Chapter 154: banquet
"Highlander?" The old-fashioned Scott, the brave Nigel and several other people called out in surprise, and the astonished expressions on their faces were wonderful.
What they call Highlanders is not what we call Highlanders.
Traditionally, the Scottish Highlands refer to the area northwest of the Dumbarton-Stonehaven line, including the Hebrides Islands, parts of Perthshire and Buteshire, which are the areas where the real Highlanders live.
The coastal lowlands including Orkney Islands, Shetland Islands, Nairn County, Mary County, Banff County, and most of East Aberdeenshire belong to the highlands in the eyes of the English, but in Scotland In the eyes of people, it is not a real highland.
Although the altitude and terrain of these areas are different from the lowlands, they are also different from the real highlands. They are in the same position. They are basically obedient highlanders who are not as wild and **** as real highlanders.
There are great differences between the Scottish Highlands and the Scottish Lowlands, such as population structure.
The lowland areas are basically a mixture of English and Celtic, while the highland areas are basically Celtic aborigines.
And the language is also different. The language in the lowlands is basically not much different from English, while Gaelic is prevalent in the highlands.
More importantly, the degree of social evolution is different. The lowland areas are currently a feudal society, while the highland areas are tribal alliance-style clan societies.
The Scottish Highlanders have always been indifferent to Edinburgh's orders, and sometimes even rebelled when they got hotheaded, which caused the nobles of Edinburgh a headache.
For example, the last time the nobles summoned the highlanders to join the battle, they all came from tribes close to the lowland areas, but the real tribal barbarian warriors were nowhere to be seen.
So, none of the people who fought the English last time were real highland warriors, and their wildness has degraded a lot.
"Mr. Russell, are you joking?" One of the fatter congressmen frowned and said seriously, "Even if these highlanders are invited, we may not be able to control them. For us lowlanders I'm afraid it will be another disaster!"
Scots in the Lowlands have always had mixed feelings about the Highlanders. On the one hand, when the English invaded, they basically relied on them to drive away the English; on the other hand, once the highlanders were short of food, the lowland areas were their first target. They would not buy with money, but with their own Hand to grab.
Just like this, they have been falling in love and killing each other, hundreds of people have always been like this.
"Yes, after the English leave, I am afraid that the lowland areas will suffer heavy losses!"
Donald thought the same in his heart, and sighed with an unbearable expression on his face.
"Hehe! I can't control that much anymore, as long as the English can be driven out, no matter how high the price is!"
The old-fashioned Scott had a sneer on his face at this time, and the smile on the corner of his mouth looked a bit cruel.
"Besides, no matter how they make trouble, they can't get us. It's just some common people. If they die, they will die. It's no big deal!"
"Yes! As long as we have nothing to do, it's for Scotland anyway, and it's worth sacrificing a little bit!"
Besides, Nigel said with a straight and majestic body.
"It is possible that those barbarians and the English will lose both. This is really gratifying!"
As he spoke, Nigel seemed to think of a happy ending, grinning happily and giggling.
"That's really blessed by God, we can live a peaceful life for a few days!"
But the expected echoes did not come to mind, and everyone fell silent instead.
Donald and others are certainly not as naive as Nigel, and there is no such perfect thing in the world.
After all, such a chance is too slim. The biggest possibility is that the English beat the Highlanders. According to their thinking, they still have to invite the French to defeat the exhausted English and let Scotland return to the hands of the Scots.
Of course, everyone agreed in their hearts, but they didn't say it out loud.
Next, everyone began to discuss specific actions, and the liaison work was handed over to Russell. He often sold food to the highlanders and had a wide network of contacts.
Then everyone discussed again, and contacted close businessmen or nobles who were dissatisfied with the decision of the parliament, and pooled money together for action.
In this way, they discussed until the evening. Looking at the dark sky, Donald remembered an important matter.
"Oh! Everyone, let's leave! The little king of England is hosting a banquet tonight, and the nobles and MPs in Edinburgh have basically received invitations!"
"Let's pack up quickly, don't be late!"
While speaking, Donald hurriedly called the servants and began to prepare clothes and carriages.
"Oh, really, let's go back quickly, or we will be late, and the king who doesn't look good is not easy to mess with!"
Russell and the others also thought of this for a moment, hurriedly walked out, and got into their own carriage.
Nigel, who was disapproving at first, seemed to think of the poor figure of the nobleman who was buried alive yesterday when he heard Russell's words, and his whole body trembled.
It is not worthwhile to offend the king for such a trivial matter. Thinking, Nigel ran out in a hurry, stepped into the carriage with a brisk step, and hurriedly told the groom to go home.
Tonight, Linlith Castle was extremely lively. The beautifully dressed maids ran back and forth, carefully delivering trays of food to the long table on the grass.
Under the moonlight slightly covered by clouds, the guards stood upright, holding spears, or resting their right hands on the long sword at the waist, staring straight ahead.
This time, Edward held an outdoor banquet. After all, there were hundreds of people, and the castle hall couldn’t accommodate them.
First of all, a giant tent needs to be set up. The tent is not closed, but transparent on all sides, and only serves as a shelter from the wind and sun.
Heavy dining tables and chairs were placed under the tents, with tablecloths on the tables and small napkins on them, and numbered table knives and spoons on top of the napkins. It was not until the 16th century that table forks began to be commonly used.
The maids put plates of food on the long table, while Kong Wu's powerful servants brought barrels of wine from the cellar of the castle. It is conservatively estimated that the cellar has been emptied.
It seems that the Scottish royal family is really poor! Just a few barrels.
Edward shook his head involuntarily as he looked at the neatly arranged wines in front of him.
"Lucy, take half of the fire wine on the navy ship, anyway, they don't travel far, so they don't need much!"
Edward commanded Lucy, the little maid beside him.
On the other side, Major James, who arrived early, always felt a little uneasy.
Because fresh water cannot be kept for a long time during sea voyages, and rum has not been invented. When Edward distills it with grain and can preserve it for a long time, the entire market is in short supply for strong wine.
England Navy is even more exaggerated that each ship keeps more than five barrels of strong wine, ranking first in the world.
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(end of this chapter)