BACK TO PRESENT, WESTMINSTER PALACE, ENGLAND

Longshanks had been consulting with his close political advisors. Determined to conquer Scotland, he had set up royal lineage years earlier by having a son, Edward II. Overall, Edward was generally weak and clearly didn't have the backbone to rule a country. Nonetheless, he still tried to act like a king in preparation for the day that he might become one.

"I think MacKay could break. That is, if we get far enough.", Longshanks told his advisors. "The question is, when will we? In 1066, William the Conqueror made old-world England his. The Anglo-Saxons bowed before him because he demonstrated strength. Now if we conquer Scotland, then WE will have demonstrated strength. And if we do that, we can conquer say...the Fire Nation. That is our next goal. If we conquer Scotland, the Fire Nation could bow before us without having to resort to violence. But how can we have anyone bowing before us if we cannot control our fair share of the entire northern Earth Kingdom?!"

"Shall we begin a new strategy, sir?", one of them said.

"No...Not for now."

"Sir. Message from the northern forces.", a soldier said as he walked in. After he left, Longshanks opened the letter and read it.

"On second thought, yes. Gentlemen, the northern forces have sacked Falkirk and captured Clan Douglas. According to the map, Clan Wallace is vulnerable from the southwest and now the northwest. If we can break through the Wallace province, we'll be knocking on the doorstep of Edinburgh."

"Is that all, sir? Will it be that easy?"

Longshanks thought for a couple seconds. "Not quite. The problem with the Scottish is that they won't surrender without putting up a fight. To ensure that we achieve victory for certain, we must send forces in all directions."

"So southern, northern, and central, sir?"

"Precisely. Above Douglas is MacDougell. Above MacDougell is MacNeil. Below Douglas is Ferguson and below that is MacDuff."

"So should we send more soldiers to Wallace or not?"

"...Not at the moment. Clan Wallace is treacherous mountains full of Highlanders. The Highlanders are more skilled fighters than the Lowlanders of MacKay. With skilled fighters and extreme weather, we'll have used up too many soldiers before finally penetrating it. It's too risky...Send half of the southern forces to MacDuff and all northern forces to MacDougell."

"We shall sir"

"Excellent. Now there is another matter that needs to be addressed. With Ferguson conquered, we must officially make our presence known there. We must do it in a way that the people of Clan Ferguson submit to our every command."

"How shall we sir?"

"Nobles"

"Our nobleman, sir?"

"Yes. Nobles are the key to the door of Scotland. Grant our nobles lands in Ferguson and now Douglas, give THEIR nobles estates here in England, and make them an offer they can't refuse. Make them too greedy to oppose us."

"But sir, many of our nobles have ties to the navy. New lands mean new taxes and they're already taxed for our conflict in Yue Bay with the Irish."

"Hmm..." Longshanks thought for a minute. He was trying to think of another form of compensation. "You know...the trouble with Scotland is that it's full of Scots. I think the time has come to institute an old custom. A custom we've learned about many times. Grant them Prima Nocte."

"Prima Nocte?"

"Yes. When any common woman inhabiting the provinces we've captured gets married, our nobles shall have sexual rights to them on the night of their wedding. Simple. If we can't kick them out, we'll breed them out."

"An excellent idea, sir."

"Exactly. Taxes or no taxes, estate or no estate, our nobles shall receive the compensation they so clearly deserve."

EDINBURGH CASTLE, EARLY MAY

Robert walked into the castle to look for William, who was in the foreign affairs room, discussing with his advisors about their possible plans to advance the army in certain areas.

"Father?", Robert asked.

"Come in, Robert. That is if what you have to say is important. As you can see, I'm in the middle of a meeting."

"It is of utmost importance."

"Ok, then."

"Longshanks has granted Prima Nocte in the Ferguson and Douglas provinces."

The whole room quietly gasped. William had a surprised look on his face.

"Are you sure, son?"

"Very"

"...He wants to breed us out. Prima Nocte is a slimy act against humanity."

"What shall we do about it?"

"...Call a citywide meeting. Let all of Edinburgh know. If we want more support for this war, we must make our people fear Longshanks. They must have another reason to fight."

"I will"

Robert left and addressed Edinburgh while William began a new strategy.