Daeron was well aware that the Great Council's public discussion of the expedition was merely a formality; the nobles, plagued by succession issues, would find it difficult to refuse an opportunity that could both solve their problems and allow them to profit handsomely.
As for war...
Heh heh, while knightly nobles yearned for peace and tranquility, when had they ever feared war?
Daeron needed the support of the great nobles, especially the Varezes family. He had discussed these matters with Prince Viserys before the Great Council, but Prince Viserys was always a bit "naive."
He actually wanted the Varezes to be the main force heading to the East Continent, strongly opposing Daeron personally leading the grand army on the expedition, and even somewhat disapproving of the Targaryen family sending dragon knights to participate in the war.
Daeron could only laugh it off, excluding his uncle from the final decision. Unlike Prince Viserys, his sons were quite interested in the Disputed Lands, except for Prince Aegon.
Aemon and Ilion yearned to achieve great deeds, and even the still young Maegor, just thirteen, was full of interest in the expedition, standing firmly by Daeron's side.
Daeron received the lords he truly wanted to meet under the weirwood tree in Harrenhal.
The young King scanned the assembled lords; they were the key to this expedition. Prince Aemon acted as Daeron's guard; to Daeron, his Kingsguard were like paper in front of Prince Aemon, but Daeron couldn't possibly let Aemon serve as Kingsguard. However, Aemon's sense of responsibility led him to undertake the duty of protecting the King—along with his dragon.
From the North, Lord Cregan Stark brought Domilick Bolton and Lord Brandon Manderly. They represented the powerful lords of the North and the North's thirty thousand strong army. After a long summer, the North had recovered its vitality. Though the fierce North were not as well-equipped as the wealthy knights of the South, in terms of ferocity, the Winter Wolves army of yesteryear had left a deep impression—especially on the Riverlands and West.
Lord Loreon Lannister of the West stood beside his powerful vassals: the strong "Red Sea Monster" Lord Harold Reyes, a great lord who had recently risen to prominence, skilled in martial arts and forthright in character. He had gathered a large number of admiring second-son knights around him; this Reyes had even formed a "Red Lion Knight Order" in Castamere, with hundreds of members. Also present was Lord Laurent Marbrand. The three from the West were quite close to the North, but kept their distance from the two leaders of the Iron Islands.
Lord Dalton Greyjoy, accompanied by Lord Harlaw, stood quietly in the corner, but when the "Red Sea Monster's" gaze swept over them, even "Blood Lion" Harold shivered in fear. Only a few nobles who had participated in the Dance of the Dragons could face this monster with composure.
Lord Lyonel Tyrell brought Lord Wendell Rowan. Lord Kermit Tully was accompanied by Lord Benjicot Blackwood and Lord Forrest Frey. Royce Baratheon and Lord Roland Clinton stood beside Lord Kermit, far from the two princes of Dorne.
Prince Lucerys Martell and Prince Quentyn Dayne had no such scruples. Dorne was already barren and small, with a sparse population. Now, the once populous regions of Dorne were occupied by the Borderlands, leaving Dorne with even fewer troops to deploy. Even with their full efforts, the two princes could only muster ten thousand readily available warriors.
Lord Joffrey Velaryon, Lord Hugh Arryn, and Lord Artys Royce were chatting happily.
But the most special people in the crowd were Dan and Jacaerys; they held the most esteemed positions.
Daeron looked at the lords, handed the Blackfyre at his waist to Prince Aemon, picked up a weirwood branch, and began to draw on the ground.
"Everyone, I believe you are well aware of the difficulties the Realm faces now." Daeron looked at the people, drawing a circle on the ground with the branch: "Just like the Stark family's motto."
He looked at Lord Cregan: "Winter is coming, everyone. Long summers are not to be taken for granted, and the balance my royal father painstakingly maintained during his lifetime cannot truly solve the problem."
He drew a few lines inside the circle.
The lords all understood Daeron's meaning. The internal interests of the Realm were already largely divided, and the Realm's treasury could not long accommodate the increasing number of second sons, third sons, and youngest sons.
These individuals, with noble status and a craving for land, would eventually become a scourge upon the Realm. And the fastest way to ease this contradiction and bring benefits to the Realm was war.
A war against the rich East Continent.
"Everyone, the results of the council's vote are obvious." Daeron sighed lightly: "No one can resist the readily available benefits. Compared to the East Continent, our advantages are clear. Among the forces contending for the Disputed Lands in the East Continent, Lys has submitted to us, Tyrosh is our territory, Myr is severely weakened, and the only one that can contend with us is Volantis, hmph."
Daeron snorted disdainfully: "We have dragons."
But Volantis has never extinguished its ambition for dragons. Dan thought to himself, showing no emotional changes on his face, merely listening calmly to Daeron's introduction.
"Volantis claims to have five hundred thousand Tiger Cloak army, but in reality, there aren't many troops that can truly fight. Long periods of peace have made the Volantis complacent; they now rely more on the slave legions from Slaver's Bay and Dothraki mercenaries."
Daeron drew a few crosses on the ground: "Dragons will destroy anyone who tries to stop us, everyone. What I need is your attitude."
The young King's eyes suddenly turned cold.
With the votes all passed, the nobles could not refuse to send troops.
Then there was only one question.
"How many people can you send?"
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