In a corner of the Targaryen camp, Aegon and Aemon were training with all their might.
Their sparring partner was a tall, broad-shouldered captain of the dragonriders.
Since his build was roughly the same as Robert's, he had been assigned to train with the two princes.
Both boys had already realized that the coming battle for Braavos would be their chance for revenge.
They both wanted to avenge Rhaegar by killing Robert with their own hands.
"Do you think Uncle will give us a chance to duel Robert?"
Aegon asked with some concern.
"Who cares? For now, we have to train as much as possible. If the opportunity comes, we have to seize it!"
The closer the battle drew, the calmer Aemon became.
Supplies and troops continued to pour in from Pentos along the coast of Braavos, converging on Viserys's camp. The formal assault had yet to begin.
Just as Aemon once again caught Aegon off guard and was about to defeat him, one of the guards approached them.
"Prince Aegon, Prince Aemon, His Grace has called a council of war. He wants you both to attend."
Aegon and Aemon exchanged a glance, quickly wiped the sweat from their faces, and jogged toward Viserys's command tent.
Viserys's command tent was extremely plain. There were no decorative patterns or ornaments inside.
A skylight had been built into the roof to let in as much light as possible, while a massive map occupied the front of the tent.
Candles had been placed behind the map.
Their light shone through it, allowing as many officers as possible to study the battlefield.
The command tent was actually quite spacious, but with many mid-ranking officers also summoned to the meeting, it had become somewhat crowded.
When Aegon and Aemon entered, they could not find anywhere to sit.
Fortunately, Willem had reserved seats for them in advance, giving the two princes somewhere to settle.
Only two of the four Kingsguard were present this time.
Gerold was still recovering from his injuries, while Oswell was stationed in Gohor.
Everyone's attention was fixed on the enormous map before them.
It was a detailed plan of Braavos.
Braavos had no city walls. Instead, the city was surrounded by a naturally formed ring of hills that served as a defensive barrier.
The Braavosi liked to plant windbreak forests along them.
Within those hills lay a vast scattering of islands.
The Braavosi had built their city across more than a hundred islands.
Several locations had been marked out in particular.
The Titan, for example, was where the Braavosi maintained their armories. There was also a place known as the Snake Islands, which housed their shipyards.
And, of course, there was the Iron Bank.
Beyond those were countless other buildings packed throughout the city.
The Palace of Truth, the Temple of the Moonsingers, the theaters.
In terms of prosperity, even Gohor would not be able to compare with Braavos after another twenty years of development.
A young maester serving as a military officer was explaining the difficulties involved in attacking Braavos.
"Braavos has a freshwater canal running from north to south.
But even if we seize control of it, we still cannot cut off the city's water supply.
They have numerous deep wells and waterways as well. The water quality is poor, but after being carefully boiled, it remains drinkable."
Taking Braavos would certainly not be easy.
Especially since Viserys wanted to preserve the city as intact as possible.
"Aemon, if you were the one attacking Braavos, what would you do?" Aegon whispered.
"Aside from laying siege to it, there doesn't seem to be much else we can do."
Aemon answered honestly.
"If we want Braavos to submit, then storming the city isn't necessarily required.
Uncle said it himself, didn't he?
Attacking the heart can be more devastating than attacking the walls."
"His Grace, the King!"
A herald's voice came from outside just as the two were discussing their plans.
When Viserys entered the tent, everyone immediately rose.
Arthur and Marcus followed behind him, one on either side.
Aemon and Aegon both looked at him with burning eyes.
They were young men, after all, and it was only natural for certain ambitions to stir within their hearts.
Viserys had once privately remarked that keeping all the dragon eggs in one place was far too dangerous.
If they wished to wear crowns of their own someday, he would support them in launching expeditions to claim them.
In the future, Westeros and the Free Cities would become territories belonging to the Targaryens, or more precisely, to Viserys.
And farther away, Slaver's Bay, Qarth, Asshai, and even Yi Ti would become places where they could take their armies.
Whenever the two princes imagined that one day they might have such an opportunity themselves, they could barely contain their excitement.
Viserys walked to the map and faced the assembled officers. He first motioned for them to sit, then spoke:
"For more than two hundred years, since the reign of Jaehaerys I, the Braavosi have coveted the dragons of House Targaryen.
They have even threatened us with the Faceless Men.
Ever since I brought House Targaryen to Essos, Freygo has constantly sought to turn us into his vassals.
He even launched repeated large-scale attacks against Gohor for that very purpose.
Now Freygo has joined hands with the Usurper. Robert's rule in Westeros has long been hanging by a thread.
For years, he has imposed heavy levies upon the people, ruthlessly squeezing the common folk until there is nothing left to take.
But if Braavos gains the support it needs, Westeros will be plunged into endless darkness once more!"
Soldiers were not emotionless machines built solely for war.
It was extremely important that they understood what they were fighting for.
Viserys's officers and soldiers included not only men from Westeros, but also people from across Essos.
Viserys then pointed toward the map behind him.
"Braavos can be called the most prosperous of the Free Cities.
But its prosperity has been built upon the blood and tears of others.
Most of the lands I have granted you lie along the Rhoyne. For Braavos to remain powerful, the lands around it must remain in chaos.
That is the fundamental reason Braavos has repeatedly challenged us!"
The slogans used to justify a war were important.
These officers had to understand that if Braavos were allowed to continue interfering, their own lives would become more difficult in the years to come.
"Now the Faceless Men have withdrawn from the war.
Freygo's end is approaching, and it is time for us to settle this once and for all.
Braavos will either submit or be destroyed. There is no third path!"
As he spoke, Viserys drew his sword and drove the blade straight through the location of the Sealord's Palace on the map.
After delivering his battle speech, the officers began leaving the command tent.
Viserys ordered Clinton, the Kingsguard, and several of his closest advisers and senior officers to remain behind.
"Your Grace, taking Braavos will be extremely difficult. I suggest strengthening our fortifications around the city and laying siege to it for years."
Clinton spoke first.
He had confidence that they could eventually conquer Braavos, but they would still have to invade Westeros afterward, and eventually deal with the southern city-states.
They absolutely could not afford to squander too much of their strength here.
Otherwise, they would gain little while suffering enormous losses.
"I know. But we don't actually have that much time either.
We can use the method of cutting slices from a sausage to force the Braavosi to bow their heads."
"Cutting slices from a sausage?"
The strange new phrase immediately caught Aemon and Aegon's attention.
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