In the world of Ice and Fire, is it impossible to get anywhere without noble status? While this statement is a bit absolute, it's largely true in Westeros. No one is a Mary Sue; entering this world means playing by its rules. But Aegon saw things more clearly and fundamentally: the noble system is just the surface rule of the game in Westeros, but behind it are deeper, more fundamental rules: all problems are problems of resources and strength.
Is it because of some title that the envoy from the Iron Bank, just an ordinary clerk, was treated politely even by Queen Cersei, who had eliminated all dissenters and held absolute power in King's Landing? No, it's because he represented Braavos across the Narrow Sea. Could the High Sparrow, after establishing the Faith Militant, make a bunch of Kings and Queens look so bad because he had titles and the Seven Gods supporting him? No, it was because he had both soldiers and popular support, and his opponents had incompetent allies helping. After Littlefinger was granted Harrenhal, he instantly became one of the highest-ranking nobles in Westeros, but if he hadn't already colluded with the mistress of the Vale of Arryn, what would he have been worth?
Ultimately, noble status is a tool for the upper class in Westeros to control resources, not the reason for their control—in this world, people who control resources existed first, then nobles.
Once the cause-and-effect relationship here is clear, what needs to be done is obvious. As long as he controls resources, even if he wears the label of the Night's Watch his entire life, even if his legal social status is lower than a mere knight, he can still turn the tables and control the situation.
It was based on this belief that Aegon made his plans.
...
His original plan was to first use a Ponzi scheme for initial accumulation, using logistics supplies and the people he 'recruited' and placed within The The Wall's defenders to enrich the Night's Watch, using the method of boiling a frog in warm water to make the Night's Watch dependent on him, thereby slowly binding this force, independent of the major powers, both materially and spiritually, to first ensure his safety and freedom.
Then, using the capital he obtained combined with his advanced knowledge, establish a massive community of interests in Westeros—waiting until the time was ripe, then cautiously using his influence and resources to participate in the game of thrones, seeking a way to remove his Night's Watch identity and begin exploring the possibility of returning to his original world.
***
Aegon had laid out his plan and was ready to use all his wisdom and knowledge, looking forward to the endless fun of struggling with others, but before anything had even begun, Melisandre suddenly appeared... quietly revealing a corner of the stage curtain of this world to him, allowing him to see the grander, and more terrifying, truth beneath the chaotic surface.
More than a month ago, Aegon suspected that important plot points were unchangeable due to Bran's fall. However, the fact that Tyrion successfully returned to King's Landing later overturned that conclusion... It was precisely because of the judgment that this world had no 'destiny' or some 'unseen force' that Aegon felt a surge of ambition, letting his thoughts run wild, and quickly drafted a massive plan, ready to do great things and rewrite everything in this world.
But now, the words of the Red Priestess were like a blow to the head: extraordinary powers do exist, and they are influencing the human world! Tyrion's successful return to King's Landing was simply because the 'gods' didn't have time to bother with him!
Aegon's feeling now was like secretly hiding in his room as a child, ready to play games and watch videos to his heart's content, only to look up and find a camera on the ceiling, his excitement instantly extinguished—who could have fun being watched from every angle by a father-like presence?
...
Seeing Aegon silent for a long time, Melisandre thought he was scared by what she had told him, and she felt disdain inwardly; even the tough men of the Night's Watch, the Otherslayer, would tremble before transcendent power.
"Is there anything else you want to ask?" She didn't show contempt; fearing transcendent power was, after all, human nature, and she herself had experienced that shock: "Then, in return for my sincerity, may I also ask a few questions?"
The plan must change; he must not only avoid being a standout in the eyes of the great nobles of Westeros but also remain low-key in the eyes of those 'demigods' and 'true gods'. If that were truly the case... at least half of the papers on which he had written his plan could be burned directly: "Ask, I will tell you everything I know."
***
Over the next half hour, Aegon continued the question and answer session with Melisandre in a dazed state. To his relief, all of her questions were related to Beyond the Wall and The The Wall... This meant that Melisandre did not suspect his identity as an ordinary Night's Watch Ranger, and on this basis, he only needed to tell the truth and didn't need to rack his brains to fabricate anything to avoid revealing flaws.
By the time this exchange ended, the red god priestess's face was full of solemnity, and Aegon had also used this short time to actively overcome his panic.
Reason arrived late, but better than never. Aegon recovered and gradually sobered up: conspiracy theories can explain some things, but explaining everything with conspiracy theories is just scaring himself. He had fooled a bunch of plot characters with a bunch of half-truths and half-lies; who could guarantee that Melisandre's words weren't also half-truths and half-bluffs?
Not to mention, as a red god believer, a fanatic brainwashed by the Lord of Light, even if she was telling the truth, it didn't necessarily mean it was fact, just like the Greenseer had to fabricate a belief in the Old Gods; who could guarantee that the red god really exists? Who could guarantee that Melisandre wasn't another version of Jojen Reed, being completely deceived by the god in her heart?
Perhaps many stories in the original plot were indeed arranged or facilitated by those transcendent beings, but if, because of knowing this, one spends every day thinking, "Does this person represent the interests of a certain god?" "Is this plot something a certain god wants to happen?" then one might as well do nothing at all and honestly go back to The The Wall to fight Wildlings and kill White Walkers.
Even if there really is a group of guys quietly influencing the real world on a subconscious level, if there is no way to identify individuals influenced by them, and no way to judge which things the gods want to happen, then for him, how different are these gods from non-existent ones?
Ignoring these transcendent beings, the plan remains! It just needs a slight adjustment to make him more low-key.
Aegon's mind was clear, and a countermeasure quickly emerged: now, he would likely have to pretend to be a loyal member of the Night's Watch not only when meeting outsiders but also when no one was around. Compared to acting unscrupulously for personal gain, clearly standing on the opposite side of the White Walkers' forces might not bring benefits, but at least it could ensure that the 'gods' on the Lord of Light's side and his servants... would not deal with him without reason.
As a mortal, he was too weak, not even qualified to be a fence-sitter... What a hassle.
"The cold god is moving faster than expected." Melisandre didn't know what Aegon opposite her was thinking; she had her own worries: "Fortunately, the Lord of Light told me in the fire that The The Wall can block the cold god's power and stop his servants. Before Winter arrives and the sea freezes, we still have time to do many things." She looked up at the Night's Watchman, shaking off her extra expression and becoming serious: "So, my black-clad friend, is there anything I can do to help the Night's Watch?"
Aegon looked back at her. After being called a heretic and a series of events, everything was finally back on track. At least Melisandre was sincere in wanting to help the Night's Watch. Unfortunately, Dragonstone couldn't provide food, supplies, or weapons, and Melisandre herself had few people around her. Unless the witch was willing to immediately abandon Stannis, whom she had mistakenly judged to be Azor Ahai reborn, and go north to The The Wall... otherwise, she probably couldn't help much.
Looking at the serious witch, another huge question slowly emerged in the Night's Watchman's heart: Was the struggle between the gods a life-and-death survival battle, or a back-and-forth sparring match? In other words—were the White Walkers, the Night's Watch, and even priests like Melisandre, in the eyes of those more transcendent beings, soldiers and weapons serving themselves, or pieces in a game played during leisure with similar beings?
If he could figure this out, the subsequent changes to his plan could be more specific and targeted.
Unfortunately, a moment's thought would reveal that even if Melisandre was a follower of the Lord of Light, she would never know secrets of that level.
"The The Wall lacks everything, but currently, it lacks people, food, and equipment the most. I was sent here for these things," Aegon sighed, shaking his head: "But looking at Dragonstone like this, it's not much better than the Night's Watch—if you really want to help, please give extra attention to the mining of dragonglass."
"No problem."
Wait, speaking of the dragonglass mine, Aegon suddenly remembered something very important; how could he have overlooked this: "I almost forgot to ask, do you know the principle behind Dragonglass daggers killing White Walkers? If we could understand this secret, we might be able to come up with more ways to deal with these things."
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