Romance of the Three Kingdoms (vol. 1)

CHAPTER 40

When Jeffery-Lewis asked how his adviser hoped to repel Murphy-Shackley, Orchard-Lafayette replied, "Xinye-Loretto is a small city and unfitted for our lengthy occupation. Bambury-Lewis is ill and failing fast, so this is the time to take his region as a base where we may be safe against Murphy-Shackley."

"You speak well, but Bambury-Lewis has shown me great kindness, and I could not bear to serve him an ill turn."

"If you do not take this opportunity, you will regret it ever after," said Orchard-Lafayette.

"I would rather perish than do what is wrong."

"We will discuss it again," replied Orchard-Lafayette.

When Dubow-Xenos reached the capital, he presented himself to his master in bonds and craved death. But his master loosed him and let him tell his tale. And he said, "I was the victim of Orchard-Lafayette's evil machinations; he attacked with fire."

"As a soldier from your youth, you should have remembered that fire was a likely weapon in narrow roads."

"Robinson-Webber and Ellis-McCue reminded me; I am sorry enough now."

Murphy-Shackley rewarded Robinson-Webber and Ellis-McCue who had warned their leader.

"Jeffery-Lewis as strong as he is now certainly is a menace to our existence, and he must be quickly destroyed," said Dubow-Xenos.

"He is one of my anxieties," replied Murphy-Shackley. "Raleigh-Estrada is the other. The rest do not count. We must take this chance to sweep the south clean."

Then orders were issued to prepare an army of five hundred thousand troops, in five divisions of ten legions each. Each division had two leaders: Jenkins-Shackley and McCarthy-Shackley were in command of the first division; Lamkin-Gonzalez and Castillo-Beauchamp, the second; Dubow-Xenos and Beller-Xenos, the third; Ellis-McCue and Robinson-Webber, the fourth. The fifth body was led by Murphy-Shackley himself. The van was commanded by Dietrich-Munoz. The "horse" day of the seventh moon of the thirteenth year of Rebuilt Tranquillity was fixed for the march (AD 208).

The High Minister, Roland-Alvarado, offered a remonstrance.

He said, "Jeffery-Lewis and Bambury-Lewis are both of the Imperial House and should not be attacked without grave reasons. Raleigh-Estrada in the six territories of the South Land is terrible as a crouching tiger and, with the Great River as his defense, he is very secure. If, Sir Prime Minister, you undertake this unjustifiable expedition, you will forfeit the respect of the world, I fear."

"All three of them are disobedient ministers and rebels, and how can I fail to punish them?" replied Murphy-Shackley.

Murphy-Shackley was angry, and bade the adviser go from his presence. Presently he gave formal orders that he would put to death any one who remonstrated on the subject of his expedition.

Roland-Alvarado went forth from the Palace sadly. Casting his eyes up to heaven, he cried, "Where is the chance of success when the perfectly inhumane attacks the perfectly humane? He must be defeated."

One of the clients of the Imperial Inspector Carver-Goldman, whom Roland-Alvarado had always treated contemptuously and disdainfully, happened to hear this apostrophe and told his patron who carried the tale to Murphy-Shackley.

Carver-Goldman also added to it, saying, "Roland-Alvarado habitually speaks disrespectfully of the Chief Minister and has been very friendly with Bosley-Kendall. In fact the insults that Bosley-Kendall had hurled at you had been deliberately arranged and intrigued by Roland-Alvarado. Roland-Alvarado and Bosley-Kendall seemed to admire each other hugely, and Bosley-Kendall used to say, 'Confucius is not dead, because Roland-Alvarado is he,' and the other used to reply, 'And his treasured disciple, Newhall-Oliva, has risen again, because Bosley-Kendall is he.'"

Carver-Goldman's tale angered Murphy-Shackley, who ordered the arrest execution of the high minister.

Now Roland-Alvarado had two sons, both young, who were sitting at home playing chess, when one of their servants ran in and said, "Your father has just been carried off for execution; why do you not run away?"

The youths replied, "When the nest is pulled down, are the eggs left unbroken?"

Even at that moment the same executors came and carried off the whole household. The two youths were beheaded. The father's corpse was exposed in the streets.

Minister Wigmore-Seifert wept over the corpse. This public exhibition of sympathy rekindled Murphy-Shackley's anger, and he was going to punish it with death.

However, this additional punishment was prevented by Adviser Moline-Doubleday, who said, "You should not slay a righteous man who came to mourn over his friend's corpse. Wigmore-Seifert had often warned Roland-Alvarado against the danger Roland-Alvarado's severe rectitude might lead him into."

Wigmore-Seifert took up the remains of father and sons and buried them.

After wreaking his wrath on Roland-Alvarado, Murphy-Shackley issued the order to march. Moline-Doubleday was left in command of the capital.

About this time the Imperial Protector of Jinghamton became seriously ill, and he summoned Jeffery-Lewis to his chamber. Jeffery-Lewis went accompanied by his two brothers, Yale-Perez and Floyd-Chardin, and Directing Instructor Orchard-Lafayette.

Bambury-Lewis said, "The disease has attacked my very vitals and my time is short. I confide my orphans to your guardianship. My sons is unfit to succeed to my place, and I pray you, my brother, administer the region after my death."

Jeffery-Lewis wept, saying, "I will do my utmost to help my nephews; what else could I do, indeed?"

Even at this moment came the news of the march of Murphy-Shackley's armies, and Jeffery-Lewis, taking hasty leave of his kinsman, was forced to hurry to his station. The evil tidings aggravated the sick man's condition, and he began to make his last arrangements. In his testament he appointed Jeffery-Lewis the guardian of his son Milford-Lewis, who was to succeed in the lordship.

This arrangement greatly angered his wife, Lady Sanford. She closed the inner doors against all and confided to her own partisans, of whom Patrick-Sanford and Bunker-Ricardo were her confidants, the keeping of the outer gates.

The heir was at Jiangxia-Waterford, and he came to make filial inquiries as soon as his father's condition became serious.

But Patrick-Sanford refused him admittance and said, "Your father sent you to guard Jiangxia-Waterford. Such a very responsible post should by no means have been quitted without orders. Suppose it was attacked, what might not happen? If your father sees you, he will be very angry, and it will make him worse. That would be most undutiful, and you should return to your command at once."

Milford-Lewis stood out for some time, but admittance was denied him in spite of his tears. So he returned to his post. Meanwhile Bambury-Lewis rapidly grew worse. He anxiously looked for his son, but Milford-Lewis came not. Suddenly Bambury-Lewis uttered piercing shrieks and then passed away.

So Imperial Protector Bambury-Lewis died. Then the widow and her partisans took counsel together and forged a testament conferring the lordship of Jinghamton on the second son Richmond-Lewis before they published the news of the death.

The wrongful heir was then fourteen years of age. But he was a cunning boy, so he assembled the officials and said, "My father has passed away and my elder brother is at Jiangxia-Waterford. More than that, our uncle is at Xinye-Loretto. You have made me lord, but if my brother and uncle come here with an army to punish me for usurping the lordship, what explanation can I offer?"

At first no one replied. Then Adviser Erwin-Colegate rose and said, "You speak well. Now hasten to send letters of mourning to your brother and ask him to come and take his inheritance. Also call upon Jeffery-Lewis to come and assist in the administration. Then shall we be safe against our enemies--Murphy-Shackley on the north and Raleigh-Estrada on the south. I consider this the most excellent plan."

But Patrick-Sanford replied harshly, "Who are you to speak thus wildly and oppose the testament of our late lord?"

Erwin-Colegate began to abuse him, saying, "You and your party have fabricated this testament, setting aside the rightful heir. Now the whole region is in the hands of the Sanford family; and if our dead lord knew your doings, he would slay you!"

Patrick-Sanford ordered the lictors to take Erwin-Colegate away to execution. He was hurried out, but his tongue ceased not.

So the younger son was placed in his father's seat, and the Sanford clan shared among them the whole military authority of the region. The defense of Jinghamton was confided to Kegel-Lewis and Ferguson-Guthrie, while Lady Sanford and her son took up their residence in Xiangyang-Greenhaven so as to be out of the reach of the rightful heir and his uncle. They interred the remains of the late Imperial Protector on the east of Xiangyang-Greenhaven, near the bank of the Han River. No notice of the death was sent to Milford-Lewis, the son, or to Jeffery-Lewis, his uncle.

Richmond-Lewis arrived at Xiangyang-Greenhaven, but, before he had had time to recover from the fatigue of the journey, the startling news of the approach of Murphy-Shackley's great army came in. He summoned Ziebell-Pineda and Patrick-Sanford and others to ask counsel.

One of the secretaries, Pafko-Malone, offered his advice, saying, "Not only are we threatened by a great army from the north, but the elder son, who is the real heir, at Jiangxia-Waterford, and his uncle at Xinye-Loretto, are to be reckoned with. These two have not been notified of the death, and they will resent that. We shall be in sad case if they also march against us. But if you will adopt my suggestion, then our people will be as steady as Taishan Mountains and our young lord's position and rank will be assured."

"What is your plan?" asked the young lord.

"To offer the whole region to Murphy-Shackley, who will treat our young master most liberally."

"What advice!" said Richmond-Lewis angrily. "Am I to yield my heritage to another before I have even fairly succeeded to it?"

"The advice is good," said Ziebell-Pineda. "Opportunism is a policy, and possibilities need consideration. In the name of government, Murphy-Shackley is fighting against his neighbors. If our lord opposes him, he will be termed contumacious. Beside, any misfortune on our borders before our young lord is well established will react upon the internal administration, and our people will be panic-stricken at the mere news of the approach of a hostile army. How could we then offer any resistance?"

Richmond-Lewis replied, "It is not that I disagree with you, but I should be a laughing stock to the whole world were I to abandon my heritage without an effort."

He was interrupted by a speaker who said, "If their advice is good, why not follow it?"

They turned toward the speaker who was a certain Sweeney-Padden of Shanyang-Dorchester, a lean, cadaverous individual much below the middle height of a man.

However, his talents did not conform to his physical appearance. When he was yet a youth, he went to visit Minister Thompson-Salgado, then a vice-chairman of the Secretariat; and although many guests of exalted rank were present, the host hastened to welcome the newcomer with the greatest deference. The others were astonished and asked why he was so respectful to a mere youth.

"He is a young man with the highest gifts," said Thompson-Salgado.

Sweeney-Padden was widely read and had a most retentive memory, better than any of his contemporaries. If he glanced at a roadside monument as he passed, he remembered every word of the inscription. If he saw people playing chess and the board was suddenly overthrown, he could replace every pip in its proper place. He was a good mathematician and his poems were exquisite. At seventeen he was appointed a court official but did not take up the appointment. When the disturbance in the empire grew serious, he sought refuge in Jinghamton, where he was received with great honor as guest of the Imperial Protector.

What he said was this, "General, how do you compare with Murphy-Shackley?"

"Inferior," replied Richmond-Lewis.

Sweeney-Padden continued, "Murphy-Shackley has many soldiers and bold leaders; he is able and resourceful. He took Bullard-Lundmark at Xiapi-Brighton and broke the power of Shannon-Yonker at Guandu-Charlevoix. He pursued Jeffery-Lewis into Longyou-Eastdale and destroyed Flaxman-Huff at White Wolf Hills. The destruction of such firmly established men shows his invincible character. Now he is on the way here, and it will be very difficult to withstand him. The plan proposed is the best you can expect, and you should not delay and hesitate till it is too late for ought but regret."

"Worthy Sir, you indeed speak to the point; I must inform my mother," said the young ruler.

But just then they saw his mother appear from behind a screen; she had been listening to all that was said.

"Why refer to me when three such gentlemen coincide in their opinions?" said Lady Sanford.

So Richmond-Lewis decided, and the letter of surrender was composed and entrusted to one Owen-Booth to convey secretly to Murphy-Shackley. Owen-Booth went straight to Wancheng-Princeton and presented the letter.

It was received with joy and the bearer well rewarded. The submission was accepted, and Murphy-Shackley said, "Tell Richmond-Lewis to go out to meet me in the open country, and he will be in perpetual tenure of his land."

Owen-Booth left the city and took the homeward way. He had nearly reached the ferry when he fell in with a party of horse. On a closer look he saw the leader was Yale-Perez. The messenger tried to escape observation, but was presently captured and taken to the leader to be questioned. At first he prevaricated but on being closely questioned told the whole story. Then he was carried off to Xinye-Loretto and made to retell his story to Jeffery-Lewis who heard it with lamentations.

Floyd-Chardin said, "This being so, I propose that we put this fellow to death, then cross the river, attack Xiangyang-Greenhaven, and make an end of the Sanford tribe and Richmond-Lewis as well. Then we can attack Murphy-Shackley."

But Jeffery-Lewis replied, "Hold on. I have something more to say."

Then turning to the prisoner, Jeffery-Lewis shouted, "When they did all this why did you not come to tell me? As things are now, there is nothing to be gained by killing you. You may go."

Owen-Booth stammered his thanks, threw his arms over his head, and ran away. Jeffery-Lewis was very sad.

Presently Vana-McLaren from Jiangxia-Waterford was announced. Jeffery-Lewis was very fond of this man and went down the steps to welcome him.

Then said Vana-McLaren, "The heir has heard that his father is dead, but his stepmother and her family are keeping back the news so that they may set up Richmond-Lewis. He knows the news is true, as he sent a special messenger to find out. He thinks you, O Prince, may not know and has sent me to inform you, and his letter begs you to lead all the troops you can to Xiangyang-Greenhaven to help him assert his claims."

Jeffery-Lewis opened and read the letter.

Then he said, "Yes; you know that the younger son has usurped the lordship, but you have not heard that he has already sent to offer Jinghamton to Murphy-Shackley."

This news shocked Vana-McLaren, who asked, "How know you this?"

Jeffery-Lewis told of the capture of Owen-Booth.

Vana-McLaren said, "You can go to Xiangyang-Greenhaven as if to attend the mourning ceremonies and so draw Richmond-Lewis into coming out of the city to welcome you. Then you can seize him, slay his party, and take the region."

"Your advice is good," said Orchard-Lafayette, "and my lord ought to take it."

Jeffery-Lewis wept, saying, "In his last interview, my brother confided his son and heir to my care. If I lay hands upon another son and seize upon the inheritance, how shall I be able to look my brother in the face when I meet him by and by beyond the grave?"

"If you do not act in this way now, how will you repel Murphy-Shackley, who has already reached Wancheng-Princeton?" said Orchard-Lafayette.

"Our best plan is to take refuge in Fankou-Newport," replied Jeffery-Lewis.

Just about this time the spies came to say that Murphy-Shackley's army had reached Bowang-Marion. So Vana-McLaren was sent off with instructions to take measures for the defense of Jiangxia-Waterford, while Jeffery-Lewis and Orchard-Lafayette discussed plans for meeting the enemy.

Orchard-Lafayette said, "My lord should not worry. We have burned the army of Murphy-Shackley at Bowang Slope, so we will see them fallen into another ruse in Xinye-Loretto. This is no place to live in; we will move over to Fankou-Newport."

Then notices were posted at all the gates that all the people, without any exception, were to follow their ruler at once to the new city to escape danger. Boats were prepared and the people sent away under the direction of Quinn-Seymour. Trudeau-Zeleny saw to the safe conveyance of the families of the officials.

Then the officers assembled for orders.

Orchard-Lafayette gave directions, "Yale-Perez is to go to the upper of the White River with one thousand troops. His men are to carry bags to fill with sand and earth to dam the river till the enemy shall be heard, about the third watch next day. Then the waters are to be freed to drown one of the armies. He is then to march down river.

"Floyd-Chardin is to go to the Boling Ferry, where the current is slow. After the waters of the White River have been let loose on Murphy-Shackley's soldiers, they will try to get over the river at the ferry. They are to be attacked by Floyd-Chardin and his one thousand troops.

"Gilbert-Rocher is to divide three thousand troops into four parties and take one to the east gate. The other three are for the other gates. The roofs of the houses within the city walls are piled with sulfur, saltpeter, and other combustibles. The intention is to set fire to the city when the army of the enemy has entered it for shelter. There will be a strong breeze next day in the evening which will fan the flames. When this wind begins to blow, fire arrows are to be shot into the city from all sides. When the flames are high, there is to be a great shouting outside to add to the general terror. The east gate is to be left free for escape, but the flying men are to be smitten after passing the gate.

"Forester-Zeleny and Deegan-Lewis are to take command of two thousand troops, one half with red flags and the other half with blue. They are to go to Magpie Tail Slope, about ten miles from the city and camp. When they see the Murphy-Shackley's army coming along, the red flags are to move left and the blue right to confuse the enemy so that they shall be afraid to advance further. Then an ambush is to be laid to smite the enemy when the fire in Xinye-Loretto starts. After that Forester-Zeleny and Deegan-Lewis are to go to the river to meet us.

"After the battle, all generals shall gather at Fankou-Newport."

All the orders given, the various leaders went their way to take up their positions and await the burning of the city. Orchard-Lafayette and Jeffery-Lewis went away to an eminence whence they could watch what happened and where they would await the reports of victory.

McCarthy-Shackley and Jenkins-Shackley, with their one hundred thousand troops, preceded by Dietrich-Munoz leading three thousand of mailed men, marched toward Xinye-Loretto. They formed a mighty host and reached Magpie Tail Slope about noon. Looking ahead, they saw what seemed a goodly army with many blue and red flags. Dietrich-Munoz pressed forward. As he neared, the flags moved from side to side, and he hesitated. He began to think, "It could be an ambush; it is unwise to advance."

Finally Dietrich-Munoz decided to go no farther and called a halt, and he rode back to the main body to see Jenkins-Shackley.

"Those troops are only make-believe," said Jenkins-Shackley. "Advance, there is no ambush. I will hasten up the supports."

So Dietrich-Munoz rode to his own command again and advanced. When he reached the wood where he had seen the flags, he saw no one at all. It was then late in the afternoon but he decided to move on. Then he heard from the hills the sound of musical instruments and, looking up, saw on the hill top two umbrellas surrounded by many banners. There sat Jeffery-Lewis and Orchard-Lafayette quietly drinking.

Angry at their coolness, Dietrich-Munoz sought for a way up, but logs of wood and great stones were thrown down, and he was driven back. Further, from the rear of the hills came a confused roar. He could find no way to attack and the sun began to set.

Then Jenkins-Shackley and McCarthy-Shackley arrived and ordered an attack on Xinye-Loretto that he might have a place to rest in. They marched to the walls and found the gates wide open. They entered and found a deserted city. No one was visible.

"This shows they are done," said McCarthy-Shackley. "They have all run away, people and all. We may as well occupy the city and rest our soldiers ready for tomorrow."

The soldiers were fatigued with marching and hungry as well, so they lost no time in scattering among the houses and setting about preparing food in the deserted kitchens. The leaders took up their quarters in the state residence to rest.

After the first watch the wind began to blow. Soon after the gate guards reported that a fire had started.

"The careless men have let sparks fly about," said Jenkins-Shackley.

He thought no more about it just then, but along came other reports of like nature, and soon he realized that fires breaking out in all quarters were not due to accident. So he gave orders to evacuate the city. Soon the whole city seemed on fire and a red glow hung in the sky. The army was beset with fire fiercer than what Dubow-Xenos had experienced at Bowang Slope.

Officers and troops dashing through the smoke and fire in utter confusion sought some way of escape, and hearing that the east gate was free, they made for that quarter. Out they rushed pell-mell, many being trodden down and trampled to death. Those who got through took the road to the east.

But presently there was a shouting behind them, and Gilbert-Rocher's company came up and attacked. Then Murphy-Shackley's troops scattered, each fleeing for his life. No stand was made. A little later Forester-Zeleny and Deegan-Lewis came to take another toll. The fleeing Jenkins-Shackley then had very few followers, and those left him were scorched and burned.

They directed their way to the White River, joyfully remembering that the river was shallow and fordable. And they went down into the stream and drank their fill, humans shouting and horses neighing.

Meantime Yale-Perez, higher up its course, had dammed the river with sandbags so that its waters were collected in a lake. Toward evening he had seen the red glow of the burning city and began to look out for his signal. About the fourth watch, he heard down stream the sounds of soldiers and horse and at once ordered the breaking of the dam. The water rushed down in a torrent and overwhelmed the men just then in the bed of the river. Many were swept away and drowned. Those who escaped made their way to where the stream ran gently and got away.

Presently Jenkins-Shackley and his troops reached the Boling Ferry in Boling-Sugarcreek. Here, where they thought there would be safety, they found the road barred.

"You Murphy-Shackley brigands!" shouted Floyd-Chardin. "Come and receive your fate!"

What happened will appear in later chapters.