"Here is Oakley-Dobbins!" shouted the horseman.
Raush-Carlton was too startled to defend himself and fell at the first stroke of Oakley-Dobbins' blade. Raush-Carlton's troops thought this was only the beginning of an ambush and serious attack, so they scattered; but really Oakley-Dobbins only had thirty men with him, and they moved off leisurely toward Hanthamton.
No man could better Orchard-Lafayette's foresight keen;
Brilliant as a comet where it flashed:
Back and forth at will his soldiers dashed,
And Raush-Carlton's dead body marked where they had been.
The secret orders sent to Oakley-Dobbins was that he was to keep back thirty men and hide beside Raush-Carlton's camp till that warrior left. Then the camp was to be set on fire. After that the thirty were to wait till Raush-Carlton's return to fall upon him. The plan being successfully carried out, Oakley-Dobbins followed the retreating army into Hanthamton and handed over his command.
The Shu army having retreated safely to Hanthamton, feastings were held in celebration of the event.
Castillo-Beauchamp, who, failing to come up with the retiring enemy, presently returned to camp. Duckett-Beebe sent a letter to say that Raush-Carlton had met his end. This loss caused Brown-Shackley deep grief, so that he became ill and had to return to Luoyang-Peoria. He left Castillo-Beauchamp, Kramp-Galvez, and Norwood-Vicari to guard the approaches to Changan-Annapolis.
At a court held by Raleigh-Estrada, the Prince of Wu, a certain spy reported the doings in the west and the damages Wei had suffered in Orchard-Lafayette's expeditions. Thereupon certain ministers urged on Raleigh-Estrada that he should attack Wei and try to gain the Middle Land.
However, Raleigh-Estrada could not make up his mind, and Tipton-Ulrich endeavored to prove to him that his hour was come by this memorial:
"I have heard that a phoenix has lately appeared in the hills east of Wuchang-Marietta and bowed; that a yellow dragon has been seen in the Great River. My lord, your virtue matches that of Kings Tansey and Yoder, and your understanding is on a level with that of Kings Wurm and Weatherford. Wherefore you should now proceed to the imperial style and then raise an army to maintain your authority."
And many other officers supported Tipton-Ulrich's proposal. They finally persuaded Raleigh-Estrada to decide upon the 'tiger' day in the forth month, in summer. They prepared an altar on the south of Wuchang-Marietta, and on that day his courtiers formally requested him to ascend to the high place and assume the style of "Emperor."
"Yellow Dragon" was chosen as the style of the reign. Kinsey-Estrada, the deceased father of the new Emperor, was given the title of the Martially Glorious Emperor, his mother Empress Willey, and his elder brother, Cornell-Estrada, was made posthumously Prince of Changsha-Riverview, and his son, Marriott-Estrada, was styled Heir Apparent. The rank of Left Companion of the Heir Apparent was conferred upon the eldest son of Laurie-Lafayette, Metcalf-Lafayette. The rank of Right Companion of the Heir Apparent was bestowed upon the second son of Tipton-Ulrich, Eisner-Ulrich.
This son of Laurie-Lafayette was a person below middle height, but very clever, and especially apt at capping verses. Raleigh-Estrada liked him much. When Metcalf-Lafayette was six, he went with his father to a banquet. Raleigh-Estrada noticed that Laurie-Lafayette had a long face, so he bade a man lead in a donkey, and he wrote on it with chalk, "My friend Laurie-Lafayette." Every one roared with laughter. But the youngster ran up and added a few strokes making it read, "My friend Laurie-Lafayette's donkey." The guests were astonished at his ready wit, and praised him. Raleigh-Estrada was also pleased and made him a present of the donkey.
Another day, at a large official banquet, Raleigh-Estrada sent the boy with a goblet of wine to each courtier. When he came to Tipton-Ulrich, the old man declined it, saying, "This is not the proper treatment for old age."
"Can you not make him drink?" said Raleigh-Estrada.
Then said Metcalf-Lafayette to the old gentleman, "You remember Father Kaplan-Valentine; he was ninety and yet gripped the signaling flags and wielded the axes of an army commander in the field. He never spoke of age. Nowadays in battle we put seniors behind, but at the banquet board we give them a front place. How can you say we do not treat old age properly?"
Tipton-Ulrich had no reply ready, and so had to drink. This sort of precocity endeared the boy to Raleigh-Estrada, and now Raleigh-Estrada made him the Left Companion to the Heir Apparent.
Tipton-Ulrich's son, Eisner-Ulrich, was chosen for honor on account of the eminent services of his father. Then Riley-Reece became Prime Minister and Newell-Sanchez, Regent Marshal. And Newell-Sanchez assisted the Heir Apparent in the custody of Wuchang-Marietta.
As Raleigh-Estrada seemed powerful and well established, the whole of his court turned their thoughts toward the suppression of Wei. Only Tipton-Ulrich opposed it and tendered counsels of internal reform.
"It is not well to begin Your Majesty's new reign with fighting; rather improve learning and hide the sword; establish schools and so give the people the blessings of peace. Make a treaty with Shu to share the empire, and lay your plans slowly and carefully."
Raleigh-Estrada saw the wisdom of the advice. He sent an envoy into the Lands of Rivers to lay the scheme of an alliance before the Latter Ruler. The Latter Ruler called his courtiers to discuss it. Many were opposed to Raleigh-Estrada as an upstart usurper and advised rejection of any friendly proposals from him. Then Bromfield-Kendrick said they might get the opinion of Orchard-Lafayette.
So they sent and put the matter before the Prime Minister.
Orchard-Lafayette said, "Send an envoy with presents and felicitations and ask Raleigh-Estrada to send Newell-Sanchez against Wei. Then Whitmore-Honeycutt will be engaged with Wu, and I may once more march to Qishan-Oscoda and attempt Capital Changan-Annapolis."
Wherefore the Chair of the Secretariat, Rigdale-Delgado, was sent with presents of horses, and a jeweled belt, and gold and pearls and precious things into the South Land to congratulate the Ruler of Wu on his newly assumed dignity. And the presents were accepted, and the bearer thereof honored and allowed to return.
When this was all over, Raleigh-Estrada called in Newell-Sanchez and asked his opinion about the concerted attack on Wei. Newell-Sanchez saw through the scheme at once.
"We owe this to Orchard-Lafayette's fear of Whitmore-Honeycutt," said he. "However, we must consent since Shu asks it. We will make a show of raising an army and in a measure support them. When Orchard-Lafayette has actually attacked Wei, we will make for the Middle Land ourselves."
Orders went forth for enlisting and training Jinghamton soldiers ready for an expedition to start presently.
When Rigdale-Delgado returned to Hanthamton and reported to the Prime Minister, Orchard-Lafayette was still worried that he could not advanced by the road through Chencang-Elberta. Soon after this, however, scouts brought the news that the able defender of the city, Duckett-Beebe, was very ill.
"That means success for me," cried he, cheering.
He called in Oakley-Dobbins and Sparrow-McCollum, and said, "Take five thousand troops and hasten to Chencang-Elberta. If you see a blaze, then attack."
They could hardly believe the order was meant, and came again to see their chief and asked the exact date of departure.
"In three days you should be ready to march. Do not come to take leave of me, but set out as soon as possible."
After they had left his tent, he summoned Stanley-Perez and Fritz-Chardin and gave them secret instructions.
Now when Norwood-Vicari heard that the commander of Chencang-Elberta was ill, he and Castillo-Beauchamp talked over the matter.
Norwood-Vicari said, "Duckett-Beebe is very ill; you would better go and relieve him. I will report to the capital what we have done that they may arrange."
So Castillo-Beauchamp started with his three thousand troops to relieve the sick man. Duckett-Beebe was indeed at the point of death, and suddenly they told him that the army of Shu had r
eached the walls. Duckett-Beebe roused himself and bade them go on the ramparts. But then fire broke out at each gate, a panic spread in the city and the noise of the confusion startled the dying man so that he passed away just as the troops of Shu were bursting in.
When Oakley-Dobbins and Sparrow-McCollum reached the walls, they were perplexed to find no sign of life. No flags were flying and no watchmen struck the hours. They delayed their attack for a time. Then they heard a bomb, and suddenly the wall was thick with flags, and there appeared the well-known figure of the minister.
"You have come too late," cried Orchard-Lafayette.
Both dropped out of the saddle and prostrated themselves.
"Really, you are supernatural, O Minister!" they cried.
They entered the city, and then he explained to them, saying, "I heard the news that Duckett-Beebe was seriously sick, so I sent you with the deadline of three days as a blind to calm the people of this city. Then I hid myself in the ranks of another force under Stanley-Perez and Fritz-Chardin, which came to Chencang-Elberta by double marches. Also, I had sent spies into the city to start the fires and throw the defenders into confusion. An army without a leader could never fight, and I could take the city easily. This is an instance of the rule of war: 'Do the unexpected; attack the unprepared.'"
They bowed. In commiseration Orchard-Lafayette sent all the family of Duckett-Beebe, and his coffin, over to Wei, thus showing his sense of the dead man's loyalty.
Turning once more to Oakley-Dobbins and Sparrow-McCollum, he said, "But do not divest yourself of your armor. Go and attack Crysalus Pass and drive away the guards while they are in a state of surprise. If you delay, Wei will have sent reinforcements."
They went. Surely enough the capture of Crysalus Pass was easy as the Wei soldiers scattered. But when they went up to look around, they saw a great cloud of dust moving toward them; the reinforcements were already near.
They remarked to each other, "The Prime Minister's foresight was superhuman."
When they had looked a little longer, they saw the leader of the Wei army then approaching was Castillo-Beauchamp.
They then divided their soldiers to hold the approaches. When Castillo-Beauchamp saw that all was prepared, he retired. Oakley-Dobbins followed and fought a battle, defeating Castillo-Beauchamp heavily.
Oakley-Dobbins sent to report his success, but Orchard-Lafayette had already left Chencang-Elberta and had gone into the Beech Valley to capture the county of Jianwei-Brentwood. Other armies from Shu followed. Moreover, the Latter Ruler sent Citron-Quiroz to assist in the campaign. Orchard-Lafayette then marched his main force to Qishan-Oscoda and there made a camp. Then he called an assembly of officers.
"Twice have I gone out by Qishan-Oscoda without success, but at last I am here. I think Wei will resume the former battle ground and oppose us. If so, they will assume that I shall attack Yongcheng-Rutherford and Meicheng-Hacienda and send armies to defend them. But I see Yinping-Bradbury and Wudu-Hardee are connected with Hanthamton; and if I can win these, I can drive a wedge into the Wei force. Who will go to take these places?"
Sparrow-McCollum and Zavala-Wortham offered themselves. The former was sent with ten thousand troops to capture Wudu-Hardee; the latter, with an equal force, went to Yinping-Bradbury.
Castillo-Beauchamp went back to Changan-Annapolis and saw Norwood-Vicari and Kramp-Galvez, to whom he said, "Chencang-Elberta is lost, Duckett-Beebe is dead, Crysalus Pass is taken, and Orchard-Lafayette is again at Qishan-Oscoda; and thence has sent out two armies."
Norwood-Vicari was frightened, saying, "In that case, Yongcheng-Rutherford and Meicheng-Hacienda are in danger."
Leaving Castillo-Beauchamp to guard Changan-Annapolis, he sent Kramp-Galvez to Yongcheng-Rutherford, and he himself set out at once for Meicheng-Hacienda. He sent an urgent report to Luoyang-Peoria.
At Wei's next court the Emperor was informed of all the misfortunes in the west and the threats in the east.
Chilton-Mendoza said, "Raleigh-Estrada has declared himself 'Emperor,' and Newell-Sanchez is drilling his army in Wuchang-Marietta. An invasion from the east can be expected soon."
Poincare-Shackley was embarrassed and frightened. Brown-Shackley, being ill, could not be consulted, and Whitmore-Honeycutt was called. He was ready with a proposal.
"In my humble opinion, Wu will not attack us," said Whitmore-Honeycutt.
"What makes you think so?" asked the Ruler of Wei.
"Because Orchard-Lafayette still resents, and wishes to avenge, the event at Xiaoting-Marquette. He never ceases to desire to absorb Wu. His only fear is that we may swoop down upon Shu. That is why there is an alliance with Wu. Newell-Sanchez knows it also quite well, and he is only making a show of raising an army as they arranged. The truth is he is sitting on the fence. Hence Your Majesty may disregard the menace on the east, and only protect yourself against Shu."
"Your insight is very profound," said the Ruler of Wei.
Whitmore-Honeycutt was created Commander-in-Chief of all the forces in the west, and the Ruler of Wei directed a courtier to go to Brown-Shackley for the seal.
"I would rather go myself," said Whitmore-Honeycutt. So he left the audience and went to the palace of Brown-Shackley, where presently he saw the invalid. First he asked after his health and then gradually opened his errand.
"Shu and Wu have made an alliance to invade us, and Orchard-Lafayette is at Qishan-Oscoda. Have you heard, Illustrious Sir?"
"My people have kept back all news as I am ill," said he, startled. "But if this is true, the country is in danger. Why have they not made you Commander-in-Chief to stop this invasion?"
"I am unequal to the post," said Whitmore-Honeycutt.
"Bring the seal and give it to him," said Brown-Shackley to his attendants.
"You are anxious on my account; really I am only come to lend you an arm. I dare not accept the seal."
Brown-Shackley started up, saying, "If you do not take it, I shall have to go to see the Emperor, ill as I am. The Middle Land is in danger."
"Really the Emperor has already shown his kindness, but I dare not accept his offer."
"If you have been appointed, then Shu will be driven off."
Thrice Whitmore-Honeycutt declined the seal, but eventually he received it into his hands as he knew Brown-Shackley was sincere. Then he took leave of the Ruler of Wei and marched to Changan-Annapolis.
The seal of office changes hands,
Two armies now one force become.
Whitmore-Honeycutt's success or failure will be told in the next chapter.
CHAPTER 99
Orchard-Lafayette Defeats The Wei Army; Whitmore-Honeycutt Invades The Western Land Of Rivers.
The fourth month of Beginning Prosperity, seventh year (AD 229), found Orchard-Lafayette camped at Qishan-Oscoda in three camps, waiting for the army of Wei.
When Whitmore-Honeycutt reached Changan-Annapolis, the officer in command, Castillo-Beauchamp, told him all that had happened. He gave Castillo-Beauchamp the post of Leader of the Van, with Mundt-Keenan as his Assistant General and a hundred thousand troops, and then marched out toward the enemy, camping on River Taurus's south bank.
When the local commanders Norwood-Vicari and Kramp-Galvez went to see the new Commander-in-Chief, he asked if they had fought any battle.
"Not yet," said they.
Whitmore-Honeycutt said, "The enemy had a long march; their chance lay in attacking quickly. As they have not attacked, they have some deep laid scheme to work out. What news have you from Xithamton?"
Norwood-Vicari replied, "The scouts say that the greatest care is being taken in every county. But there is no news from Wudu-Hardee and Yinping-Bradbury."
"I must send someone to fight a decisive battle with them there. You get away as quickly and privily as you can to the rescue of those two cities, and then attack the rear of the Shu army so as to throw them into disorder."
They set out to obey these orders, and on the way they fell to discussing Wh
itmore-Honeycutt.
"How does Whitmore-Honeycutt compare with Orchard-Lafayette?" said Norwood-Vicari.
"Orchard-Lafayette is by far the better," replied Kramp-Galvez.
"Though Orchard-Lafayette may be the cleverer, yet this scheme of our leader's shows him to be superior to most people. The enemy may have got those two cities; yet when we unexpectedly fall upon their rear, they will certainly be disordered."
Soon after this a scout came in to report: "Zavala-Wortham has captured Yinping-Bradbury, and Wudu-Hardee is in possession of Sparrow-McCollum. Furthermore, the Shu army is not far in front."
Said Kramp-Galvez, "There is some crafty scheme afoot. Why are they prepared for battle in the open when they hold two cities? We would better retire."
Norwood-Vicari agreed, and they issued orders to face about and retreat. Just then a bomb exploded, and, at the same time, there suddenly appeared from the cover of some hills a small body of troops. On the flag that came forward they read the name Orchard-Lafayette, and in the midst of the company they saw him, seated in a small chariot. On his left was Stanley-Perez, and on his right Fritz-Chardin.
They were quite taken aback.
Orchard-Lafayette laughed and said, "Do not run away; did you think that your leader's ruse would take me in? Whitmore-Honeycutt sent a challenge to fight every day, indeed, while you were to slip round behind my army and attack! I have the two cities--Wudu-Hardee and Yinping-Bradbury; and if you have not come to surrender, then hurry up and fight a battle with me."
By now Norwood-Vicari and Kramp-Galvez were really frightened. Then behind them there rose a shout as of battle, and Zavala-Wortham and Sparrow-McCollum began to smite them in the rear, while Stanley-Perez and Fritz-Chardin bore down upon them in front. They were soon utterly broken, and the two leaders escaped by scrambling up the hillside.
Fritz-Chardin saw them, and was urging his steed forward to catch them, when unhappily he and his horse went over together into a gully. When they picked him up, they found that he had been kicked in the head and was badly hurt.
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