As they retreated, Karn and his party deliberately drilled into the mountains to the west, not to the east. Moreover, the direction is somewhat northwesterly. If someone were alive, they would definitely be able to see their movements. Northwest ...... Isn't that the Scottish hinterland?

That's right, that's what Marin wants. Because, he needs to shake the pot and throw the black pot on the heads of the traitors in Scotland. Because the army was defeated and captured before, most of the dukes and earls in Scotland were captured together. This time, Edward released the people, excluding the dukes and earls who could exchange money, and only released James IV, nominally to let him return to China to raise ransom. In Scotland, only a handful of dukes and earls remain. In particular, the Duke of Albany, John Brown. Stewart.

In fact, some of the most powerful dukes and earls in the Kingdom of Scotland accompanied James IV in the Battle of Newcastle. The only few of the great nobles who remained in the country were the civil servants who were responsible for guarding Edinburgh. And this Duke of Albany, John. Stewart, in fact, had just returned to Scotland not long ago.

John. Stewart was the second Duke of Albany, and his father was Alexander Brown. Stewart was the second surviving son of James II, the grandfather of James IV, and the first Duke of Albany.

However, because of conflicts with his brother James IV, Alexander Brown, the first Duke of Albany of the Stuart dynasty. Stewart was imprisoned by his brother James III in 1479. After the release of Alexander. Resentment, Stewart attempted rebellion and was defeated by his brother James III in 1484. Then, the family went into exile in France. However, he died in 1485.

And Alexander. Stewart's eldest son, Alexander, had already become a priest and had returned to Scotland to become a bishop of the region. The second son, Andrew, died young, while the third son, John. Stewart, originally exiled in France.

However, after James IV, most of the Scottish nobles and the Scottish army were captured, because James IV had no heirs, and his brother died early and left no heirs, the French, in order to prevent England from killing James IV and plotting to seize the Scottish throne, put the 22-year-old John IV. Stuart was sent back to Edinburgh. The French plan was that in the event of the death of James IV, the Scottish side would have the heir of the Duke of Albany, John Brown. Stewart succeeded to the Scottish throne.

After all, by pedigree, John. Stewart was the cousin of James IV and had the highest right to the throne.

Of course, it is said that it is the Duke of Albany, but in fact because the Duke of Albany's family was in exile in France, after the death of the first Duke of Albany, the young John . Stewart has yet to be canonized Duke of Albany. After all, King James IV was captured by the English, and no one gave him a canonization.

But at this critical juncture, the remaining Scottish officials can't do so much. For, if James IV was really killed or could not return, according to the bloodline, John . . . Stewart is indeed the most qualified heir to the Scottish throne.

And in the original history, John. In 1514, the year after the death of James IV in 1513, Stewart was welcomed back home by the Scots and served as regent for the young James V. At the same time, he will inherit the title of Duke of Albany at that time.

But now because of the capture of James IV, the French, fearing an accident, put John Anderson early. Stewart was sent back to Scotland. And the remaining Scottish ministers were also happy to see that the king had a spare tire, lest James IV die and no one succeed him.

And inwardly speaking, the heir of the Duke of Albany, John. Stewart wished James IV had died in England. In this way, he would be king of Scotland.

And Marin also knew this, so while he slapped Karn for beating James IV to death, he deliberately said that he wanted to revenge the little duke.

Moreover, when they withdrew, a small number of the 50 Scottish knights lying on the ground were not actually dead, but were seriously injured and could not get up for a while. After all, they wore plate armor. Even if you are injured, it is generally not fatal. And the reason why Kahn did not kill these people was to send a message to the remaining Scottish ministers, especially the phrase "return to the little duke"......

There are several dukes in Scotland, but the little duke, it seems, is only John. Stuart one. Because, he has not yet been officially canonized, and can only be regarded as a reserve duke. Therefore, it is appropriate to use the word "small" to describe it. In addition, John. Stewart did have a motive for the assassination of James IV. Because, as soon as James IV died, he would almost certainly be the king of Scotland. Following the simple logic of "who benefits is the most suspicious", it seems that John. Stewart's suspicion is great.

Of course, it's not just John. Stewart is suspicious, and so is Edward. After all, before the return of James IV, the two sides signed an agreement on mutual succession to the throne. Therefore, Edward's suspicion of assassinating James IV is more than John. Stewart's is even bigger.

And this is one of the important reasons why Marin chose to do it close to Edinburgh. In addition to the surprise here, there is also the meaning of clearing Edward's suspicion - look, it's close to your capital, where can the English have the ability to carry out assassinations there? Apparently your people!

……

Karn's harsh words before leaving were actually deliberately misleading the Scottish knights who had not died. After the cruel words, Karn led his men to bury the French plate armor on his body, and then crossed the mountains and took the path back to England.

However, in order to mislead the other party, Karn deliberately sent his men to create false evidence on the opposite road. For example, take off a few pieces of French plate armor......

These pieces of French plate armor were different from those worn by most of the people of Karn, and they were not imitations of the Marlin Forge, but one of the plates used by French knights captured by Marin when he led his army to ambush Charles VIII. Insiders pick it up and look at it, and they will know that it is an authentic plate armor made in France, and there is no mistake.

In this way, once these pieces of French plate armor as evidence are found by Scottish officials, it will be difficult to explain the matter. At the very least, a lot of people would think that this is John. The black hand of the Stewart faction. After all, John. Stewart was sent back by France to be the king's spare tire. If James IV had died, he would have a good chance of becoming the new king. Of course, it cannot be ruled out that the English are to blame. After all, in the previous naval battle of the English, they also captured a lot of French ships loaded with military supplies, and it is not surprising that they got a few pieces of pure French plate armor.

Both Edward and Marin clearly wanted to succeed. As long as Edward's suspicion of murdering James IV is cleared, Edward can logically inherit the Scottish throne according to the agreement signed by James IV before returning home. Then the island of Great Britain would be reunified......