Chapter 223: Heading North to Winterfell
"Khal Ogo is dead!" "Ogo and his Bloodriders were slain before the battle, and Ogo's khalasar has disintegrated." This news spread like a bomb, quickly reaching both sides of the Narrow Sea. Khal Ogo's two kos have fled for their lives, and the news naturally spread across the Dothraki Sea and the various city-states. The Dragon Khal, who is even more terrifying than a Khal and brings fiery steeds, achieved a feat more legendary than a thousand knights crushing twenty thousand screamers—because of the dragonrider and the dragons. This victory was even grander than the Unsullied's victory at Qohor, and although the screamers are accustomed to using attrition tactics and are not skilled at siege warfare, it was an unprecedented triumph.
"I did not choose war, but war chose me! So be it!" Rhaegar thought. The battlefield was ravaged, the endless plains soaked with the blood and tears of the earth. Rhaegar instructed the Unsullied to guard the surrendered screamers and begin cleaning the battlefield, retrieving bodies from the ground and the rivers. The bodies of the dead screamers had to be burned quickly to prevent plague from spreading after decomposition. The slaughter on the battlefield was horrific, but even more terrifying were the infections and diseases that followed. Cleaning the field and ensuring disinfection was crucial. The dragons were quite effective for this—a dragon incinerator. The bodies of the screamers were piled up; after their braids were cut off, the remaining corpses were reduced to ash in the roaring flames, returning to the earth.
Rhaegar, with his silver hair and purple eyes, Ser Barristan the Bold, and Oberyn, who had the appearance of a Dornishman, stood together. Splendid banners fluttered behind them—a black dragon on a silver field, a spear piercing the sun—and the warriors holding the flags were strutting proudly. Together, they watched the inferno in the flames and the roar of the dragons. The destruction of a khalasar, the death of a Khal. Following the bloody defeat of Khal Ogo, the authority of the Dragonlord was now unquestionable. From Braavos to Volantis, from Pentos to Qohor, the horse lords were terrified and should remain quiet for some time.
"I need to find out who shot the poisoned arrow during my duel with Ogo—was it Qarth or Braavos? I want to see who is so bold!" Rhaegar thought. That poisoned arrow was malicious. The Dothraki don't have that kind of cunning. His enemies in Essos are most likely Braavos and Qarth, but Qarth is too far away, and flying there directly would be unwise; he'll have to wait. Qarth is said to be the center of the world, a city of immense wealth; it would be a pity not to relieve them of some gold. He also has a group of Dothraki horse lords under his command who could be sent to threaten Qarth.
"The land here is truly boundless. This is the homeland of the Andals and the Rhoynar, and I believe more honors await us! This very land has witnessed the rise and fall of countless peoples," Rhaegar said to Barristan and Oberyn. Rhaegar looked at the plains before him, beautiful land. Such fertile land is rare in western Essos; perhaps only the Riverlands and the Reach can compare. If not for the fertile Rhoyne valley, the Rhoynar could not have raised an army of two hundred and fifty thousand to fight the Valyrian Dragonlords. "Next, we need to level the land, dredge the docks, allow Goyan Drohe to flourish, and then plan for the other ruined towns downstream."
"Yes, Your Grace!" "Yes, Your Grace!" Ser Barristan the Bold and Prince Oberyn Martell, the Red Viper, replied.
"Soon I must leave Goyan Drohe for a period. This place will be under your management. Your responsibility is heavy, Prince Oberyn," Rhaegar said to Oberyn.
"Rest assured, Prince. I will fulfill my duties faithfully!" the Red Viper nodded. "This was a dream I often had as a child—riding horses across the plains and conquering nations. I never expected it to truly come true today." Oberyn looked out on horseback and said excitedly, "In my prime, banners surround ten thousand men!" Compared to the vast and boundless land, and the immense Dothraki Sea, Dorne of sand and scorpions is indeed far too small.
"Bringing Prince Oberyn to Goyan Drohe is certainly making the best use of his talents, but Prince Doran will eventually ask me for him back. He is missing a great general in Sunspear," Rhaegar said to Oberyn. Currently, the Princess of Dorne had ceded much authority to her son, Doran. Westeros practices early marriage and childbearing; if Doran hadn't married late, the Princess would likely be spending time with her grandchildren now.
"There's nothing in Sunspear that worries me too much, and Doran isn't that short of resources. Besides, there's always my uncle, Prince Lewyn Martell!" Oberyn said dismissively. The lords of Dorne are scattered and few, concentrated in only a few regions. Oberyn would naturally be pleased if the strength of House Martell could be enhanced. House Yronwood, the most powerful family, supported the Black Dragon three times, and Rhaegar was unsure why they were not severely punished back then. Perhaps the secrets are only known to the Dornish people themselves, fearing that a long expedition would harm the vitality of the Dornish people.
Rhaegar was thoughtful. Prince Lewyn Martell had voluntarily chosen to become a Kingsguard because he escorted Princess Elia Martell into the palace for her marriage, primarily to protect the Princess. Now that the Princess was safe, he certainly wouldn't want to return to King's Landing and needed to remain garrisoned at Sunspear.
"Gentlemen, the Dothraki horse lords have lost their nerve. The largest remaining force is Khal Balbo's khalasar, and old Balbo is quite cunning. However, given the current situation, we have inevitably offended the Braavosi and the Qartheen. Do either of you have plans for the next step?" Rhaegar asked the two men.
"Khal Ogo is dead, and the Rhoyne River Alliance is now at its peak. We can effectively mobilize the Free Cities in the Rhoyne region; most of them will understand the gravity of the situation and show respect to the Dragonlord. This excludes Braavos and Lorath. Volantis can also be mobilized, but Volantis is too large and has too many magisters, making it difficult to control. We are righteous in suppressing chaos and eliminating tyranny. Do Braavos and Qarth dare to openly oppose us? However, we do need to worry about their underhanded tactics." Oberyn analyzed the current situation in western Essos for Rhaegar. Braavos has the best navy, and Volantis has a population advantage, the best land army, and a fleet that is also strong.
"Indeed, a military alliance is the first step. The easiest city-state to bring under our control should be Pentos. Of the Nine Free Cities, Pentos is the closest to us. If we take Pentos and control it, then the area from Pentos to Goyan Drohe and Ny Sar essentially forms a connected region! Pentos is the closest city to King's Landing and has a geographical advantage relative to Westeros. But if we invade by force, wouldn't we be just like Volantis during the Century of Blood?" Ser Barristan continued. This is an era of great contention. Considering the long term, the most perfect boundary would naturally be to annex all the Free Cities, using the Rhoyne or the Dothraki Sea as a border, restoring the extent of the ancient Valyrian Empire. However, such vast ambition cannot be satisfied all at once. Furthermore, if we truly launch an armed invasion, we would be seen as butchers and invaders, just like Volantis, and would likely be opposed by the entire continent.
"We have dragons! That's different from Volantis!" Oberyn was more ambitious; the deterrence of the dragons was extraordinary.
"The dragons are not everything, Prince!" Barristan was more cautious. Conquest by force could easily lead to quagmire tactics.
"I have a better idea!" Rhaegar said to the two men. "We should continue to leverage the power of the Rhoyne River Alliance. Since the Free Cities dislike raising armies, they can completely outsource their defense and garrison duties to us. They will be protected by my armies." Rhaegar said this was one path forward. If they lack military autonomy, these city-states will be easy to control later. Control militarily, court politically, and cooperate commercially. "We will provide armed protection for city-states like Pentos, and have their garrisons trained in Westeros. If we train them batch by batch, things will eventually change drastically."
"We are not invading by force; we are offering military protection," Rhaegar explained to Oberyn. They could concede on administrative power for now; Pentos needs the protection of Goyan Drohe's army. Once they have an army capable of interfering with the situation, the city-state will easily compromise. The key is whether Pentos will yield and agree to external armed protection, or if they should first establish Goyan Drohe as a secure rear base. As for local garrisons, that would indeed be too direct.
The two men seemed half-convinced, but according to Prince Rhaegar's explanation, this was a relatively good strategy.
"Prince, the reinforcements from Norvos, Qohor, and Tyrosh will return once the situation stabilizes. The largest force you have on hand is the Dothraki screamers. You must guide them skillfully and not treat these foreigners too harshly. The main thing is that the screamers and the khalasar follow our command. With enough food and soldiers, these horse lords will obey us, especially the children, who are easier to mold now—get them used to the land and the cities. I am also considering taking some Dothraki children to King's Landing Military Academy for training," Rhaegar instructed Oberyn. These five thousand-plus Dothraki screamers are now the largest military force dependent on Goyan Drohe and the Dragonlord. Rhaegar has already restructured the organization, selecting ten capable and compliant screamers, who now lead ten squads, with each squad managed by a commander. Assimilating a group of foreign students is also essential. Universal Empire, Universal Values.
"Yes, Your Grace! I will raise your Silver Dragon banners, and these horse lords will be your strongest support!" Oberyn also knew the responsibility was heavy; a sizable force of screamers required strict management.
"Once all this is done, Ser Barristan and I will head to Winterfell!" Rhaegar looked toward the North.
"Winterfell? What for?" Oberyn asked. Dorne and the North are both considered barbaric by the other kingdoms, and the climate is too harsh, but even barbarians don't always acknowledge each other. Historically, few monarchs have ever toured the North.
"The Long Summer is ending! If the next season is winter, we need to prepare early!"
.-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you like the story please give it some power stones and reviews. And if you want to read 40+ advance chapters or just want to support me please join my patreon at [email protected]/Translatingfanfics