In later years, the understanding of Inverness was more associated with the legendary Loch Ness rather than the beauty of this "capital of the Highlands" itself. As the capital of the Scottish Highlands and also the northernmost city in Scotland, Inverness is actually one of the cleanest residential areas in all of Europe. Here, ancient Scottish buildings are nestled, lacking the grandeur and towering presence of bustling cities, yet the sturdy walls and dark spires give a sense of solemn weight.
Residing in this serene and peaceful northern town, people could have avoided the smoke and fire of war. However, in this vastly different historical timeline, with Britain losing one battle after another, since the beginning of the 20th century, the king and prime minister, these two extremely esteemed "guests," arrived here for the first time and settled in. But the good times didn't last long. Bombers with iron cross emblems under their wings finally appeared on the horizon. In an instant, the anti-aircraft guns deployed around the town began to roar madly. The smoke from intense chemical reactions destroyed the beauty of the lakes and mountains here. What was even more unbearable was that those German bombers dropped a hundred thousand leaflets in one go—the pollution caused by these white papers with eagle emblems far exceeded that of bombs of the same weight!
Winston Churchill, the British wartime prime minister, as usual, leaning on his cane and puffing on a cigar, slowly approached King George VI, who stood in military attire with his hands behind his back in front of the house, and advised in a hoarse and weathered voice, "Your Majesty... You'd better return to the shelter! There's nothing good to see here!"
"They don't want my life. They're afraid of arousing the anger of the entire Britain. Now, their goal has been achieved. They've won! He's also won!" The tall figure of George VI spoke with such desolation and helplessness. His square face seemed frozen by ice, except for trembling lips when speaking, all facial organs seemed numb.
Churchill stopped beside the king, slightly tilting his head up, seeing the queen, dressed in a fur coat and looking weary, leaning against the window on the second floor, with a middle-aged maid with golden hair carefully supporting her.
"Your Majesty, if even you lose faith in the fight, the great tree of Britain will collapse instantly! Do you... want to surrender?"
It wasn't until the position he occupied could no longer see the German bombers that George VI lowered his head and turned to Churchill, saying, "Surrender might not be a bad relief for the British royal family, at least everyone doesn't need to hide for survival anymore. But what about you, brave Prime Minister? Where should you go from here?"
"I'm almost 67 years old! Your Majesty!" Churchill said calmly, "If Britain loses the war, as a prime minister who insists on a stance of war, I will naturally be extradited by Germany as a war criminal. If I'm lucky, I'll end my life quickly. If not, I'll spend several years in a German prison!"
George VI stared at him for several seconds, "So you're lucky after all! But I'm afraid I have to bear greater responsibility for Britain's failure... Abdicate, and then spend the rest of my life in some forgotten castle... twenty years, maybe thirty years, or even longer!"
As an "old hand" in the military and political circles, Churchill immediately understood the other's attitude from his words. The frost on his face quickly melted, and he smiled bitterly, "So, living long isn't necessarily a good thing!"
Snowflake-like papers fluttered down. George VI reached out to grab one, but they slipped away from his hand like playful birds. At this moment, Churchill showed an agility different from his usual self. He quickly grabbed one and handed it to George VI.
"In fact... I don't care how others comment on me, but I don't want my wife and children to live a dark life like this! Do you understand?"
George VI did not take the leaflet—he didn't need to know what was written on it. The propaganda materials from the German propaganda department hardly contained any truth, and the conditions offered by the Germans had already been conveyed through the Duke of Windsor's envoy.
"You surely wouldn't want your subjects to live such a life either!" Churchill crumpled the leaflet into a ball and let it fall freely to the ground.
For this meaningful gesture, George VI saw it in his eyes, and with a few words, he regained some confidence.
"So, do the generals think the German army will invade the Scottish Highlands on a large scale?"
"No!" Churchill immediately responded.
"So, can we continue to hold on here?" George VI speculated according to his own thoughts.
"No! Your Majesty, due to the German naval blockade, life here will be very difficult for a considerable period of time in the future. And once the Duke of Windsor's puppet government controls the south, our situation will become even worse! Therefore, we are discussing and urging you and the queen to evacuate to Canada as soon as possible and formally announce the establishment of an exile government!" Churchill spoke calmly but in one breath, apparently having considered the words beforehand.
"I don't understand!" George VI looked down on the prime minister, whose energy was no less than before but whose wit had matured. With time passing, this guy remained as combative and resolute as ever.
Churchill said helplessly, "A month ago, we insisted on staying in Britain to boost morale; a month later, we left Britain to avoid a civil war. If the southern army attacks the north under the coercion and temptation of the Germans, Your Majesty, we will be in an extremely embarrassing situation!"
"They... dare to raise their rifles against their own king?" George VI deliberately raised his voice, and the majesty of the tiger finally burst out like a launched missile.
"As long as the Germans' coercion and temptation are effective... In fact, their methods are quite clever! The Duke of Windsor, the former heir to the throne and king of Britain, rescued half of Britain from the clutches of the Germans... Hmm! In the eyes of many uninformed civilians, he is a savior, not a traitor!" Churchill sarcastically said without mercy.
The king fell into a brief contemplation. Under the constitutional monarchy, in peacetime, he didn't need to bear such heavy responsibilities. However, when the nation faced an existential crisis, major decisions of the cabinet still required his approval.
Churchill was not in a hurry, standing silently aside, his gaze fixed on the row of splendid but insignificance medals adorning the king's chest. Frankly speaking, in terms of talent and decisiveness, this king was far inferior to his brother, the Duke of Windsor. Yet, it was the peculiarity of constitutional monarchy that prevented a monarch sympathetic to ***ism from ruling Britain. Allowing Britain to ally with Germany would shroud almost the entire world in the clouds of ***ism and military dictatorship!
"An English king, even in death, should die on his own soil!" Suddenly, King George VI sighed, then lowered his head slightly. "But if leaving Britain can ultimately save the country and millions of its subjects, I am willing to make this sacrifice!"
"You are a wise and great monarch!" Churchill complimented opportunistically.
"So, have you considered whether the royal family and the government relocating to Canada will continue to receive support from the various Commonwealth countries and colonies, especially Canada?"
"Yes, Your Majesty, we have thoroughly considered it! From the current situation in our former ally, France, we can see that a puppet government controlled by the enemy cannot control the federal countries and overseas colonies far from the homeland! I have received assurances from our faithful friend, President Roosevelt, that the United States recognizes only you as the legitimate monarch of Britain and our government as the only legitimate government of Britain! As long as the U.S. government maintains this stance, and we can maximize the protection and control of the Royal Navy vessels, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and India will all firmly stand by our side!" Churchill's tone was resolute—even before a wavering king, he had to remain steadfast!
"In that case..." King George VI's shoulders slightly relaxed, as if preparing to set down an invisible burden.
Churchill quickly interjected, "Please rest assured, Your Majesty! Although German warships and submarines are frequently active in the North Atlantic, the Royal Navy and Air Force of the British Empire still have sufficient strength to protect the royal family and the government during the transfer to North America! However, if you are willing... I personally suggest you and the Queen travel by a special aircraft, after all, there are still some risks at sea!"
"In that case..." The king raised his head. The curtains on the second-floor window had been drawn again, obscuring the queen's incredibly haggard face.
"If Your Majesty needs, you can discuss it again with the Queen! For now... we still have some time!"
As Churchill spoke, the detestable buzzing sound echoed in the sky again, but this time, there were no dark green German war eagles in sight. Presumably, the batch of airborne leaflets had turned back towards the south after dropping—after days of intense combat, the Royal Air Force no longer had enough power to intercept these German bombers. As the wartime prime minister of Britain, and the staunch leader of the pro-war faction, Churchill should take responsibility for today's situation. However, perhaps the stormy attacks of the German military caught Britain's military and political leaders off guard, and so far, the calls for his resignation only came from scattered corners. The same members of parliament who once ousted Chamberlain from the position of prime minister, mostly fled with their families to Canada. With the strong support of the Royal Navy, their private properties were preserved to the greatest extent!
Looking down from high altitude, the deep brown Scottish Highlands in the north had already shed most of their snow, and between the vast mountain ridges, ravines, and lakes, towns, large and small, were scattered like pieces on a chessboard, but there was no particular pattern among them. In the bright sunshine, groups of aircraft, resembling locusts, were moving in an orderly manner. Below them, many once-beautiful towns were now emitting smoke and flames. The last piece of untouched land had finally become the sacrifice of the cruelest and largest war in human history...