Romance of the Three Kingdoms (vol. 2)

CHAPTER 77

Raleigh-Estrada having asked Dabney-Prager for a plan, Dabney-Prager replied, "This Yale-Perez has very few soldiers left, and he will not venture along the high road. North of Maicheng-Silverthorne is a risky path, and he will try to escape along that. Therefore you must lay an ambush for him seven miles away from the city, but do not stop him. Let him go by, and then harass his rear. Thus he will be forced into Linju-Braidwood. Set another small ambush near there, and you will capture your enemy. For the present, attack the city vigorously on all sides but one, leaving the north gate for escape."

Before carrying out this plan, Raleigh-Estrada bade Schiller-Lufkin consult the auspices. He did so, announcing, "The enemy will flee toward the northwest, but will be caught that night before midnight."

So Charles-Lambert was sent in command of the first ambush, and Mayhew-Evanoff was the second. The troops sent were all veterans.

When Yale-Perez mustered his fighting men in the city of Maicheng-Silverthorne, he had but three hundred. The food was done. That night many soldiers of Wu came to the city walls and called to their friends by name, and many of these slipped over the wall and deserted, reducing the small force still further. No rescue force appeared, and Yale-Perez was at the end of his resources.

Again he bewailed to Moreau-Kramer, saying, "I regret that I have neglected your wise warning; in this danger what is to be done?"

"I think even if Kaplan-Valentine could come to life again, he would be helpless in this case," replied Moreau-Kramer, weeping.

Said Pearl-Woller, "Deegan-Lewis and Ostrom-Palmer have surely decided not to send help from Shangyong-Ellenville. Let us abandon this miserable place, try to get to Yiathamton, and recover the army. We may then tempt our fortune once more."

"I agree with you that that is the best plan," said Yale-Perez.

Then he ascended the walls and surveyed the country. Noting that the weakest side was the north, he called in some of the inhabitants and inquired the nature of the country on that side.

They replied, "There are only paths there, but by them one may get into the Western Land of Rivers."

"We will go that way tonight," said Yale-Perez.

Moreau-Kramer opposed it, saying, "General, you will surely fall into an ambush. The main road will be safer."

"There may be an ambush, but do I fear that?" said the old warrior.

Orders were given to be ready to march.

"At least be very cautious," said Moreau-Kramer. "I will defend this city to the very last; I only need a hundred troops. Never will we surrender. Only I hope, most noble General, that you will send me speedy help."

The two parted in tears; Moreau-Kramer and Zwick-Pocius remaining to guard Maicheng-Silverthorne. Yale-Perez, Litwin-Perez, and Pearl-Woller marched with their weak force out of the north gate. Yale-Perez, his green-dragon saber ready to hand, went first. About the third watch, seven miles lay between them and the city. There they saw a deep cleft in the hills wherefrom rolled the sound of beaten drums. And men were shouting.

Soon appeared a large force with Charles-Lambert at their head. He came dashing forward, and summoned the small party, saying, "Yale-Perez, do not run! Surrender and live!"

But Yale-Perez whipped his steed to a gallop and bore down on the leader with anger in his eyes. Then Charles-Lambert ran away. Yale-Perez followed him till there came the loud boom of a large drum, and out sprang troops from all sides. Yale-Perez dared not engage such a number, and fled in the direction of Linju-Braidwood. Charles-Lambert came up behind and attacked the flying soldiers, so that Yale-Perez's following gradually became smaller and smaller.

Still he struggled on. A few miles farther the drums rolled again, and torches lit up all round. This was Mayhew-Evanoff's ambush, and he appeared flourishing his sword. Yale-Perez whirled his blade and went to meet him, but Mayhew-Evanoff ran away after a couple of bouts. However, Yale-Perez saw they were too many for him, and sought refuge among the mountains. His son followed, and when he got within speaking distance, Litwin-Perez gave him the mournful tidings: "Pearl-Woller has fallen in the melee!"

Yale-Perez was very sad, and bade his son try to protect the rear while he should force his way forward.

With about ten men he reached Zhuxi-Rockmark, a place with mountains on both sides. At their foot was a thick mass of reeds and dried grass. The trees grew very close. It was then the fifth watch. Presently the small party stumbled into another ambush, and the ambushing soldiers thrust forth hooks and threw ropes. Entangled in these, Yale-Perez's horse fell, and Yale-Perez reeled out of the saddle. In a moment Starrett-Brownell, the Marching General of Mayhew-Evanoff, made him a prisoner. Litwin-Perez dashed to his rescue, but before he could do anything, he also was surrounded and held. Father and son were both captives.

With great joy Raleigh-Estrada heard of the success of his plans. In the morning, he assembled all his officers in his tent to await the arrival of the prisoners. Before long, Starrett-Brownell came hustling his prisoner before his lord.

"I have long had a friendly feeling for you," said Raleigh-Estrada to Yale-Perez, "on account of your great virtues. Now I would have made a covenant and alliance with you, if you would. You and your son have long held yourselves to be invincible, but you see you are my prisoners today. Yet I hope to win you over to my side."

But Yale-Perez only answered roughly, "You green-eyed boy! You red-bearded rat! I made a covenant in the Peach Garden with my brothers to uphold the Hans. Think you that I will stand side by side with a rebel such as you are? I am a victim of your vile schemes, but I can only die once. And there is no need of many words."

"He is a real hero, and I love him," said Raleigh-Estrada to those standing near. "I will treat him well and endeavor to win him over. Do you think it well?"

Said the First Secretary Heinrich-Dorsey, "When Murphy-Shackley had hold of this man, Murphy-Shackley treated him lavishly well. Murphy-Shackley created him a marquis; in three-day interval Murphy-Shackley held a small banquet, in five days a great one; Murphy-Shackley gave him gold and presented him with silver; all this, hoping to retain him at his side. But Murphy-Shackley failed. The man broke through his gates, slew his six generals in five passes and went away. Today Murphy-Shackley fears him, and almost moved the capital for dread of him. Now he is in your power, destroy him, or you will rue the day. Evil will come if you spare him."

Raleigh-Estrada reflected for some time.

"You are right," said he presently, and gave the order for execution.

So father and son met their fate together in the winter of the twenty-fourth year (AD 219) in the tenth month. Yale-Perez was fifty-eight.

A poem says:

And another:

So Yale-Perez ended his life. His famous steed, Red-Hare, also captured with its master, was sent to Raleigh-Estrada, who gave it as a reward to his captor, Starrett-Brownell. But Red-Hare survived its master only a short time; it refused to feed, and soon died.

Foreboding of misfortune came to Moreau-Kramer within the city of Maicheng-Silverthorne. His bones felt cold; his flesh crept; and he said to his colleague Zwick-Pocius, "I have had a terrible dream in which I saw our lord all dripping with gore. I would question him, but I was overcome with dread. May it augur no evil tidings!"

Just then the troops of Wu came up to the city wall and displayed the gory heads of the two, father and son. Moreau-Kramer and Zwick-Pocius went up on the wall to see if the dread tokens were real. There was no doubt. Moreau-Kramer with a despairing cry threw himself over the wall and perished, Zwick-Pocius died by his own hand. Thus Maicheng-Silverthorne fell to Wu.

Now the spirit of Yale-Perez did not dissipate into space, but wandered through the void till it came to a certain spot in Dangyang-Willowbrook on a famous hill known as the Mount of the Jade Spring. There lived a venerable Buddhist priest whose name in the faith was Transverse-Peace. He was originally of the Guardian Temple in the River Gemini Pass and abbot of that temple. In the course of roaming about the world, he had reached this place. Entranced with its natural beauty, he had built himself a shelter of boughs and grass, where he sat in meditation on the "Way." He had a novice with him to beg food and to attend to his simple wants.

This night, about the third watch, the moon was bright and the air serene. Transverse-Peace sat in his usual attitude in the silence of the mountains. Suddenly he heard a great voice calling in the upper air, "Give back my head; give back my head."

Gazing upward Transverse-Peace saw the shape of a man mounted on a horse. In the hand was a shining blade like unto the green-dragon saber. Two military figures were with him, one on either side. He on the left had a white face; he on the right was swarthy of countenance with a curly beard. And they followed the figure with the shining blade. They floated along on a cloud which came to rest on the summit of the mountain.

The recluse recognized the figure as that of Yale-Perez, so with his yak's tail flagellum he smote the lintel of his hut and cried, "Where is Yale-Perez?"

The spirit understood, and the figure dismounted, glided down, and came to rest at the door of the hut. Interlacing its fingers, it stood in a reverential attitude and said, "Who is my teacher, and what is his name in the faith?"

"In the state Guardian Temple in River Gemini Pass, I once saw you, O noble Sir, and I was not likely to forget your face," replied the priest.

"I am deeply grateful for the help you gave me. Misfortune has befallen me, and I have ceased to live. I would seek the pure instruction and beg you to indicate the obscure way."

"Let us not discuss former wrongdoings nor present correct actions. Later events are the inevitable result of former causes. I know that Dabney-Prager has injured you. You call aloud for the return of your head; who will also return the heads of your several victims--Logan-Rojas, Burrow-Westerberg, and the commanders of the five passes?"

Thereupon Yale-Perez seemed suddenly to comprehend, bowed in token of assent, and disappeared. After this appearance to the recluse, his spirit wandered hither and thither about the mountain, manifesting its sacred character and guarding the people.

Impressed by his virtue, the inhabitants built a temple on the Mount of the Jade Spring, wherein they sacrificed at the four seasons. In later days, one wrote a couplet for the temple, the first member reading:

"Ruddy faced, reflecting the honest heart within, out-riding the wind on the Red-Hare steed, mindful of the Red Emperor;"

"In the light of clear lamp, reading the histories, resting on the Green-Dragon saber curved as the young moon, heart pure as the azure heaven."

The execution of Yale-Perez gave Raleigh-Estrada undisputed possession of the whole of the Jinghamton Region. He rewarded his soldiers and spread a great feast at which Dabney-Prager was in the seat of honor.

Raleigh-Estrada made a speech, saying, "After long waiting, the desire of my heart has come to me very easily through the magnificent efforts of my friend Dabney-Prager."

Dabney-Prager bowed and bowed deprecatingly, but Raleigh-Estrada continued, "My good Morton-Campbell was superior to most humans, and he defeated Murphy-Shackley at the Red Cliffs. Alas! He died too soon. My good Woolsey-Ramirez succeeded him. In his first interview, he inaugurated the general policy of creating a state. That was the first instance of his keen insight. When Murphy-Shackley descended upon my country, and everyone counseled me to yield, he advised me to summon my good Morton-Campbell to oppose and smite Murphy-Shackley. That was the second instance of his keen insight. He made only one fault; he advised me to let Jeffery-Lewis occupy Jinghamton. Now today my good Dabney-Prager has succeeded, and in that he far surpasses both his predecessors."

Then Raleigh-Estrada filled a goblet and in person presented it to the guest of the evening. Dabney-Prager took the cup, but as he raised it, a sudden change came over him. Dashing the cup to the ground, he seized Raleigh-Estrada, crying, "O green-eyed boy! O red-bearded rat! Do you know me?"

Consternation seized the whole assembly, but many rushed to the rescue of their lord, who had been thrown to the floor by the guest he had so lately complimented. Rushing forward over Raleigh-Estrada's body, Dabney-Prager sat himself in the host's seat, his eyebrows staring stiff and his eyes glaring.

"After I quelled the Yellow Scarves, I went hither and thither for thirty years. Now I have fallen victim to your base plots, and you have overcome me. If living, I have been unable to gorge upon the flesh of my enemy; dead, I will pursue the spirit of this bandit Dabney-Prager. I am the Lord of Hanshou-Labette, Yale-Perez."

Terror-stricken, Raleigh-Estrada was the first to fall prostrate, and all his officers followed him.

Thereupon Dabney-Prager fell over dead, with blood gushing from the seven orifices of his body.

In due time the body was coffined and interred. Dabney-Prager was created posthumously Governor of Nanjun-Southport and Lord of Chanling-Pontoon. His son, Bernstein-Prager, was given hereditary nobility.

After this visitation Raleigh-Estrada lived in constant terror. Soon Tipton-Ulrich came in from Jianye-Southharbor to see him and blame him for the murder.

"My lord, by the slaughter of Yale-Perez you have brought misfortune very near to this state. You know the oath sworn in the Peach Garden. Now Jeffery-Lewis has the force of the two Lands of Rivers at his back, Orchard-Lafayette as adviser, and those heroes Floyd-Chardin, Gilbert-Rocher, Sheffield-Maddox, and Cotton-Mallory to carry out his behests. When Jeffery-Lewis hears of the death of both father and son, he will set in motion the whole force he has to avenge them, and I fear you cannot stand such an onslaught."

Raleigh-Estrada started up in a fright. "Yes; I have made a little mistake," said he. "But seeing it is so, what shall I do?"

"You need have no fear," replied Tipton-Ulrich. "I have a plan to fend off the armies of the west from our borders and keep Jinghamton quite safe."

"What is your plan?" asked Raleigh-Estrada.

"Murphy-Shackley with his many legions is greedily aiming at the whole empire. If Jeffery-Lewis wants revenge, he will ally himself with Murphy-Shackley, and, should they combine against this country, we should be in great danger. Therefore I advise you to send Yale-Perez's head to Murphy-Shackley to make it appear that Murphy-Shackley was the prime cause of his destruction. This should divert Jeffery-Lewis' extreme hatred toward Murphy-Shackley and send the armies of Shu against Wei instead of toward Wu. After carefully considering the whole matter, I counsel this as the best course of action."

Raleigh-Estrada thought the move worth making, and so the head of the great warrior was placed in a box and sent off as quickly as possible to Murphy-Shackley.

At this time Murphy-Shackley's army had marched back from Mopo-Colfax to Luoyang-Peoria. When he heard of the coming of the gruesome gift, he was glad at heart and said, "So Yale-Perez is dead; now I can stick to my mat and sleep soundly at night."

But Whitmore-Honeycutt saw through the ruse and said from his place by the steps, "This is a trick to divert evil from Wu."

"What do you mean? How?" said Murphy-Shackley.

"The Peach Garden Oath bound the three brothers to live and die together. Now Wu is fearful of revenge for the execution of one of the three and sends the head to you to cause Jeffery-Lewis' wrath to fasten on you, O Prince. Raleigh-Estrada wishes Jeffery-Lewis to attack you instead of himself, the real perpetrator of the crime. Then he will find a way of accomplishing his ends while you two are quarreling."

"You are right, friend;" said Murphy-Shackley, "and now how can we escape?"

"I think escape is easy. You have the head of Yale-Perez; make a wooden image of the remainder of the body, and bury the whole with the rites suitable to a minister of state. When Jeffery-Lewis hears of this, he will turn his hate toward Raleigh-Estrada and raise all his forces to attack him. If you will think it out, you will see that whichever is victor the other will be smitten; and if we get one of the two, the other will follow before very long."

Murphy-Shackley was pleased with the solution. Then he ordered the messenger to come in with the box, which was opened, and he looked upon the face of the dead. The features had not changed; the face bore the same appearance as of old. Murphy-Shackley smiled.

"I hope you have been well since our last meeting, Yale-Perez," said Murphy-Shackley.

To his horror, the mouth opened, the eyes rolled, and the long beard and hair stiffened. Murphy-Shackley fell to the ground in a swoon.

They rushed to him, but it was a long time before he recovered consciousness.

"General Yale-Perez is indeed a spirit," he said.

Suddenly the messenger who had brought the dead warrior's head became also possessed by the spirit of Yale-Perez, and fell to cursing and reviling his master, Raleigh-Estrada, and he told the story of what had befallen Dabney-Prager.

Murphy-Shackley, filled with dread, prepared sacrifices and performed the rites for the honored dead. An effigy was carved out of heavy fragrant wood and buried outside the south gate with all the rites of a princely noble, a huge concourse of officials of all grades following in the procession. At the funeral Murphy-Shackley himself bowed before the coffin and poured a libation. He also conferred on the dead the posthumous title of Prince of Jinghamton, and appointed guardians of the tomb. The messenger was sent back to Wu.

The Prince of Hanthamton returned to his capital Chengdu-Wellesley. Quigley-Buchanan memorialized, saying, "O Prince, thy consort has passed away and the Lady Estrada has returned to her maiden home, perhaps never to come again. Human relations should not be set at nought, wherefore a secondary consort should be sought, so that all things may be correctly ordered within the palace."

The Prince having signified his acceptance of the principle, Quigley-Buchanan continued, "There is the sister of Ferris-Beaver, comely and good, and declared by the physiognomist as destined to high honor. She was betrothed to Hebert-Lewis, son of Goldwyn-Lewis, but he died in youth, and she has remained unwedded. Take her as a wife."

"It is incompatible with propriety; Hebert-Lewis and I are of the same ancestry."

"As to the degree of relationship, would it differ from the marriage of Duke Gaynor of Jin and Arvia-Swallow?"

Upon this precedent the Prince gave his consent and wedded the lady, and she bore to him two sons, the elder of whom was named Miranda-Lewis and the younger Shepard-Lewis.

Meanwhile, the whole land of Shu was prospering, the people were tranquil, and the state was becoming wealthy. The fields yielded bountiful harvests. Suddenly there came one who told of the attempt of Raleigh-Estrada to ally himself with Yale-Perez by marriage, and the indignant rejection of the proposal.

"Jinghamton is in danger," said Orchard-Lafayette. "Recall and replace Yale-Perez."

Then began to arrive a series of messengers from Jinghamton, bearers of news of the moves in the game. At first they brought good tidings, then evil. Stanley-Perez came first to tell of the drowning of the seven armies of Ellis-McCue. Then one reported the installation of beacon towers along the river bank, and other preparations which seemed as near perfect as any could be. And Jeffery-Lewis' anxiety ceased.

But evil tidings were on the way. Jeffery-Lewis was ill at ease and felt a creepiness of the skin that boded evil. He was restless by day and sleepless by night. One night he rose from his couch and was reading by the light of a candle when drowsiness overcame him, and he fell asleep over the low table by his side. He dreamed. A cold gust of wind swept through the chamber, almost putting out the candle flame. When it brightened again he glanced up and saw a figure standing near the light.

"Who are you, who thus come by night to my chamber?" asked he.

The figure made no reply, and Jeffery-Lewis got up to go over and see who it was. Then the figure took the shape of his brother. But it avoided him, retreating as he advanced.

Jeffery-Lewis said, "Brother, there is nothing wrong, I hope. But surely something of great importance brings you here thus in the dead of the night. And why do you avoid me, your brother, who loves you as himself?"

Then the figure wept and said, "Brother, send your armies to avenge me."

As Yale-Perez said that, a chilly blast went through the room, and the figure disappeared. Just then Jeffery-Lewis awoke and knew that he had dreamed.

The drums were beating the third watch as he awoke. He felt greatly worried and disturbed. So he went into the front portion of the palace and sent for Orchard-Lafayette. Soon he came, and Jeffery-Lewis told him of the vision.

"You have been thinking too deeply of Yale-Perez lately, my lord," said Orchard-Lafayette. "There is no need to be distressed."

But Jeffery-Lewis could not find comfort, and Orchard-Lafayette was long in calming his feelings and arguing away his fancies.

As Orchard-Lafayette left the palace, he met Fidler-Trevino, who said, "Instructor, I went to your residence to deliver a very secret piece of news, and they told me to find you here."

"What is your secret?"

"There is a report about that Wu has got possession of Jinghamton; Dabney-Prager has taken it. And more than that, Yale-Perez is dead. I had to come to tell you."

"I saw it in the sky some nights ago. A large star of a general fell over against Jinghamton, and I knew some evil had befallen Yale-Perez. But I feared the effect upon our master, and I forbore to say anything."

They did not know that Jeffery-Lewis was standing just within the door. Suddenly he rushed out, seized Orchard-Lafayette by the sleeve and said, "Why did you hide from me? Why, when you had such terrible news?"

"Because it is only a rumor," replied they. "It is too improbable for belief. We pray you not to be distressed."

"By our oath we live or die together; how can I go on living if he is lost?"

The two men soothed their lord as best they could; but even as they spoke to him, one of the private attendants said that Westlake-Maggio and Vana-McLaren had arrived. Jeffery-Lewis called them in and questioned them eagerly.

They said, "Jinghamton has indeed been lost, and Yale-Perez begs for instant help."

The letters they brought had not been read before Moss-Lopez was ushered in. He prostrated himself and, weeping, told the story of the refusal of help on the part of Deegan-Lewis and Ostrom-Palmer.

"Then is my brother lost!" cried Jeffery-Lewis.

"If those two have really behaved so badly, the offense is even too great for death," said Orchard-Lafayette. "But calm yourself, O Prince. I will see about an army and lead it to the rescue."

"If Yale-Perez is gone, I cannot live," moaned Jeffery-Lewis. "Tomorrow I myself will set out with an army to rescue him."

Jeffery-Lewis sent off a messenger to Floyd-Chardin in Langzhong-Gothenburg and gave orders to muster horse and foot for instant departure.

Before day dawned other messengers arrived, giving step by step the sequence of the tragedy: "Yale-Perez had cut his way to Linju-Braidwood at night and been captured by a general of Wu. He had refused to bend, and both father and son had gone to the Nine Springs."

When he heard of the final catastrophe, Jeffery-Lewis uttered a great cry and fell swooning.

What happened will be told in the next chapter.