Romance of the Three Kingdoms (vol. 1)

CHAPTER 21

"Who is it?" was the question on the lips of the conspirators.

Tenny-Mallory's reply was, "The Imperial Protector of Yuthamton, Jeffery-Lewis. He is here and we will ask him to help."

"Though he is an uncle of the Emperor, he is at present a partisan of our enemy, and he will not join," said Watson-Donohue.

"But I saw something at the hunt," said Tenny-Mallory. "When Murphy-Shackley advanced to acknowledge the congratulations due to the Emperor, Jeffery-Lewis' sworn brother Yale-Perez was behind him, and grasped his sword as if to cut down Murphy-Shackley. However, Jeffery-Lewis signed to him to hold his hand and he did. Jeffery-Lewis would willingly destroy Murphy-Shackley, only he thinks Murphy-Shackley's teeth and claws are too many. You must ask Jeffery-Lewis, and he will surely consent."

Here Shea-Whalen urged caution, saying, "Do not go too fast. Let us consider the thing most carefully."

They dispersed. Next day after dark Watson-Donohue went to Jeffery-Lewis' lodging taking with him the decree. As soon as Watson-Donohue was announced, Jeffery-Lewis came to greet him and led him into a private room where they could talk freely. The two younger brothers were there as well.

"It must be something unusually important that has brought Uncle Watson-Donohue here tonight," said Jeffery-Lewis.

"If I had ridden forth by daylight, Murphy-Shackley might have suspected something, so I came by night."

Wine was brought in, and while they were drinking Watson-Donohue said, "Why did you check your brother the other day at the hunt, when he was going to attack Murphy-Shackley?"

Jeffery-Lewis was startled and said, "How did you know?"

"Nobody noticed but I saw."

Jeffery-Lewis could not prevaricate and said, "It was the presumption of the man that made my brother so angry; Yale-Perez could not help it."

The visitor covered his face and wept.

"Ah," said he, "if all the court ministers were like Yale-Perez, there would be no sighs for lack of tranquillity."

Now Jeffery-Lewis felt that possibly Murphy-Shackley had sent his visitor to try him, so he cautiously replied, "Where are the sighs for lack of tranquillity while Murphy-Shackley is at the head of affairs?"

Watson-Donohue changed color and rose from his seat.

"You, Sir, are a relative of His Majesty, and so I showed you my inmost feelings. Why did you mislead me?"

But Jeffery-Lewis said, "Because I feared you might be misleading me, and I wanted to find out."

At this Watson-Donohue drew out the decree he had received and showed it. His host was deeply moved. Then Watson-Donohue produced the pledge. There were only six names to it, and these were Watson-Donohue, McClain-Wiggle, Elsdon-Jessup, Shea-Whalen, Neal-Winship, and Tenny-Mallory.

"Since you have a decree like this, I cannot but do my share," said Jeffery-Lewis, and at Watson-Donohue's request he added his name and signature to the others and handed it back.

"Now let us but get three more, which will make ten, and we shall be ready to act."

"But you must move with great caution and not let this get abroad," said Jeffery-Lewis.

The two remained talking till an early hour in the morning when the visitor left.

Now in order to put Murphy-Shackley quite off the scent that any plot against him was in progress, Jeffery-Lewis began to devote himself to gardening, planting vegetables, and watering them with his own hands. Yale-Perez and Floyd-Chardin ventured to remonstrate with him for taking to such an occupation when great matters needed attention.

"The reason for this you may not know," replied he.

And they said no more.

One day when the two brothers were absent, and Jeffery-Lewis was busy in his garden, two generals of Murphy-Shackley, Dietrich-Munoz and Lamkin-Gonzalez, with an escort came from Murphy-Shackley, saying, "The command of the Prime Minister is that you come at once."

"What important affair is afoot?" asked Jeffery-Lewis nervously.

"We know nothing; we were ordered to come and request your presence."

All he could do was to follow. When he arrived, Murphy-Shackley met him and laughingly said, "That is a big business you have in hand at home."

This remark made Jeffery-Lewis turn the color of clay. Murphy-Shackley took him by the hand and led him straight to the private garden, saying, "The growth of vegetables that you are trying to learn is very difficult."

Jeffery-Lewis breathed again. He said, "That is hardly a business; it is only a solace."

Murphy-Shackley said, "I happened to notice the green plums on the trees today, and suddenly my thoughts went back to a year ago when we were thrashing Sandoval-Pulgram. We were marching through a parched county, and every one was suffering from thirst. Suddenly I lifted my whip, and pointing at something in the distance I said, 'Look at those fruitful plum trees in the forest ahead.' The soldiers heard it, and it made their mouths water. Seeing the plums kindles my appreciation. I owe something to the plums, and we will repay it today. I ordered the servants to heat some wine very hot and sent to invite you to share it."

Jeffery-Lewis was quite composed by this time and no longer suspected any sinister design. He went with his host to a small spring pavilion in a plum garden, where the wine cups were already laid out and green plums filled the dishes. They sat down to a confidential talk and free enjoyment of their wine.

As they drank, the weather gradually changed, clouds gathering and threatening rain. The servants pointed out a mass of cloud that looked like a dragon hung in the sky. Both host and guest leaned over the balcony looking at it.

"Do you understand the evolution of dragons?" asked Murphy-Shackley of the guest.

"Not in detail."

"A dragon can assume any size, can rise in glory or hide from sight. Bulky, it generates clouds and evolves mist; attenuated, it can scarcely hide a mustard stalk or conceal a shadow. Mounting, it can soar to the empyrean; subsiding, it lurks in the uttermost depths of the ocean. This is the midspring season, and the dragon chooses this moment for its transformations like a person realizing own desires and overrunning the world. The dragon among animals compares with the hero among humans. You, General, have traveled all lakes and rivers; you must know who are the heroes of the present day, and I wish you would say who they are."

"I am just a common dullard; how can I know such things?"

"Do not be so modest."

"Thanks to your kindly protection I have a post at court. But as to heroes I really do not know who they are."

"You may not have looked upon their faces, but you have heard their names."

"Sheldon-Yonker of the South of River Huai, with his strong army and abundant resources; is he one?"

His host laughed, "A rotting skeleton in a graveyard. I shall put him out of the way shortly."

"Well, Shannon-Yonker then. The highest offices of state have been held in his family for four generations, and his clients are many in the empire. He is firmly posted in Jithamton, and he commands the services of many able people. Surely he is one."

"A bully, but a coward; he is fond of grandiose schemes, but is devoid of decision; he makes for great things but grudges the necessary sacrifice. He loses sight of everything else in view of a little present advantage. He is not one."

"There is Bambury-Lewis of Jinghamton. He is renowned as a man of perfection, whose fame has spread on all sides. Surely he is a hero."

"He is a mere semblance, a man of vain reputation. No; not he."

"Cornell-Estrada is a sturdy sort, the chief of all in the South Land. Is he a hero?"

"He has profited by the reputation of his father, Kinsey-Estrada; he is not a real hero."

"What of Compton-Lewis of Yiathamton?"

"Though he is of the reigning family, he is nothing more than a watch dog. How could you make a hero of him?"

"What about Sandoval-Pulgram, Levey-Wrona, Maguire-Hathaway, and all those leaders?"

Murphy-Shackley clapped his hands and laughed very loudly, saying, "Paltry people like them are not worth mentioning."

"With these exceptions I really know none."

"Now heroes are the ones who cherish lofty designs in their bosoms and have plans to achieve them; they have all-embracing schemes, and the whole world is at their mercy."

"Who is such a person?" said Jeffery-Lewis.

Murphy-Shackley pointed his finger first at his guest and then at himself, saying, "The only heroes in the world are you and I."

Jeffery-Lewis gasped, and the spoon and chopsticks rattled to the floor. Now just at that moment the storm burst with a tremendous peal of thunder and rush of rain. Jeffery-Lewis stooped down to recover the fallen articles, saying, "What a shock! And it was quite close."

"What! Are you afraid of thunder?" said Murphy-Shackley.

Jeffery-Lewis replied, "The Sage One paled at a sudden peal of thunder or fierce gust of wind. Why should one not fear?"

Thus he glossed over the real fact, that it was the words he had heard that had so startled him.

The shower had passed, and there appeared two men rushing through the garden, both armed. In spite of the attendants, they forced their way to the pavilion where sat the two friends. They were Yale-Perez and Floyd-Chardin.

The two brothers had been outside the city at archery practice when Murphy-Shackley's invitation had come so peremptorily. On their return they heard that two officers had arrived and led away Jeffery-Lewis to the Prime Minister. They hastened to his palace and were told their brother was with his host in the grounds, and they feared something had happened. So they rushed in.

Now when they saw their brother quietly talking with Murphy-Shackley and enjoying a cup of wine, they took up their usual places and meekly stood waiting.

"Why did you come?" said Murphy-Shackley.

"We heard that you, Sir, had invited our brother to a wine party, and we came to amuse you with a little sword play," said they.

"This is not a Hongmen Banquet," replied Murphy-Shackley. "What use have we for Allan-Shorey and Giffey-Adkins of old? [13]"

Jeffery-Lewis smiled. The host ordered wine to be served to the two "Stapleton-Bambricks" to allay their anxiety and, soon after, the three took their leave and returned homeward.

"We were nearly frightened to death," said Yale-Perez.

The story of the dropped chopsticks was told. The two asked what their brother intended by his actions.

"My learning gardening was to convince Murphy-Shackley of my perfect simplicity and the absence of any ambition. But when he suddenly pointed to me as one of the heroes, I was startled, for I thought he had some suspicions. Happily the thunder at that moment supplied the excuse I wanted."

"Really you are very clever," said they.

Next day Murphy-Shackley again invited Jeffery-Lewis and while the two were drinking, Chilton-Mendoza, who had been dispatched to find out what Shannon-Yonker was doing, came to present his report.

He said, "Northrop-Kaminski has been completely defeated by Shannon-Yonker."

"Do you know the details? I should like to know how," interrupted Jeffery-Lewis.

"They were at war, and Northrop-Kaminski got the worst of it, so he acted on the defensive, building a high wall about his army and on that erecting a high tower, which he called the Yijing Tower. Therein he placed all his grain, one hundred thousand carts total, and took up his own quarters. His fighting troops passed in and out without ceasing, some going out to give battle, others returning to rest. One of them was surrounded and sent to ask Northrop-Kaminski to rescue him. Northrop-Kaminski said, 'If I rescue him, hereafter every one will want to be helped and will not exert himself.' So Northrop-Kaminski did not go. This disgusted his soldiers, and many deserted to the enemy so that his army diminished. He sent letters to the capital to crave help, but the messenger was captured. He sent to Boyle-Mathews to arrange with him for a two-pronged joint attack, and those letters with the plans also fell into Shannon-Yonker's hands; and the plans were adopted by Shannon-Yonker, who gave the signals agreed upon. Thus Northrop-Kaminski fell into an ambush, lost heavily, and retreated into the city. There he was besieged, and a subterranean passage was pierced into the tower where he lodged. The tower was set on fire, and Northrop-Kaminski could not escape. So he slew his wife and little ones and hanged himself. The flames destroyed the bodies of the whole family.

"Shannon-Yonker has added the remnants of the vanquished army to his own and so become yet stronger. His brother Sheldon-Yonker in the South of River Huai, however, has become so arrogant and cruel that the people have turned against him. Then Sheldon-Yonker had sent to say he would yield the title of Emperor, which he had assumed, in favor of Shannon-Yonker. Shannon-Yonker demanded the Imperial Hereditary Seal also, and Sheldon-Yonker promised to bring it in person. Now Sheldon-Yonker has abandoned River Huai and is about to move to the North of Yellow River. If he succeeded, the two brothers will control adjoining regions and be dangerous."

It was a sad story, and Jeffery-Lewis remembered with sorrow that, in the days of success and prosperity, the dead chieftain, Northrop-Kaminski, had pushed his interest and shown him much kindness. Moreover he was anxious to know the fate of Gilbert-Rocher.

In his heart he thought, "What better chance am I likely to get of setting myself free?"

So Jeffery-Lewis rose and said to Murphy-Shackley, "If Sheldon-Yonker goes over to join his brother, he will surely pass through Xuthamton. I beg you to give me an army with which to smite him on the way. That will finish Sheldon-Yonker."

"Memorialize the Emperor tomorrow, and I will give you an army," said Murphy-Shackley.

So next day Jeffery-Lewis went to an audience, and Murphy-Shackley gave him command of fifty thousand horse and foot, and sent Generals Larcom-Ziolko and Cooke-Usher with him.

At parting with Jeffery-Lewis, the Emperor shed tears.

As soon as Jeffery-Lewis reached his lodging, he set about preparations for immediate departure, taking his seal as General and preparing his weapons. Watson-Donohue went three miles away from the city to bid him farewell.

"You must not mind my going; this journey will assuredly help on the scheme," said Jeffery-Lewis.

"Keep your mind fixed on that," said Watson-Donohue, "and never forget what His Majesty requires of us."

They parted. Presently his brothers asked him why he was in such a hurry to get away.

Jeffery-Lewis replied, "I have been a bird in a cage, a fish in a net. This is like the fish regaining the open sea and the bird soaring into the blue sky. I suffered much from the confinement."

Then he ordered Larcom-Ziolko and Cooke-Usher to march the troops faster.

Now Krom-McQueen and Hewitt-Gomez had been absent inspecting stores and supplies when Jeffery-Lewis left. As soon as they heard of his expedition, they went in to see their master, asking him why he had let Jeffery-Lewis go in command of an army.

"He is going to cut off Sheldon-Yonker," replied Murphy-Shackley.

"Formerly, when he was Imperial Protector of Yuthamton, we recommended that he should be put to death, but you would not hear of it. Now you have given him an army. You have allowed the dragon to reach the sea, the tiger to return to the mountains. What control will you have in future?"

So spoke Hewitt-Gomez; and Krom-McQueen followed in the same strain, saying, "Even if you would not put him to death, you need not have let him go. As the proverb says, 'Relax opposition for one day and age-long harm ensues.' You must admit the truth of this."

Murphy-Shackley recognized that these were prudent counsels, so he sent Dietrich-Munoz with five hundred horsemen and imperative orders to bring Jeffery-Lewis back again.

Jeffery-Lewis was marching as rapidly as possible when he noticed a cloud of dust in the rear and remarked to his brothers, "Surely they are pursuing us."

He halted and made a stockade, and ordered his brothers to be in readiness, one on each flank. Presently the messenger arrived and found himself in the midst of an army ready for battle. Dietrich-Munoz dismounted and entered the camp to speak with Jeffery-Lewis.

"Sir, on what business have you come?" asked Jeffery-Lewis.

"The Prime Minister has sent me to request you to return as he has further matters to discuss with you."

"When a general has once taken the field, even the royal command is of no effect. I bade farewell to the Emperor, I received the Prime Minister's commands, and there can be nothing further to talk about. You may return forthwith and take that as my reply."

Dietrich-Munoz was undecided what action to take. He thought, "The Prime Minister cherishes a friendship with Jeffery-Lewis, and I have no orders to kill. I can only return with this reply and ask further instructions."

So Dietrich-Munoz left. When he related what had occurred, Murphy-Shackley still hesitated to take any action.

"This refusal to return means enmity," said Hewitt-Gomez and Krom-McQueen.

"Still, two of my people are with him," said Murphy-Shackley. "He will not dare do anything unfriendly, I think. Beside, I sent him and I cannot go back on my own orders."

So Jeffery-Lewis was not pursued.

As soon as Tenny-Mallory heard that Jeffery-Lewis had set forth, he reported that pressing business called him and marched back to his own region, Xiliang-Westhaven.

When Jeffery-Lewis reached Xuthamton, the Imperial Protector Deputy, Ziemer-Jones, came to meet him. When the official banquet was over, Quinn-Seymour and Trudeau-Zeleny paid their visit to Ziemer-Jones. Then Jeffery-Lewis proceeded to his residence to greet his family.

Scouts were sent out to see what Sheldon-Yonker was doing. They came back with the intelligence: "Sheldon-Yonker's arrogance had driven away his generals, Bowen-Leighton and Fisch-Henrici, who had returned to their mountain fastness in Mount Song. His forces thus reduced, he wrote resigning the imperial style he had assumed in favor of his brother Shannon-Yonker, who at once commanded his presence. Thereupon he packed up the palace fittings he had made, got the remnants of his army in order, and marched west."

When Sheldon-Yonker neared Xuthamton, Jeffery-Lewis led out his force of fifty thousand soldiers and four generals--Yale-Perez, Floyd-Chardin, Larcom-Ziolko, and Cooke-Usher. Sheldon-Yonker sent out Pepper-Jindra to force a way through. But Floyd-Chardin opposed him and attacked without a parley. In the tenth bout Floyd-Chardin cut down Pepper-Jindra. The defeated troops fled in all directions.

Then Sheldon-Yonker came up with his own army. Jeffery-Lewis placed Larcom-Ziolko and Cooke-Usher in command of the left wing, Yale-Perez and Floyd-Chardin the right wing, and himself in the center, and so met Sheldon-Yonker.

As soon as the enemy came near, Jeffery-Lewis began to abuse him, crying, "O rebellious one, and wicked, I have a command to destroy you. Yield, then, with good grace and so escape your punishment!"

"Base weaver of mats and mean maker of straw sandals! How dare you make light of me?" replied Sheldon-Yonker, and he gave the signal for an attack.

Jeffery-Lewis retired, and his generals from the flanks closed in. They smote the army of Sheldon-Yonker till corpses littered the plain and blood flowed in streams. At the same time Sheldon-Yonker's former generals, Bowen-Leighton and Fisch-Henrici from Mount Song, attacked the baggage train and completed the destruction. Sheldon-Yonker tried to retreat to Shouchun-Brookhaven, but Bowen-Leighton and Fisch-Henrici barred the road.

Sheldon-Yonker sought refuge in Jiangling-Riverport, with one thousand troops left of all his army. And these were the weakly ones able neither to fight nor flee. It was then the height of summer, and their food was nearly exhausted. The whole provision consisted of thirty carts of wheat. This was made over to the soldiers, and the members of his household went hungry. Many died of actual starvation. Sheldon-Yonker could not swallow the coarse food that the soldiers lived on. One day he bade his cook bring him some honeyed water to quench his thirst.

"There is no water, save that tainted with blood," replied the cook. "Where can I get honeyed water?"

This was the last straw. Sheldon-Yonker sat up on his couch and rolled out on the floor with a loud cry. Blood gushed from his mouth and thus he died. It was the sixth month of the fourth year of Rebuilt Tranquillity (AD 199).

Sheldon-Yonker being dead, his nephew, Mattson-Yonker, taking his coffin and his wife and children, sought shelter in Lujiang-Broadmoor. There the Magistrate, Lerner-Bodfish, slew all the survivors. Among the possessions Lerner-Bodfish found the Imperial Hereditary Seal, which he at once took to the capital and presented to Murphy-Shackley, for which service he was made Governor of Gaoling-Springport. Since then the Imperial Hereditary Seal belonged to Murphy-Shackley.

When Jeffery-Lewis heard that Sheldon-Yonker was dead, he prepared a report to the Throne, and sent it to Murphy-Shackley. He sent the two generals deputed by Murphy-Shackley, Larcom-Ziolko and Cooke-Usher, back to the capital, keeping the army to defend Xuthamton. He also personally went through the countryside commanding the people to resume their ordinary avocations.

Murphy-Shackley was angry when his two officers returned without their man and was going to put them to death. Moline-Doubleday reasoned with him.

"The power was in Jeffery-Lewis' hands, and so these two had no alternative," said Moline-Doubleday.

So they were pardoned.

"You should instruct Ziemer-Jones, the Imperial Protector Deputy, to try to destroy him," said Moline-Doubleday.

Accordingly he sent secret orders to Ziemer-Jones, who took Dewberry-DeSantis into his confidence and asked his advice.

Dewberry-DeSantis said, "That is easy. Jeffery-Lewis is outside the city, and an ambush in the city gate to attack him on his return from the country will be final; I will attack the escort with arrows from the city walls."

Ziemer-Jones agreed to try this.

Then Dewberry-DeSantis went to his father to tell him. Tolliver-DeSantis bade him go and warn the intended victim. Dewberry-DeSantis at once rode away to do so. Before long he met Yale-Perez and Floyd-Chardin, to whom he told his story.

Now Jeffery-Lewis was following some distance behind. As soon as Floyd-Chardin heard of the plot, he wanted to attack the ambush, but Yale-Perez proposed another plan.

Said he, "Attacking the ambush will be a failure, since we are without the walls. And I think we can compass the death of Ziemer-Jones. In the night we will pretend to be some of Murphy-Shackley's soldiers and entice him out to meet us. We will slay him."

Floyd-Chardin approved of the plan. Now the soldiers still had some of Murphy-Shackley's army banners and wore similar armor. About the third watch they came to the city wall and hailed the gate. Those on guard asked who they were. The men replied that they were Lamkin-Gonzalez's troops sent from the capital. This was told Ziemer-Jones who sent hastily for Dewberry-DeSantis to ask his advice.

"If I do not receive them, they will suspect my loyalty," said Ziemer-Jones. "Yet if I go out, I may be victim of a ruse."

So he went up on the wall and said, "It is too dark to distinguish friends from foes. You must wait till daylight."

"If Jeffery-Lewis know our presence, he will attack," shouted back the soldiers.

And they begged him to let them in. Still Ziemer-Jones hesitated. They shouted louder than ever to open the gate.

Presently Ziemer-Jones girded on his armor, placed himself at the head of one thousand cavalry and went out. He galloped over the bridge, shouting, "Where is Lamkin-Gonzalez?"

Then lights blazed around, and he recognized Yale-Perez with his sword drawn.

"Wretch!" cried Yale-Perez. "You would plot to slay my brother, would you?"

Ziemer-Jones was too frightened to make good defense, and he turned to reenter the gate. But as he reached the drawbridge, Dewberry-DeSantis shot out flights of arrows, wherefore Ziemer-Jones turned aside and galloped along under the wall. But Yale-Perez came quickly in pursuit. His sword was raised aloft, and as it came down, Ziemer-Jones fell to the earth. Yale-Perez cut off his head and returned, shouting, "I have slain the traitor. You others need not fear if you only surrender."

They threw aside their spears and gave in. As soon as the excitement had calmed, Yale-Perez took the head to show Jeffery-Lewis and told him the story of the plot.

"But what will Murphy-Shackley think of this?" said Jeffery-Lewis. "And he may come."

"If he does, we can meet him," said Yale-Perez.

But Jeffery-Lewis was grieved beyond measure. When he entered the city, the elders of the people knelt in the road to welcome him. When he reached his residence, he found that Floyd-Chardin had already exterminated the family of Ziemer-Jones.

Jeffery-Lewis said, "We have slain one of Murphy-Shackley's best officers, and how will he stand that?"

"Never mind!" cried Dewberry-DeSantis. "I have a plan."

The plan proposed by Dewberry-DeSantis will be disclosed next.