Paul Greiman summoned the territory's military and administrative leaders and had Mellon recount the entire sequence of events at the meeting. Everyone present was enraged by the traitors' shamelessness.
Then he explained that, once autumn arrived, he planned to inform the entire Northwest Territory, expose the traitors' conspiracy, and send troops against Bairdin.
Chief Steward Ford suggested, "Shouldn't we first appeal to the Northwest Duke and have him judge the rights and wrongs of Bairdin's actions?"
Oh? There was that option too. But Paul wouldn't take it. Never mind whether the Northwest Duke was impartial—if someone else resolved the matter, what would Bairdin's Coal Mine and Iron Mine have to do with Paul Greiman?
"This back-and-forth could drag on for who knows how long. Are we supposed to let those traitors remain at large for even longer?" Paul expressed his disagreement with the plan.
Old Ford was somewhat worried. "But the Duke is, after all, the greatest vassal lord in the kingdom's Northwest Territory. If we simply bypass him and act on our own, won't we incur his displeasure?"
Paul looked unconcerned. "We aren't vassals of the Northwest Duke. If I remember correctly, ever since the kingdom was founded, the Greiman Family and Garnard Family have been direct vassals of His Majesty the King. Our titles were granted by His Majesty the King, and we don't need outsiders making irresponsible comments."
Seeing that the lord was so insistent, Chief Steward Ford said nothing more.
"From this moment on, then, everything in the territory must give way to the autumn campaign. Cecil must investigate the enemy's strength and weaknesses as thoroughly as possible. The Staff Department must draw up a battle plan and prepare contingencies for every possibility. The Logistics Department must prepare ample supplies, while the Equipment Department must push