Daeron swore he would never forget this painful day!
Nor would he forget Aemond's heartlessness in abandoning him!
And even less would he forget the terrifying strength in Aegon's hand!
Inside the military tent, Aegon summoned Alec, the commander of the fleet, and the captains and first mates of the thirty warships.
"Thank you all very much for your support. I'm sure you are all aware of the situation in the Stepstones.
However, you don't need to worry, we have a lot of aid.
Besides aid, we also have four Dragons.
You can take some time to see them; Vhagar is one of the three founding Dragons, a living legend!
His Majesty has appointed me as the Duke of the Stepstones, so I am the Duke of the Stepstones.
I have the responsibility and obligation to protect the Kingdom's territory!
Given the current situation in the Stepstones, aren't we also expanding the Kingdom's territory?
This is supreme glory!
In the future, songs about you will circulate throughout the Seven Kingdoms, future generations will sing of your deeds, you will be remembered by history, and your achievements will be recorded in the annals of history!"
Aegon raised his wine cup and laughed heartily, "Let's toast to ourselves! To glory!"
"To ourselves! To glory!" Everyone was filled with excitement, as if they could already imagine the moment their deeds were sung by future generations!
The atmosphere inside the military tent was heated, and the temporary port was also not calm.
Helena, as Aegon's fiancée, summoned all the soldiers, a total of two thousand seven hundred people!
Thinking of Aegon's instructions, Helena let out a soft breath and spoke gently, "I am Helena Targaryen, you know my identity."
"The main reason for gathering everyone this time is to express my gratitude.
Everyone knows what coming to the Stepstones means; it means injury, disappearance, and even death!
But you still came, you are not afraid of death! You are brave, fearless naval warriors who are expanding the Kingdom's territory!
But you are not just soldiers, you are also sons of fathers, husbands of wives, and fathers of children!
You are the pillars of your homes!
Prince Aegon has never forgotten this point, and for this, he feels that at least he must put your minds at ease!"
After speaking, Helena waved her hand.
Twenty large chests were carried in front of everyone.
Helena stepped forward and personally opened the wooden chests one by one.
Shiny gold dragons were thus clearly displayed in front of everyone, heavy breathing could be heard, everyone's eyes were eager, staring intently at Helena.
Helena's first half of the speech did make them feel excited and moved.
After all, after war breaks out, politicians never care about the lives of frontline soldiers like them.
But they never expected that Prince Aegon not only cared about them, but even took out real gold and silver!
"Princess!" a soldier suddenly shouted.
Helena looked at him and smiled brightly, "I am here, what is your name?"
"Princess, my name is Newgartel." Newgartel took a deep breath, "I want to ask, if we fight bravely, will these gold dragons really be distributed to us?"
For a moment, everyone's eyes, including Newgartel's, fell on Helena.
Especially Newgartel, his wife had just given birth to triplets for him, three boys!
But he was unlucky and was directly conscripted, for which he was full of resentment and even more fear, worried that his wife would have no support after his death.
He had seen too many families broken up, women without husbands became targets of bullying, and some even ended up selling themselves in brothels!
Being conscripted into the war was now an unchangeable outcome.
But if he could earn a reward based on his experience from the previous two times he served in the army, it would at least ease the pressure on his wife who was taking care of their three sons alone at home.
More or less everyone had the same idea, wanting to earn a reward.
They all had the same concern, which was whether this money would really reach their hands?
Furthermore, if this money was their death benefit, would it reach their families in full?
It was just that they underestimated Aegon's generosity towards soldiers!
Helena didn't waste words but directly instructed the attendants to distribute the money to everyone!
"This is not a reward for your brave fighting, but a resettlement fee for you, five gold dragons per person, and those who perform meritorious service on the battlefield will receive additional rewards.
You can freely use this money or send it to your families.
In addition, if anyone is willing to bring their families to live on Bloodstone Isle or Grey Gallows Isle, they can also enjoy additional subsidies.
Regardless of age or gender, each person will receive a subsidy of five gold dragons and three acres of land, as well as a ten gold dragon fund for building a house."
At this, everyone was stunned. What did this mean, giving money before the war started?
Until five gold dragons fell into his palm, Newgartel still hadn't reacted, staring blankly at the coins in his hand.
Five gold dragons... just like that?
A sea breeze blew, and Newgartel came back to his senses, looking at Helena.
Her silver-gold hair fluttered in the wind, and Newgartel suddenly tightly gripped the five gold dragons in his hand.
"Prince Aegon is the true king!" he shouted, raising his right hand holding the gold dragons.
Seeing this, others also raised their right hands holding gold dragons.
"Prince Aegon is the true king!"
"Prince Aegon is the true king!"
"Prince Aegon is the true king!"
Everyone cheered in unison, so much so that it reached the military tent.
Inside the military tent, everyone who was clinking glasses was instantly stunned.
Soon, a captain with a small mustache who looked very shrewd was the first to react.
He quickly raised his wine cup and shouted, "Prince Aegon is the true king!"
"Don't talk nonsense, there is only one king in Westeros!" Aegon quickly said.
"Who says so? Our eyes are bright!" the mustached captain said loudly.
"Let's raise our wine cups, Prince Aegon is the true king!"
"Prince Aegon is the true king!" Everyone raised their wine cups and shouted in unison!
"Oh dear, you are really causing me trouble!"
Aegon said this, but his hand honestly raised his wine cup, clinked cups with everyone in the air, and drank it down!
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