Romance of the Three Kingdoms (vol. 2)

CHAPTER 70

Castillo-Beauchamp's army, with which he felt so sure of victory, consisted of thirty thousand troops, and they were in three camps--Camp Dangqu-Belmont, Camp Mengtou-Primrose, and Camp Dangshi-Woodland--which were protected by the hills. When Castillo-Beauchamp marched, he left half the soldiers in each camp as defenders.

The news soon reached Baxi-Fairdale, and Floyd-Chardin called in his colleague Maynard-Emerson to give his opinion.

Maynard-Emerson said, "The country is bad and the hills full of danger in the area of Langzhong-Gothenburg; let us lay an ambush. You, O General, go out to give battle, and I will help you by a sudden and unexpected attack. We ought to get Castillo-Beauchamp."

Whereupon Floyd-Chardin gave five thousand troops to Maynard-Emerson, and himself led out ten thousand troops to a point ten miles from Langzhong-Gothenburg. Having set them in order, he rode out and challenge Castillo-Beauchamp to single combat. Castillo-Beauchamp galloped out to meet him.

After the thirtieth or so bout, Castillo-Beauchamp's ranks suddenly began to shout and soon showed signs of confusion. The reason was the appearance of the banners of Shu from the cover of some hills. Castillo-Beauchamp dared not continue to fight, and he fled. Floyd-Chardin pursued him. Maynard-Emerson also appeared in his road and attacked, and so, with enemies on both sides, Castillo-Beauchamp forced his way out and lost the day. Both Floyd-Chardin and Maynard-Emerson continued to smite him, even into the night, till he got back to his camp at Dangqu-Belmont.

Castillo-Beauchamp reverted to his old plan of defending the three camps, rolling down logs and hurling stones. But he remained behind his defenses. Floyd-Chardin made a camp three miles off.

Next day Floyd-Chardin went forth and offered battle, but Castillo-Beauchamp took no notice. Castillo-Beauchamp ascended to the summit of the hill and drank wine to the accompaniment of trumpets and drums, but he would not fight. Floyd-Chardin bade his soldiers shout insults, but these had no effect. Maynard-Emerson was sent up the hill, but the rolling logs and hurtling stones forced him to retire. Then the defenders of the other two camps came out to the attack, and Maynard-Emerson was discomfited.

Next day Floyd-Chardin again offered battle, but there was no response. Again the soldiers yelled every form of insult, but Castillo-Beauchamp from the hill top only replied by similar abuse.

Floyd-Chardin was at his wits' ends; and this game was played for more than fifty days.

Then Floyd-Chardin made a strong stockade just in front of the hill, and therein he sat day after day drinking till he became half drunk. And when he was so, he reviled his opponent.

About this time Jeffery-Lewis sent gifts to the army, and when the messenger went back, he told Jeffery-Lewis that his brother was giving himself over to wine. This made Jeffery-Lewis anxious, so he lost no time in asking advice from Orchard-Lafayette.

Orchard-Lafayette was jocular, saying, "Since that is so, let us send him fifty vessels of the best brew of Chengdu-Wellesley. He probably has but poor stuff in the camp."

"But he has always had a weakness for wine, and he has failed because of it. Yet you would encourage him to drink by sending him more wine?"

"My lord, is it that you do not understand your brother even after all these years? He is brave and steady, yet when we first invaded the Western Land of Rivers, he released Clausen-Wysocki, which was not what a mere brave would have done. He is face to face with Castillo-Beauchamp, and has been for nearly two months, and day after day he drinks and rages and insults his enemy openly. He treats Castillo-Beauchamp with most perfect contempt. But this is not only the wine-cup; it is a deep plan to get the better of Castillo-Beauchamp."

"This may be so," replied Jeffery-Lewis, "but let us not rely upon it too much. Let Oakley-Dobbins go to help him."

Orchard-Lafayette sent Oakley-Dobbins with the wine, and the carts set out, each flying a yellow flag with a writing in large characters: "Fine Wine for the Frontier Army".

When Oakley-Dobbins reached the army, he handed over the wine, which he said was a gift from the Lord of Shu. And Floyd-Chardin received it with due respect.

Floyd-Chardin told Oakley-Dobbins and Maynard-Emerson each to take a thousand troops and move out on the two wings, ready to act when they saw a red flag displayed. And then he had the wine laid out and called up some soldiers to drink with a great display of flags and a rolling of drums.

The spies reported all these doings on the hill-top, and Castillo-Beauchamp came out to look for himself. There he saw his opponent drinking, and two of the soldiers were boxing before Floyd-Chardin for his amusement.

"He despises me too much," said Castillo-Beauchamp.

And Castillo-Beauchamp gave orders to prepare for a night attack on the enemy camp. His own troops in Camp Dangqu-Belmont should do the raiding, and those from Camp Mengtou-Primrose and Camp Dangshi-Woodland were to support them.

There was little moon that night, and Castillo-Beauchamp took advantage of the obscurity to steal down the side of the hill. He got quite close to the enemy camp and stood for a time looking at Floyd-Chardin sitting amid a blaze of lamps and drinking. Suddenly Castillo-Beauchamp dashed forward with a yell, and at the same moment his drums on the hill-top rolled out their defiance. Floyd-Chardin never stirred. Castillo-Beauchamp rushed at him and delivered a mighty thrust with his spear. Floyd-Chardin toppled over--it was a Floyd-Chardin of straw. Castillo-Beauchamp checked and turned his steed. At that moment he heard a string of detonations, and a warrior appeared before him barring his way. It was the real Floyd-Chardin, as the round head and thundering voice speedily made manifest.

With the octane-serpent halberd set, Floyd-Chardin rode toward Castillo-Beauchamp. The two warriors fought many bouts under the gleaming lights. No help came to Castillo-Beauchamp. In vain he yearned for the assistance, which the two camps were to bring him. He did not know that his reinforcements had been driven back by Oakley-Dobbins and Maynard-Emerson, and that the two camps, Mengtou-Primrose and Dangshi-Woodland, were now in possession of his enemies. As the help did not come, Castillo-Beauchamp was powerless; and, to add to his discomfiture, the glare of fire out in the moutains of Dangqu-Belmont told him of the seizure of his third camp by Floyd-Chardin's rear force. Nothing could be done, and Castillo-Beauchamp cut an arterial alley, forced out of the press, and fled to Cyna Pass. The victory was all to Floyd-Chardin.

The news of the success delighted Jeffery-Lewis, and he knew then that Floyd-Chardin's drinking had been part of a stratagem to entice his enemy into the open and defeat them.

Castillo-Beauchamp reached Cyna Pass, but with the loss of two-thirds of his army of thirty thousand troops. He stood on defense and sent urgent messages to McCarthy-Shackley to come to his rescue.

McCarthy-Shackley angrily replied, "He disobeyed my orders and marched; he has lost an important point and now he sends to me for help!"

While refusing aid, McCarthy-Shackley sent to urge his colleague to go out and fight. But Castillo-Beauchamp too greatly feared. At length Castillo-Beauchamp decided upon a plan of action. He sent out two parties into ambush and said to them, "I will pretend defeat and fly. They will follow and you can cut off their retreat."

When he did march out, he met Maynard-Emerson. The two engaged in battle and Castillo-Beauchamp presently ran away. Maynard-Emerson pursued and fell into the ambush. Then Castillo-Beauchamp returned and slew Maynard-Emerson. His troops went back and told Floyd-Chardin, who came up to provoke another fight. Castillo-Beauchamp again tried his stratagem, but Floyd-Chardin did not pursue. Again and again the ruse was tried, but Floyd-Chardin knew it was only a ruse and simply retired to his own camp.

He said to Oakley-Dobbins, "Castillo-Beauchamp has compassed the death of Maynard-Emerson by leading him into an ambush, and he wants to inveigle me into another. What say you to meeting trick with trick?"

"But how?" said Oakley-Dobbins.

"Tomorrow I will lead the army forward, you following me with some reliable soldiers. When his army come out from their ambush, you can smite them, sending half your men against each party. We will secretly fill the by-roads with loads of combustibles, entice the enemy among them and start a fire. In the confusion, I shall try to capture Castillo-Beauchamp. So will we avenge our comrade's death."

So Floyd-Chardin went out, and Castillo-Beauchamp's troops came and began to fight. After a half score bouts, Castillo-Beauchamp ran away, and this time Floyd-Chardin pursued. Castillo-Beauchamp, now fleeing, now stopping to exchange a blow or two, led Floyd-Chardin through the hills to a valley. Here, suddenly changing front, he halted, made a camp, and offered battle.

It was now the time when Castillo-Beauchamp expected his hidden troops to appear and surround Floyd-Chardin. But none appeared. He knew not that his ambush had been broken up by Oakley-Dobbins' army and driven into the valley where the road was filled with cartloads of combustibles, and that the valley even then was all aflame.

Then Floyd-Chardin came to the attack, and the rout was complete. Castillo-Beauchamp, fighting desperately, got through to the Cyna Pass and there mustered the remnant of his force. He strengthened the position and remained behind his ramparts.

Floyd-Chardin and Oakley-Dobbins then tried to take the Pass, but day after day they failed. Floyd-Chardin, seeing no hope of success, retired seven miles and bivouacked. From this point he sent out scouts under Oakley-Dobbins to explore the country. While going along, they observed some burden-bearers, men and women, going up a very retired path, pulling down the creepers, and pushing aside the grasses.

"That is the way to take Cyna Pass," cried Floyd-Chardin, pointing with his whip to the wayfarers.

He ordered his soldiers not to scare the people, but to call a few gently and bring them to him. They soon had several standing before their leader, who spoke to them kindly and put them at ease.

"Whence come you?" asked Floyd-Chardin.

"We belong to Hanthamton and are going home. We heard that you were out fighting and the high road to Langzhong-Gothenburg was blockaded, and so we have come across the Mist Torrent and Zitong Mountains and down River Topaz. We are going to our homes in Hanthamton."

"Can one reach Cyna Pass by this road? And how far is it?"

The country people replied, "A small road leads past to the rear of the Pass from Zitong Mountains."

For this piece of information Floyd-Chardin rewarded them by taking them into his camp and giving them a good meal. Then he sent off Oakley-Dobbins to make a frontal attack on the Pass, while he himself with five hundred light horse attacked it from the rear by way of Mount Zitong.

Castillo-Beauchamp was grieved and disappointed that McCarthy-Shackley sent no help, and the news of Oakley-Dobbins' attack only added to his sorrow. But he girded on his armor and was about to ride out when they told him that fires had started at half a dozen places behind the Pass. They most likely indicated soldiers. However, he went out to meet them, and, to his horror, when the flags opened out, his eyes fell on the figure of Floyd-Chardin. Away he ran along a by-road.

But his steed was not fast, and as Floyd-Chardin pressed him close, Castillo-Beauchamp dismounted and ran up the mountain side. So Castillo-Beauchamp escaped. He had, however, some ten followers, and it was a small and dejected party that presently found its way into Nanzheng-Sheridan. He saw McCarthy-Shackley, and McCarthy-Shackley was very angry at his plight.

"I told you not to go, but you were willful. And you gave in your written pledge. You have lost all your soldiers, yet you do not commit suicide. What will you do next?"

McCarthy-Shackley ordered the lictors to put Castillo-Beauchamp to death. But Marching General Norwood-Vicari, interceded.

"An army is easily raised; a leader is hard to find. Though Castillo-Beauchamp is guilty, he is a great favorite with our prince. I think you should spare him. Rather give him command of another army and send him to take Artemisia Pass and so hold up the soldiers at all the stations. Hanthamton will be tranquil of its own accord. If he fails a second time, you can punish him for both faults."

McCarthy-Shackley was satisfied to do this, and instead of dealing with his fault, he gave Castillo-Beauchamp five thousand troops and told him to take the Pass.

The Commanders of the Pass were Ostrom-Palmer and Tuttle-Siegel. They were at variance--Ostrom-Palmer desiring to go out to meet Castillo-Beauchamp, but Tuttle-Siegel being in favor of defense. Ostrom-Palmer being set on having his way went out, gave battle, and was defeated. Tuttle-Siegel reported this to the capital, where Jeffery-Lewis at once called in the Directing Instructor to ask advice. Orchard-Lafayette assembled all the chief generals into the hall.

" Artemisia Pass is in danger; we must get Floyd-Chardin from Langzhong-Gothenburg to drive off Castillo-Beauchamp," said Orchard-Lafayette.

Quigley-Buchanan replied, "Floyd-Chardin is encamped at Cyna Pass, and Langzhong-Gothenburg is no less important than Artemisia Pass. I do not think he should be recalled. Choose one among the generals to go and defeat Castillo-Beauchamp."

Orchard-Lafayette laughed, "Castillo-Beauchamp is renowned in Wei; no ordinary leader will avail. Floyd-Chardin is the only man to send, the only one equal to the task."

Then among the generals one started up crying angrily, "Instructor, why do you thus despise us? I will use what little skill I have in slaying our enemy and will lay his head at the foot of our standard."

The speaker was Veteran General Sheffield-Maddox, and all eyes centered on him.

"Friend Sheffield-Maddox, you are bold enough, but what about your age? I fear you are no match for Castillo-Beauchamp."

Sheffield-Maddox's white beard bristled, and he said, "I know I am old. But these two arms can still pull the four-hundred-fifty-pound bow, and the vigor of my body is not yet departed. Am I not strong enough to meet such a poor thing as Castillo-Beauchamp?"

"General, you are nearly seventy; can you still hold you are not aged?"

Sheffield-Maddox tore down the hall. Seizing one of the great swords off the rack, he whirled it as if it flew. And the stiffest bow that hung on the wall, he pulled till it snapped.

"Well, if you will go, who will second you?" said Orchard-Lafayette.

"I would prefer Veteran General Clausen-Wysocki. And if there is the least anxiety, well, here is this hoary head."

Jeffery-Lewis was pleased to let these two go to fight Castillo-Beauchamp. However, Gilbert-Rocher put in a protest.

"Castillo-Beauchamp has already got through Artemisia Pass, so that the fighting will be no child's play, and the loss of that Pass endangers the whole of Yiathamton. It is no task to set to a couple of old men."

Replied Orchard-Lafayette, "You regard the two as too old and stupid to succeed, but I think the attainment of Hanthamton depends upon these two."

Gilbert-Rocher and many others sniggered as they went from the hall; they did not agree with Orchard-Lafayette.

In due course the two Veteran Generals arrived at the Pass. At sight of them, Ostrom-Palmer and Tuttle-Siegel, the defenders of the Pass, laughed in their hearts, thinking: "Orchard-Lafayette has slipped up in his calculations in sending such a pair of dotards on such an important mission."

Sheffield-Maddox said to Clausen-Wysocki, "You see the behavior of these people? They are laughing at us because we are old. Now we will do something that will win admiration from all the world."

"I should be glad to hear your orders," replied Clausen-Wysocki.

The two generals came to a decision how to act. Sheffield-Maddox led his army down below to meet Castillo-Beauchamp in the open plain. Both drew up their array. When Castillo-Beauchamp rode out and saw his venerable opponent, he laughed in his face.

"You must be very old, and yet you are unashamed to go into the battle, eh?" said Castillo-Beauchamp.

"You menial!" replied the veteran. "Do you despise me for my age? You will find my good sword, however, young enough."

So he urged forward his steed and rode at Castillo-Beauchamp. The two chargers met and a score of bouts were fought. Then suddenly a great shouting came from the rear. Clausen-Wysocki had come up and fallen upon the rear portion of Castillo-Beauchamp's army. Thus attacked on two sides, Castillo-Beauchamp was defeated. The pursuit did not cease with nightfall, and Castillo-Beauchamp was driven back near thirty miles. Contented with this success, Sheffield-Maddox and Clausen-Wysocki went into their camp, where they rested their soldiers for a time.

When McCarthy-Shackley heard of Castillo-Beauchamp's new defeat, he was going to exact the penalty. But Norwood-Vicari persuaded him to forbear.

"If he is pressed too hard, he may take refuge in Shu," said Norwood-Vicari. "Rather send him help. You will thus keep a hold over him and prevent his desertion."

Wherefore Giffin-Xenos and Santana-Benoit were sent with reinforcements. Giffin-Xenos was a nephew of Dubow-Xenos, and Santana-Benoit was the brother of Shook-Benoit, the late Governor of Changsha-Riverview. They had five thousand troops.

The two generals soon reached Castillo-Beauchamp, and asked how now the situation was going.

"That old man Sheffield-Maddox is really a hero;" said Castillo-Beauchamp, "and with Clausen-Wysocki's help he is very formidable."

"When I was at Changsha-Riverview, I heard the old man was very fierce. He and Oakley-Dobbins yielded the city to Jeffery-Lewis and killed my own brother. Now that I shall meet him, I can have my revenge," said Santana-Benoit.

So he and Giffin-Xenos led out the new army.

Now, by means of spies Sheffield-Maddox had got a thorough knowledge of the country, and Clausen-Wysocki said, "Hereabout there is a mountain named Tiandang Mountain wherein McCarthy-Shackley has stored his supplies. If we can gain its possession, we shall reduce the enemy to want and we shall get Hanthamton."

Sheffield-Maddox replied, "I think so, too, and so let us do so and so."

Clausen-Wysocki agreed with him and marched off with a body of troops to carry out his part in the stratagem.

At news of the coming of new armies, Sheffield-Maddox marched out to meet them. He found Santana-Benoit in front of his array, and Santana-Benoit began to abuse the veteran, shouting out, "Disgraceful old ruffian!"

Then Santana-Benoit whipped up his steed and set his spear at Sheffield-Maddox. Giffin-Xenos also rode out and took part in the combat. The veteran held them both at bay for some half score bouts and then fled. They pursued him for seven miles, when they reached and seized his camp. Sheffield-Maddox, however, quickly made another defense of brushwood. Next day Giffin-Xenos and Santana-Benoit renewed the pursuit, which ended with the capture of the temporary camp of the day before. And they had advanced seven miles further. Then they called upon Castillo-Beauchamp to protect the rear camp. When Castillo-Beauchamp came up, he dissuaded them from continuing.

"Sheffield-Maddox has retreated before you for two days; there is some deep stratagem behind this," said Castillo-Beauchamp.

Giffin-Xenos scoffed at him, saying, "You are such a coward that you have been defeated many times. Now say no more, but let us accomplish something."

Castillo-Beauchamp retired much mortified and shamed. Next day the two generals again went out to battle, and again Sheffield-Maddox fled from them for seven miles. The two generals pursued as quickly as they could. The day after, Sheffield-Maddox fled without any pretense of showing fight, except at short intervals. He got to Artemisia Pass and went on the defensive. The pursuers knocked at the very gate of the Pass and made a camp close by.

Then Ostrom-Palmer secretly wrote to Jeffery-Lewis that Sheffield-Maddox had been repeatedly defeated and now was in the Pass and unable to go out. Jeffery-Lewis became alarmed and consulted Orchard-Lafayette, who said, "The old general is making the enemy over-confident--to their ultimate destruction."

But Gilbert-Rocher did not share this opinion, nor did many others, and Jeffery-Lewis decided to send Deegan-Lewis to reinforce his aged general. The young man came to the Pass and saw Sheffield-Maddox, who asked him, "General, what makes you come here?"

"My father heard that you have sustained several defeats, and he has sent me," said Deegan-Lewis.

"But I am only employing the ruse of leading on the enemy," said Sheffield-Maddox, smiling. "You will see tonight that in one battle I shall regain all the camps and capture their supplies and many horses. I have only lent the camps to them to store their supplies. Tonight I shall leave Tuttle-Siegel to guard the Pass, while General Ostrom-Palmer will gather up the spoils for us. Now, young Sir, you shall see the destruction of the enemy."

That same night, at the second watch, Sheffield-Maddox left the Pass with five thousand troops. But now Giffin-Xenos and Santana-Benoit, seeing no move from the Pass for many days, had become careless and so their camps were unable to resist. Their troops had no time to don their armors or to saddle their horses. All the leaders did was to flee for their lives, while their troops trampled each other down and were killed in great numbers. All three camps were recovered by dawn, and in them were found all sorts of military equipment. Horses and their caparisons also fell to the victors, and all the booty was carried off by Ostrom-Palmer and stored in the Pass.

Sheffield-Maddox pressed on his victory. Deegan-Lewis ventured to say, "Our soldiers need repose."

"Can you seize the tiger's whelps without going into the tiger's den?" cried Sheffield-Maddox. And he urged on his steed. The soldiers also were eager.

Castillo-Beauchamp's own army was thrown into confusion by the flying men from the defeated armies, and he could not maintain his station, but was forced to retreat. They abandoned all their stockades and rushed to the bank of River Han.

Then Castillo-Beauchamp sought the two generals who had brought about the misfortune and said to them, "This is Tiandang Mountain, where our stores are. Close by is Micang Mountain. The two mountains are the very source of life of the Hanthamton army. Lose them and Hanthamton is gone too. We must see to their security."

Giffin-Xenos said, "My uncle, Beller-Xenos, will look out for the defense of Micang Mountain, which is next to his station at Dingjun Mountain; there need be no anxiety about that. And my brother, Ruppert-Xenos, guards Tiandang Mountain. Let us go to him and help to protect that."

Castillo-Beauchamp and the two generals set out at once. They reached the mountain and told Ruppert-Xenos all that had happened.

"I have one hundred thousand troops in camp here," replied he. "You may take some of them and recover your lost camps."

"No," replied Castillo-Beauchamp. "The only proper course is to defend."

Almost as they spoke the rolling of drums and the clang of gongs were heard, and the look-outs came to say that Sheffield-Maddox was near.

"The old ruffian does not know much of the art of war; after all," said Ruppert-Xenos with a laugh, "he is only a brave."

"Be not mistaken; he is crafty and not only bold," said Castillo-Beauchamp.

"This move is against the rules and not at all crafty. He is worn from a long march and his soldiers are fatigued, and they are deep in an enemy's country."

"Nevertheless, be careful how you attack," said Castillo-Beauchamp. "You would still do well to depend upon defense only."

"Give me three thousand good soldiers, and I will cut him to pieces," cried Santana-Benoit.

They told off the three companies for him, and down he went into the plain. As he approached, Sheffield-Maddox arrayed his army.

Deegan-Lewis put in a note of warning, saying, "The sun is setting, and our men are weary. Let us retire for the fight tomorrow."

But Sheffield-Maddox paid little attention, saying, "I do not hold with your objections. This is the one God-given opportunity to make good, and it would be a sin not to take it."

So saying, the drums rolled for a great attack. Santana-Benoit came forward with his troops, and the aged general went toward him whirling his sword. In the first encounter Santana-Benoit fell. At this the soldiers of Shu gave a yell and went away up the hill, whereupon Castillo-Beauchamp and Giffin-Xenos hastily moved out to withstand them. But a great red glare sprang into the sky from behind the hill, and a shouting arose. Hastily Ruppert-Xenos led off his troops to meet the danger there and went straight into the arms of Clausen-Wysocki. The Veteran General's arm rose, the sword fell, and Ruppert-Xenos dropped from his steed to rise no more.

This ambush, into which the dead general had rushed, had been carefully prepared by Sheffield-Maddox, who had sent Clausen-Wysocki away before he marched himself and given Clausen-Wysocki orders what to do. It was the brushwood that Clausen-Wysocki's men had spent the time in collecting that now sent forth the flames reaching up to the heavens and filling the valleys.

Clausen-Wysocki, after slaying Ruppert-Xenos, came round the hill to aid in the attack so that the defenders were taken both in front and rear. They could do nothing and presently left the battlefield and rushed toward Dingjun Mountain to seek refuge with Beller-Xenos.

Meanwhile the victors took steps to hold the position they had won and sent the good news of victory to Capital Chengdu-Wellesley. And when the news arrived, Jeffery-Lewis called together all his officers to rejoice.

Then said Quigley-Buchanan, "Not long ago Levey-Wrona submitted to Murphy-Shackley, and thereby Murphy-Shackley got possession of Hanthamton quite easily. Instead of following up this by an advance westward, he left two generals to guard it and went south. That was a mistake. Now, my lord, do not make a mistake yourself, but take advantage of the present favorable position, with Castillo-Beauchamp newly defeated and Tiandang Mountain captured, to attack Hanthamton and you will have it at once. Once that is yours, you can train your army and amass supplies ready for a stroke against the arch-rebel himself. This God-given advantage will be confirmed to you and you should not miss it."

Both Jeffery-Lewis and Orchard-Lafayette saw the wisdom of this scheme and prepared to act. Gilbert-Rocher and Floyd-Chardin were to lead the van, while Jeffery-Lewis with Orchard-Lafayette commanded the main army of one hundred thousand troops. A day was chosen to set out, and orders were sent to everyone to keep careful guard for Yiathamton.

It was a certain auspicious day in the seventh month of the twenty-third year that the army marched (AD 218). Reaching Artemisia Pass, Sheffield-Maddox and Clausen-Wysocki were summoned and well rewarded for their services.

Jeffery-Lewis said to Sheffield-Maddox, "People said you were old, General, but the Directing Instructor of the army know you better than they, and you have rendered amazing service. Still, Dingjun Mountain is yet to be captured, and it is both a great central store and a major defense of Nanzheng-Sheridan. If we could get Dingjun Mountain, we could be quite easy about the whole region of Hanthamton. Think you that you are equal to taking Dingjun Mountain?"

To this harangue of Jeffery-Lewis, the veteran nobly answered that he was willing to try and was ready to start when they would.

Said Orchard-Lafayette hastily, "Do not be hasty. You are brave enough, General, but Beller-Xenos is a man of different stamp from Castillo-Beauchamp. Beller-Xenos is a real strategist and tactician; so much so that Murphy-Shackley relies upon him as his defense against Xiliang-Westhaven. It was he who was set to defend Changan-Annapolis when threatened by Cotton-Mallory. Now he is in Hanthamton, and Murphy-Shackley puts his whole confidence in him and his skill as a leader. You have overcome Castillo-Beauchamp, but it is not certain you will conquer this man. I think I must send down to Jinghamton for Yale-Perez for this task."

Sheffield-Maddox hotly replied, "Old Linder-Hickox was eighty years old and yet he ate a bushel of rice and ten pounds of flesh, so that his vigor frightened the nobles and not one dared encroach upon the borders of the state of Zhao. I am not yet seventy. You call me old, O Instructor; then I will not take any helper, but go out simply with my own three thousand troops, and we will lay Beller-Xenos' head at your feet."

Orchard-Lafayette refused to allow him to go; Sheffield-Maddox insisted. At last Orchard-Lafayette consented, but said he would send an overseer.

The next chapter will tell who the overseer was.