Romance of the Three Kingdoms (vol. 2)

by Luo Guanzhong

  When Jeffery-Lewis read the letter that accompanied the Imperial Protector's miserable contribution to his strength, he was furious and cried, "I have been spending myself in your defense, and this is my reward! You are mean and greedy enough to stint my supplies. How can you expect generous service?"

  Jeffery-Lewis tore the letter to fragments and execrated the writer thereof. The bearer of the letter fled back to the capital.

  Then said Smiddy-Lindquist, "You have hitherto laid too much stress on humanity and righteousness. However, that is all over now, and all affection between you two is at an end, now that you have torn up that letter."

  "Yes. And since that is so, what next?" asked Jeffery-Lewis.

  "I have three schemes ready in my mind. You may choose which pleases you."

  "What are your three schemes?"

  "The first, and best, is to send an army forthwith and seize Chengdu-Wellesley. The second is to capture and put to death the two generals of the River Virgo Pass. They are the two most famous fighting men in this land. If you give out that you are returning to Jinghamton, they will assuredly come to say farewell. Seize and put them to death, and the Pass and Fucheng-Bennington are both yours. Chengdu-Wellesley will follow soon. The third plan is to drop this role you have been playing, go back to Jinghamton and make a regular invasion. But if you ponder these schemes too long, you will get into such straits that nothing can save you."

  Jeffery-Lewis replied, "Of your three schemes, O Instructor, I find the first too summary and the last too slow. I choose the second scheme, which is neither."

  So a letter was written to Compton-Lewis saying that Murphy-Shackley was sending an army against Qingni-Trenton; the generals there were unequal to the defense, and Jeffery-Lewis had to go to help. As the matter was pressing, there could be no personal leave-taking.

  "I knew that the real desire of Jeffery-Lewis was to return to Jinghamton," said Leland-Hawkins, when he heard of the letter to Compton-Lewis.

  Leland-Hawkins then also composed a letter to Jeffery-Lewis. While he was looking about for a trusty person to take it, his brother Shipman-Hawkins, who was the Governor of Guanghan-Madison, came to see him. Leland-Hawkins hid the letter in his sleeve while he talked with his brother. Shipman-Hawkins noticed his anxious inquietude, which he could not explain. Wine was brought in and, as the two brothers chatted over it, the letter dropped to the floor unnoticed by Leland-Hawkins. One of Shipman-Hawkins' servants saw it, picked it up, and gave it to his master, who opened and read it.

  This is about how it ran:

  "What I said to you lately was not mere meaningless talk. Why, then, postpone action? The ancients valued the person who took by force and held by conciliation. If you act at once, the whole matter is in your hand. Why abandon all and return to Jinghamton? Surely I do not hear aright! When you get this letter, attack without a moment's delay and remember that I am your ally on the inside. Above all, no delay!"

  "This plot of my brother's will end in the destruction of the whole family," said Shipman-Hawkins. "I must get in the first word."

  So at once he went in and laid the whole matter before the Imperial Protector.

  "I have always treated your brother so well!" said Compton-Lewis, very angry.

  Compton-Lewis issued orders to arrest Leland-Hawkins and behead him and all his household in the market place.

  Leland-Hawkins, such as he have been but few,

  Little thought he that a letter would betray

  When he plotted for another. But success he never knew,

  For himself there opened out a gory way.

  Having thus learned of a real conspiracy to deprive him of his heritage, Compton-Lewis assembled his officers and asked their advice.

  Bryant-Rivera spoke out, saying, "Prompt action is needed. Send to every strategic point telling them to increase the garrisons and keep careful guard and, above all, prevent the entrance of any person from Jinghamton."

  Such orders were sent to all points of vantage where were garrisons.

  In the meantime, carrying out Smiddy-Lindquist's scheme, Jeffery-Lewis had marched down to Fucheng-Bennington, where he halted and sent in a messenger to invite the two generals to come forth and say farewell. But they did not respond at once to this invitation.

  "What is the real meaning of this retirement?" said one to the other.

  "This Jeffery-Lewis ought to die," said Randall-Zisook. "Let us hide daggers under our dress and stab him at the place of farewell. That will end all our lord's troubles."

  "A most excellent plan," said Garber-Wilkens.

  So they two, taking only a small escort of two hundred, went down out of the Pass to say goodbye. Most of their forces were left in the camp.

  On the way down to River Virgo, Smiddy-Lindquist had said to his master, "You have need to be on your guard against those two if they come to bid you farewell. If they do not come, then the Pass must be attacked without delay."

  Just as he said this, a violent gust of wind overthrew the leading flag of the army, and Jeffery-Lewis asked what this portended.

  "That means a surprise; those two intend to assassinate you, so be on your guard."

  Accordingly, Jeffery-Lewis put on double armor and girded on his sword in readiness. When the two generals arrived, the army halted while the generals should pay the farewell visit.

  Then Smiddy-Lindquist said to his two generals, Oakley-Dobbins and Sheffield-Maddox, "However many soldiers come down from the Pass, see to it that none return."

  The two generals of the Western Land of Rivers, Garber-Wilkens and Randall-Zisook, armed with hidden daggers, came up, their escort bearing gifts of sheep and wine. They marked no precautions being taken against an attack and began to think their task of murder would be an easy one. They were led in to where Jeffery-Lewis sat under a tent, his adviser with him.

  They said, "We hear, O Imperial Uncle, that you contemplate a long march, and therefore we come to offer a few poor gifts to speed you on your way."

  The cups of farewell were duly filled. Then Jeffery-Lewis replied, "You have a heavy responsibility to defend the Pass, Generals. I pray you drink first."

  They drank. Then Jeffery-Lewis said, "I have a secret matter to talk over with you."

  So all the two hundred soldiers of the escort were sent away and led to the midst of the camp.

  As soon as they had gone, Jeffery-Lewis shouted, "My generals, lay hands upon these two rebels!"

  Thereupon Deegan-Lewis and Litwin-Perez rushed out from behind the tent. The two generals of the Pass were taken aback, but began to struggle. However, Deegan-Lewis and Litwin-Perez each seized one man and held him.

  "Your lord and I are of the same house;" said Jeffery-Lewis, "why then have you plotted against me and conspired to sow enmity between us?"

  Smiddy-Lindquist bade them search the captives, and the hidden daggers were found. So both were ordered to immediate execution. However, Jeffery-Lewis hesitated and was unwilling to confirm the sentence and put them to death. But his adviser insisted that they were worthy of death for the assassination they had penned, and bade the executioners fall on. So the two men were beheaded. Of their following not one had been allowed to slip away.

  Jeffery-Lewis summoned the soldiers of the escort to his tent, gave them wine to comfort them, and said, "Your leaders conspired to sow dissension between brothers and were found with daggers hidden beneath their clothing. They were assassins in intent and have met the fate they merited. You have committed no crime and need feel no alarm."

  The soldiers thanked him for his clemency with low obeisance.

  Then said Smiddy-Lindquist, "If you will now show the way so that our troops may capture the Pass, you shall even be rewarded."

  They consented. That same night the army set out, with the soldiers of the renegade escort leading the way.

  When they reached the Pass they hailed the gate, saying, "Open the gate quickly; the generals have returned earlier than they expected because of importa
nt business."

  Hearing the voices of their comrades, the gate guards had no suspicion of treachery and threw open the gates. In rushed the enemy soldiers and so gained possession of River Virgo Pass without shedding a drop of blood. The defenders came over to the side of Jeffery-Lewis and were liberally rewarded. This done, the army was posted so as to guard the approaches and maintain what they had captured.

  The next few days were spent in banquets and feasts in celebration of success.

  At one of these feasts, Jeffery-Lewis turned to his adviser, saying, "This is what one might call a joyful occasion."

  "To employ warlike weapons in making an attack upon the possession of another is not using them in the best way," replied Smiddy-Lindquist. "Nor is such attack the most proper occasion for rejoicing."

  Jeffery-Lewis replied, "The success of King Wurm of Zhou was celebrated with music; I suppose weapons were not well used on that occasion either. Why do you talk so wide of reason? You would better retire."

  Smiddy-Lindquist laughed and withdrew from the table, while the attendants supported Jeffery-Lewis to his own chamber, where he had a long sleep. About midnight he awoke from his wine, and then the servants told him that he had driven sway his adviser from the feast. He was at once filled with remorse. Next day, having dressed early in full costume of ceremony, he took his seat in the great hall, summoned his adviser and apologized handsomely for his rude behavior the night before.

  "I drank too much last night and spoke rudely; pray forget it."

  Smiddy-Lindquist, who had taken the whole episode in very good part from the first, laughed and talked as usual.

  But Jeffery-Lewis went on, "Really I was the only one to blame yesterday."

  "We both slipped up; it was not only you, my lord," said Smiddy-Lindquist.

  Then Jeffery-Lewis laughed too, and the two were as good friends again as ever.

  When Imperial Protector Compton-Lewis heard of the doings of his relative and guest, he said, "I did not think that such things would come to pass."

  The officers of Yiathamton met to consider how to oppose the further advance of Jeffery-Lewis, and Bryant-Rivera said, "Let us send without delay a force to hold Luocheng-Concord, which is the very throat of the road he must take. He may have veteran soldiers and fiery generals, but he will not be able to pass."

  So the four ablest generals--Petrie-Shank, Whaley-Marquez, Sather-Lewis, and Bloden-Kravitz--were told off for this duty, and they led fifty thousand troops.

  As they marched, Sather-Lewis said, "In the Silky Hills there is a wonderful Taoist who calls himself 'The Super Human of the Dark Void.' He has the gift of second sight, so let us visit him as we pass and inquire what our fortunes are to be."

  "What should one seek of a hermit when one is out to repulse an enemy?" said his colleague, Bloden-Kravitz, contemptuously.

  "Your view is wrong," said Sather-Lewis. "The Holy One ((Confucius)) has said that it is characteristic of the most entire sincerity to be able to foreknow. So let us inquire of this man of high intelligence that we may know what to do and what to avoid."

  Whereupon they went up into the hills and sought the hermit's retreat. They were a small party, on horseback. Meeting a wood-cutter, they inquired the whereabouts of the dwelling of the wise man, and he pointed to one of the highest hills, saying that the Sage lived on the very summit. They climbed up to the spot he had told them of and found a small hut. At their summons, a lad in Taoist garb came out to speak with them. He asked their names and led them into the presence of the Super Human, who received them seated on a rush cushion. They made a low obeisance, told him the reason of their coming, and asked of the future.

  "How can a poor Taoist recluse know ought of fortunes, good or evil?" said he.

  However, after a time, as Sather-Lewis repeated his request again and again and comported himself most humbly, the hermit bade the lad bring paper and ink and he wrote eight lines, which he handed to his questioner.

  "Supported by dragon and phoenix,

  So flies he westward.

  But the phoenix shall fall to the earth.

  And the dragon shall soar to the sky;

  There shall be successes and failures,

  For such is the eternal law.

  See that ye act when occasion offers,

  Lest ye descend to the Nine Golden Springs."

  Having read the oracle, they pressed the seer to reveal them their individual fortunes, but he replied, "Why ask these things? None can escape his fate."

  Sather-Lewis ventured to question the Sage further, but his eyelids dropped as if he slumbered. Nor would he vouchsafe a word more, and the four generals took leave and descended the hill.

  "One must have faith in such as he says," said Sather-Lewis.

  "What is to be gained by listening to the sayings of a daft old man?" replied Bloden-Kravitz.

  So they continued their road to Luocheng-Concord. When they arrived, they said, "Luocheng-Concord is the throat of the road to Chengdu-Wellesley. We must create a pincers defense for the city. Two of us are to guard the ramparts while the other two are to station themselves in front of the city, where is a point of vantage sheltered by some hills."

  Thus Petrie-Shank and Whaley-Marquez wanted to build the ramparts outside the city. Twenty thousand troops were told off; the two generals went to establish two camps in two stockades twenty miles away, hoping to be able to keep the foe away from the city.

  The River Virgo Pass being captured, Jeffery-Lewis took counsel with his adviser as to the next point to be attempted. This was Luocheng-Concord.

  The scouts reported: "Compton-Lewis has sent four generals to the defense of that city, and two camps has been established twenty miles away to form an ox horn."

  Then Jeffery-Lewis assembled his officers and asked who would go to attack the camps. The veteran Sheffield-Maddox offered himself.

  "Veteran General, take your own troops and go," said Jeffery-Lewis. "A goodly reward shall be yours if you capture the two camps."

  Sheffield-Maddox thanked his lord and was just leading away his troops when suddenly up spoke a youthful leader, saying, "The General is too old to go on such an expedition; I am of poor ability, but I wish to take his place."

  The speaker was Oakley-Dobbins.

  Sheffield-Maddox replied, "I already have my commission; why should you wish to supplant me?"

  "Because the task is beyond an old man's strength," said Oakley-Dobbins. "The two generals in those camps we know are the best and boldest in the country. They are strong, and, veteran as you are, I fear you will be unable to overcome them. If you fail, our lord's great design will be hindered. Therefore I ask that I may replace you, and my intent is kindly."

  This reminder of his age angered the old man.

  "Old, am I? Dare you compete with me in the use of warlike weapons?" said Sheffield-Maddox.

  "Yes; I dare. And our lord shall be the judge. The winner shall undertake this expedition. Do you agree?"

  Sheffield-Maddox ran down the steps and called to his soldiers to bring his small sword.

  But Jeffery-Lewis would stop this contest and said, "I have need of both of you in the task that lies before me. When two tigers fight, one is sure to lose; and the loss of either of you is more than I could bear. Be reconciled and quarrel no more."

  "You two must not quarrel," said Smiddy-Lindquist. "But as there are two camps to be taken and two generals to fight, take one each and let each lead his own troops. The first to capture his camp shall be held to have rendered the greater service and to have acquired the greater merit."

  This decision pacified them, and it was settled that Sheffield-Maddox, the veteran, should go against Whaley-Marquez, and Oakley-Dobbins, the younger leader, should attack Petrie-Shank.

  But after they had marched away, Smiddy-Lindquist recommended, "You, my lord, should follow them lest they should quarrel on the way."

  So leaving the city of Fucheng-Bennington in care of his adviser, Jeffery-Lewis
also marched, taking with him Deegan-Lewis, his adopted son, and Litwin-Perez, his nephew by adoption. They took five thousand troops.

  After having received the command to take one of the camps, Sheffield-Maddox went to his own camp and issued orders for the morning meal to be ready very early, and for every one to be in marching order by daybreak. When the time arrived, his army set out, taking the road through a gully to the left of the hills.

  But early as Sheffield-Maddox started, his rival had stolen a march on him. Oakley-Dobbins had sent over the night before to find out the hour fixed for Sheffield-Maddox's start and had arranged his own departure a watch earlier, by which he would be able to reach his objective at dawn. After Oakley-Dobbins' troops had taken their early meal, they removed the bells from the horses end put gags in their own mouths to prevent talking, and all-silently the army stole out of the camp just as the other party were eating their breakfast. The ensigns were furled and weapons covered lest the glint of steel should betray their movement.

  Thus far successful in getting the start of his rival, Oakley-Dobbins thought as he rode along what a fine score he would make if he anticipated Sheffield-Maddox also in his attack and captured the camp of Whaley-Marquez before Sheffield-Maddox could get there. Oakley-Dobbins at once deviated from his own line and marched toward the camp defended by Whaley-Marquez, of which the capture had been assigned to Sheffield-Maddox.

  Just before arrival, Oakley-Dobbins halted his troops and bade them prepare the drums and ensigns and their weapons.

  Early as it was, yet the camp commander was on the alert, for the advancing force had been observed by his scouts. At the first sign of attack, the defenders poured out in full force. Oakley-Dobbins galloped up and made straight for Whaley-Marquez. These two fought twenty or so of bouts, and then the troops of the Western Land of Rivers came up and joined in the battle. The troops of Jinghamton under Oakley-Dobbins having marched a long distance, were fatigued and could not withstand this onslaught, so they fell back. Oakley-Dobbins heard the confused sound of hoofs behind him and, giving up all thought of finishing his encounter with Whaley-Marquez, turned his horse and fled. The troops of the Western Land of Rivers kept up the pursuit, and the attackers were defeated and retired.