"As for Dorne," he continued, "they declared independence, but did not formally form an alliance with Daemon. They were just waiting and watching.
If we attack Daemon first, Dorne may take advantage of him; if we attack Dorne first, Daemon will definitely stab him in the back.
Therefore, we must wait for an opportunity - an opportunity that can solve these two problems at the same time."
Rhaenyra was silent. She had to admit that Redd's analysis made sense. But the feeling of "waiting" made her very uneasy.
"Then how long do you plan to wait?" she asked.
Redd pondered for a moment and said slowly, "Waiting for our child to be born.
Wait until all my 50,000 navy troops are in place.
Wait until there is a conflict within the Three Daughters alliance.
Wait until the winner is decided between Daemon and Tormund - don't forget, Tormund is hiding somewhere with a sea dragon, there will be a battle sooner or later between him and Daemon."
He paused and a sneer appeared at the corner of his mouth, "When the snipe and the clam fight, the fisherman wins."
We just need to wait for them to fight to the death, and then we can take action to clean up the mess."
Rhaenyra looked at him, and the uneasiness in his heart was gradually replaced by a complicated emotion.
This man, who just a moment ago was showing weakness and begging for mercy because he was caught having an affair, suddenly turned into the calm, cruel and calculating "Dragon King".
This contrast made her both angry and... fascinated.
"You really..." she started, but didn't know what to say.
Redd stood up, walked to her, leaned over and kissed her forehead. "Don't worry, everything is under control.
Your mission now is to take good care of the fetus and give birth to the child safely. Leave the rest to me."
Rhaenyra closed her eyes, feeling the warmth on his lips, and the last trace of dissatisfaction in her heart gradually dissipated.
She opened her eyes and looked at him. There was helplessness, tolerance, and a hint of hidden tenderness in her violet eyes.
"Redd," she whispered, "Promise me something."
"Say."
"In the future... don't let me catch you a second time." She said, "I can turn a blind eye, but don't let me see it with my own eyes.
Otherwise, I don't know what I would do."
Redd looked at her and nodded seriously. "Okay."
Rhaenyra smiled, with relief and a hint of bitterness in his smile.
She stood up, held her waist, and walked slowly out. When she reached the door, she stopped and did not look back.
"By the way," she said, "Mysaria... don't make it too difficult for her. It's not easy for her either."
After saying that, she opened the door and walked out.
Redd was the only one left in the room. He stood there, looking at the closed door, and was silent for a long time.
Rhaenyra... much more generous than he thought.
But this kind of generosity made him feel a little guilty.
He knew that he didn't deserve this tolerance, but he also knew that he couldn't change it.
This is him.
Redd shook his head, threw those useless emotions behind, and began to think about the next plan.
Dorne, Daemon, Three Daughters Alliance, Tormund... these troubles need to be solved one by one.
The prerequisite for solving them is sufficient patience and precise timing.
Just wait. When Rhaenyra's child is born, and when everything is ready, he will let everyone know the consequences of offending "Dragon King".
Time passes quietly like water.
In the blink of an eye, more than half a year has passed since the "agreement" between Redd and Viserys.
For more than half a year, Westeros has been calm on the surface, but there are turbulent undercurrents secretly.
Redd never left King's Landing. He lived in Red Keep, accompanying Rhaenyra who was getting pregnant day by day. He occasionally attended Small Council, and occasionally basked in the sun and read in the garden, as leisurely as a rich man who didn't care about the world.
But the chess pieces he laid out have already begun to move.
In the waters east of Stepstones, the 50,000 Dragon King fleet led by Dawg Russ has quietly taken up position.
They did not launch any attack, but quietly parked at several strategic locations, like an invisible net, covering the entire Stepstones.
The two accompanying dragons - Redd, two tamed adult dragons transferred from Dragonstone - hover over the fleet every day,
That huge figure and the occasional dragon roar made Daemon and his men on the island live in a sense of oppression all the time.
At the same time, the 150,000 troops starting from Pentos and Volantis divided into two groups and slowly advanced towards the border of the Three Cities Alliance.
They did not cross the border, but were stationed not far from the border, practicing every day, with fires blazing into the sky and horns blaring.
The oppressive feeling that "a strike may come at any time" caused more than thirty governors Lys, Myr, and Tyrosh to fall into unprecedented panic.
Redd's intention is very clear: to defeat the enemy without fighting.
If the Three Cities Alliance surrendered wisely, it would save time and effort;
If they insist on fighting to the death, then he has enough reasons to crush them completely - by then, even Viserys can't say anything.
He handed over the task of persuading surrender to Dawg Russ.
The results were as expected.
Although the governors of the Tri-City Alliance quarreled in fear, no one was willing to surrender.
Their pride, their interests, and their distrust of "Dragon King" made them choose to wait and see and delay.
Daemon even refused.
On the throne of Stepstones, he sneered at the messenger sent by Dawg: "Tell Redd that if you want my life, come and take it yourself.
What kind of skill is it to hide behind and send troops to surround you?"
Dorne Principality remained silent.
They did not respond to the persuasion to surrender, nor did they take any action. They only strengthened their defenses on the border, as if waiting for something.
When Redd received these replies, he was walking with Rhaenyra in the garden of Red Keep.
After reading the letter, he folded the letter and stuffed it into his sleeve without any change in expression on his face.
"They refused?" Rhaenyra asked.
She held her waist and walked slowly. Her belly was already alarmingly large - the signs of twins were becoming more and more obvious, and the maester said it might be this month.
Redd nodded. "As expected."
Rhaenyra looked at him and hesitated to speak.
In the past six months, the pressure she has endured is no less than Redd.
Although Viserys didn't urge her directly, the vague glances and oblique reminders from Small Council made her sit on pins and needles every time.
Lyonel Strong does not speak against her, but he never takes the initiative to speak for her.
Other ministers are watching, waiting, and guessing when this "Dragon King" will fulfill his promise.
"Father's side..." Rhaenyra said.
Redd interrupted her, "I know. Let them go quickly."
He helped Rhaenyra sit down on the bench, and he also sat down next to her. His tone was calm. "I promised Viserys that Dorne and Daemon will be dealt with within a year.
One year has not come yet, why are they anxious?"