Game of Thrones: From a deserter to a high-ranking official

Chapter 176 Tiberius: Would you show the Dark Sisters to everyone? Damon: If I could, I would.

Damon's excitement froze, turning into deep confusion and a hint of displeasure:

"Why? Tiberius, you spent so much gold! So much effort! Wasn't it all to train this army, to demonstrate our strength to the Seven Kingdoms, and incidentally, to give my brother more leverage and intimidate those who don't support us?"

He cracked his whip, pointing towards the Valerian family tents in the distance, where the seahorse banner was raised:

"Now, Corliss Valerian, and those behind him, are our greatest adversaries! Isn't it the most direct and effective way to demonstrate our power before him now? Let him know that the claim to the Iron Throne isn't so simple!"

"Your Highness! What you mean by deterrence is correct! But the true purpose of this army is not to flex its muscles like street thugs at someone's doorstep! Doing so would only backfire!" Tiberius quickly reminded him.

"First, locate! Your Highness! Location!" Tiberius felt somewhat helpless, had his servants move the horses away, and then calmly explained to Damon.

Damon was indeed a promising war leader: a gifted cavalry commander, and possessing an innate charisma that commanded respect. He was generous and magnanimous, maintaining his princely status while mingling with ordinary soldiers. He didn't mind making crude jokes with his favorite knights and soldiers, and thus, the soldiers respected and admired his Corakshweh and his exceptional martial skills.

Of course, it was also because he did give money—although it was Tiberius who gave the money.

However, in politics, he was still a novice, just as he used the same term to refer to Tiberius, who was still a young cook.

Tiberius held up one finger: "Daimon, what is the public reason for our presence in Harrenhal, the venue of the Grand Council, and for us, our army, the Dragonflame Army?"

"Because they are my Damon's army, they are here to demonstrate my brother's abilities."

"This army is here because I want to tell them: Prince Viserys, the descendant of 'Prince of Spring Dawn' Belron, not only possesses dragonfire and benevolence, but also a real, earth-based army of steel! And he has the full support of his brother!" Damon held his head high, clearly convinced that his brother was the rightful heir to the Iron Throne, and the Dragonfire Army was born for that purpose.

"Absolutely right, Damon." Tiberius listened calmly to Damon's rather inflammatory words and quickly poured cold water on his enthusiasm.

"But we would never say that."

"Why?" Damon's face showed displeasure. He even wanted to ask Tiberius if he was "weak." Damon wanted to tell Tiberius not to be afraid of the cold looks of those nobles, that everyone is equal under the Dragon Flame.

However, considering the almost supernaturally clever schemes Tiberius usually provided to Damon (which Tiberius called "schemes and plans") and their effects, Damon still suppressed his confusion and dissatisfaction and asked.

"Then, what should we say? No matter how we package it, the essence of the Dragon Flame Army is what I said! It's to get them to vote for my brother!"

"The essence is, of course, to garner votes for His Highness Viserys, but we can't say it that way... at least, we can't say it openly." Tiberius didn't give in to Damon's dissatisfaction, but instead began to analyze carefully.

“Damon, sometimes, that’s just how politics is. Everyone knows what you’re thinking, but you just can’t say it out loud. It’s like everyone knows each other is wearing underwear, but no one will point at someone and say, ‘You’re wearing underwear today,’” Tiberius explained patiently. “Hypocrisy, but that’s politics.”

"Hmm... what you said makes sense." Damon nodded. He wasn't stupid, just reckless and arrogant. He understood Tiberius's meaning: they needed to wear a mask of hypocrisy, otherwise it would affect the effectiveness of the Dragon Flame Army.

Seeing that Damon had taken it to heart, Tiberius pressed his advantage, explaining to Damon the possible consequences of speaking out of turn:

"Damon, think about it. If we actually show off our military might at Count Corliss's doorstep, it's like blatantly telling them: We brought the Dragon Flame Army to put you in your place!"

"This blatant attitude will undoubtedly worry some neutral nobles; they will immediately feel threatened and will unite!"

"They would think, 'If they can force an enemy to relinquish power today, what about tomorrow? Will they use force to override tradition tomorrow?'"

Tiberius shook his head: "Seven Gods, this is actually a harm to your brother! Don't forget our initial slogan: the tradition of the Andals; mercy and dragonfire coexisting..."

Tiberius reminded Damon: Don't forget our initial claims! If the claims deviate from reality, the results will be even worse!

Seeing Damon deep in thought, Tiberius pointed to the seahorse banner of Lord Corliss and the black banner with three red dragons representing his wife, Rhaenys Targaryen.

"Therefore, we absolutely cannot allow the Dragonflame Army to reach their camp gates. If they do, everyone will say that the Dragonflame Army is putting pressure on Prince Viserys to support his claim to the throne! If that happens, we will become a sitting duck for all the nobles who do not support Prince Viserys!"

Damon shuddered at the thought of that scene.

That's terrifying! His brother's grand plan, Tiberius's dedication, could all be wiped out by Damon's one reckless act!

"So, we need to find a different reason, a reason that everyone can accept, to make the Dragon Flame Army appear in Harrenhal." Tiberius's eyes flashed with that calculating light again, and he chuckled.

"What method? How can we get them all to 'accept' it?" Damon was puzzled, but seeing Tiberius's "everything is under control" expression, he felt a mix of anticipation and doubt.

After all, no matter how it's packaged, Damon's intention with the Dragon Flame Army is like the elephant in the room. Unless someone is really as stupid as a pig, how could they not understand his thoughts?

But he was Tiberius after all… a damnably clever “fox of misfortune.”

"It's very simple: the reason for the Dragonflame Army's appearance aligns with the 'Kingdom Strategy' and 'Prince Viserys's Virtue'!" Tiberius smiled slightly, pointing to the barbarian soldiers from the Brightmoon Mountains within the Dragonflame Army and the banners they held.

He had actually planned this out long ago!

"Damon, do you remember? Before this, in the stories we compiled, you were the one who led this army to 'assist Prince Damon Targaryen in quelling the long-standing banditry on Crab Claw Peninsula and punishing the disloyal nobles'!"

Tiberius was right; the chaos on the Crab Claw Peninsula had lasted for fifty years since the Battle of Meco.

King Jaeheris had been aware of the situation all along, but due to the complexity of his affairs, he had not taken any action.

"In short, we want everyone to know that His Highness Viserys is worried about the chaos on Crab Claw Peninsula, and His Highness Damon, as a true dragon bloodline and a dragon knight of the kingdom, after learning of his benevolent brother's concerns, you have taken the initiative to share the kingdom's burdens and are determined to maintain the peace of the peninsula! You will quell the banditry in Crab Claw Peninsula and the surrounding areas, and teach a lesson to those semi-independent lords who disobey the king's orders and are like savages."

"This is the real reason you formed the 'Dragon Flame Army'!"

"Interesting... According to you, we're not here to back someone up, but 'for the Kingdom'?" Damon narrowed his eyes.

It sounds... hypocritical, but Damon likes it.

Tiberius continued, “Secondly, symbols! Do you remember? The ‘Moon People’ in our army, we emphasized that they were ‘impressed by your bravery’; the wandering knights of Essos appeared because of ‘His Highness Viserys’s mercy’; and as for the nobles and knights who joined our army, they joined us out of ‘repayment of the kindness of House Targaryen’!”

"As long as we uphold this voice, the strength and might of the Dragonfire Army will be a testament to His Majesty and the Targaryens' effective rule. They will never be labeled as 'troublemakers of the Cholera Council' or 'the embodiment of Daemon's ambitions.'"

"I personally believe that such voices should absolutely not be heard. If they do, it will be extremely detrimental to you and His Highness Viserys! Therefore, our entire army must emphasize its 'absolute loyalty to the Iron Throne and to His Majesty King Jaehaerys Targaryen'! Not loyalty to any particular prince or princess!"

"This is like us designing a brooch for ourselves. As long as we wear this brooch, no one will dare to openly criticize the very existence of this army!"

"But Tiberius, armies exist for conquest and the display of force!" Damon asked thoughtfully after hearing this, but still asked with some hesitation.

"The purpose of our army, in the end, is to let everyone know their capabilities! Besides, from the very beginning, we trained this army to intimidate all the nobles and knights of Westeros! How can we intimidate them if we're hiding our strength now?"

Tiberius wore a smile that was a mixture of helplessness and confidence: "Your Highness, believe it or not, from the moment we stepped into Harrenhal, the purpose of 'deterrence' has been achieved!"

"Don't believe me? Today, I'll have our soldiers inquire around. I bet that in Harrenhal right now, every lord, every knight, and even every groom is talking about your 'Dragonflame Army'."

"They were shocked, speculating, and uneasy. This invisible pressure is more persistent and harder to deal with than a demonstration at their doorstep. Therefore, the timing of our appearance also needs to be clever!"

"This army doesn't need to be out there all the time. It only needs to appear in its most perfect form at two crucial moments."

Tiberius extended his finger:

"First, just now, the moment we officially entered Harrenhal, let all the nobles present witness the majesty and power of the Dragonfire Army, and see your will and talent. They will be afraid, they will begin to discuss, and the scales in their hearts will begin to tip! Your Highness, people may not know exactly how big a dragon is, or how far it can breathe fire, but when stories about dragons begin to circulate—about how they burn down castles, blot out the sky, and annihilate entire armies—they will imagine a terrifying scene themselves! They will be afraid, they will worship!"

Tiberius paused, then said with great certainty:

"A dragon created by imagination, even more powerful than Bellerion!"

"The same applies to the Dragon Flame Army! Let the story spread by word of mouth! The Dragon Flame Army they imagine, or the one that will soon appear in the stories, will definitely be more terrifying than the real Dragon Flame Army!"

"Hmm...that makes sense." A hint of sarcasm flashed in Damon's eyes.

"I just hope they don't portray our army as some kind of unparalleled iron army baptized by dragon flames... otherwise, it will be hard for me to hold back my laughter, and besides, Kolachu isn't some blacksmith's forge..."

Ignoring Damon's teasing, Tiberius held up his second finger:

"Secondly, when you have an audience with His Majesty King Jaeheris, Damon, you must personally lead your elite troops to meet him and explain to His Majesty that our army is only there for the sake of the 'rebellion and banditry on Crab Claw Peninsula'."

Tiberius pointed to Harrenhal in the distance, a rare look of apprehension in his eyes.

Because he knew that inside that abandoned fortress was Jaehaerys Targaryen I, the most effective and longest-reigning ruler in the history of Westeros.

Tiberius dared not resort to his petty tricks in the presence of this vigorous ruler.

However, he needed Jaeheris's endorsement, and this could only be done with Jaeheris's consent.

"You mean, we need to let everyone see that Grandfather Jaeharis is satisfied with my army and has agreed to my brother's and my 'request'?" Damon realized Tiberius's implication and came to his own conclusion after thinking about it.

“Absolutely right!” Tiberius clapped his hands. “With His Majesty’s approval, no one can accuse us of recruiting private soldiers. At the same time, they’ll start wondering: Is it because of the Dragonfire Army’s strength that His Majesty Jaeheris agreed to this expedition?”

"That's fantastic! If we really do it this way, everyone will know that my brother and I not only have excellent character, but also great talent and ability, as well as an army that our grandfather has praised!" Damon's face showed a look of surprise.

This alone is enough to cast a bet in the hearts of some hesitant nobles, causing their scales to tip in favor of Viserys!

Tiberius nodded: "You're right. I believe these two appearances are enough to shock everyone and leave a deep impression of your strength and loyalty in their minds."

"As for the rest of the time, they should keep a low profile, stay in their camp and continue training, maintaining an air of mystery and deterrence. Excessive displays will only make people see through them and even become annoyed."

Damon frowned, seemingly understanding part of it, but still somewhat unwilling: "Then... what about the rest of the time? Just hide it like this? Where will the deterrent effect come from?"

Tiberius's lips curled into a sly smile: "Your Highness, true deterrence never comes solely from the sword itself."

Tiberius pointed to the Valyrian steel sword, Dark Sister, at Damon's waist.

"Your Highness," Tiberius said, "let me give you an example: Your sword, the Dark Sister, is the Targaryen's ancestral sword, incredibly sharp, capable of slicing through a hair... Each Targaryen patriarch has bestowed it only upon 'the bravest warrior within the Targaryen family.' But... would you show this incomparably sharp weapon to every knight who has ever seen it?" Tiberius tried to persuade Daemon with a persuasive tone.

After a moment of contemplation, Damon tapped his fingers on the scabbard, then replied with a very confident tone:

"If I could, I would!"

Tiberius: ...

Family members, does anyone understand?