The Glory of the Seven Gods of Ice and Fire

Chapter 270 Extra: The Expansion and Recovery of the Sea Kingdom (11k)

I. Turmoil and Reorganization in the Gulf Kingdom

While Hugo I was carrying out profound reforms in the kingdom, the old rival of the Ptolemaic dynasty was also facing a storm: although the kingdom's fourth expedition did not achieve its goal of destroying the Sea Kingdom and completely eradicating the Eastern Targaryen Restoration forces, the expedition still dealt a heavy blow to the Gulf Kingdom, and the Prime Minister's prestige in the Gulf Kingdom was also questioned and attacked.

Since its founding, the Hand of Petyr had served as regent under the pretext that King Rhaegar was young and inexperienced in politics, but in reality, he held the highest power in this Eastern kingdom. Over the past decade or so, the Hand of Petyr had indeed achieved remarkable results through his exceptional abilities. After the Queen's death, he reorganized the scattered forces of the Targaryen kingdom into a powerful force, and through continuous overseas expeditions, he distributed profits to various parties, ultimately stabilizing the rule of the Sea Kingdom in the East. All of these were achievements that the Hand of Petyr could not ignore. However, as King Rhaegar Targaryen grew from a toddler into a young man and was about to enter adulthood, the Hand of Petyr's regency became increasingly conspicuous. At the same time, those within the Gulf Kingdom who were dissatisfied and discontented could no longer tolerate being suppressed by Petyr for so many years. Thus, driven by various forces, the calls within the Gulf Kingdom for Rhaegar Targaryen to rule in his own right grew increasingly strong.

According to some surviving materials and accounts, the state's attitude toward these voices at this time was unclear. Some say he was angry and even cursed them, while others record that he didn't care about these voices at all. Of course, to prevent these opinions from spreading further, Petyr took measures to suppress them.

On the Ebony Throne, Rhaegal I witnessed the strife in the temple and the marketplace, but he made no move. Given the Targaryen kings' role as a unifying force within the Gulf Kingdom, perhaps the young king was content with a capable minister governing the kingdom for him—especially since this wise minister would not risk the kingdom's fragmentation and loss of reputation and legacy by usurping his throne. In short, a few breezes did not stir up any waves in the Gulf, and the regent's rule continued steadily until the expedition of the national throne caused the Gulf Kingdom to lose its western territory, at which point the political offensive against Petyr within the kingdom became unstoppable.

Undoubtedly, the fall of Valantis and Mataris shook the kingdom's defenses and made the war of reconquest to the west even more difficult. The valiant defeat of the relief army at the gates of Valantis dealt a heavy blow to the Gulf Kingdom's military strength, with nearly a quarter of its serving nobles lost. Therefore, although the Chancellor's command in this expedition was flawless and indeed achieved the goal of halting the Ptolemaic dynasty's eastward advance, it was still insufficient to heal the kingdom's wounds. From then on, suspicion and doubt towards the Chancellor could no longer be suppressed, and even the high nobles who had worked closely with him began to waver—at this point, the true tide that shattered the peace began to rise.

The Gulf Kingdom then entered a period of great tension. Those close to Petyr and those opposed to him had broken off all pretense of civility and openly antagonized each other. Opportunists, naturally, were also present, seeking to advance their own interests. Affected by this tense atmosphere, the once-prosperous markets of the cities became desolate, and communication between urban and rural areas gradually decreased. In the capital, the royal palace and noble residences were heavily guarded, and security was similarly tightened at all official residences. In safe places, everyone discussed the future of the kingdom. Some believed the prime minister could quell the opposition, while others saw this as the prelude to a larger upheaval.

However, just as the situation was brewing, the whole storm took an unexpected turn due to an announcement, and the matter took a different turn: after an audience, Petyr Baelish, the Prime Minister of the Sea Kingdom, chose to resign from all his posts and hand over all power to the ruling council; subsequently, this powerful minister of the kingdom led his personal guards away from Meereen and went into seclusion in a country estate guarded by his own soldiers.

The Chancellor's retirement caught most people off guard and immediately divided the already divided opposition. There were undeniable objective reasons for this: the Gulf Kingdom was built single-handedly by the Chancellor. If King Rego was the bond that united the various factions within the kingdom, then Chancellor Petyr was its builder and maintainer. Without Petyr's decades of construction and management of the kingdom, without the ten expeditions launched by the Chancellor and the sharing of profits during those expeditions, the Sea Kingdom Dynasty would hardly have transformed from a group of displaced nobles and remnants of a defeated army into a regional power east of the swamps and forests. It was precisely because of this relationship that even the opponents could not find a suitable replacement for Petyr who could simultaneously balance the two major groups, especially since the Tolelet dynasty was still silently watching this eastern kingdom and would never miss an opportunity to destroy these remnants of the Dragon King.

For the current opponents, their main demands are twofold: first, they hope the Chancellor will end his regency and allow the King to begin ruling in his own right; second, they hope the Kingdom will compensate them for the losses they suffered during the Ptolemaic expedition, such as redistributing land and subjects to the service nobles who lost their territories. Aside from the most extreme radicals, most opponents believe that it would be more beneficial for the Kingdom to retain the Chancellor for a while longer: facing the massive Ptolemaic dynasty, the Kingdom has little room for error, and internal strife cannot be allowed to escalate blindly; the King is currently only a young adult and inevitably lacks experience, so the Kingdom needs an experienced minister who can coordinate relations between various parties and assist the King in governing; considering Barristan's advanced age, the Tyrell brothers' lack of prestige, and Lord Roundhead's unfamiliarity with Western affairs, Petyr Baelish remains the best candidate for the position. As long as he does not wield absolute power, respects and returns power to King Rhaego, most people would also like to see the Chancellor continue to shine in the heart of the Kingdom.

In the early days of its founding, the political environment within the Gulf Kingdom was extremely unique. Therefore, only by understanding the special circumstances within the kingdom can later generations who consult historical records understand the subsequent political development of the Gulf Kingdom: After Petyr resigned, King Rego and the ruling council took over the power of the country. On the one hand, they sent troops to protect the safety of Duke Baelish, and on the other hand, they tried to keep the kingdom running steadily without a prime minister. They had to balance the relationship between the two groups of vassals in the east and west of the kingdom, and at the same time, they had to appease Petyr's subordinates and try to promote officials from other backgrounds. How to manage the large number of tribes and vassals in the north of the kingdom was also a problem. In short, six months after Rego I assumed personal rule, the king changed his mind. He sent an envoy to Duke Baelish, requesting that he return to power and assist him in governing the kingdom.

The situation in the Gulf Kingdom has not been peaceful in the past six months. Although the king’s personal rule has stabilized the core of the kingdom, the shock caused by Petyr’s departure from the core of the kingdom outside the Gulf region has still caused serious impact. The ruling council, which has taken over the administration, has to face many unfamiliar and thorny issues that were previously handled by the prime minister. These issues have seriously slowed down the efficiency of the ruling council and provided opportunities for many people to make trouble.

Therefore, during this period, many internal conflicts within the Dragonflight Kingdom began to intensify: the conflict between the Dothraki and the Juggsnae escalated, disputes among the various service nobles gradually escalated, and the relationship between the vassal kingdoms and Meereen became increasingly ambiguous. Although the King and the ruling council had anticipated that taking over Petyr's legacy would inevitably involve a series of political upheavals, the scale of which was completely unexpected. This crisis thoroughly exposed the fragile connection between the kingdom's core and its frontiers. Faced with the signs of division, the King and the ruling council could only make that rational but reluctant choice—to bring Duke Baelish back into power.

However, Petyr, who was living in seclusion in his manor, did not immediately accept the king's order when faced with the king's envoy. "Your Excellency, if you would be willing to enter my courtyard for a moment to rest and admire my cultivated flower garden, you would not be so cruel as to summon me back to the palace and plunge me back into those political vortexes, those blood-tearing storms. Governing a vast and turbulent kingdom is far more exhausting than managing a tranquil manor..." the former prime minister replied to the king's envoy.

Several different opinions circulate regarding the former Chancellor's remarks. Some believe Petyr may have genuinely grown weary of the intrigue and sought peace through seclusion, while others see it as a strategic retreat by Duke Baelish, using his indispensability to negotiate with the King and extract more benefits. Regardless of his motives, the Gulf Kingdom needed Petyr Baelish to return to power and stabilize the situation.

Over the next few days, the former Chancellor and the King held in-depth discussions regarding their respective responsibilities. Finally, after the King promised not to interfere with the Duke's power and bestowed upon him the title of "Chancellor of the Great Power," Lord Petyr was reinstated. Upon returning to power, the Duke of Baelish gained oversight of all the kingdom's territories except for the Gulflands and Lazarin, and became the de facto commander of all the kingdom's armies and fleets, except for the Royal Guard. His throne became even more stable and unshakeable.

II. The Eleventh Expedition of the Gulf Kingdom

Upon regaining power, the Grand Chancellor immediately convened the Kingdom's Council. At this meeting, Petyr established new goals and policies for the Kingdom: the Toller expedition had indeed inflicted heavy losses on the Kingdom, but most of the losses were recoverable—the lost warriors could be replaced by the new generation, and the stolen wealth could be gradually replenished through trade between the Kingdom and the East—the Holy King's army ultimately failed to penetrate the Gulflands, and the Kingdom's core region was spared from the ravages of war. Therefore, although the material losses suffered by the Kingdom during the expedition were staggering, they were not a truly thorny issue for the Grand Chancellor and the Council.

In the eyes of the Grand Chancellor, the real issue that could shake the Gulf Kingdom's regional hegemony was the loss of prestige resulting from defeat. This was fatal for the Dragon Kingdom, even more urgent than the fall of Valantis. Due to inherent weaknesses, the Sea Kingdom's vast territory and regional hegemony in the East were largely maintained by the prestige and benefits gained from a series of wars. However, with the kingdom's defeat in the battle against the Kingdom of Toller, the myth of the Sea Kingdom's invincible army was shattered. As a result, morale began to waver, and many vassals began to harbor ulterior motives, preparing to break free from the kingdom's influence with their own territories.

Of all these regions, the most perilous are the Great Grass Sea and the Iban Kingdom.

As for the Great Grass Sea, since the death of Daenerys Targaryen, the Targaryen family and the Gulf Kingdom's control over the Great Grass Sea has been unstable. Although the Great Powers, with the help of the Juggsnae, regained control of the Great Grass Sea, the connection between Meereen and this vast land was too fragile. Even if more cities were rebuilt and more tribes were established, the steppe people would still have room for their own choices—moreover, the above measures also strengthened their power. As the Kingdom's power was weakened by the defeat, the tribes of the Great Grass Sea began to stir, and this became more pronounced the further away from Meereen they were.

As for the Kingdom of Iban, the submission of this far-northern kingdom is entirely based on the military suppression of the Sea Kingdom's army. The God-King is unwilling to kneel before the little brats on the pyramids. When the Sea Kingdom's power is weakened, he will inevitably seek an opportunity to launch a counterattack against the hegemony in the south. Moreover, the Sea Kingdom's previous expansionist actions have already made this northern kingdom wary. In order to prevent their homeland from one day becoming the fiefdom of the serving nobles, the God-King and the opponents have temporarily reached a reconciliation and united against the outside world. At present, the Kingdom of Iban is still nominally a vassal of the Sea Kingdom, but the God-King continues to maintain it only to avoid being the first to speak out. They are closely monitoring the situation in the south and re-examining the small city-states on the northern coast of the continent. If the power in the south continues to shrink, this kingdom will immediately break away from the Meereen system.

Following the Sea Kingdom's previous practice, the Grand Chancellor would inevitably have planned an expedition to address the turmoil in the north, using force to subdue the unruly tribes and vassals. However, with the Jugnes also beginning to act independently, the cost of using force against the Grass Sea tribes had greatly increased. A protracted campaign against the north would not only exacerbate the depletion of the Sea Kingdom's power, but the Ptolemaic Dynasty might also find an opportunity to intervene. Whether by supporting the Grass Sea tribes' resistance or by personally attacking the Gulflands, both options would plunge the kingdom into a greater crisis and a more uncertain future—a path unacceptable to the entire kingdom. Therefore, after careful consideration, the Grand Chancellor chose to stabilize morale through military achievements and wealth. Considering that the lands and wealth in the west had been almost entirely divided between the Sea Kingdom and the Ptolemaic Dynasty, the Grand Chancellor turned his attention to the other side of the Bone Mountains—the rich but chaotic Far East.

To achieve new goals, the Grand Chancellor attempted a temporary easing of tensions with his old rival, Hugo I. In the following period, the Gulf Kingdom repeatedly sent envoys to King's Landing and Hugo's city, requesting a truce with the Ptolemaic dynasty to end the war and exchange prisoners as quickly as possible. At this time, King Hugo was undertaking further reforms and needed a stable external environment. Therefore, in the spring of the second year after the Grand Chancellor regained power, the National Throne and the Gulf Kingdom concluded a two-year truce agreement, with the possibility of extension if things went smoothly.

This time, the Sea Kingdom's leadership correctly assessed the state's movements. They believed that after the usurpers had a temporary respite from their arduous expeditions and protracted border conflicts, the false king and his cronies would be more willing to choose temporary reconciliation, prisoner exchange, and a relatively long-term peace treaty. Meanwhile, the Sea Kingdom was also eager to gain more advantages for eastward expansion from the peace treaty with the usurpers, such as retrieving those captured or forced to surrender during the Ptolemaic expedition. Therefore, the Sea Kingdom dynasty and its vassal states concluded a truce peace treaty with the state's throne. Besides the most basic provisions, this treaty also covered the location and number of border troops, rules of navigation at sea, protection of messengers and envoys, and the treatment of fugitives.

However, this peace treaty only included the National Throne, the Gulf Kingdom, and its vassal states. The National Throne's three allies on the eastern continent, namely Kohor, Norfos, and Loras, were not included. Although the National Throne had declared that an attack by the Sea Kingdom's army on the three allies would be tantamount to breaking the treaty, neither of the two great powers could exert much control over the conflicts between the three allies and the Sea Kingdom's vassal states. The conflict between the northern city-states and the Kingdom of Iban was very long-standing, and the destruction of Braavos did not change this. King's Landing and Meereen had little intention of interfering in their disputes, but they made a mutual promise not to interfere with their vassal states and allies.

The above is the ceasefire agreement agreed upon by both parties. During the period when this treaty was in effect, the two kingdoms continued to send envoys to hold many meetings, and the duration of the treaty was continuously extended. It provided a stable external environment for the reforms of the Ptolemaic dynasty and the eastern conquests of the Sea Kingdom, until the Sea Kingdom's thirteenth expedition broke it.

Next, I will briefly explain the eleventh and twelfth expeditions; the content regarding the breaking of the peace treaty and the thirteenth expedition will be described in the next section.

After the peace treaty was signed, in return for the cessation of border conflicts, the throne of the nation also fulfilled its promises. Tollet not only actively exchanged prisoners with the Gulf Kingdom, but also allowed adventurers who craved power and wealth to spontaneously travel to the East. Although this measure was partly aimed at expelling unstable elements, it also provided the Gulf Kingdom with real strength. When this group of people who crossed the East safely arrived in Meereen, the Grand Chancellor of Petyr launched the Gulf Kingdom's eleventh expedition.

After sailing away from Meereen and Tranquil Bay, the Sea Kingdom's expeditionary force headed east. The army first subdued the Whip Island kingdom, then seized the islands of Mora and Scorpion-tailed Beasts. During the Baratheon dynasty, this was the easternmost transit port on the new southern sea route. Although the islands of Moraak, Valhalla, and Elephant Island had been controlled by the Sea Kingdom during the Eighth Expedition, some experienced Throne merchant fleets were still able to bypass the Sea Kingdom's blockade and sail directly from Goros to these two islands without transit ports, and then from there to Asshal, bringing back considerable wealth for their families and the Ptolemaic dynasty. Now that they controlled this area, the Ptolemaic people would no longer be able to trade with Asshal on their own. The Sea Kingdom would completely monopolize trade between the West and the East—and do it even better than its predecessor, Qarth.

After conquering these islands, the Grand Chancellor continued the tradition of the Sea Kingdom Dynasty, bestowing local lands, properties, and even people upon the members of the expeditionary force based on the will of King Rego. He then turned his attention to the core objectives of this expedition—Island of Thunder and Assassin Island. In the ruling council's plan, the former would provide the Gulf Kingdom with inexhaustible resources, while the latter would become the kingdom's most important trading partner. Therefore, after the expeditionary force left the Scorpion-tailed Beast Islands, it quickly split into two fleets: the larger fleet, laden with soldiers, sailed north to Island of Thunder, poised to bring the kingdom new conquests; the smaller fleet, carrying various supplies urgently needed by the City of Shadows, would head east to demonstrate the kingdom's goodwill to this city of the rising sun.

The Gulf Kingdom made thorough preparations for the eleventh expedition, and as the Grand Chancellor had planned, the expeditionary force's subsequent conquests proceeded very smoothly.

In the north, the kingdom's army that landed on Lei Island landed near the capital in the south of the island and quickly swept through the large island. After several counterattacks were repelled, the empress chose to submit to the Sea Kingdom, and the Grand Chancellor quickly sent a Sea Kingdom nobleman to the empress's court. Previously, the empress's principal wife controlled the army and her concubines controlled the fleet. Now, this new husband from the west will command the royal guards, who also came from the west, to guard the country's capital and court.

Meanwhile, in the East, good news also arrived from the fleet heading to the City of Shadows. Faced with a fleet laden with food and goods, the vast and remote city extended a friendly signal. Ships from the Sea Kingdom docked at Blackrock Harbor, unloading supplies from the Land of Sunshine and loading wealth equal in weight. The city was indeed as wealthy as legend had it. Some considered this wealth unclean, but the people of the Sea Kingdom didn't care about the source of the gold. Before leaving Assassin, several young nobles remained in the city. According to local custom, they would become the adopted sons of a chieftain or wealthy merchant. Undoubtedly, Assassin had extended an olive branch to the Dragon Kingdom; perhaps due to the prolonged war in the Far East, the City of Shadows desperately needed a powerful and stable trading partner.

The friendliness of Assassin delighted the Grand Chancellor. The results of the expedition even exceeded his best expectations. The wealth obtained from plundering, collecting, or trading from various places almost filled every ship the expeditionary force could find. As a result, the Grand Chancellor had to withdraw the army in batches and leave the veteran general Moreno Dubo to manage the soldiers who were temporarily stranded on Rey Island.

When the first returning expeditionary force landed at the docks of Meereen, the entire city cheered for them. The Sea Kingdom's sweeping conquest of the Far East restored the kingdom's prestige, and the fleet's overflowing wealth stabilized the turbulent emotions within the city. At the Great Pyramid in the royal palace, King Rego received the army's generals and meritorious officials, bestowing upon them rewards and announcing a grand triumphal procession for the royal army a month later. It was at this procession that King Iban and representatives of the Grass Sea tribes who had not participated in the expedition sent pledging allegiance to the king before the entire city, and the king promptly bestowed upon them wealth and official positions. This event marked the Gulf Kingdom's resurgence in control of the north.

However, beyond the celebratory seas, the King, the Grand Chancellor, and the ruling council remained pessimistic about the kingdom's future. Although the Sea Kingdom's internal troubles had been temporarily resolved, the wealth of Lei Island and Yasha alone might not be enough for its goal of restoring the West. Therefore, the kingdom ultimately set its sights on the divided giant, the Golden Heavenly Dynasty of Yidi. However, what they didn't expect was that the opportunity to intervene would soon appear before the kingdom. III. The Twelfth Expedition of the Sea Kingdom Dynasty
After the eleventh expedition, a very delicate relationship was formed between the Gulf Kingdom and the various forces in Yi. Specifically, at this time, officials, warlords and lords in Yi and even the entire Far East generally held the Gulf Kingdom and King Rego in great awe. Never before had a Western king had such a profound influence on the Far East.

This phenomenon can perhaps be understood from three aspects:
First, the destruction of Qarth and the Isle of Thunder, and the submission of the Juggnes to the Targaryens, likely amplified the fear of the Lords of the Land of the Sea regarding the Sea Kingdom.

Although both regions had been conquered by the Golden Dynasty, Qarth and Rae Island, as friendly neighbors to the dynasties of Yi for thousands of years, still held a high status and prestige in Yi. However, when they were destroyed or conquered by the Sea Kingdom, this prestige was transferred to the Sea Kingdom to some extent; this fear and awe of the Sea Kingdom became even more pronounced after news of the Jugsnae tribes who fled west eventually submitted to the Sea Kingdom and called King Rae a Jahata reached back to Yi.

Moreover, since the Gulf Kingdom's main power was located on the other side of the treacherous Skeleton Mountains, and the long sea trade routes to the west were also completely controlled by the Gulf Kingdom, this western kingdom became increasingly mysterious to the lords of Yi. This unknown likely fueled the lords' unrealistic imaginations about the power of the Sea Kingdom, since they only knew that the Sea Kingdom occupied vast western lands, but were unclear about exactly how far its territory extended westward.

Secondly, the Gulf Kingdom's assertive stance in the Far East was also closely related to the international situation at the time.

At the same time that King Robert conquered the East, the land of Yi fell into division. As the legitimate Azure Dynasty weakened, General Poshon, who controlled the northern border army, established his own regime and proclaimed himself Emperor of the Orange Dynasty. The infamous wizard lord also raised the banner of restoring the Yellow Dynasty and occupied the border city of Cacosa, establishing his own independent regime.

However, although Bo Xiong's rebellion was powerful, his initial attempt to seize the capital failed, and he was unable to gain a foothold in the southern part of Yi, which was heavily influenced by the Azure Dynasty. He had no choice but to retreat to the northern frontier to recuperate. Subsequently, he became embroiled in a spiral of repeated struggles with the Azure Dynasty for key strategic points. This intense war also directly led the Yellow Dynasty in the east to abandon its plan to quickly acquire the divine artifact. From then on, the chaos in the Golden Dynasty never ceased.

To make matters worse, the balance of power among the three emperors led to a prolonged rebellion that allowed local princes and officials to grow increasingly powerful, particularly in the Azure Dynasty. As the central army and imperial guards directly under the emperor were weakened in the civil war, the Azure Dynasty's control over the local areas and local armies suffered a severe setback. In addition, the Azure Emperor relied more and more on local military forces in the war against the Orange Dynasty. With no one to restrain them, the local heroes naturally began to disregard the emperor's authority. They not only acted arrogantly and recklessly in the court, but also frequently wavered between the three emperors, bargaining with the Azure Emperor for military intervention. Even though some local forces remained largely loyal to the Azure Emperor, the court, located in the capital, found it difficult to control them.

Over time, the authority of the Azure Dynasty gradually waned. The emperor only retained power within the capital, while the powerful figures outside the capital held actual control over the royal territory. Further out, countless bandits, religious leaders, sorcerers, warlords, and tax collectors carved up the land. As for the Orange and Yellow Dynasties, although they had strong and respected monarchs, as the situation became increasingly chaotic, they were forced to decentralize much power and share many benefits with local areas, thus losing the strength they had at the beginning of the rebellion.

Therefore, when the civil war in Yidi reached a balance of power and neither side could immediately attack the other, maintaining good relations with the powerful Gulf Kingdom in the distance became an important bargaining chip for winning the struggle for supremacy. Putting aside Buhai and Boxiong for the time being, even the Wizard Emperor, who was far away at the end of the world and had no borders with the Sea Kingdom, was willing to show goodwill to them.

Finally, and most importantly, after occupying Lei Island and the Yuhai Islands and dominating trade between Asia and the outside world, the Sea Kingdom Dynasty had monopolized the trade of precious metals and luxury goods in the eastern part of the known world. This forced the vassal states of Yi to curry favor with the Sea Kingdom to obtain wealth from overseas.

Due to internal strife in the Yi region and a series of wars in the West since the Great Expedition, although the new southern sea route of Baratheon had brought the two parts of the world closer together, the Far East trade network had not yet recovered to the level of prosperity that Valyria and the Golden Empire had when they coexisted. The lords of the Yi region were highly dependent on resources from the south and Assassin, but could not spare the power to influence the local area. Therefore, many years after the Golden Empire withdrew its forces from the southern Far East, the Sea Kingdoms from the west filled the power vacuum in the archipelago and the coast, and the maritime trade in the Far East was almost entirely controlled by the Gulf Kingdoms.

Meanwhile, although a land trade route existed between Yi and Yaxia, seemingly more important, the shadowy land of chaos and ubiquitous bandits had drastically reduced its value. Conversely, after the Sea Kingdom controlled the Jade Sea, the regular mobilization of its fleet, the Thunder Island fleet, and even the fleets of smaller states like Chan to sweep away pirates from various regions significantly improved the maritime trade routes in the Far East. During this period, not only were there numerous Sea Kingdom merchants active along the coast of Yi, but their presence was also felt in the interior.

Of course, while the three factors mentioned above may have earned the Sea Kingdom much prestige, its strength was not entirely based on the imagination of the Yi people. During this period, despite suffering heavy losses from the Ptolemaic expedition, the Gulf Kingdom remained more powerful and stable than any of the Yi vassal states.

In conclusion, although the Gulf Kingdom suffered setbacks in its struggle against the Ptolemaic dynasty in the west, its prestige in the Far East began to rise sharply as the Grand Vizier of Petyr turned his strategy eastward. King Rego earned the title of "Great King" among the nobles and lords of the Far East, and his status became prominent. When conflicts arose between the princely states and warlords along the Jade Sea coast, they even sought King Rego's assistance for arbitration.

Therefore, as the influence of the Gulf Kingdom grew stronger, the three emperors of Zhuoluyi also sent envoys to Meereen: each emperor hoped to form a close alliance with the Sea Kingdom, among which the letter from the Azure Dynasty emperor Bu Kai was the most sincere. In the letter, this legitimate emperor promised the Gulf Kingdom an extremely high commission. In exchange, King Rego needed to send the "invincible and unconquerable" Sea Kingdom army to join the emperor's war of rebellion and eliminate the false emperor Bo Xiong who had seized control of the north.

For the Grand Chancellor and the entire Gulf Kingdom, the arrival of the Emperor of Yi was an unexpected surprise. The Grand Chancellor immediately dispatched an envoy to reply to the Azure Sky King. In the letter, Petyr promised that the Sea Kingdom would send at least 20,000 troops to assist the Azure Sky King in "suppressing the rebellion." To further strengthen relations and the alliance between the two countries, if necessary, King Rego would marry a princess of Yi after the war. Similarly, the Emperor, in his reply, expressed his gratitude for the Gulf Kingdom's assistance and promised to do everything in his power to fulfill his promise regarding the army's rewards.

With the precedent of the eleventh expedition, the entire kingdom was enthusiastic about this eastern campaign, and the twelfth expedition was immediately put on the agenda. For the sake of the wealth of Yi, after renewing the peace treaty with the throne, the Grand General mobilized the entire Gulf Kingdom's forces. He not only converted General Dubo's residence on Rae Island into the Kingdom's Eastern Expeditionary General's Mansion, but also spent over a year recruiting men, building ships, and training the army. Considering that Poshon possessed a large cavalry force, he also recruited numerous warriors from the various tribes of the Grass Sea, even accepting adventurers and mercenaries from the Tollet Dynasty. Ultimately, an army of over 50,000 men departed the port of Qarth aboard a fleet.

Upon arriving in the Far East, the expeditionary force quickly joined forces with the Eastern Expeditionary Army led by Moreno Dubois, bringing the total number of the expeditionary force to nearly 60,000. Afterward, this massive army marched north and arrived in Yidu on the agreed date.

However, in contrast to the high morale of the expeditionary force, their employer, Bu Xiao, became uneasy looking at the massive army below the city. When the total number of this army was presented to the emperor, his fears were confirmed—the number of mercenaries who arrived exceeded the emperor's expectations. Even if the Yidu treasury was emptied, 20,000 men would still not receive their wages.

Faced with the current deficit, the Emperor was deeply troubled. With ordinary transactions, though embarrassing, the debts could eventually be repaid through taxes. But mercenaries were different. Without their commissions, they would run rampant on their employers' lands, extorting and plundering everything in sight. Left with no other option, the Emperor sent envoys to Petyr in secret talks, hoping to resolve the issue peacefully. Ultimately, the Emperor and the Grand Chancellor reached an agreement: the Emperor acknowledged the expeditionary force's right to dispose of rebellious areas during the campaign against Possun, would not inquire about the wealth confiscated by the expeditionary force, and would allow the Seven Gods Cult to spread their doctrines throughout the land. In exchange, the expeditionary force accepted the Emperor's condition of only paying commissions to 40,000 men, a fact concealed from the lower ranks.

Next, like a rampaging wild boar, the Sea Kingdom's expeditionary force quelled the rebellious traitors throughout Yi. For the lords of Yi, the intrusion of these foreigners was completely unexpected. With the cooperation of the emperor's army, the Sea Kingdom people swept across the land like a whirlwind. From Xingdu to Tiqu, city after city was recovered by the Azure Dynasty, and one prince and warlord after another was subdued by the expeditionary force. In the end, even the Jiugesnai people of the northern grasslands joined the war, heading south to seek revenge against Boxiong.

As a military-trained emperor, despite his adversity, Bo Xiong would not sit idly by. He deployed his troops on the main road to the trading town, preparing to lead the Orange-Yellow Dynasty army to fight a decisive battle against the allied forces of the Azure Dynasty and the Sea Kingdom. However, before the Sea Kingdom army from the south could arrive, the Jiugesnai people, who were moving south from the north, launched a surprise attack on Bo Xiong's supply train in the rear. As a result, the morale of the army plummeted, and even a large number of newly conscripted soldiers deserted. Helpless, the Orange-Yellow Emperor had no choice but to order a retreat to the north. But shortly after the army set off, his rearguard discovered the vanguard of the Sea Kingdom army.

Then a long pursuit began. During the arduous twenty-three-day march, nineteen battles were recorded. At first, Pochon's army was relatively well-organized, with the King personally leading the rearguard to repel several attacks. However, as the Juggsnae tribe began to gather, this slowly retreating army was constantly harassed and eventually collapsed. Amidst the chaos, Pochon still led a personal guard in battle, attempting to fight his way out, but was killed by Bronn of Westeros. The Juggsnae, having avenged their great grudge, had his remains enshrined as a ceremonial object. The "Hammer of Juggsnae" later became the "Drum of Juggsnae".

When news of Bo Xiong's death arrived, the trading town surrendered, and the Orange Dynasty vanished, leaving only remnants hiding in the countryside. As previously agreed, the Sea Kingdom's army still controlled the vast western lands of Yi, partly to eliminate any remaining rebels and partly to more effectively levy and confiscate local wealth to offset the Emperor's commission shortfall. To achieve this, Petir, in the Emperor's name, pardoned many powerful families, allowing them to help the Sea Kingdom plunder wealth.

Initially, the Azure Emperor tacitly approved of the Sea Kingdom's actions. However, as his tax officials presented the recalculated figures, the Emperor discovered that the west was far wealthier than he had anticipated. Continued plundering would yield the Sea Kingdom far more wealth than the agreed-upon commission. Furthermore, reports from numerous officials proved that many Sea Kingdom troops were not adhering to their agreements with the Azure Dynasty, leaving Azure Dynasty officials with empty granaries. Faced with this situation, the Emperor regretted his lenient control over the Sea Kingdom's army. The Royal Army's impressive performance on the battlefield gave him the confidence to renegotiate with the Sea Kingdom. Therefore, he seized the Sea Kingdom's fleet and a large quantity of spoils being transported back to the rear, intending to use them as leverage in negotiations with the major powers.

The emperor's flip-flopping greatly displeased the expeditionary force. They sent representatives to negotiate with the emperor's officials, hoping to reach a new consensus. However, several months passed, and not only was no consensus reached, but the emperor's attitude worsened, even cutting off their food supplies. At this point, the Grand Chancellor realized the situation was beyond repair. He quickly announced the truth to the entire army. Subsequently, the enraged expeditionary force expelled the emperor's officials, reinstated their own powerful clans, and left their winter camp in Tiqu, marching south towards the Yi capital.

On their southward march, the Sea Kingdom's army swept through the land, repeatedly defeating the royal forces that came to quell their rebellion; many of them had fought alongside them not long ago. On their way to the capital, driven by rage, the Sea Kingdom's people plundered villages and towns along the way, and when their army reached the capital, the manors and towns outside the city walls suffered the same fate. Thus began a battle no less massive than the siege of Valantis.

Beneath the walls of Yidu, the Grand Chancellor spent two weeks deploying troops and fortifications. His plan for the siege was simple: first, blast a sufficiently large breach with siege engines; then, overwhelm the defenders with superior military force, capturing the city before officials and troops from other regions could muster sufficient reinforcements. Throughout the siege, the Hai Kingdom army relentlessly pelted the city walls with stones, attempting to breach them for two full months. Several breaches were breached, but the fierce resistance of the Imperial Guards repelled the Hai Kingdom's attacks, resulting in a prolonged stalemate. No one knew how long the siege would last.

The turning point came from within the city. In contrast to the united Sea Kingdom army, which was far from home, the court within the capital was divided. Many high-ranking officials and nobles did not want to clash with the Sea Kingdom people in the first place, but now that the Sea Kingdom army was at the city gates, they blamed everything on the emperor.

Among these noble families, the most resolute was the Feng clan of Jingzhao. They were descendants of a minor branch of the fifth emperor of the Azure Dynasty, and in recent years had held many important positions in the court, thus incurring the emperor's suspicion and suppression. Just a year prior, the eldest son of the clan head, Feng Zhi, had died young under suspicious circumstances, leaving behind only a young daughter. His second son, Feng Ying, was also convicted and exiled to an island shortly afterward, his fate unknown. Now, only the youngest son, Feng Hua, had survived. Fueled by deep-seated hatred, Feng Zhi quickly made secret dealings with the Grand Chancellor of a powerful state outside the city. He demanded that King Rego marry his granddaughter, Saki, in exchange for the Feng clan's forces seizing the city gates and assisting the Sea Kingdom's army in conquering other territories still loyal to the Azure Dynasty after the city fell. The Grand Chancellor agreed to his demands.

Thus, Yidu finally fell. The resisters were slaughtered, the opponents were purged, and even Emperor Bu Kai became a prisoner of the Grand Chancellor, imprisoned in Meereen, and the Azure Dynasty, which had lasted for seventeen generations, perished. Now, the Grand Chancellor has become the ruler of Yi, and the countless riches accumulated by the ancient kingdom have fallen into his hands. This unprecedented achievement has made his position unshakeable. Similarly, the Dragon Kingdom has finally recovered from the shock of defeat, and its hegemony in the East has been firmly established.

However, despite his great success in the Far East, the Grand Chancellor did not forget why he came from there, nor did he forget that there were still many loyal subjects of the Azure Dynasty in Yi. Therefore, on the one hand, he tried his best to relocate the people and wealth plundered from Yi to the Gulf region, and on the other hand, he and Toyoji jointly supported a puppet emperor named Karataka, and this puppet dynasty was called the Asamiyaku Dynasty.

Finally, under the emperor's "decree," Toyoharu was appointed as the governor and garrison commander of the Asamiya Dynasty, not only controlling the military forces within the region but also having the responsibility of supervising and replacing officials in various places. To consolidate the new emperor's rule, the Grand Chancellor left "Round-Headed Lord" Skalatz and the Beast-Faced Army in Yidu, and then left Yidi with the expeditionary force and countless spoils of war.

(End of this chapter)