westeros; after all, we completely rule the seas with our Fleet and the Dragon."
Daemon shook his head, "It's winter now, and the harvests in the North and many other places have failed.
However, the Three Daughters has a warm climate, allowing cultivation even in the dead of winter.
The ocean is vast, and our Dragon numbers are limited.
If the Braavosi Sea Lord's Fleet and the Pentos Fleet attack in the future, our Narrow Sea trade might be interrupted.
Although our food reserves are very ample, we cannot just sit back and do nothing.
Farming can not only solve the problem of military provisions but also create wealth for us."
Lord Roderick Dustin, the Wolf of the Barrows, looked at Daemon with admiration, "Your Majesty, you are a Dragonrider, and few people soaring through the sky care about the yellow mud beneath a farmer's feet.
When I first set foot in the Disputed Lands, I felt it was such a waste that such a warm place was covered everywhere with weeds and bones.
In the cruel winter, when heavy snow freezes the ground, Northerners don't even have the opportunity to farm!"
Princess Rhaenys furrowed her delicate brows, "Your Majesty, I fully agree with reclaiming the lands of the Disputed Lands, but if we farm in the Disputed Lands, how can we ensure that enemies won't attack?
The exiled nobles of the Triarchy, the Khal tribes they recruit, and mercenary companies could bypass Myr at any time and sweep through the Disputed Lands.
That land has almost no natural defenses."
Tyrosh and Lys are located on islands, and Myr is situated south of the Myr Sea.
At sea, Daemon possesses the Valyrian Fleet, the Sistermen Fleet, and the Ironborn Fleet, as well as the aerial behemoths, the Dragon, ensuring safety.
But the Disputed Lands are different; they are too vast and lack defensive terrain like the Moon Mountains or the Westerlands mountains, making defense extremely difficult.
It's no wonder that over the past few centuries, Myr, Lys, and Tyrosh constantly waged war over the Disputed Lands but always easily abandoned the occupied territories, as they were simply too hard to hold.
Fortunately, Daemon already had a perfect plan.
Daemon waved his hand, and his attendant, Tyland Lannister, immediately stepped forward and unrolled a map of the Three Daughters on the table, holding it down with a candlestick.
Daemon's hand brushed over Myr on the map, "We must build a Border Wall."
The Sea Snake, Princess Rhaenys, Lord Roderick Dustin, the Wolf of the Barrows, Maester Michiel, and others present were all in shock.
Lord Roderick Dustin, the Wolf of the Barrows, stroked his beard, frowning, "Your Majesty, surely you're not talking about the Wall, are you?
The Wall was built by the legendary Northern figure, Brandon the Builder.
Does Your Majesty also possess Brandon's castle-building magic?"
Maester Michiel echoed, "Legend has it that when the Wall was built, Brandon the Builder also sought the help of giants and the Children of the Forest.
Now that the Children of the Forest and giants have disappeared, how will Your Majesty build the Wall?
This is not the North; the climate is mild, and it gets even hotter in summer.
If the Wall were built here, I fear it would melt very quickly."
Daemon laughed, "I am talking about building the Three Daughters' Border Wall, not the Wall.
The Wall is seven hundred feet high; we don't need such high walls.
In my opinion, thirty feet is enough."
Then Daemon's hand on the map lightly traced from Myr, across the Disputed Lands, the Myr River basin, the Three Daughters River basin, stopping at the Three Daughters River estuary.
"I have already ordered the Dragon's Servants Army to construct a military fortress at the Three Daughters River estuary.
The Border Wall will begin here and extend northwards, directly to Myr, and along this hundreds-of-miles-long Border Wall, more than a dozen military fortresses will be built.
This will secure our eastern defense line, allowing us to safely farm in the Disputed Lands, build dairy farms and apiaries, and brew sweet wines."
To get rich, build roads first.
Daemon decided to learn a few tricks from King Jaehaerys the Conciliator, who had just passed away.
King Jaehaerys the Conciliator built the King's Road, Rose Road, Coastal Road, and River Road, among other roads, in Westeros, tightly connecting Westeros.
Westeros' commerce consequently prospered, and tax revenue increased.
The Sea Snake said, "Your Majesty, I strongly agree with building roads, but does the Dragon truly need a Border Wall?
With the Dragon, we can attack from all sides."
Daemon said, "The Border Wall can consolidate our rule.
The Border Wall combined with the Dragon will make our defense impregnable, driving the enemy to despair."
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