Edward strictly implemented Marin's strategy, and he extended the negotiation time with James IV by asking for Queen Margaret and other nonsense methods, and also bought enough time for Karn and others to prepare.

At the same time, according to Marin's suggestion, Edward also made a move in the selection of Scottish knights to escort James IV back to China - he deliberately selected 50 Scottish knights with ordinary martial arts. Of course, he didn't pick the weakest Scottish knight either. In that case, it's a little too obvious. So, he selected 50 Scottish knights with a lower average level of martial arts. And those Scottish knights with the strongest martial arts, he didn't give any to James IV.

At this point, James IV jumped to his feet in anger. But Edward's reason is also very good - those Scottish knights with strong martial arts can exchange a lot of ransom, which is the most precious "collateral", where can they be returned to Scotland casually?

Among the war horses, Edward was also shrewd in choosing the horses that were not powerful enough. Originally, according to Marin's meaning, it was enough to send some horses directly to James IV. But that's too conspicuous. Afterwards, if James IV had been killed, people would have doubted him.

So, at the suggestion of his cronies, Edward selected the worst stamina among the horses to serve as mounts for James IV and his 50 knights. Moreover, if there is no transfer, only one ride is given to each person. In this way, it can force James IV and his entourage to rush fast.

As for the most important armor and weapons, Edward also wanted to choose the worst, but it was difficult to do so due to technical limitations. He can't send a bunch of rags to James IV, can he? That's too obvious.

In the end, the task of preparing special weapons and armor fell to Marin......

Then, Marin asked his steel mill to prepare two special kinds of steel - one is high-purity wrought iron, and the other is pig iron with sulfur and phosphorus added......

High-purity wrought iron is relatively soft, and Marlin had the people at the forge forge make French-style plate armor. Wearing this relatively soft plate armor, he would certainly not be able to withstand the blunt blows of Karn and the Wolf Fang Commando fighters he led. Weapons made of pig iron with sulfur and phosphorus added are two-handed swords and one-handed swords...... It was brittle, and it could easily break when it collided with an enemy's sword...... But from the outside, you can't see the problem......

In the end, this batch of armor, two-handed swords, and one-handed swords, which seemed to be fine, but were actually very problematic, were sent to London......

At first, Edward was a little unconvinced that there would be a problem with the seemingly unproblematic armor and weapons. Because, looking at the brand-new plate armor and swords, there is really no problem......

But after testing it, Edward believed in the reliability of Marin's work - plate armor made of wrought iron, a hammer down, immediately a pit, obviously not strong enough. Swords made of pig iron with sulfur and phosphorus are generally fine and sharp enough. However, once it collided with a steel weapon, it immediately appeared—it was called a brittle...... Boom, broken......

……

Thus, at the end of March, Edward finally sent James IV and his 50 knights of the Guard away.

For safety, James IV and the 50 knights of the Guards all put on brand-new French plate armor, and wore a cold and shining French two-handed sword and one-handed sword...... This deceptive appearance, which pleased James IV, also lowered his vigilance......

But after seeing the war horse provided by Edward, James IV's face was very unpleasant - because, at a glance, the war horse provided by Edward knew that it was an ordinary product, and each person only gave one......

James IV ran to protest to Edward, who looked at him with caring eyes and said speechlessly:

"Your Majesty, your present status is a freed prisoner of war, not a distinguished guest of England. So, don't pick and choose. At the very least, the horses given to you are also war horses. If I don't give you the horses, I'm already merciful! ”

James IV was choked for a moment, and then, as well, he reacted—indeed, he was a freed prisoner of war, not a foreign monarch visiting England...... But he protested anyway:

"At the very least, we'll have to be equipped with a replacement pony!" Just riding a war horse, and everyone is wearing plate armor, you need to stop the horse often to rest.

Edward waved his hand and said:

"No, it's spring ploughing now, and the horses can also plough the land, I don't have any extra horses for you!" This reason is very strong, spring ploughing is a big deal, and James IV can't find an excuse to refute it.

Then, escorted by the English army, James IV and his party headed north, crossed Newcastle, and arrived at the place on the border between England and Scotland......

At this point, James IV began to get nervous. Previously, on the territory of England, James IV did not worry about safety. Because, Edward will not risk the world's condemnation and kill him, the rightful king. It didn't happen in London, and it couldn't be anywhere else in England.

However, if you enter Scottish territory, it can be dangerous......

Because, having entered the territory of Scotland, if James IV was attacked and killed, Edward could have completely dissociated himself.

Therefore, the journey from England to Scotland is arguably the most dangerous. As long as England sends a team of cavalry, takes off the English costume, and puts on the horse bandit costume, it is completely possible to attack and kill him, and then push it to the horse bandits......

Therefore, after entering the territory of Scotland, James IV did not immediately continue on his way, but hid directly in a castle where the Scottish army was stationed on the border, and refused to come out for several days.

A few days later, James IV finally came out of the small castle on the border, and then, asking the local guard to send a guide to take him along the path......

However, the guard told him with a look of embarrassment that there were horse bandits on the path......

"Horse bandits?" James IV was taken aback, it was what he feared most. He could conclude that the horse bandits were probably dressed as English knights to intercept him.

"Yes, there are basically traces of horse bandit activity on several small roads nearby, which is very dangerous. If Your Majesty takes those paths......"

"Then take the main road, and besides, you take the eight hundred defenders in the castle with me on the road to protect my safety!" James IV thought about it and decisively ordered.

"But...... Your Majesty, the minister still has to guard against the invasion of the British army! The guard said weakly.

"I am the country!" James IV, more than a hundred years in advance, uttered the famous words of the Sun King. He continued:

"If I am assassinated, and I have no heirs and none of my brothers have survived, the Kingdom of Scotland will be in turmoil. When the time comes, the English will easily destroy Scotland. Therefore, my life is important, and I cannot easily die at the hands of those English people who are disguised as horse bandits! ”

"But this border ...... You have to be guarded......"

James IV thought for a moment and said:

"In this case, you take eight hundred infantry, follow my team halfway there, and then come back to guard against the English. In this way, there is no delay in guarding the border. Presumably, in the second half of the road, it will be difficult for the English army to infest. After all, they can't kill me near Edinburgh. You know, Edinburgh has a few thousand defenders! ”

"Your Majesty is wise!" The defenders decisively obeyed James IV's arrangement, brought out all the infantry in the castle, and escorted James IV all the way north......