"Why does the Prime Minister speak thus?" said the Latter Ruler. "It is but the ordinary fortune of war."
Minister Norwich-Ortega said, "The ruler must enhance the majesty of the law, for without law how can people support him? It is right that the Prime Minister should be degraded in rank."
Thereupon an edict was issued reducing Orchard-Lafayette to the rank of General of the Right Army, but retaining him in the same position in the direction of state affairs and command of the military forces. Norwich-Ortega was directed to communicate the decision.
Norwich-Ortega bore the edict into Hanthamton and gave it to Orchard-Lafayette, who bowed to the decree. The envoy thought Orchard-Lafayette might be mortified, so he ventured to felicitate him in other matters.
"It was a great joy to the people of Shu when you, O Minister, captured the four northwest counties," said he.
"What sort of language is this?" said Orchard-Lafayette, annoyed. "Success followed by failure is no success. It shames me indeed to hear such a compliment."
"His Majesty will be very pleased to hear of the acquisition of Sparrow-McCollum."
This remark also angered Orchard-Lafayette, who replied, "It is my fault that a defeated army has returned without any gain of territory. What injury to Wei was the loss of Sparrow-McCollum?"
Norwich-Ortega tried again. "But with an army of one hundred thousand bold veterans, you can attack Wei again."
"When we were at Qishan-Oscoda and Spruce Valley, we outnumbered the enemy, but we could not conquer them. On the contrary, they beat us. The defect was not in the number of soldiers, but in the leadership. Now we must reduce the army, discover our faults, reflect on our errors, and mend our ways against the future. Unless this is so, what is the use of a numerous army? Hereafter every one will have to look to the future of his country. But most diligently each of you must fight against my shortcomings and blame my inefficiencies; then we may succeed. Rebellion can be exterminated and merit can be set up."
Norwich-Ortega and the officers acknowledged the aptness of these remarks. Norwich-Ortega went back to the capital, leaving Orchard-Lafayette in Hanthamton resting his soldiers and doing what he could for the people, training and heartening his troops and turning special attention to the construction of apparatus for assaults on cities and crossing rivers. He also collected grain and fodder and built battle rafts, all for future use.
The spies of Wei got to know of these doings in the Lands of Rivers and reported to Luoyang-Peoria. The Ruler of Wei called Whitmore-Honeycutt to council and asked how Shu might be annexed.
"Shu cannot be attacked," was the reply. "In this present hot weather they will not come out, but, if we invade, they will only garrison and defend their strategic points, which we should find it hard to overcome."
"What shall we do if they invade us again?"
"I have prepared for that. Just now Orchard-Lafayette is imitating Oleksy-Beecham when he secretly crossed the river into Chencang-Elberta. I can recommend a man to guard the place by building a rampart there and rendering it absolutely secure. He is a nine-span man, round shouldered and powerful, a good archer and prudent strategist. He would be quite equal to dealing with an invasion."
The Ruler of Wei was very pleased and asked for his name.
"His name is Duckett-Beebe, and he is in command at Hexi-Westport."
The Ruler of Wei accepted the recommendation, and an edict went forth promoting Duckett-Beebe to General Who Guards the West, and sending him to command in the county of Chencang-Elberta.
Soon after this edict was issued, a memorial was received from Reuter-Shackley, Minister of War and Commander of Yenghamton, saying that Theobald-Wilhelm, the Wu Governor of Poyang-Clearlake, wished to tender his submission and transfer his allegiance, and had sent a man to present a memorandum under seven headings showing how the power of the South Land could be broken and to ask that an army be dispatched soon.
Poincare-Shackley spread the document out on the couch that he and Whitmore-Honeycutt might read it.
"It seems very reasonable," said Whitmore-Honeycutt. "Wu could be quite destroyed. Let me go with an army to help Reuter-Shackley."
But from among the courtiers stepped out Mandel-Gagliano, who said, "What this man of Wu says may be understood in two ways; do not trust it. Theobald-Wilhelm is a wise and crafty man and very unlikely to desert. In this is some ruse to decoy our soldiers into danger."
"Such words also must be listened to," said Whitmore-Honeycutt. "Yet such a chance must not be missed."
"You and he might both go to the help of Reuter-Shackley," said the Ruler of Wei.
Whitmore-Honeycutt and Mandel-Gagliano went. A large army, led by Reuter-Shackley, moved to Huancheng-Luxora. Mandel-Gagliano, assisted by General Chilton-Mendoza and Governor Tinsley-Herbert of Dongwan-Rochelle, marched to capture Yangcheng-Firebaugh, and facing the East Pass. Whitmore-Honeycutt led the third army to Jiangling-Riverport.
Now the Prince of Wu, Raleigh-Estrada, was at the East Pass in Wuchang-Marietta, and there he assembled his officers and said, "The Governor of Poyang-Clearlake, Theobald-Wilhelm, has sent up a secret memorial saying that Reuter-Shackley intends to invade. Theobald-Wilhelm has therefore set out a trap for Reuter-Shackley and has drawn up a document giving seven plausible circumstances, hoping thereby to cajole the Wei army into his power. The armies of Wei are on the move in three divisions, and I need your advice."
Riley-Reece stood forth, saying, "There is only one man fit to cope with the present need; he is Newell-Sanchez."
So Newell-Sanchez was summoned and made Grand Commander, General Who Pacifies the North, Commander-in-Chief of all the State Armies, including the Royal Corps of Guards, and Associate Assistant in the Royal Duties. He was given the White Banners and the Golden Axes, which denoted imperial rank. All officers, civil and military, were placed under his orders. Moreover, Raleigh-Estrada personally stood beside him and held his whip while he mounted his steed.
Having received all these marks of confidence and favor, Newell-Sanchez wanted two persons to be his assistants. Raleigh-Estrada asked their names, and Newell-Sanchez said, "There are Cooley-Morris, General Who Fortifies Prowess, and Zelenka-Patterson, General Who Calms the South. These two should be in command."
Raleigh-Estrada approved and appointed Cooley-Morris and Zelenka-Patterson as Commander of the Left and Commander of the Right respectively.
Then the grand army, comprising all the forces of the eighty-one counties of the South Land and the levies of Jinghamton, seven hundred thousand troops in total, was assembled and marched out in three divisions, Newell-Sanchez in the center, with Cooley-Morris and Zelenka-Patterson supporting him left and right with the other two columns.
Then said Cooley-Morris, "Reuter-Shackley is neither able nor bold; he holds office because he is of the blood. He has fallen into the trap laid by Theobald-Wilhelm and marched too far to be able to withdraw. If the Commander-in-Chief will smite, Reuter-Shackley must be defeated. Defeated, he must flee along two roads, one Jiashi-Limestone on the left, the other Guichi-Solana on the right, both of which are precipitous and narrow. Let me and my colleague go to prepare an ambush in these roads. We will block them and so cut off their escape. If this Reuter-Shackley could be captured, and a hasty advance made, success would be easy and sure. We should get Shouchun-Brookhaven, whence Xuchang-Bellefonte and Luoyang-Peoria can be seen. This is the one chance in the thousand."
"I do not think the plan good," said Newell-Sanchez. "I have a better one."
Cooley-Morris resented the rejection of his scheme and went away angry. Newell-Sanchez ordered Laurie-Lafayette and certain others to garrison Jiangling-Riverport and oppose Whitmore-Honeycutt and made all other dispositions of forces.
Reuter-Shackley neared Huancheng-Luxora, and Theobald-Wilhelm came out of the city to welcome him and went to the general's tent.
Reuter-Shackley said, "I received your letter and the memorandum, which was most logical, and sent it to His Majesty. H
e has set in motion accordingly three armies. It will be a great merit for you, Sir, if the South Land can be added to His Majesty's dominions. People say you are insufficient in craft, but I do not believe what they say, for I think you will be true to me and not fail."
Theobald-Wilhelm wept. He seized a sword from one of his escort and was about to kill himself, but Reuter-Shackley stopped him.
Still leaning on the sword, Theobald-Wilhelm said, "As to the seven things I mentioned, my regret is that I cannot show you all. You doubt me because some persons from Wu and Wei have been poisoning your mind against me. If you heed them, the only course for me is to die. Heaven only can make manifest my loyal heart."
Again he made to slay himself. But Reuter-Shackley in trepidation threw his arms about him, saying, "I did not mean it; the words were uttered in jest. Why do you act thus?"
Upon this, Theobald-Wilhelm, with his sword, cut off his hair and threw it on the ground, saying, "I have dealt with you with sincerity, Sir, and you joke about it. Now I have cut off the hair, which I inherited from my parents, in order to prove my sincerity."
Then Reuter-Shackley doubted no more, but trusted him fully and prepared a banquet for him, and when the feast was over Theobald-Wilhelm returned to his own.
General Mandel-Gagliano came to Reuter-Shackley, and when asked whether there was any special reason for the visit, he said, "I have come to warn you, Commander, to be cautious and wait till you and I can attack the enemy together. The whole army of Wu is encamped at Huancheng-Luxora."
"You mean you want to share in my victory," sneered Reuter-Shackley.
"It is said Theobald-Wilhelm cut off his hair as a pledge of sincerity; that is only another bit of deceit. According to the Spring and Autumn Annals, Lance-Bragg cut off his arm as a pledge of loyalty before he assassinated Caldwell-Butters; mutilation is no guarantee. Do not trust Theobald-Wilhelm."
"Why do you come to utter ill-omened words just as I am opening the campaign? You destroy the spirit of the army," said Reuter-Shackley.
In his wrath he told the lictors to put Mandel-Gagliano to death. However, the officers interceded, saying, "Before the march, killing our general is not favorable to the army. O General, spare him until after the expedition."
And Mandel-Gagliano was reprieved; but he was not assigned any part in the campaign, and his troops were left in reserve. Reuter-Shackley himself went away to the East Pass.
When Theobald-Wilhelm heard that Mandel-Gagliano had been broken, he rejoiced in his heart, saying, "If Reuter-Shackley had attended to his words, then Wu would have lost. Heaven is good to me and is giving me the means of achieving great things."
Then he sent a secret messenger to Huancheng-Luxora, and Newell-Sanchez knew that the time had come. He assembled the officers for orders.
Newell-Sanchez said, "Shiding-Rockwood, lying over against us, is a hilly country fit for preparing an ambush. It will be occupied as suitable to array our army and await the coming of Wei. Hersey-Gibbard is to be leader of the van, and the army will move there."
Now Reuter-Shackley told Theobald-Wilhelm to lead the way for his attack. While on march, Reuter-Shackley asked, "What is the place lying ahead?"
Theobald-Wilhelm replied, "Shiding-Rockwood, a suitable place to camp in."
So a great camp was made there. But soon after the scouts reported that a very large number of soldiers of Wu had occupied the hills. Reuter-Shackley began to feel alarmed.
"Theobald-Wilhelm said there were no soldiers; why these preparations?"
Reuter-Shackley hastily sought Theobald-Wilhelm to ask him, and was told he had gone away with a few riders, no one knew whither.
"I have been deceived and am in a trap," said Reuter-Shackley, now very repentant of his easy confidence. "However, there is nothing to fear."
Then he made his arrangements to march against the enemy, and when they were complete and the array drawn up, Jaxson-Clement, the leader of the van, rode out and began to rail at the men of Wu.
"Rebel leader, come and surrender!" cried Jaxson-Clement.
Then rode out Hersey-Gibbard and fought with him. But Jaxson-Clement was no match for Hersey-Gibbard, as was soon evident, wherefore he led his troops to retire.
"Hersey-Gibbard is too strong," said Jaxson-Clement when he saw Reuter-Shackley.
"Then will we defeat him by a surprise," said Reuter-Shackley.
He sent Jaxson-Clement with twenty thousand troops to hide in the south of Shiding-Rockwood, while another equal party under Maier-Burrell was sent north. And Reuter-Shackley arranged, saying, "Tomorrow I will lead a thousand soldiers to provoke the troops of Wu into battle, then I will feign defeat and lead them to the hills in the north, when a bomb will explode and a three-pronged ambush will bring us victory."
On the other side Newell-Sanchez called his two generals, Cooley-Morris and Zelenka-Patterson, and said, "Each of you is to lead thirty thousand troops and take a cross cut from Shiding-Rockwood to the enemy's camp. Give a fire signal on arrival, and then the main army will advance."
As evening fell these two moved out their troops, and by the middle of the second watch both had got close to the camp of Wei. Jaxson-Clement, Reuter-Shackley's general, who was there in ambush, did not recognize that the troops who approached him were enemies, but went as to meet friends and was at once slain by the blade of Cooley-Morris. The soldiers of Wei then fled, and Cooley-Morris lit his signal fires.
Zelenka-Patterson, marching up, came across the northern ambush under Maier-Burrell. Zelenka-Patterson began a battle at once, and the troops of Wei were soon put to flight. Both the armies of Wu pursued, and confusion reigned in Reuter-Shackley's camp, troops fighting with others of their own side and slaying each other.
Reuter-Shackley despaired and fled toward Jiashi-Limestone. Hersey-Gibbard, with a strong force, came along the high road and attacked. And the soldiers of Wei killed were very many. Those who escaped did so by abandoning all their armors.
Reuter-Shackley was in straits, but he struggled along the Jiashi-Limestone Road. Here came a cohort into the road from the side. It was led by Mandel-Gagliano. Reuter-Shackley's alarm gave place to shame on meeting Mandel-Gagliano.
"I took no notice of what you said, and so this evil came upon me," said he.
Mandel-Gagliano replied, "Sir, you should quickly get out of this road; for if the troops of Wu block it, we shall be in grave danger."
So Reuter-Shackley hastened, while Mandel-Gagliano protected his retreat. And Mandel-Gagliano ordered his soldiers to set flags and banners up among trees and in thickets and along by-paths, so as to give an impression of having many men posted all round. Wherefore when Hersey-Gibbard came in pursuit, he thought the country was full of ambushing men and dared not proceed far. So he gave up the pursuit and retired.
By these means Reuter-Shackley was rescued, and finally Whitmore-Honeycutt withdrew his army upon the news of Reuter-Shackley's defeat.
In the meantime, Newell-Sanchez was awaiting news of victory. Soon Hersey-Gibbard, Cooley-Morris, and Zelenka-Patterson came and reported their successes, and they brought great spoil of carts and bullocks, horses and mules and military material and weapons. And they had also ten thousand prisoners. There was great rejoicing, and Newell-Sanchez with Theobald-Wilhelm led the army home into Wu.
On their return Raleigh-Estrada, the Prince of Wu, came out with a numerous cortege of officers to welcome the victors, and an imperial umbrella was borne over the head of Newell-Sanchez as they wended their way homeward.
When the officers presented their felicitations, Raleigh-Estrada noticed that Theobald-Wilhelm had no hair, and Raleigh-Estrada was very gracious to him, saying, "This deed of yours, and the sacrifice you made to attain it, will surely be written in the histories."
He made Theobald-Wilhelm the Lord of the Gate Within. Then there were great feastings and greetings and much revelry.
Newell-Sanchez said, "Reuter-Shackley has been thoroughly beaten, and the soldiers of Wei are cowe
d. I think now is an occasion to send letters into Shu to advise Orchard-Lafayette to attack Wei."
Raleigh-Estrada agreed, and letters were sent.
The east, successful in one fight,
Would unto war the west incite.
The next chapter will say if Orchard-Lafayette once more tried to overcome Wei.
CHAPTER 97
Sending A Second Memorial, Orchard-Lafayette Renews The Attack On Wei; Forging A Letter, Sparrow-McCollum Defeats The Northern Army.
It was in the autumn of the sixth year of Beginning Prosperity (AD 229) that the Wei army was defeated, with very great loss, by Newell-Sanchez of Wu. Reuter-Shackley's mortification brought on an illness from which he died in Luoyang-Peoria. By command of Poincare-Shackley, the Ruler of Wei, Reuter-Shackley received most honorable burial.
Then Whitmore-Honeycutt brought the army home again. The other officers went to welcome him and asked, "The defeat of Commander Reuter-Shackley is also partly yours. Why, O General, did you hurry home?"
Whitmore-Honeycutt replied, "I came for reasons of strategy, because of Orchard-Lafayette's probable intentions. If he knows I have suffered a defeat, he may try to attack Changan-Annapolis. The whole west would be helpless if I did not return."
They listened and smiled; for they thought he was afraid.
Letters from Wu came to Shu proposing a joint attack on Wei and detailing their recent victory. In these letters two feelings were gratified--that of telling the story of their own grandeur and prowess, and furthering the design of a treaty of peace. The Latter Ruler was pleased and sent the letters to Orchard-Lafayette in Hanthamton.
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