Chapter 82: Military Strategist
"Using slowness to defeat speed?"
Glyn nodded. "Yes, Lord Mace. What I find most unfair for you is that they don't consider the overall situation as you do; they only calculate short-term gains and losses."
"As the vanguard of Highgarden, Lord Randyll Tarly did indeed crush the Stormlands army and earned the reputation of a great general, but... looking back now, his victory actually helped the Stormlands army in a way, sowing the seeds of defeat for the Targaryen forces."
Lord Mace Tyrell said with some displeasure, "Lord Glyn, Randyll Tarly is my vassal."
Glyn's expression remained unchanged, as if he hadn't noticed. "Forgive my presumption, Your Grace. I have great respect for Lord Randyll Tarly and mean no ill will. I am simply seeking your instruction on military matters."
Lord Mace Tyrell nodded hesitantly before speaking. "I believe you are sincere... Ahem. In your view, why was Lord Randyll Tarly's victory detrimental to the overall war effort?"
Glyn said respectfully, "Your Grace, forgive me for repeating myself, but I am merely analyzing the war as it was then."
Glyn spread his hands and continued, "Regardless of the reasons, the Stormlands army's status at the time was that of a rebel army. All rebel armies share a weakness: while their morale is high at the start, this cohesion doesn't last. The longer the war drags on, the more disadvantaged they become. Therefore, they needed to accelerate the pace of the war and seek a decisive battle with the Targaryens while their morale was still high."
Glyn paused. "I call this fighting speed with speed."
Lord Mace Tyrell nodded slightly, stroking his spade-shaped beard. "It is rare to find someone who can see the bigger picture... Continue."
Glyn bowed his head in thanks.
"This is just my speculation. I imagine that with the great talent in the Red Keep, House Targaryen initially considered adopting Your Grace's tactic of using slowness against speed. However, Lord Randyll Tarly's victory led people to mistakenly believe that the Stormlands army could be easily defeated."
"The consequence was that no one could persuade them otherwise, or perhaps no one continued to try, to make the Targaryens, who had likely already lost their patience, stick to the 'slow against fast' strategy. From that moment on, Prince Rhaegar led the Targaryen army to actively seek a decisive battle with the Stormlands forces. The advantage began to shift to the rebels, and perhaps, the fate of House Targaryen was sealed right then."
Glyn sighed. "This is a problem that gives all military strategists a headache. You must rely on your generals to fight a war, but generals often only know how to raise their swords and charge. They don't understand strategy; they only believe in the victory before their eyes and take pride in it."
"At the same time, the world is short-sighted and prefers to focus on the heat of battle. They can hardly understand what true victory on the battlefield is, let alone appreciate your art of war."
*Well said...* Glyn's words soothed a pain Lord Mace had long hidden in the depths of his heart.
*He has powerfully proven my military talent...* Glyn had won Lord Mace's approval.
*This young man from a faraway land understands me!*
...
Lord Mace Tyrell's gaze was filled with relief, and he spoke warmly, "I recall that quite a few members of House Crabbe joined the Kingsguard. It seems now that although you lost much in that war, you still gained something in the end."
Glyn nodded. "Yes, Your Grace. Your insight is sharp. That painful experience finally made House Crabbe understand that war cannot be won with courage and swords alone; it requires the wisdom of strategy."
Glyn shrugged and said with a smile, "My mother hoped... to raise me to be a man like you, Lord Mace. She was very strict, so my childhood consisted only of books and swords. Looking back, I don't even know how I endured it."
Glyn's words, combined with his gestures, made Lord Mace laugh heartily.
In high spirits, Lord Mace Tyrell clapped Glyn warmly on the shoulder. "You are a guest from a distant land. Stay for supper tonight."
Glyn placed a hand over his heart and bowed his head. "Thank you for your invitation. I would be honored."
...
A listener and observer, Margaery Tyrell witnessed the rapidly warming relationship between her father and Glyn.
*Was the father my grandmother calls a fool truly such a formidable person?*
*Could her grandmother have misjudged him?*
Margaery Tyrell shook her head inwardly. She had been personally groomed by her grandmother since childhood; no one knew the depths of her grandmother's wisdom better than she.
Margaery had known from a young age that although her father, Lord Mace, was the head of House Tyrell, he was so in name only.
Her father, jokingly called the "Pufferfish Duke" by others, tried to use his performance in the War of the Usurper to prove his military genius, but most people felt he had contributed nothing to the war.
...
*Father Mace needs prestige.*
Glyn's account, combined with what Margaery already knew, was extremely convincing.
Margaery felt that Glyn wasn't just using sweet words to win her father's favor; he was vindicating Lord Mace's name.
The clever Margaery knew Lord Mace well. She knew that her father was even more delighted than he let on.
Margaery believed that in his excitement, her father had not yet realized the full value of Glyn's novel theories.
*But how to leverage that value... that will require some careful planning.*
Lord Mace needed prestige, and that was in the interest of House Tyrell.
At that moment, Margaery wondered what Lord Glyn's objective could be.
...
...
Glyn had not ignored Margaery's presence.
His original plan had been to increase Lord Mace's favorable impression of him today and gain a measure of his trust, then find an opportunity tomorrow to reveal the purpose of his visit.
Glyn worried that after today, House Tyrell, given their cautious nature, might isolate Lord Mace from him as a precaution.
He wouldn't have a good enough reason to seek another audience.
Glyn focused his mind. It might not be perfect, but he could be flexible.
Glyn leaned slightly toward Lord Mace and said in a low voice, "Lord Mace, have you heard the news about the health of the Hand, Lord Arryn?"
Lord Mace said, puzzled, "Hm? I have heard that Lord Arryn's health has not been good in recent years."
Glyn glanced at Margaery, who was still staring at him. His meaning was clear.
*What does Lord Glyn mean?*
Margaery Tyrell maintained her faint smile, using the courtly manners she had cultivated for over a decade to perfectly conceal her emotions.
Lord Mace chuckled. "Glyn, no need to be so cautious. You are perfectly safe here in Highgarden."
*Glyn... Isn't Father's way of addressing him a bit too familiar?*
Margaery couldn't help but glance at her father's amiable face.
"Lord Mace, have you ever considered the heavy burden of the Hand of the King?"
"The Hand of the King?"
"Yes. To assist the king in managing the affairs of the realm, to issue commands in the king's name, to command his armies, and to dispense his justice. When the king is absent, the Hand sits the Iron Throne and rules in his stead."
(end of chapter)