Chapter 417: Pioneering Lords

Bang—

The door to the room closed hastily, signaling the urgency of the one who had just left.

Rhaegar couldn't help but grin as he held up the letter, his heart swelling with joy. Jeyne was pregnant. The timing suggested it was from their last encounter in Gulltown.

He murmured to himself, "Am I actually decent at this whole fatherhood thing?"

Already, his thoughts were consumed with the future of his yet-to-be-born third child. He wondered if it would be a boy or a girl, and if it would inherit the distinct features of House Arryn.

He vaguely remembered that Targaryen tradition often saw the firstborn inherit the mother's physical traits, especially if the mother was from a different lineage.

Rhaegar thought for a moment, then smiled and muttered, "It's my child, it doesn't matter if they like an Arryn."

Rhaenyra's children were already destined to occupy the positions of first and second sons, so there was no need to worry about Jeyne's child competing for titles. He was ready to accept this child wholeheartedly.

Besides, having an Arryn-looking heir would make inheriting the Eyrie and the Vale more logical in the future.

"Uh huh..." Rhaegar's eyes sparkled with anticipation.

Jeyne had not yet been given a formal wife title, which meant her child would technically be a bastard. But with the ongoing war, the plan to formalize more marriages was still far off.

And then there was the hurdle of Rhaenyra. The Faith of the Seven would likely protest loudly, and many traditional nobles would oppose such arrangements.

There were also lords who would use the situation to challenge Jeyne's, opposing the inheritance by a woman.

Rhaegar weighed his options, but no clear solution emerged. The only way to break through these obstacles was to become strong enough.

He glanced sideways at the blue sky over Myr, his mind already strategizing.

Myr, nestled in a Bay and bordered by the Sea of Myrth that flows into the sea, boasts an ideal and strategic location.

The city-state's creativity and ingenuity are evident in its well-developed industries, including high-density lenses for astronomical observation, triple-shot crossbows, and delicate lace.

Myr's architecture combines elements of both land and water styles. The city is adorned with white stone pavilions, fountains, statues, and plazas. A small, meandering river flows through moats inside and outside the city-state, connecting the port on the west coast with the Sea of Myrth in the east.

Wealth is plentiful in Myr, and several small banks operate within the city. To avoid provoking public anger, Rhaegar has chosen not to interfere with these banks for now, leaving that task for later.

As he surveyed the city, Rhaegar couldn't help but be mesmerized. "What a treasure," he muttered to himself.

Of the three city-states, Lys and Myr were his favorites. Lys had the largest population and a thriving pleasute houses industry, making it home to many wealthy individuals.

Myr, however, was the most versatile, boasting some of the finest craftsmanship in the world. Its location on the Essos mainland made it a prime candidate for colonization and expansion.

Initially, Rhaegar had planned to leave Lys to Daemon, drawing 50% of its city-state taxes and using it as an overseas transit station. However, Daemon's arrogance led him to seize Tyrosh, a city in relative decline.

Tyrosh was known for its mercenaries and thriving slave trade. Attempting to eradicate slavery and stabilize unemployed mercenaries was a daunting task, but Daemon seemed eager to tackle it himself. Rhaegar decided to let him suffer the consequences and see if he had the talent to rule.

"Myr is a land worth developing," Rhaegar thought, his violet eyes glowing with a bit of light.

He considered the backup measure of marrying again to ensure that even if a child could not inherit the Eyrie, they would carry the Targaryen surname. If the child was not welcomed elsewhere, he would divide Myr among them.

He was not afraid of sibling rivalry. Dividing territories among his children and turning their focus outward was the right approach.

Harrenhal, the Prince's Palace, Lys, and Myr were enough to provide for four children, excluding the eldest son who would inherit the throne. If that wasn't sufficient, he could take Dorne, which, despite being a desert, had rich oasis lands that could be divided among his children.

Rhaegar looked up to Aegon the Conqueror and his great-grandfather Jaehaerys. Conquering land while having children was the path to Targaryen strength. More land meant more children, and more children meant more land to conquer.

With each generation, Targaryen would grow stronger, avoiding endless internal conflict. Rhaegar's vision was clear.

This is not the time of Ancient Valyria, where forty Dragonlord families competed against each other.

In the present day, the lands without dragons are plentiful, and the Targaryens, who command these majestic creatures, are seen as the Chosen Ones.

Having tasted the success of dismantling the Triarchy, Rhaegar's enthusiasm for conquering new lands grew stronger.

Invasion? No. Essos was originally a colony of the Freehold.

By reclaiming these lost territories, the Targaryens would be restoring the glory of the Freehold.

With this thought in mind, Rhaegar picked up the fallen carving knife and prepared to head out.

He was only 16 years old and already on the verge of becoming the father of three children.

Given his Longevity, he could live to be a hundred years old.

At the current rate of births, it was difficult to estimate how many heirs he would have.

He was determined to fight and secure territory for his descendants.

...

Myr, outskirts of the eastern city.

"Roar..."

"Roar..."

Two adult dragons, one black and one red, circled overhead, leading the cavalry below as they sped along.

In the distance, the thick walls of Myr were faintly visible.

Cannibal flapped its wide wings and glided low, exploring towards the southeast. After about a quarter of an hour, a cavalry group of several hundred riders stepped onto a wide avenue paved with black dragon stones.

This was Valyrian roads, a special path for the transportation of supplies and armies during the ancient Valyrian period.

The road branched off in two directions: one leading to Pentos in the north and the other to Volantis along the Rhoyne River.

At one time, there were more than just the nine Free Cities; there were also more prosperous towns in the western part of Essos. Unfortunately, these went up in flames with the destruction of ancient Valyria.

In the present, the road to Pentos ends halfway. The road to Volantis is even more completely destroyed, ending in a barren wasteland.

"Roar-"

With a snarl, Cannibal leapt over the low, barren woods and flew over the wide river.

The great river flowed swiftly, heading southeast. At the end of the river was a vast stretch of unclaimed land in the eastern reaches of the three city-states of Myr, Tyrosh, and Lys. This area is known as the Disputed Land.

In the center of the Disputed Land are two huge, unnamed inland lakes. The river then led to these inland lakes, connecting the northern half of the Disputed Lands.

Rhaegar rode on the back of his dragon, overlooking the long river and the land below.

The fast river had less sediment accumulated in its channels. Irrigated by the river, the land was fertile, and the mountains were filled with various shrubs and herbs.

The most satisfying point for Rhaegar: the land was flat enough, a standard plain.

To the northeast of Myr were the Hills of Norvos. To the east was the confluence of the Rhoyne and other minor rivers, which formed a natural partition.

In other words, this land was perfect for farming.

After flying for a while longer, Rhaegar instructed Cannibal to land. The dragon picked a piece of riverbank, and its huge body slowly descended.

"Roar..."

Meleys circled twice and also landed not far away, carrying Rhaenys.

Aunt and nephew looked at each other and silently surveyed the nearby land.

Half a minute later, the cavalry of the Second Sons Regiment, led by Robb, arrived.

Robb rolled over and dismounted, ordered the brothers of the Second Sons to look around, and walked towards Rhaegar with a few of his capable subordinates.

"Prince, what are your orders?" Robb's face was serious.

Rhaegar waved his hand dismissively, "Don't be so nervous, just take a moment to appreciate the land we've conquered."

The Triarchy was broken, and the so-called Disputed Lands were now Targaryen territory.

Robb, being a resourceful individual, observed the river bays piled up with fine sand and couldn't help but recall the fertile soil and rich vegetation they had encountered on their journey. The land alone was as valuable as any he had seen, it just lacked population and towns.

Rhaegar minced no words, saying bluntly, "The brothers of the Second Son Regiment have no fiefdom, and the Disputed Lands have no lord. They deserve recognition."

To truly control the three city-states, the Disputed Lands had to be used. Myr was well-positioned, with hundreds of thousands of slaves with skilled skills, and trade could be reopened to gain wealth.

Lys and Tyrosh, however, had made their fortunes selling slaves, pleasure houses, and mercenaries, all of which were forbidden in Westeros. Rhaegar was personally unwilling to profit by such means.

With a growing slave population and countless slaves, land was the solution. He would divide the land among the loyal knights of the Regiment of the Second Sons, make some of the slaves into lords, and thus establish his territory in Essos.

Robb was surprised at his words and, after some thought, spoke up.

Rhaegar encouraged him, "Speak your mind. You are the commander of the Second Sons Regiment; it is only right to fight for their interests."

"Prince, with all due respect," Robb began, choosing his words carefully, "the land is indeed fertile, but the brothers of the Second Sons Regiment are all poor. Even with the pioneering order issued by you, they don't have the money to run their territory."

A qualified noble territory needed at least a castle. Additionally, farming tools, grain to feed the people, and mills to process rice and flour required significant capital investment.

Robb was confident that if the men under his command had that kind of money, they would rather retire to a Lys's Pleasure House for the rest of their lives.

Rhaegar felt Robb's concern was justified, for he had already thought about these matters. There were many lands in Westeros, but few poor knights had started from scratch to create a new noble house.

The highlight of a noble's second son's life, aside from the death of his older brother, was often serving the great nobles. For commoners, being ordained a knight was considered a blessing from the Seven Gods.

It was the poor knights who were the mainstream of society, providing human resources for the ongoing noble endeavors.

Rhaegar thought for a moment, then spoke seriously, "The royal family can provide some of the loans. How many do you think would dare open up new territories?"

"Prince, the treasury doesn't have that much money," Robb replied with a sad face.

As commander of the Kingsguard, he had often heard Master of Coin Lyman's complaints.

"I know better than you how much money the treasury has," Rhaegar said, his expression unchanged. "I want to open up the Wasteland, and I need at least thirty new lords willing to try."

"Thirty people..." Robb's face softened a little. He clenched his teeth and said, "I can find them, but they will need enough money, as well as the help of maesters and healers."

Without sufficient funds and technology, failure would be inevitable.

"No problem. Survey the land along the Myr River bay  and identify areas suitable for reclamation."

Rhaegar gave Robb a heavy pat on the shoulder, his determination evident.

There were knights of the Second Sons who were willing to become lords, and there were slaves who could act as laborers—just what was needed.

As for where the money would come from?

The Iron Bank.

Turning to Rhaenys, Rhaegar looked expectantly and asked, "Aunt, can House Velaryon still get in touch with the Iron Bank?"

"In the middle of a war, the Iron Bank will not lend to the enemy," Rhaenys sighed softly, quickly understanding her nephew's thoughts.

Rhaegar grinned, his eyes flashing with determination. "If we can't ask it from the Iron Bank, we can use the local banks do it for us."

All three city-states maintained banks, and these resources could be utilized.

The Iron Bank, as the largest bank, would not pass up the opportunity to annex other smaller banks.

As for whether the Sealord of Braavos would object?

The Sealord was just one figurehead; he couldn't represent the entire power structure behind the Iron Bank.

(Word count: 2,145)