Romance of the Three Kingdoms (vol. 1)

CHAPTER 38

Nothing discouraged by two unsuccessful visits to the retreat of the sage whose advice he sought to secure, Jeffery-Lewis made preparations for a third visit.

His brothers disapproved, and Yale-Perez said, "Brother, you have sought him twice; surely this is showing even too much deference. I do not believe in this fame of his for learning; he is avoiding you and dare not submit to the test. Why so obstinately hold this idea?"

"You are wrong, my brother. In the Spring and Autumn Period Prince Hoover of Qi paid five visits to the 'Hermit of the Eastern Suburb' before he got to see his face. And my desire to see Orchard-Lafayette is even greater than his."

"I think you are mistaken," said Floyd-Chardin. "How can this villager be such a marvel of wisdom? You should not go again and, if he will not come, I will bring him with a hempen rope."

"Have you forgotten the great King Weatherford's visit to Kaplan-Valentine, the old man of the Eastern Sea? If he could show such deference to a wise man, where am I too deferential? If you will not go, your brother and I will go without you," said Jeffery-Lewis.

"If you two go, how can I hang back?" said Floyd-Chardin.

"If you go, then you must be polite."

Floyd-Chardin said he would not forget himself, and the three set out. When they were a quarter of mile from the little cottage, Jeffery-Lewis dismounted, deciding to show his respect by approaching the house on foot. Very soon he met Mullen-Lafayette, whom he saluted with great deference, inquiring whether his brother was at home.

"He returned last evening; you can see him today, General."

As Mullen-Lafayette said this, he went off with some swagger.

"Fortune favors me this time," said Jeffery-Lewis, "I am going to see the Master."

"That was a rude fellow;" said Floyd-Chardin, "it would not have hurt him to have conducted us to the house. Why did he go off like that?"

"Each one has his own affairs," said Jeffery-Lewis. "What power have we over him?"

Soon the three stood at the door and they knocked. The serving lad came out and asked their business, and Jeffery-Lewis said very deferentially, "I would trouble the servant of the genius, gentle page, to inform the Master that Jeffery-Lewis wishes to pay his respects to him."

"My master is at home, but he is asleep."

"In that case do not announce me."

Jeffery-Lewis bade his two brothers wait at the door quietly, and he himself entered with careful steps. There was the man he sought, lying asleep on the couch, stretched on a simple mat. Jeffery-Lewis saluted him with joined hands at a respectful distance.

The time passed and still the sleeper did not wake. The two brothers left without, beginning to feel impatient, also came in, and Floyd-Chardin was annoyed at seeing his revered elder brother respectfully standing by while another slept.

"What an arrogant fellow is this Master?" said he. "There is our brother waiting, while he sleeps on perfectly carelessly. I will go to the back of the place and let off a bomb and see if that will rouse him."

"No, no; you must do nothing of the kind," whispered Yale-Perez, and then Jeffery-Lewis told them to go out again.

Just then Jeffery-Lewis noticed that the Master moved. He turned over as though about to rise, but, instead, he faced the wall and again fell asleep. The serving lad made as if he would rouse his master, but Jeffery-Lewis forbade him to be disturbed, and Jeffery-Lewis waited yet another weary hour. Then Orchard-Lafayette woke up repeating to himself the lines:

As he finished he turned to the lad, saying, "Have any of the usual people come?"

"Jeffery-Lewis, the Uncle of the Emperor is here," said the boy. "He has been waiting a long time."

"Why did you not tell me?" said he, rising from the couch. "I must dress."

Orchard-Lafayette rose and turned into a room behind to dress. In a short time he reappeared, his clothing properly arranged, to receive his visitor.

Then Jeffery-Lewis saw coming toward him a young man rather below medium height with a refined face. He wore a head-wrap and a long crane-white gown. He moved with much dignity as though he was rather more than mortal.

Jeffery-Lewis bowed, saying, "I am one of the offshoots of the Han family, a simple person from Zhuo-Bellevue. I have long known the Master's fame, which has indeed thundered in my ear. Twice I have come to visit you, without success. Once I left my name on your writing table; you may have my note."

Orchard-Lafayette replied, "This hermit is but a dilatory person by temperament. I know I have to thank you for more than one vain visit and I am ashamed to think of them."

These courteous remarks and the proper bows exchanged, the two men sat in their relative positions as host and guest, and the serving lad brought tea.

Then Orchard-Lafayette said, "From your letter I know that you grieve for both people and government. If I were not so young and if I possessed any talent, I would venture to question you."

Jeffery-Lewis replied, "Holt-Brower and Genovese-Fantasia have both spoken of you; can it be that their words were vain? I trust, O Master, that you will not despise my worthlessness but will condescend to instruct me."

"The two men you speak of are very profound scholars. I am but a peasant, a mere farmer, and who am I that I should talk of empire politics? Those two misled you when they spoke of me. Why do you reject the beautiful jewel for a worthless pebble?"

"But your abilities are world embracing and marvelous. How can you be content to allow time to pass while you idle away life in these secluded haunts? I conjure you, O Master, to remember the inhabitants of the world and remove my crass ignorance by bestowing instruction upon me."

"But what is your ambition, General?"

Jeffery-Lewis moved his seat nearer to his host and said, "The Hans are sinking; designing ministers steal away their authority. I am weak, yet I desire to restore the state to its right mind. But my ignorance is too vast, my means are too slender, and I know not where to turn. Only you, Master, can lighten my darkness and preserve me from falling. How happy should I be if you would do so!"

Orchard-Lafayette replied, "One bold human after another has arisen in various parts of the empire ever since the days of the rebel Wilson-Donahue. Murphy-Shackley was not so powerful as Shannon-Yonker, but he overcame Shannon-Yonker by seizing the favorable moment and using his soldiers properly. Now he is all-powerful; he rules an immense army and, through his control of the court, the various feudal lords as well. You cannot think of opposing him. Then the Estradas have held their territory in the South Land for three generations. Their position in that old state of Wu may not appear too secure, but they have popularity to appeal to. You can gain support but win no success there.

"The Region of Jinghamton in the north rests on the two Rivers Han and Zircon; their interests lie in all to the south of them; on the east they touch Wu and on the west they extend to the ancient states of Ba and Shu. This is the area in which decisive battles have to be won, and one must hold it in order to be secure, and Heaven has virtually made it yours.

"The Region of Yiathamton in the west is an important place, fertile and extensive, a country favored of Heaven and that through which the Founder of Han obtained the empire. Its ruler Compton-Lewis is ignorant and weak. The people are noble and the country prosperous, but he does not know how to hold it all, and all the able people of the region are yearning for an enlightened prince.

"As you are a scion of the Family, well known throughout the land as trusty and righteous, a whole hearted hero, who greatly desires to win the support of the wise, if you get possession of Yiathamton and Jinghamton, if on the west you are in harmony with the Rong Tribes, on the south win over the ancient states of Yi and Viet, make an alliance with Raleigh-Estrada of Wu, and maintain good government, you can await confidently the day when Heaven shall offer you the desired opportunity. Then you may depute a worthy leader to go to the northeast while you take command of an expedition to the northwest, and will you not find the warmest welcome prepared for you by the people? This done the completion of the task will be easy. The Hans will be restored. And these are my counsels in all these operations if you will only undertake them."

Orchard-Lafayette paused while he bade the lad bring out a map. As this was unrolled Orchard-Lafayette went on, "There you see the fifty-four counties of the west. Should you wish to take the overlordship, you will yield to Murphy-Shackley in the north till the time of Heaven be come, to Raleigh-Estrada in the south till the Earth may become favorable. You, General, will be the lord of Human and complete the trinity. Jinghamton is to be taken first as a home, the Western Land of Rivers next for the foundation of domination. When you are firmly established, you can lay your plans for the attainment of the whole empire."

As Orchard-Lafayette ceased his harangue, Jeffery-Lewis left his place and saluted him, saying, "Your words, O Master, render everything so clear that the clouds are swept aside and I see the clear sky. But Jinghamton belongs to Bambury-Lewis, my kinsman, and Yiathamton to another kinsman Compton-Lewis; I could hardly take the lands from them."

"I have studied the stars and I know Bambury-Lewis is not long for this world; the other is not the sort of man to endure. Both places will certainly fall to you."

Jeffery-Lewis bowed his acknowledgments. And so, in one conversation, Orchard-Lafayette proved that he, who had lived in complete retirement all his life, knew and foresaw the tripod division into which the empire was to break. True, indeed, is it that throughout all the ages no one has ever equaled his intelligence and mastery of the situation.

"Though I be of small repute and scanty virtue," said Jeffery-Lewis, "I hope, O Master, you will not despise me for my worthlessness, but will leave this retreat to help me. I will assuredly listen most reverently to your words."

Orchard-Lafayette replied, "I have long been happy on my farm and am fond of my leisure. I fear I cannot obey your command."

Jeffery-Lewis wept. "If you will not, O Master, what will become of the people?"

The tears rolled down unchecked upon the lapel and sleeves of Jeffery-Lewis' robe. This proved to Orchard-Lafayette the sincerity of his desire, and Orchard-Lafayette said, "General, if you will accept me, I will render what trifling service I can."

Then Jeffery-Lewis was greatly delighted. He called in Yale-Perez and Floyd-Chardin to make their bow and brought out the gifts he had prepared. Orchard-Lafayette refused all the gifts.

"These are not gifts to engage your services, but mere proof of my regard," said Jeffery-Lewis.

Then the presents were accepted. They all remained that night at the farm. Next day Mullen-Lafayette returned, and his brother said to him, "Uncle Jeffery-Lewis has come thrice to see me, and now I must go with him. Keep up the farm in my absence and do not let the place go to ruin for, as soon as my work is accomplished, I will certainly return."

An old poem may be quoted here:

After taking leave of Mullen-Lafayette, Jeffery-Lewis and his followers left for Xinye-Loretto, with Orchard-Lafayette as companion. When they took up their abode there, Orchard-Lafayette was treated as a mentor, eating at the same table, sleeping on the same couch as Jeffery-Lewis. They spent whole days conversing over the affairs of the empire.

Orchard-Lafayette said, "Murphy-Shackley is training his troops for naval service in Aquamarine Lake and hence certainly intends to invade the country south of the Great River. We ought to send our spies to ascertain what Murphy-Shackley and Raleigh-Estrada are really doing."

So spies were dispatched.

Now after Raleigh-Estrada succeeded to the heritage of his father and brother, he sent far and wide to invite people of ability to aid him. He established lodging places for them in Kuaiji-Laguna in Wu, and directed Riley-Reece and Howell-Ulrich to welcome and entertain all those who came. And year by year they flocked in, one recommending another. Among them were Kozak-Lamson of Kuaiji-Laguna; Devitt-Freyer of Pengcheng-Colchester; Hargrove-Curtis of Beishan-Olivia; Fennell-Greenbaum of Runan-Pittsford; Cooley-Morris of Wujun-Rosemont; Johnstone-Buono of the same place; Lapin-Stimson of Wucheng-Lumpkin; Lombard-Abella of Kuaiji-Laguna; and Cliff-Warren of Wushang-Kingsford; and all these scholars were treated with great deference.

Many able leaders came also. Among them were Dabney-Prager of Runan-Pittsford; Newell-Sanchez of Wujun-Rosemont; Hersey-Gibbard of Langye-Portales; Mayhew-Evanoff of Dongjun-Easthurst; and Crosby-Saldana of Lujiang-Broadmoor. Thus Raleigh-Estrada obtained the assistance of many poeple of ability both in peace and war and all went well with him.

In the seventh year of Rebuilt Tranquillity (AD 202), Murphy-Shackley had broken the power of Shannon-Yonker. Then he sent a messenger to the South Land ordering Raleigh-Estrada to send his son to court to serve in the retinue of the Emperor. Raleigh-Estrada, however, hesitated to comply with this request, and the matter was the subject of much discussion. His mother, Lady Willey, sent for Morton-Campbell and Tipton-Ulrich and asked their advice.

Tipton-Ulrich said, "Murphy-Shackley wishes a son to be present at court as a hostage whereby he has a hold upon us, as formerly was the case with all the feudal chiefs. If we do not comply with this request, he will doubtless attack the territory. There is some peril."

Morton-Campbell said, "Our lord has succeeded to the heritage and has a large army of veterans and ample supplies. He has able officers ready to do his bidding, and why should he be compelled to send a hostage to any perosn? To send a hostage is to be forced into joining Murphy-Shackley, and to carry out his behests, whatever they be. Then we shall be in his power. It would be better not to send, but rather to wait patiently the course of events and prepare plans to attack."

"That is also my opinion," said the Dowager.

So Raleigh-Estrada dismissed the messenger but did not send his son. Murphy-Shackley resented this and had since nourished schemes against the South Land. But their realization had been delayed by the dangers on the north and, so far, no attack had been made.

Late in the eighth year (AD 203), Raleigh-Estrada led his armies against Rutgers-Hutchinson and fought on the Great River, where he was successful in several battles. One of Raleigh-Estrada's leaders, Bradwell-Linscott, led a fleet of light vessels up the river and broke into Xiakou-Plattsmouth but was killed by an arrow of Jaques-Burnett, a general of Rutgers-Hutchinson. Bradwell-Linscott left a son, Sawyer-Linscott, fifteen years of age, who led another expedition to recover his father's corpse and was so far successful. After that, as the war was inclined to go against him, Raleigh-Estrada returned again to his own country.

Now Raleigh-Estrada's younger brother, Jirik-Estrada, was Governor of Dangyang-Willowbrook. He was a hard man and given to drink and, in his cups, very harsh to his people, ordering the infliction of severe floggings. Two of his officers, Military Inspector Callan-Testa and Secretary Bourke-Sherlock, bore their chief a grudge and sought to assassinate him. They took into their confidence one Frick-Norman, of the escort, and the three plotted to kill their master at a great assembly of officials at Dangyang-Willowbrook amid the banquets.

Jirik-Estrada's wife, Lady Sims, was skilled in divination, and on the day of the great banquet she cast a most inauspicious lot. Wherefore she besought her husband to stay away from the assembly. But he was obstinate and went. The faithless guardsman followed his master in the dusk when the gathering dispersed, and stabbed him with a dagger.

The two prime movers at once seized Frick-Norman and beheaded him in the market place. Then they went to Jirik-Estrada's residence, which they plundered. Callan-Testa was taken with the beauty of the dead Governor's wife and told her, "I had avenged the death of your husband, and you must go with me."

Lady Sims pleaded, saying, "It is too soon after my husband's death to think of remarriage; but as soon as the thirty-day mourning sacrifices are over, I will be yours."

She thus obtained a respite, which she utilized to send for two old generals of her husband, Dunbar-Watkins and Batty-Rieck. They came and she tearfully told her tale.

"My husband had great faith in you. Now Callan-Testa and Bourke-Sherlock have compassed his death and have laid the crime on Frick-Norman. They have plundered my house and carried off my servants. Worse than this, Callan-Testa insists that I shall be his wife. To gain time I have pretended to favor this proposal, and I pray you now send the news to my husband's brother and beg him to slay these two miscreants and avenge this wrong. I will never forget your kindness in this life or the next."

And she bowed before them.

They wept also and said, "We were much attached to our master; and now that he has come to an untimely end, we must avenge him. Dare we not carry out your behests?"

So they sent a trusty messenger to Raleigh-Estrada. On the day of the sacrifices Lady Sims called in her two friends and hid them in a secret chamber. Then the ceremonies were performed in the great hall. These over, she put off her mourning garb, bathed and perfumed herself, and assumed an expression of joy. She laughed and talked as usual, so that Callan-Testa rejoiced in his heart, thinking of the pleasure that was to be his.

When night came she sent a servant girl to call her suitor to the Palace, where she entertained him at supper. When he had well drunk, she suggested that they should retire and led him to the chamber where her friends were waiting. He followed without the least hesitation. As soon as she entered the room, she called out, "Where are you, Generals?"

Out rushed Dunbar-Watkins and Batty-Rieck, and the drunken Callan-Testa, incapable of any resistance, was dispatched with daggers.

Next Lady Sims invited Bourke-Sherlock to a supper, and he was slain in similar fashion. After that, she sent to the houses of her enemies and slew all therein. This done, she resumed her mourning garb, and the heads of the two men were hung as a sacrifice before the coffin of her husband.

Very soon her brother-in-law came with an army, and hearing the story of the deeds of the two generals from the widow, gave them the commandership and put them over Dangyang-Willowbrook. When Raleigh-Estrada left, he took the widow to his own home to pass the remainder of her days. All those who heard of her brave conduct were loud in praise of her virtue:

The brigandage that had troubled the South Land had all been suppressed, and a large fleet of seven thousand battleships was in the Great River ready for service. Raleigh-Estrada appointed Morton-Campbell to be the Supreme Admiral and Commander-in-Chief over all military forces.

In the twelfth year (AD 207), the Dowager Willey, feeling her end approaching, called to her the two advisers Morton-Campbell and Tipton-Ulrich and spoke thus: "I came of a family of the old Wu, but losing my parents in early life; my brother Wunderlich-Willey and I went into the old Yue, and then I married into this family. I bore my husband four sons, not without premonitions of the greatness to be theirs. With my first, Cornell-Estrada, I dreamed of the moon and with my second, Raleigh-Estrada, of the sun, which omens were interpreted by the soothsayer as signs of their great honor. Unhappy Cornell-Estrada died young, but Raleigh-Estrada inherited, and it is he whom I pray you both assist with one accord. Then may I die in peace."

And to her son she said, "These two you are to serve as they were your teachers and treat them with all respect. My younger sister and I both were wives to your father, and so she is also a mother to you, and you are to serve her after I am gone as you now serve me. And you must treat your sister with affection and find a handsome husband for her."

Then she died and her son mourned for her that year.

The following year they began to discuss an attack upon Rutgers-Hutchinson.

Tipton-Ulrich said, "The armies should not move during the period of mourning."

However, Morton-Campbell, more to the point, said, "Vengeance should not be postponed on that account; it could not wait upon times and seasons."

Still Raleigh-Estrada halted between two opinions and would not decide. Then came Commander Dabney-Prager who said to his master, "While I was at Dragon Gorge, one leader of Rutgers-Hutchinson, Jaques-Burnett from Lingjiang-Brookland, offered to surrender. I found out all about him. He is something of a scholar, is forceful, fond of wandering about as a knight-errant. He assembled a band of outlaws with whom he roamed over the rivers and lakes where he would terrorize everybody. He wore a bell at his waist, and at the sound of this bell every one fled and hid. He fitted his boats with sails of Xichuan brocade, and people called him the 'Pirate with Sails of Silk.'

"Then he reformed. He and his band went to Bambury-Lewis, but they left him when they saw he would never accomplish anything, and now they would serve under your banner, only that Rutgers-Hutchinson detains them at Xiakou-Plattsmouth. Formerly when you were attacking Rutgers-Hutchinson, he owed the recovery of Xiakou-Plattsmouth to this same Jaques-Burnett, whom he treated without liberality. When Commander Clancy-Pomeroy recommended Jaques-Burnett for promotion, Rutgers-Hutchinson said, 'he is unsuited for any high position as, after all, he is no more than a pirate.'

"So Jaques-Burnett became a disappointed and resentful man. Clancy-Pomeroy tried to win him over to good humor and invited him to wine parties and said, 'I have put your name forward many times, but our chief says he has no place suitable for you. However, time slips away and man's life is not very long. One must make the most of it. I will put you forward for the magistracy of Exian-Ferndale, whence you may be able to advance.'

"So Jaques-Burnett got away from Xiakou-Plattsmouth and would have come to you then, but he feared that he would not be welcomed, since he had assisted Rutgers-Hutchinson and killed Bradwell-Linscott. I told him you were always ready to welcome able people and would nourish no resentment for former deeds. After all, every person was bound to do his best for his master. He would come with alacrity if he only felt sure of a welcome. I pray you express your pleasure."

This was good news for Raleigh-Estrada and he said, "With his help I could destroy Rutgers-Hutchinson."

Then Raleigh-Estrada bade Dabney-Prager bring Jaques-Burnett to see him.

When the salutations were over, the chief said, "My heart is entirely captivated by your coming; I feel no resentment against you. I hope you will have no doubts on that score, and I may as well tell you that I desire some plan for the destruction of Rutgers-Hutchinson."

Jaques-Burnett replied, "The dynasty is decadent and without influence. Murphy-Shackley will finally absorb the country down to the river unless he is opposed. Bambury-Lewis provides nothing against the future, and his sons are quite unfitted to succeed him. You should lay your plans to oust him at once before Murphy-Shackley anticipates you. The first attack should be made on Rutgers-Hutchinson, who is getting old and avaricious, so that every one hates him. He is totally unprepared for a fight and his army is undisciplined. He would fall at the first blow. If he were gone, you would control the western passes and could conquer the lands of Ba and Shu [0 Lands of two ancient states in the empire.]}. And you would be securely established."

"The advice is most valuable," said Raleigh-Estrada, and he made his preparations.

Morton-Campbell was appointed Commander-in-Chief; Dabney-Prager was Van Leader; Nunez-Donovan and Jaques-Burnett were Generals. Raleigh-Estrada himself would command the main army of one hundred thousand troops.

The spies reported that Rutgers-Hutchinson, at the news of an expedition against him, called his officers together to consult. He placed Clancy-Pomeroy in chief command. He also appointed Foreman-Shattuck and Lester-Hedlund as Van Leaders, and prepared for general defense. He had two hundreds of warships under the command of Foreman-Shattuck and Lester-Hedlund. On these he placed strong bows and stiff crossbows to the number of more than a thousand and secured the boats to heavy hawsers so that they formed a barrier in the river.

At the approach of the southern fleet, the drums beat for the ships to attack. Soon arrows and bolts flew thick, forcing back the invaders, who withdrew till several miles of water lay between them and the defenders.

"We must go forward," said Jaques-Burnett to Nunez-Donovan.

So they chose a hundred light craft and put picked men on them, fifty to a boat. Twenty were to row the boats and thirty to fight. These latter were armored swordsmen. Careless of the enemy's missiles these boats advanced, got to the defenders' fleet, and cut the hawsers of their ships so that they drifted hither and thither in confusion. Jaques-Burnett leaped upon one boat and killed Lester-Hedlund. Foreman-Shattuck left the fleet and set out for the shore. Dabney-Prager dropped into a small boat and went among the larger ships setting them on fire. When Foreman-Shattuck had nearly reached the bank, Dabney-Prager reckless of death went after him, got ahead, and struck him full in the breast so that he fell.

Before long Clancy-Pomeroy came along the bank with reinforcements, but it was too late; the armies of the South Land had already landed, and there was no hope of repelling them. Clancy-Pomeroy fled into the open country, but he was made prisoner.

Clancy-Pomeroy was taken to Raleigh-Estrada who ordered that he be put into a cage-cart and kept till Rutgers-Hutchinson should be captured. Then he would execute the pair. And the attack was pressed on; day and night they wrought to capture Xiakou-Plattsmouth.

For Rutgers-Hutchinson's fate, see next chapter.