The Squire's Suggestion
Ivan answered innocently, "That's still better than what's happening now. He holds so much land but can't fully utilize each due to exceeding the limit."
Howard tapped the table and said to Ivan, "Do you not understand the purpose behind your father's actions?"
Ivan admitted that indeed he did not.
Howard explained, "Your father, having allocated too much land previously, found himself with only the troops from Nok Castle during the last war, which led to his defeat."
"Whether he could have won the war with all his troops is not for me to judge. But I can tell you, he certainly feels that his loss was due to having too few directly controlled territories."
"Now, he fears both an attack from me and a revolt from his knightly vassals, who might band together to claim his baronial title. That's why he's clinging to so many knightly titles. He's been scared by the prospect of being declared war upon by his own vassals."