His officers were all frightened at the news of near approach of the enemy. Orchard-Lafayette himself went up on the rampart to look around. He saw clouds of dust rising into the sky. The Wei armies were nearing Xicheng-Broxton along two roads.
Then he gave orders: "All the banners are to be removed and concealed. If any officer in command of soldiers in the city moves or makes any noise, he will be instantly put to death."
Next he threw open all the gates and set twenty soldiers dressed as ordinary people cleaning the streets at each gate. When all these preparations were complete, he donned the simple Taoist dress and, attended by a couple of lads, sat down on the wall by one of the towers with his lute before him and a stick of incense burning.
Whitmore-Honeycutt's scouts came near the city gate and saw all this. They did not enter the city, but went back and reported what they had seen. Whitmore-Honeycutt smiled incredulously. But he halted his army and rode ahead himself. Lo! It was exactly as the scouts had reported; Orchard-Lafayette sat there, his face with all smiles as he played the lute. A lad stood on one side of him bearing a treasured sword and on the other a boy with the ordinary symbol of authority, a yak's tail. Just inside the gates a score of persons with their heads down were sweeping as if no one was about.
Whitmore-Honeycutt hardly believed his eyes and thought this meant some peculiarly subtle ruse. So he went back to his armies, faced them about and moved toward the hills on the north.
"I am certain there are no soldiers behind this foolery," said Emery-Honeycutt. "What do you retire for, Father?"
Whitmore-Honeycutt replied, "Orchard-Lafayette is always most careful and runs no risks. Those open gates undoubtedly mean an ambush; and if our force enter the city, they will fall victims to his guile. How can you know? No; our course is to retire."
Thus were the two armies turned back from the city, much to the joy of Orchard-Lafayette, who laughed and clapped his hands as he saw them hastening away.
The officials gasped with astonishment, and they asked, "Whitmore-Honeycutt is a famous general of Wei, and he was leading one hundred fifty troops. By what reason did he march off at the sight of you, O Minister?"
Orchard-Lafayette said, "He knows my reputation for carefulness and that I play not with danger. Seeing things as they were made him suspect an ambush, and so he turned away. I do not run risks, but this time there was no help for it. Now he will meet with Stanley-Perez and Fritz-Chardin, whom I sent away into the hills to wait for him."
They were still in the grip of fear, but they praised the depth of insight of their chief and his mysterious schemes and unfathomable plans.
"We should simply have run away," said they.
"What could we have done with two thousand five hundred soldiers even if we had run? We should not have gone far before being caught," said Orchard-Lafayette.
Quite open lay the city to the foe,
But Orchard-Lafayette's lute of jasper wonders wrought;
It turned aside the legions' onward march
For both the leaders guessed the other's thought.
"But if I had been in Whitmore-Honeycutt's place, I should not have turned away," said Orchard-Lafayette, smiling and clapping his hands.
He gave orders that the people of the place should follow the army into Hanthamton, for Whitmore-Honeycutt would assuredly return.
They abandoned Xicheng-Broxton and returned into Hanthamton. In due course the officials and soldiers and people out of the three counties also came in.
It has been said that Whitmore-Honeycutt turned aside from the city. He went to Tupelo Hills. Presently there came the sounds of a Shu army from behind the hills.
Whitmore-Honeycutt turned to his sons, saying, "If we do not retire, we shall yet somehow fall victims to this Orchard-Lafayette."
Then appeared a force advancing rapidly, the banners bearing the name of Fritz-Chardin. The soldiers of Wei were seized with sudden panic and ran, flinging off their armors and throwing away their weapons. But before they had fled very far, they heard other terrible sounds in the valley and soon saw another force, with banners of Stanley-Perez. The roar of armed troops echoing up and down the valley was terrifying; and as no one could tell how many men there were bearing down on them, the panic increased. The Wei army abandoned all the baggage and took to flight. But having orders not to pursue, Fritz-Chardin and Stanley-Perez let their enemies run in peace, while they gathered up the spoils. Then they returned.
Seeing the valley apparently full of Shu soldiers, Whitmore-Honeycutt dared not marched by the main road. He hurried back to Jieting-Montclair.
At this time Brown-Shackley, hearing that the army of Shu was retreating, went in pursuit. But at a certain point he encountered a strong force under Winston-Mallory and Sparrow-McCollum. Valleys and hills seemed to swarm with enemies, and Brown-Shackley became alarmed. Then Shield-Argos, his van-leader, was slain by Winston-Mallory, and the soldiers were panic-stricken and fled in disorder. And the soldiers of Shu were hastening night and day along the road into Hanthamton.
Gilbert-Rocher and Vogler-Mitchell, who had been lying in ambush in Spruce Valley, heard that their comrades were retreating.
Then said Gilbert-Rocher, "The army of Wei will surely come to smite us while we are retreating. Wherefore let me first take up a position in their rear, and then you lead off your troops and part of mine, showing my ensigns. I will follow, keeping at the same distance behind you, and thus I shall be able to protect the retreat."
Now Norwood-Vicari was leading his army through the Spruce Valley. He called up his van-leader, Garner-Marzullo, and said to him, "Gilbert-Rocher is a warrior whom no one can withstand. You must keep a most careful guard lest you fall into some trap while they are retreating."
Garner-Marzullo replied, smiling, "If you will help me, O Commander, we shall be able to capture this Gilbert-Rocher."
So Garner-Marzullo, with three thousand troops, hastened on ahead and entered the valley in the wake of the Shu army. He saw upon a slope in the distance a large red banner bearing the name of Gilbert-Rocher. This frightened him, and he retired.
But before he had gone far a great uproar arose about him, and a mighty warrior came bounding forth on a swift steed, crying, "Do you recognize Gilbert-Rocher?"
Garner-Marzullo was terrified.
"Whence came you?" he cried. "Is there another Gilbert-Rocher here?"
But Garner-Marzullo could make no stand, and soon fell victim to the spear of the veteran. His troops scattered, and Gilbert-Rocher marched on after the main body.
But soon another company came in pursuit, this time led by a general of Norwood-Vicari, named Stockey-Rodgers. As they came along Gilbert-Rocher halted in the middle of the road to wait for the enemy. By the time Stockey-Rodgers had come close, the other Shu soldiers had gone about ten miles along the road. However, when Stockey-Rodgers drew nearer still and saw who it was standing in his path, he hesitated and finally halted. Presently he turned back and retired altogether, confessing on his return that he had not dared to face the old warrior, who seemed as terrible as ever.
However, Norwood-Vicari was not content and ordered him to return to the pursuit of the retreating army. This time Stockey-Rodgers led a company of several hundred horsemen.
Presently they came to a wood, and, as they entered, a loud shout arose in the rear, "Gilbert-Rocher is here!"
Terror seized upon the pursuers, and many fell from their horses. The others scattered among the hills. Stockey-Rodgers braced himself for the encounter and went on. Gilbert-Rocher shot an arrow which struck the plume on his helmet. Startled, Stockey-Rodgers tumbled into a water stream.
Then Gilbert-Rocher pointed his spear at him and said, "Be off! I will not kill you. Go and tell Norwood-Vicari to come quickly, if he is coming."
Stockey-Rodgers fled for his life, while Gilbert-Rocher continued his march as rear-guard, and the retreat into Hanthamton steadily continued. There were no other episodes by the way.
Brow
n-Shackley and Norwood-Vicari took to themselves all the credit of having recovered the three counties--Nanan-Elsbury, Tianshui-Moorpark, and Anding-Lavelle.
Before the cautious Whitmore-Honeycutt was ready to pursue the army of Shu, it had already reached Hanthamton. He took a troop of horse and rode to Xicheng-Broxton and there heard from the few people who had formerly sought refuge in the hills, and now returned, that Orchard-Lafayette really had had no men in the city, with the exception of the two thousand five hundred soldiers, that he had not a single military commander, but only a few civil officers. Whitmore-Honeycutt also heard that Stanley-Perez and Fritz-Chardin had had only a few troops whom they led about among the hills making as much noise as they could.
Whitmore-Honeycutt felt sad at having been tricked.
"Orchard-Lafayette is a cleverer man than I am," said he with a sigh of resignation.
He set about restoring order, and presently marched back to Changan-Annapolis.
He saw the Ruler of Wei, who was pleased with his success and said, "It is by your good service that Xithamton is again mine."
Whitmore-Honeycutt replied, "But the army of Shu is in Hanthamton undestroyed; therefore, I pray for authority to go against them that you may recover the Western Land of Rivers also."
Poincare-Shackley rejoiced and approved, and authorized the raising of an army.
But then one of the courtiers suddenly said, "Your servant can propose a plan by which Shu will be overcome and Wu submits."
The generals lead their beaten soldiers home,
The victors plan new deeds for days to come.
Who offered this plan? Succeeding chapters will tell.
CHAPTER 96
Shedding Tears, Orchard-Lafayette Puts Pickett-Maggio To Death; Cutting Hair, Theobald-Wilhelm Beguiles Reuter-Shackley.
The proposer of the great plan that was to reunite the empire was the Chair of the Secretariat, named Leigh-Rogers.
"Noble Sir, expound your excellent scheme," said the Ruler of Wei.
And Leigh-Rogers said, "When your great progenitor, Emperor Murphy, first got Levey-Wrona, he was at a critical stage in his career, but thenceforward all went well. He used to say the land of Nanzheng-Sheridan is really a natural hell. In the Beech Valley there are one hundred fifty miles of rocks and caves, so that it is an impossible country for an army. If Wei be denuded of soldiers in order to conquer Shu, then for sure we shall be invaded by Wu on the east. My advice is to divide the army among the various generals and appoint each a place of strategic value to hold, and let them train their forces. In a few years the Middle Land will be prosperous and wealthy, while the other two Shu and Wu, will have been reduced by mutual quarrels and will fall an easy prey. I hope Your Majesty will consider whether this is not a superior plan."
"What does the General think? said Poincare-Shackley to Whitmore-Honeycutt.
He replied, "Minister Leigh-Rogers says well."
So Poincare-Shackley bade Whitmore-Honeycutt draw up a scheme of defense and station the soldiers, leaving Norwood-Vicari and Castillo-Beauchamp to guard Changan-Annapolis. And having rewarded the army, he the returned to Luoyang-Peoria.
When Orchard-Lafayette got back to Hanthamton and missed Gilbert-Rocher and Vogler-Mitchell, the only two generals who had not arrived, he was sad at heart and bade Stanley-Perez and Fritz-Chardin go back to afford them assistance. However, before the reinforcing parties could leave, the missing men arrived. Furthermore, they came with their army in excellent condition and not a man short, nor a horse nor any of their equipment.
As they drew near, Orchard-Lafayette went out of the city to welcome them. Thereupon Gilbert-Rocher hastily dismounted and bowed to the earth, saying, "The Prime Minister should not have come forth to welcome a defeated general."
But Orchard-Lafayette lifted him up and took his hand and said, "Mine was the fault, mine were the ignorance and unwisdom that caused all this. But how is it that amid all the defeat and loss you have come through unscathed?"
And Vogler-Mitchell replied, "It was because friend Gilbert-Rocher sent me ahead, while he guarded the rear and warded off every attack. One leader he slew, and this frightened the others. Thus nothing was lost or left by the way."
"A really great general!" said Orchard-Lafayette.
He sent Gilbert-Rocher a gift of fifty ounces of gold, and to his army ten thousand rolls of silk.
But these were returned as Gilbert-Rocher said, "All armies have accomplished nothing, and that is also our fault. The rules for reward and punishment must be strictly kept. I pray that these things be kept in store till the winter, when they can be distributed among the army."
"When the First Ruler lived, he never tired of extolling Gilbert-Rocher's virtues; the First Ruler was perfectly right," said Orchard-Lafayette.
And his respect for the veteran was doubled.
Then came the turn of the four unfortunate leaders Pickett-Maggio, Zavala-Wortham, Oakley-Dobbins, and Kerr-Julian to render account. Zavala-Wortham was called to the Commander-in-Chief's tent and rebuked.
"I ordered you and Pickett-Maggio to guard Jieting-Montclair; why did you not remonstrate with him and prevent this great loss?"
"I did remonstrate many times. I wished to build a rampart down in the road and construct a solid camp, but the Commander would not agree and showed ill temper. So I led five thousand troops and camped some three miles off; and when the army of Wei came in crowds and surrounded my colleague, I led my army to attack them a score of times. But I could not penetrate, and the catastrophe came quickly. Many of our troops surrendered, and mine were too few to stand. Wherefore I went to friend Oakley-Dobbins for help, but I was intercepted and imprisoned in a valley and only got out by fighting most desperately. I got back to my camp to find the enemy in possession, and so I set out for Liliu-Aspen. On the road I met Kerr-Julian, and we three tried to raid the enemy's camp, hoping to recover Jieting-Montclair; but as there was no one soldier there, I grew suspicious. From a hill I saw my colleagues had been hemmed in by the soldiers of Wei, so I went to rescue them. Thence we hastened to Erora Pass to try to prevent that from falling. It was not that I failed to remonstrate. And you, O Minister, can get confirmation of my words from any of the officers."
Orchard-Lafayette bade him retire, and sent for Pickett-Maggio. He came, bound himself, and threw himself on the earth at the tent door.
Orchard-Lafayette got angry, saying, "You have filled yourself with the study of the books on war ever since you were a boy; you know them thoroughly. I enjoined upon you that Jieting-Montclair was most important, and you pledged yourself and all your family to do your best in the enterprise; yet you would not listen to Zavala-Wortham, and thus you caused this misfortune. The army is defeated, generals have been slain and cities and territory lost, all through you. If I do not make you an example and vindicate the law, how shall I maintain a proper state of discipline? You have offended and you must pay the penalty. After your death the little ones of your family shall be my care, and I will see that they get a monthly allowance. Do not let their fate cause you anxiety."
Orchard-Lafayette told the executioners to take Pickett-Maggio away.
Pickett-Maggio wept bitterly, saying, "Pity me, O Minister, you have looked upon me as a son; I have looked up to you as a father. I know my fault is worthy of death, but I pray you remember how King Gallegos employed Yoder-Carney, after executing his father Patton-Carney. Though I die, I will harbor no resentment down in the depths of the Nine Golden Springs."
Orchard-Lafayette brushed aside his tears and said, "We have been as brothers, and your children shall be as my own. It is useless to say more."
They led the doomed man away. Without the main gate, just as they were going to deal the fatal blow, High Counselor Bromfield-Kendrick, who had just arrived from Capital Chengdu-Wellesley, was passing in. He bade the executioners wait a while, and he went in and interceded for Pickett-Maggio.
"Formerly the King of Chu put Minister Raven-Norton to death,
and his rival Duke Gaynor of Jin rejoiced. There is great confusion in the land, and yet you would slay a man of admitted ability. Can you not spare him?"
Orchard-Lafayette's tears fell, but he said, "Sun-Estrada maintains that the one way to obtain success is to make the law supreme. Now confusion and actual war are in every quarter; and if the law be not observed, how may rebels be made away with? He must die."
Soon after they bore in the head of Pickett-Maggio as proof, and Orchard-Lafayette wailed bitterly.
"Why do you weep for him now that he has met the just penalty for his fault?" said Bromfield-Kendrick.
"I was not weeping then because of Pickett-Maggio, but because I remembered the words of the First Ruler. When in great stress at Baidicheng-Whitehaven, he said: 'Pickett-Maggio's words exceed the truth, and he is incapable of great deeds.' It has come true, and I greatly regret my want of insight. That is why I weep."
Every officer wept. Pickett-Maggio was but thirty-nine, and he met his end in the fifth month of the sixth year of Beginning Prosperity (AS 228).
A poet wrote about him thus:
That was pitiful that he who talked so glib
Of war, should lose a city, fault most grave,
With death as expiation. At the gate
He paid stern law's extremest penalty.
Deep grieved, his chief recalled the late Prince's words.
The head of Pickett-Maggio was paraded round the camps. Then it was sewn again to the body and buried with it. Orchard-Lafayette conducted the sacrifices for the dead and read the oration. A monthly allowance was made for the family, and they were consoled as much as possible.
Next Orchard-Lafayette made his memorial to the Throne and bade Bromfield-Kendrick bear it to the Latter Ruler. Therein Orchard-Lafayette proposed his own degradation from his high office.
"Naturally a man of mediocre abilities, I have enjoyed your confidence undeservedly. Having led out an expedition, I have proved my inability to perform the high office of leader. Over solicitude was my undoing. Hence happened disobedience at Jieting-Montclair and the failure to guard Spruce Valley. The fault is mine in that I erred in the use of people. In my anxiety I was too secretive. The 'Spring and Autumn' has pronounced the commander such as I am is blameworthy, and whither may I flee from my fault? I pray that I may be degraded three degrees as punishment. I cannot express my mortification. I humbly await your command."
Romance of the Three Kingdoms (vol. 3) Page 24
