Isabel understood what the other party meant, and the Duke of Richmond wanted to prove himself as a true medieval knight through a war. In any case, his father, Henry VIII, was a king heavily influenced by the old traditions of the Middle Ages, preferring to spend a great deal of time on jousting with nobles and knights, hunting, and entertaining rather than dealing with state affairs.

Looking at the high-spirited Duke of Richmond, she could only obey the other party's wishes, "Okay, what are you going to do now?" ”

The Duke of Richmond crossed his right hand on his waist and stepped on the stairs before the throne with his left foot, and told her in a firm tone, "I will immediately convene a meeting of the committee to discuss the affairs of war against the highlanders." ”

Then, after thinking about it, he walked up the small staircase facing the empty conference hall, "Then I will go to the city of London to meet Your Majesty, and ask Your Majesty to let me command this battle." ”

Isabel, who was standing on the back of the duke's left with her hands behind her back, slowly walked to his side, "Henry, so do you know how many of the Highlanders are ready to fight?" The line of attack? Who is the commander? ”

The Duke of Richmond was slightly stunned and looked at the other party hesitantly, "James V?!" The king of the Highlanders refused to meet his majesty in Yorkshire and further insulted him. Other... I had to leave it to Sir Thomas, the chief of the guard of the western frontier, to answer. ”

"Does this red-haired kid think he's playing a war game?" Isabel sighed secretly and smiled lightly, "Well, you can immediately convene a meeting to deal with the issue of participating in the war." ”

The Duke of Richmond nodded triumphantly, and then sent his guards to inform all the members of the council to come to his castle the next day for a military meeting. Before dinner that afternoon, Isabel led her father's guards back to Kirklington Territory and invited her father to the schoolyard at the back of the manor.

Baron Walton I, who had a solemn face, looked at the eldest daughter opposite, "Child, Your Highness has sent someone to inform me that an emergency meeting of the committee will be held tomorrow. ”

Isabel stood by the arrow path on the south side of the schoolyard and looked at her father calmly, "Father, what would you do if I told you that the war with the Highlanders would soon begin in the North?" ”

"War?! Child, I'm not afraid of war, I'm always ready to kill the highlanders. ”

"At tomorrow's meeting, His Highness will tell the members about this."

Baron Walton walked up to his daughter with some curiosity, "Son, what the hell is going on?" Can you tell me? ”

Isabel told her father about the contents of Henry VIII's letter. The letter said that after Henry VIII seceded from the Roman Catholic Church, he asked his nephew, James V of Scotland, to also secede from the Rowe Church. The pro-French James V, of course, would not do this, refusing to meet with Henry VIII in Yorkshire and insulting him. Enraged, Henry VIII was going to attack Scotland, and in order to prevent the English army from raiding Scotland, James V intended to strengthen the defense of England by the border army.

After listening to his daughter's story, Baron Walton stood beside the arrow path and paced back and forth excitedly. Finally, when he returned to his daughter's side, he asked, "Very well, since the highlanders have gathered their forces on the border, this war is coming soon." ”

Looking at her father in such elation, Isabel regretted telling him about it. Turning his head to look at Baron Walton, "Father, you want to participate in this war?" ”

"Son, it is time for me to pledge my allegiance to His Majesty, and I will be worthy of the title of nobility and the title and domain that His Majesty has bestowed upon me."

"But at the moment we don't know anything, what if the Highlanders outnumber us by a great margin?"

Baron Walton looked at her intently, "Son, first I am a knight, then a nobleman. When I wield my spear and launch a brave assault on the enemy to achieve the final victory, this is the mission that God has given me! ”

Isabel looked at her father for a long time, and only said, "Lord Walton, I only hope you can come back alive." ”

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At 9 a.m. the next day, the Duke of Richmond, as chairman of the committee, presided over and convened an emergency military meeting at Sherif Hatton Castle. In accordance with the course of the meeting, the Duke of Richmond was to first have Sir Thomas Wharton, the chief guard of the western frontier, report to him and all the members of the Scots on the build-up of forces on the western frontier.

Sir Thomas, who held the position of Chief of the Western Frontier Guard, became a member of the Northern Council on 3 January 1542 as a Knight of the County of Cumberland. At this time, Sir stood up, glanced around at the nobles, knights, and other members present, and said loudly to the Duke of Richmond: "Your Highness, my spy has sent back news that Lord James V has appointed Lord Robert Maxwell to the post of Lord of the Guard on the western border of Scotland, and will gather an army of thousands of men against us on the border. ”

The Earl of Westmoreland gave him a calm look, "Sir, is your spy's news reliable?" ”

Sir nodded heavily to the Earl, "Yes, Your Excellency. The spy I recruited was originally a Highlander, so he was familiar with the affairs of the Highlanders on the border. ”

The Duke of Richmond, who was sitting at the top of the oval conference table, was a little unimpressed by the strength of the Scots, and asked unhurriedly, "Sir, the army of the Highlanders dares to invade the north with only a few thousand men?" ”

The Border Guard Chief hesitated, "Your Highness, this is just the latest news right now. My spies also heard rumors that James V would personally come and command the battle. ”

As soon as these words came out, everyone present except for a few lawyers, citizens, and members of the secretary paid attention to what the chief of the guard said. Baron Walton pondered, and hurriedly said, "Your Highness, if James V really wants to come to the western border to personally direct the battle, I think the army of the Highlanders should not be less than 10,000 men. ”

"This is war. 10,000 Highlanders, how am I going to fight? The Duke of Richmond began to rub his hands together, and asked Sir Thomas, the chief of the border guard, still in a calm tone, "Sir, send your spy to find out." If this news is true, I will report it to Your Majesty immediately. ”

Isabel, who stood behind the Duke of Richmond, remained silent, and she felt that it was possible for the king to personally direct the battle. However, it is unlikely that the king of the Scots will run to the front line of the battle. In any case, that Lord Robert Maxwell would certainly be the actual commander of the attacking forces.

In the middle of the meeting, Isabel invited the Duke of Richmond outside the conference hall and said very solemnly, "Your Highness, it is not certain whether James V will come. So, you should pay attention to that Lord. ”