After receiving an urgent letter from the Duke of Norfolk on the march, the Duke of Richmond and the Earl of Surrey knew that the army sent by Henry VIII to suppress the rebellion would arrive outside Lincoln Castle on November 8, the second Sunday Mass. The afternoon before the previous day, Isabel had approached the Duke of Richmond in the drawing room and offered her advice.

Henry Fitzroy, Duke of Richmond, was certainly very supportive of her proposal. He also didn't want to suppress the rebels for Henry VIII while his territory was occupied by a large number of thieves and outcasts, so that many subjects living and living in the territory wanted to flee his only territory.

Before Isabel Walton left the parlor, the Duke of Richmond called out to her: "Isabel, if I miss you during the peace talks with the rebels, what should I do?" ”

Isabel laughed and deliberately said, "If that's the case, you can leave behind the Duke of Norfolk, Lord Surrey, and tens of thousands of troops, and ride back to Richmondshire alone to see me." ”

When the Duke of Richmond heard this, he hurriedly said excitedly: "Really? Can I do this? ”

"Isn't it? Henry, do you want to try this kind of childish behavior with no sense of responsibility? ”

"Isabel, if only it were two years ago when you first came, at least I could go out riding with you and talk about whatever you liked. When it's hunting season, chase all kinds of prey with you in the hunting grounds and enjoy the fun of hunting prey. Now, I'm a commander in chief of an army that crushes the rebels. ”

"Henry, if you really like that kind of life, no problem. However, you will have to pay the price of the title of duke and the domain. When you become an extremely ordinary commoner, you can control your life at will. ”

"God, be a civilian?? I can't imagine what I would be like when I was a civilian. ”

"Uh-huh. So, when His Majesty the King, the representative of Jesus Christ in secular society, gives you the duties of a duke, you are bound to have to make some sacrifices for the rest of your life. At this point, Isabel felt like a female high school teacher in a small town of Dallas. However, it seems that high school teachers never talk to high school students in this way. Well, it's supposed to be a psychiatrist.

"Can't you enjoy your life while taking on the duties of a duke?"

"Of course... OK. Henry, when His Majesty needs you, you should do your utmost to serve His Majesty. His Majesty the King, though he is a representative of Jesus Christ, also needs to enjoy the pleasures that life brings him. So, when His Majesty is having fun, it's when you need to be happy, understand? ”

"Well, well, I'll do my part in this suppression of the rebellion."

Finally, the Duke of Richmond stopped her: "Isabel, write to me when you return to the county, whatever happens." ”

Isabel agreed, and the Duke looked at her reluctantly, "I mean, anything, including you." ”

"Well, do you mean that eating, drinking, drinking, ale and cider, sleeping, going to the toilet and going to the river to play in the river also need to be written to you in detail?"

"Hahaha...... No need. Isabel, I'm going to miss you. ”

"Henry, so am I."

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According to the detailed plan provided by Isabelle Walton to the Duke of Richmond and the Earl of Surrey, after the Duke of Norfolk led his mercenary army to Lincoln Castle, the three nobles immediately held a secret meeting in the meeting room.

The Duke of Norfolk was silent for a long time after listening to the statement of his eldest son, the Earl of Surrey. When he focused his gaze on the face of the Duke of Richmond, who was sitting across from him, he said slowly: "Your Highness, the rebel army does have more than 90,000 people?" ”

Henry Fitzroy nodded confidently, "Yes, my lord, this is the news that my people and Lord Surrey's people have repeatedly probed the other day. ”

The Duke of Norfolk pondered bitterly and said, "Your Highness, do you know that some nobles, knights, squires, and priests have joined the ranks of the rebels? ”

The Earl of Surrey glanced at the Duke of Smond, then stared at the Duke and said, "Father, didn't Your Majesty tell you?" ”

"Son, what's the matter?"

"When I was negotiating with His Highness at Lincoln Cathedral with the people of the rebellion in Lincolnshire, I wrote a letter to His Majesty, which was followed by a list of those who had joined the rebels."

"Oh...? Son, I think Your Majesty may have not told me for some special reason. ”

"Probably, after all, this list of personnel is too confidential, and once it is leaked, it will affect the current situation in the kingdom."

The Duke of Norfolk nodded, looked at the Duke of Richmond again, and said, "Your Highness, since we already know who is behind the rebellion, then I think we should make peace with the leaders of the rebels and hear what they want." ”

The Duke of Richmond leaned back in his chair and drank wine and said, "My lord, didn't Your Majesty let you lead the kingdom's army to the north to suppress the rebellion?" ”

The Duke of Norfolk shook his head, calculated the number of troops at his disposal, and said, "Your Highness, His Majesty has ordered me to lead an army of 20,000 men, including quasi-lancers, sergeants, and longbowmen. If you add your army, Lord Lancashire, and Lord Montigall's army, the total strength is less than 30,000. Such an army, in terms of numbers ... I'm afraid it won't be an opponent of the rebels. ”

"Well, then the Duke is really planning to make peace with the rebels?"

"Hopefully, the rebels will agree to peace talks. As long as I agree to peace talks, I can buy His Majesty some more time to organize more troops to come to the north and completely wipe out the rebels. ”

"It seems that the Duke still wants to use the army to destroy the rebels?"

The Duke of Norfolk looked at the Duke of Richmond, who was two years younger than his eldest son, in surprise, and asked puzzledly, "Your Highness, do you have a better way?" ”

The Duke of Richmond smiled and glanced at his playmate, the Earl of Surrey, who nodded and said, "Father, now that Your Highness and I have a list of those who have participated in the rebellion, I think we can take the opportunity of the peace talks to delay the time, so that Your Majesty does not have to directly reply to the rebels' demands." The purpose of this is also to prevent the rebels from losing control and marching south. ”

The Duke of Norfolk nodded and asked the eldest son, "As long as you ostensibly agree to the rebels' demands, you can let these leaders disband the rebels on the spot." ”

The Earl of Surrey said calmly: "As soon as the rebel ranks are disbanded, we can find an opportunity to clear all the people on the list." ”

The Duke of Richmond, who was sitting on the side, took over the topic leisurely: "Eliminate the leaders of the rebels, then their retainers, tenant farmers, and guards will naturally not dare to challenge Your Majesty's authority again." ”

The Earl of Surrey leaned back in his chair easily and looked at the Duke of Norfolk with a serious face: "Father, do you think it is okay to use this method to suppress this rebellion without precedent?" ”