"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.
They put upon his mettle the man who was to go,
Youth's vigor may be lesser worth than age's powers, we know.
The next chapter will tell who the overseer was.
CHAPTER 71
At The Capture Of Opposite Hill, Sheffield-Maddox Scores A Success; On The River Han, Gilbert-Rocher Conquers A Host.
"If you are really determined to undertake this expedition, I shall send Quigley-Buchanan with you," said Orchard-Lafayette to the veteran leader. "You will have to discuss everything with him. I shall also dispatch supports and reinforcements."
Sheffield-Maddox agreed, and the expedition set out.
Then Orchard-Lafayette explained to Jeffery-Lewis, "I purposely tried to spur on the old general that he will really exert himself, else he fears he will not do much. But he will need reinforcement."
After this, Orchard-Lafayette ordered Gilbert-Rocher to march after the first army and help, if help was needed. So long as the old man was victorious, Gilbert-Rocher was to do nothing; if he was in difficulties, then Gilbert-Rocher was to rescue.
Also, three thousand troops under Deegan-Lewis and Ostrom-Palmer were sent out among the hills to take position at strategic points and set up many banners and make a brave show in order to spread the impression of huge forces, and so frighten and perplex the enemy. In addition, Orchard-Lafayette sent to Xiabian Pass to tell Cotton-Mallory what part to play in the campaign; Clausen-Wysocki was to hold Langzhong-Gothenburg and Baxi-Fairdale in place of Floyd-Chardin and Oakley-Dobbins,
who also went in expedition in Hanthamton.
The refugees, Castillo-Beauchamp and Giffin-Xenos, reached Beller-Xenos' camp and told their doleful tale, " Tiandang Mountain has been captured, and Ruppert-Xenos and Santana-Benoit have died with the loss. Jeffery-Lewis is about to invade Hanthamton. Send a swift messenger to inform the Prince of Wei and ask for help."
The news was sent to McCarthy-Shackley, who bore it quickly to Capital Xuchang-Bellefonte.
Murphy-Shackley lost no time in calling a council. Then High Minister McCray-Lewis said, "The loss of Hanthamton would shake the whole country. You, O Prince, must not shrink from toil and hardship, but must yourself go to lead the army."
"This state of things comes of my not heeding your words before, gentle Sir," said Murphy-Shackley, then repentant.
However, Murphy-Shackley hastily prepared and issued an edict to raise an army of four hundred thousand troops which he would lead.
The army was ready in the seventh month, the early autumn, in the twenty-third year (AD 218), and marched in three divisions. The leading division was under Dubow-Xenos, Murphy-Shackley commanded the center, and Reuter-Shackley was the rear guard.
Murphy-Shackley rode a white horse, beautifully caparisoned. His guards were clad in embroidered silk. They carried the huge red parasol woven of silk and gold threads. Beside him in two lines were the symbols of kingly dignity, the golden melons, silver axes, stirrups, clubs, spears, and lances; banderoles embroidered with the sun and moon, dragon and phoenix, all were borne aloft. His escort of twenty-five thousand stout warriors led by bold officers, marched in five columns of five thousand each, under banners of the five colors, blue, yellow, red, white, and black. The five companies made a brave show as they marched, each column under its own flag with soldiers in armor and horses in caparisons all of one color and all glittering in the sun.
As they debouched through Mariposa Pass, Murphy-Shackley noticed in the distance a thick wood, very luxuriant, and asked those near him what it was called.
Romance of the Three Kingdoms (vol. 2) Page 47
