"To use slowness to counter speed?"
Baron Green nodded and said, "Yes, Duke. What I feel is most unfair to you is that they don't consider the entire situation as you do; they only care about immediate gains and losses."
"While Randyll Tarly, Earl of Highgarden, did defeat the Stormlands coalition as their vanguard, earning him the title of a renowned general, however... looking back now, his victory actually indirectly aided the Stormlands coalition, laying a hidden danger for the failure of the Dragon Family's forces."
Duke Mace Tyrell said with some displeasure, "Baron Green, Randyll Tarly, Earl is my vassal."
Baron Green's expression remained unchanged, as if completely unaware: "My apologies, Duke, I greatly respect Randyll Tarly, Earl and mean no offense. I am merely seeking your guidance on military matters."
Duke Mace Tyrell first nodded with difficulty, then said, "I believe you are sincere... *cough*, according to you, why would Randyll Tarly, Earl's victory actually be detrimental to the overall war situation?"
Baron Green respectfully said, "Duke, allow me to repeat, I am merely analyzing the war situation at that time."
Baron Green spread his hands and continued, "Regardless of the reason, the Stormlands coalition at that time were rebels. Rebels all have a weakness: although their morale is high at first, this cohesion doesn't last. The longer the war drags on, the more disadvantageous it is for them, so they need to speed up the pace of the war and engage the Dragon Family in a decisive battle quickly while morale is high."
Baron Green paused and said, "I call this 'using speed to counter speed'."
Duke Mace Tyrell nodded slightly, stroked his triangular beard, and said, "It's rare to find someone who can view problems from a holistic perspective... please continue."
Baron Green bowed in thanks.
"This is just my conjecture. I think there are many talented people in the Red Keep, and at first, the Dragon Family also considered adopting the 'using slowness to counter speed' tactic, Duke. However, Randyll Tarly, Earl's victory led people to mistakenly believe that the Stormlands coalition could be easily defeated.
The result was that no one could persuade, or no one continued to persuade, the Dragon Family, who had likely already lost patience, to continue using slowness to counter speed. From that moment on, Prince Rhaegar led the Dragon Family's forces to actively seek a decisive battle with the Stormlands coalition, and the advantage in the war began to shift towards the rebels. Perhaps from that point, the Dragon Family's defeat was already sealed."
Baron Green sighed: "This is also a problem that troubles all military strategists. War relies on generals, but generals only know how to charge with their swords. They don't understand strategy; they only believe in immediate victories and take pride in them.
At the same time, the world is short-sighted and prefers to focus on the passion of war. They find it difficult to understand what true victory on the battlefield is, and they certainly don't understand your art of war."
That's so well said... Baron Green's words soothed the pain that had long been hidden in Duke Mace's heart.
He powerfully proved my military talent... Baron Green earned Duke Mace's approval.
This young man who came from afar understands me!
...
Duke Mace Tyrell's gaze showed satisfaction, and his tone was amiable: "I remember many members of the House Clebber joined the Kingsguard. Now it seems that although your family lost a lot in that war, you did gain something after all."
Baron Green nodded and said, "Yes, Duke, your insight is sharp. That sufficiently painful experience made Kleber finally understand that war cannot rely solely on courage and swords; it also requires the wisdom of strategy."
Baron Green shrugged and said with a smile, "My mother only hoped... to raise me to be a person like Duke Mace. She was very strict, so my childhood consisted only of books and swords. Looking back now, I don't even know how I got through it."
Baron Green's words and gestures made Duke Mace laugh uncontrollably.
Duke Mace Tyrell, in a very good mood, amiably patted Baron Green and said, "You are a guest from afar. Please stay tonight and have dinner with us."
Baron Green bowed with his hand over his chest: "Thank you for your invitation, it's an honor."
...
Margaery Tyrell, the listener and observer, witnessed the rapidly warming relationship between her father and Baron Green.
Was her father, whom her grandmother called senile, such an impressive person after all?
Could it be that her grandmother had misjudged him?
Margaery Tyrell shook her head inwardly. She had been personally trained by her grandmother since childhood, and no one understood her grandmother's exceptional wisdom better than her.
Margaery Tyrell had known for a long time that although her father, Duke Mace, was the leader of the Golden Rose Family, he was in reality a figurehead.
Her father, jokingly referred to as "Lord Inflatable Fish," although he tried to use his performance in the "Usurper's War" to prove his military talent, most people felt that her father had made no contribution to that war.
...
Her father, Duke Mace, needed prestige.
The content Baron Green described, combined with what Margaery knew, was all very convincing.
Margaery Tyrell felt that Baron Green was not merely flattering her father to gain his favor; he was vindicating her father, Duke Mace!
The intelligent Margaery understood Duke Mace very well; she knew her father was even more pleased now than he appeared to be.
Margaery felt that her excited father had not yet realized the value in Baron Green's novel statements.
However, how to leverage that value still required Margaery to plan carefully.
Duke Mace needed prestige, which was in the interest of the Golden Rose Family.
At this moment, Margaery was guessing what Baron Green's purpose might be.
...
...
Baron Green did not ignore Margaery's presence nearby.
Baron Green's original plan was to first increase Duke Mace's favorability and gain a certain level of trust today, then find an opportunity tomorrow to disclose the purpose of his visit to Duke Mace.
Baron Green worried that after today, the Golden Rose Family, having a history of caution, might isolate Duke Mace again.
If it happened again, Baron Green's reasons would not be sufficient.
Baron Green braced himself; it might not be perfect, but it could be flexible.
Baron Green leaned slightly towards Duke Mace and whispered, "Duke Mace, have you heard the news about Prime Minister Jon's health?"
Duke Mace asked in confusion, "Hmm, I heard that Duke Jon's health hasn't been very good in recent years."
Baron Green glanced at Margaery, who was still staring at him, the meaning unspoken.
What does Baron Green mean?
Margaery Tyrell maintained a shallow smile, using the etiquette she had accumulated over more than a decade to perfectly conceal her emotions.
Duke Mace chuckled, "Baron Green, there's no need to be so careful. Highgarden Castle is absolutely safe for you."
Baron Green... wasn't her father's address to him a bit too intimate?
Margaery couldn't help but glance at her amiable father.
"Duke Mace, have you considered the heavy responsibility of the King's Hand?"
"King's Hand?"
"Yes, assisting the King in handling kingdom affairs, commanding the entire realm on behalf of the King, leading all armies, and administering justice. When the King cannot be present, he sits on the Iron Throne and acts as ruler of the entire realm."