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#503 - Chapter 235: Dorne Strategy (I)

After the military meeting of the Imperial Army concluded, the generals returned to their respective camps. Watching them depart, the adjutant couldn't help but ask, "Commander, before leaving, Her Majesty granted you battlefield decision-making power. Why did you seek the advice of those lords?"

"You're thinking too simply!" the commander replied, "The Empire is newly founded. If we don't consider the opinions of those lords, how can the Queen's rule last long on this land? Relying solely on our army is far from enough; we need the support of the local populace. Moreover, not all those lords are incompetent. If we can heed their advice, we'll have a greater chance of victory in the war."

"Lord Bick is insightful and far-sighted; I was short-sighted," the adjutant said, nodding in sincere agreement.

The commander turned to look at the distant desert, saying, "Dorne is the hottest region in Westeros, stony, mountainous, arid, and barren, possessing the only desert on the continent. In Dorne, fresh water is as valuable as gold. The Dornish have lived here for thousands of years, adept at operating in harsh environments. The former Targaryen dynasty spent one hundred and eighty years using marriage alliances to bring Dorne under the kingdom's rule. The main force of our regular army mostly comes from the North. In such an environment, not only the soldiers but even the warhorses will find it difficult to adapt, so these southern lords are the main force for the upcoming war. Giving them enough respect is also conducive to unity, and Her Majesty and the Cabinet will also have corresponding arrangements. We just need to follow orders."

Bick's eyes gleamed with intelligence as he rapidly formulated a detailed strategic blueprint in his mind. After careful consideration, he decided to take action. He softly called a loyal personal guard and quietly told him his plan. The guard respectfully nodded and quickly left to carry out Bick's orders.

Soon after, a massive infantry force of five thousand men quietly marched out of the camp, entrusted with an important mission: to penetrate deep into the banks of the Torrentine River southwest of the Red Mountains. This army was well-trained, well-equipped, and high in morale, ready to face any challenge.

The Torrentine River is a formidable river, formed by the confluence of two rivers near Stonehelm. As its name suggests, the Torrentine is filled with rapid currents, spectacular waterfalls, treacherous canyons, and bottomless chasms. This river is not only a masterpiece of natural scenery but also a key strategic location.

Along the banks of the Torrentine River are three important cities: Stonehelm, High Hermitage, and Starfall. Among them, Starfall, located at the mouth of the Torrentine River, is the main city of House Dayne, the ruling center of Lord Edric Dayne. Lord Edric had followed his uncle Beric Dondarrion as his squire and fought fiercely with the Mountain's raiding parties in the Riverlands. Later, he joined the Brotherhood Without Banners, becoming a brave and fearless warrior. Despite his young age, he always fought at the forefront. After the Northern truce, Beric Dondarrion disbanded the Brotherhood Without Banners. Some followed him north to fight the White Walkers, while others followed Edric south back to Dorne, succeeding as Lord of Starfall.

House Dary of High Hermitage, as a branch of Starfall, is currently led by "Darkstar" Gerold Dayne. He was the one who went to Oldtown to retrieve Ashara, appearing arrogant and conceited in front of Liu Yuan. Furthermore, rumors claim a dubious relationship between him and Arianne Martell.

Stonehelm is located at the source of the Torrentine River. The local residents are descendants of the First Men and have been little influenced by the Rhoynar, whether from a racial or cultural perspective. After contacting the Imperial Army, they were the first to surrender.

The Imperial Army advanced rapidly, quickly seizing control of the three cities and the surrounding areas of the Torrentine River basin. For the mountain people living in this land, they could not imagine following the Dornish into the depths of the desert to wage guerrilla warfare. Lord Edric Dayne knew this well. To ensure the safety and peace of his people, he resolutely decided to submit to the Queen. However, this decision sparked strong dissatisfaction from Gerold Dayne, who firmly believed that Edric's actions betrayed the honor of the Dornish.

Gerold Dayne had deep ties with the Martell family and was furious at Edric's decision. In the end, he chose to leave with a small number of loyal followers, heading to Sunspear. Meanwhile, the main force of the Imperial Army stopped at Skyreach, halting at the edge of the desert.

Originally, Lord Franklyn Fowler of Skyreach had planned to resist the Imperial Army's attack here, but the tragic fate of the Eyrie filled him with fear. After careful consideration, Lord Fowler decided to flee with his entire family. Skyreach is located on a rocky hillside in the mountains, firmly guarding the exit of the Red Mountains. This castle is renowned for its towering terrain and precipitous towers, and it also guards the important passage known as the "Stony Door". Because the Fowler family was one of the six kings of Dorne, it was later renamed the Prince's Pass.

On the other side, Bitterbridge became the temporary capital of the Empire. Political information from various parts of Westeros needed to be properly processed here. The establishment of a more complete political management system enabled various affairs to be handled in an orderly manner.

The Cabinet has temporarily established the following positions: Prime Minister Tyrion Lannister, Minister of Finance Adrian Celtigar, Minister of the Army Grey Worm, Minister of the Navy Aurane Waters, Minister of Foreign Affairs Selwyn Tarth, Minister of Justice Yohn Royce, and Royal Advisor Maester Pycelle (a senior scholar sent by the Citadel). Most trivial matters are first reported to the Cabinet, where the ministers discuss and study countermeasures before submitting them to the Queen for a decision. Only issues involving major national policies will be addressed by the Queen convening a Small Council meeting, similar to the imperial court in ancient China.

Currently, the two most important things for the Empire are the reconstruction of King's Landing and the southern war situation. These two issues are directly related to the stability and development of the country and require high attention and proper resolution.

In the Queen's study, sunlight streamed through the windows onto the magnificent carpet. Daenerys sat at her desk, intently reviewing the documents compiled by the secretariat. Missandei stood beside her, softly reading the memorials sent by the Cabinet.

Footsteps came from outside, and Prime Minister Tyrion and Grey Worm walked in together.

Tyrion held a scroll in his hand and walked to Daenerys with a serious expression.