As soon as the words came out, Isabel Walton, who was about to become an intelligence officer in the US Naval Intelligence Agency in later life, knew that she had caused a lot of trouble for herself. In the high-tech age in which she lived, the means and techniques for stealing information by illegal or legal means, secretly or openly, had developed quite well.

At the technical level, it has the strong support of high-tech equipment such as satellites, bugs, data mining, and spy robots; On the personal side, there are audio and video equipment, monitoring equipment, satellite communications, silenced pistols and sniper rifles, multi-keys and other portable tools that can be used anytime and anywhere. Even if she is discovered by enemy counterintelligence agents in the course of illegally obtaining information, she can escape the pursuit of enemy counterintelligence services with ease, using the land, sea, and air power of the Navy or Marine Corps.

However, the current fact is that there are no high-tech forces, no high-efficiency and easy-to-carry personal tools, and still less three scientific and technological support forces of land, sea, and air that can be borrowed. Therefore, it is undoubtedly more difficult to steal intelligence and escape from pursuit in such a primitive state.

When the Duke of Richmond heard what Isabel had proposed, his first feeling was that it was something that had never been heard of before, something that had never been seen before. The second feeling is that Isabel is a veritable European witch with dark magic.

Subsequently, he immediately overturned the second feeling. His advisors had been living in his domain for a year and a half, and in those 18 months he had never seen Isabel use any of the "magic" described in the Hammer of the Witches (the most sinister book ever written by the Catholic monks and Inquisitors, Klamar and Sblenger, in 1486).

What's more, no matter when and where Isabel does not appear as an old woman, with a black cat pet by her side, wearing a black cloak, looking extremely ugly, and like to mumble to herself, she boils lizards, bats, spiders, poisonous snakes and other ingredients to make a thick soup of witches in a cauldron.

In other respects, his advisor was not a woman who did not obey the Catholic Church, a pagan, a priestess, or even a beautiful woman who was hated by many. If she had to be accused of being a witch, the only evidence would be that she would use linen, pear wine or cider, and needlework to treat knights and would-be knights who had been wounded in battle or accidents.

At this moment, Henry focused his attention on the first feeling. With no precedent to follow, he struggled to even ask questions. Glancing at Isabel, she said obviously not fluently: "Isabel, is the solution you proposed your own imagination, or... It has been around since the Middle Ages or earlier. ”

Isabel glanced at the young duke, who was about to turn 17 years old, shook her head, and said, "Henry, you don't still think of me as a witch from Europe, do you?" ”

Henry felt as if she had seen through her own thoughts, and blushed with a healthy red**, slightly thin face and said, "No, Isabel, I... How could I still think of you as a witch? ”

"Really? Henry, I notice that your eyes keep floating. Well, you must think so, huh? ”

"Isabel, I swear to God, I don't think so."

Henry couldn't stand the persecution of the other party's eyes, so he had to admit: "I'm very sorry, Isabel, I... I just remembered these things all of a sudden. But it was not my responsibility, it was the book written by the German friars and the presiding judge that led me to a dark abyss of thought. ”

Isabel smiled and said, "It really can't be your responsibility, can it?" ”

"yes, well, we can't talk about this cursed book anymore. Isabel, has the method you mentioned actually been used before? ”

"Uh-huh. It was used in the 5th century BC in the wars between the Greeks and the Persians. ”

"God, how did I not know that the ancient Greeks still had this history? Can you be more elaborate? ”

Based on the current living conditions and the times and countries in which she lives, Isabel can only pin her hopes on the oldest means of intelligence. Of course, in addition to the secret writing, which is the oldest means of intelligence, other methods such as covert contact, infiltration, insider lines, double agents, moles and countervails are still highly valued by the intelligence agencies of later countries.

After thinking about it, Isabel said: "Actually, the question is very simple. Suppose that after Mr. Lawyer convinces you to join the rebellion, he still has to go to the northern counties to meet with the nobles to discuss the rebellion. Then, you can install three or four would-be knights loyal to you by the lawyer's side under the pretext of protecting his personal safety. ”

Then she added: "When the lawyer meets with the nobles, the would-be knight can pass on to you the facts he has heard and seen, and by means of secret letter-writing. You then re-copy the letter and send it directly to His Majesty the King or the Privy Councillor. ”

Henry's eyes widened and he said happily, "It's that simple? ”

"That's right. If you feel that it is too long to pass on a secret letter, and you are anxious to know the contents of the letter, there is another way to do it. ”

"Isabel, tell me about it."

"Let your falconer domesticate wild European pigeons into flying tools for communication. In terms of the time it takes to deliver letters, the European pigeons are much faster than the horses. ”

"Isabel, you really surprised me, I didn't expect you to know so much about ancient Egypt and ancient Greece."

"Thank you, Your Highness. By the way, these things are things that I learned from those books in Spanish convents and on your shelves. ”

Henry nodded with great satisfaction, and said with emotion: "It seems that after Mr. Grant left, I really wasted a lot of my studies. Well, from the point of view of time, the domestication of European pigeons can only be done in the future. Now, letters can only be delivered by people and horses. ”

Isabel glanced at the French clockwork that was placed on the fireplace, and said calmly, "Henry, are you hungry?" ”

Henry blinked, looked at the clockwork again, and said, "My God, it's almost time for dinner." Isabel, I'll make good on your promise. Now, take this jar of wine and jazz home for dinner. ”

"Of course, I'm going to use the time I have to spend with my family."

"What do you mean? Isabel, you want to leave me?? ”

"No, I mean I'll be the one to deliver your secret letters."

Henry stared at her and said excitedly, "I'm so sorry, Isabel. You've done so much for me, for my subjects, for the whole of Richmond County, and yet I suspect you're European... Witch. ”

Isabel walked over to the small table and picked up the jar of wine, smiled and said, "It's okay, this is where I live and work too." Do you want me to watch my home be destroyed? ”

Before dinner, Elobel and his father, Sir Augustine, rode out of Nottingham Castle. On the way home, Sir saw something she was worried about, and said with concern, "Son, are you worried about something?" ”

Isabel sat on her horse and said slowly, "Father, I will leave you for a while after tomorrow. I just hope that my departure doesn't affect Effie's wedding. ”