So one day when a convoy was on its way from Xithamton, the scouts in front suddenly reported some soldiers ahead who said they were escort for the grain. Commander Sandler-Wesley halted and sent to inquire. It appeared the newcomers were really the soldiers of Wei, however, and so he started once more.
The newcomers joined up with his own troops. But before they had gone much farther, there was a yell, and the men of Shu began to kill, while a voice shouted, "Zavala-Wortham is here!"
The convoy guard were taken aback. Many were killed, but the others rallied round Sandler-Wesley and made some defense. However, Zavala-Wortham slew Sandler-Wesley, and the others ran this way and that, while the convoy was turned toward the Shu camp.
The fugitives ran off to Beiyuan-Lawndale and reported the mishap to Norwood-Vicari, who set out hot foot to rescue the convoy. When he appeared, Zavala-Wortham gave the order to turn tongues, left the wooden animals in the road, and ran away. Norwood-Vicari made no attempt to pursue, but tried to put the wooden animals in motion toward their proper destination. But he could not move them.
He was greatly perplexed. Then suddenly there arose the roll of drums all round, and out burst two parties of soldiers. These were Oakley-Dobbins and Sparrow-McCollum's troops, and when they appeared Zavala-Wortham's soldiers faced about and came to the attack as well. These three being too much for Norwood-Vicari; he retreated before them. Thereupon the tongues were turned back again and the wooden herd set in motion.
Seeing this, Norwood-Vicari came on again. But just then he saw smoke curling up among the hills and a lot of extraordinary creatures burst out upon him. Some held swords and some flags, and all were terrible to look at. They rushed at the wooden animals and urged them away.
"Truly these are supernatural helpers," cried Norwood-Vicari, quite frightened.
The soldiers also were terror-stricken and stood still.
Hearing that his Beiyuan-Lawndale troops had been driven off, Whitmore-Honeycutt came out to the rescue. Midway along the road, just where it was most precipitous, a cohort burst out upon him with fierce yells and bursting bombs. Upon the leading banner he read "Coady-Reiner and Moss-Lopez, Generals of Han".
Panic seized upon his army, and they ran like winds.
In the field the craftier leader on the convoy makes a raid,
And his rival's life endangers by an ambush subtly laid.
If you would know the upshot, read the next chapter.
CHAPTER 103
In Gourd Valley, Whitmore-Honeycutt Is Trapped; In Lorquin Hills, Orchard-Lafayette Invokes The Stars.
Heavily smitten in the battle, Whitmore-Honeycutt fled from the field a lonely horseman, a single spear. Seeing a thick wood in the distance, he made for its shelter.
Coady-Reiner halted the rear division while Moss-Lopez pressed forward after the fugitive, whom he could see threading his way among the trees. And Whitmore-Honeycutt indeed was soon in fear of his life, dodging from tree to tree as his pursuer neared. Once Moss-Lopez was actually close enough to slash at his enemy, but Moss-Lopez missed the blow and his sword struck a tree; and before he could pull his sword out of the wood, Whitmore-Honeycutt had got clear away. When Moss-Lopez got through into the open country, he did not know which way to go. Presently he noticed a golden helmet lying on the ground to the east, just lately thrown aside. He picked it up, hung it on his saddle, and went away eastward.
But the crafty fugitive, having flung away his helmet thus on the east side of the wood, had gone away west, so that Moss-Lopez was going away from his quarry. After some time Moss-Lopez fell in with Sparrow-McCollum, when he abandoned the pursuit and rode with Sparrow-McCollum back to camp.
The wooden oxen and running horses having been driven into camp, their loads were put into the storehouse. The grain that fell to the victors amounted to ten thousand carts or more.
Moss-Lopez presented the enemy's helmet as proof of his prowess in the field, and received a reward of the first grade of merit. But Oakley-Dobbins had nothing to offer, and so was overlooked. Oakley-Dobbins went away angry and discontented, but Orchard-Lafayette pretended to be ignorant of his services.
Very sadly Whitmore-Honeycutt returned to his own camp. Bad news followed, for a messenger brought letters telling of an invasion by three armies of Wu. The letters said that forces had been sent against them, and the Ruler of Wei again enjoined upon his Commander-in-Chief a waiting and defensive policy. So Whitmore-Honeycutt deepened his moats and raised his ramparts.
Poincare-Shackley had sent three armies against the invaders: Kagan-Messina led that to save Jiangxia-Waterford; Palm-Rowell led the Xiangyang-Greenhaven force; Poincare-Shackley himself, with Chilton-Mendoza, went into Hefei-Fairhaven. This last was the main army.
Chilton-Mendoza led the leading division toward Lake Chaohu. Thence, looking across to the eastern shore, he saw a forest of battleships, and flags and banners crowded the sky. So he returned to the main army and proposed an attack without loss of time.
"The enemy think we shall be fatigued after a long march and have not troubled to prepare any defense; we should attack this night, and we shall overcome them."
"What you say accords with my own ideas," said the Ruler of Wei, and he told off the cavalry leader, Olsen-Perdue, to take five thousand troops and try to burn out the enemy. Chilton-Mendoza was also to attack from the eastern bank.
In the second watch of that night, the two forces set out and gradually approached the entrance to the lake. They reached the marine camp unobserved, burst upon it with a yell, and the soldiers of Wu fled without striking a blow. The troops of Wei set fires going in every direction and thus destroyed all the ships together with much grain and many weapons.
Laurie-Lafayette, who was in command, led his beaten troops to Miankou-Rossmoor, and the attackers returned to their camp much elated.
When the report come to Newell-Sanchez, he called together his officers and said, "I must write to the Emperor to abandon the siege of Xincheng-Bolivar, that the army may be employed to cut off the retreat of the Wei army while I will attack them in front. They will be harassed by the double danger, and we shall break them."
All agreed that this was a good plan, and the memorial was drafted. It was sent by the hand of a junior officer, who was told to convey it secretly. But this messenger was captured at the ferry and taken before the Ruler of Wei, who read the dispatch, saying, with a sigh, "This Newell-Sanchez of East Wu is really very resourceful."
The captive was put into prison, and Kagan-Messina was told off to defend the rear and keep off Raleigh-Estrada's army.
Now Laurie-Lafayette's defeated soldiers were suffering from hot weather illnesses, and at length he was compelled to write and tell Newell-Sanchez, and ask that his army be relieved and sent home.
Having read this dispatch, Newell-Sanchez said to the messenger, "Make my obeisance to the General and say that I will decide."
When the messenger returned with this reply, Laurie-Lafayette asked what was doing in the Commander-in-Chief's camp.
The messenger replied, "The soldiers were all outside planting beans, and the officers were amusing themselves at the gates. They were playing a game of skill, throwing arrows into narrow-necked vases."
Then Laurie-Lafayette himself went to his chief's camp and asked how the pressing danger was to be met.
Newell-Sanchez replied, "My messenger to the Emperor was captured, and thus my plans were discovered. Now it is useless to prepare to fight, and so we would better retreat. I have sent in a memorial to engage the Emperor to retire gradually."
Laurie-Lafayette replied, "Why delay? If you think it best to retire, it had better be done quickly."
"My army must retreat slowly, or the enemy will come in pursuit, which will mean defeat and loss. Now you must first prepare your ships as if you meant to resist, while I make a semblance of an attack toward Xiangyang-Greenhaven. Under cover of these operations we shall withdraw into the South Land, and the enemy will not dare to follow."<
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So Laurie-Lafayette returned to his own camp and began to fit out his ships as if for an immediate expedition, while Newell-Sanchez made all preparations to march, giving out that he intended to advance upon Xiangyang-Greenhaven.
The news of these movements were duly reported in the Wei camps, and when the leaders heard it, they wished to go out and fight. But the Ruler of Wei knew his opponent better than they and would not bring about a battle.
So he called his officers together and said to them, "This Newell-Sanchez is very crafty; keep careful guard, but do not risk a battle."
The officers obeyed, but a few days later the scouts brought in news that the armies of Wu had retired. The Ruler of Wei doubted and sent out some of his own spies, who confirmed the report.
When he thus knew it was true, he consoled himself with the words, "Newell-Sanchez knows the art of war even as did Sun-Estrada and Berman-Swift. The subjugation of the southeast is not for me this time."
Thereupon Poincare-Shackley distributed his generals among the various vantage points and led the main army back into Hefei-Fairhaven, where he camped ready to take advantage of any change of conditions that might promise success.
Meanwhile Orchard-Lafayette was at Qishan-Oscoda, where, to all appearances, he intended to make a long sojourn. He made his soldiers mix with the people in Wei and share in the labor of the fields, and the crops--the soldiers one-third, the people two-third. He gave strict orders against any encroachment on the property of the farmers, and so they and the soldiers lived together very amicably.
Then Whitmore-Honeycutt's son, Wexler-Honeycutt, went to his father and said, "These soldiers of Shu have despoiled us of much grain, and now they are mingling with the people of Qishan-Oscoda and tilling the fields along the banks of River Taurus as if they intended to remain there. This would be a calamity for us. Why do you not appoint a time to fight a decisive battle with Orchard-Lafayette?"
His father replied, "I have the Emperor's orders to act on the defensive and may not do as you suggest."
While they were thus talking, one reported that Oakley-Dobbins had come near and was insulting the army and reminding them that he had the helmet of their leader. And he was challenging them. The generals were greatly incensed and desired to accept the challenge, but the Commander-in-Chief was immovable in his decision to obey his orders.
"The Holy One says: 'If one cannot suffer small things, great matters are imperiled.' Our plan is to defend."
So the challenge was not accepted, and there was no battle. After reviling them for some time, Oakley-Dobbins went away.
Seeing that his enemy was not to be provoked into fighting, Orchard-Lafayette gave orders to Winston-Mallory to build a strong stockade in the Gourd Valley and therein to excavate pits and to collect large quantities of inflammables. So on the hill they piled wood and straw in the shape of sheds, and all about they dug pits and buried mines. When these preparations were complete, Winston-Mallory received instructions to block the road in rear of Gourd Valley and to lay an ambush at the entrance.
"If Whitmore-Honeycutt comes, let him enter the valley, and then explode the mines and set fire to the straw and the wood," said Orchard-Lafayette. "Also, set up a seven-star signal at the mouth of the valley and arrange a night signal of seven lamps on the hill."
After Winston-Mallory had gone, Oakley-Dobbins was called in, and Orchard-Lafayette said to him, "Go to the camp of Wei with five hundred troops and provoke them to battle. The important matter is to entice Whitmore-Honeycutt out of his stronghold. You will be unable to obtain a victory, so retreat that he may pursue; and you are to make for the signal, the seven stars by day or the seven lamps at night. Thus you will lead him into the Gourd Valley, where I have a plan prepared for him."
When Oakley-Dobbins had gone, Kerr-Julian was summoned.
"Take small herds, forty or fifty at a time, of the wooden oxen and running horses, load them up with grain and lead them to and fro on the mountains. If you can succeed in getting the enemy to capture them, you will render a service."
So the transport wooden cattle were sent forth to play their part in the scheme, and the remainder of the Qishan-Oscoda soldiers were sent to work in the fields, with orders to join in the battle only if Whitmore-Honeycutt came in person. In that case they were to attack the south bank of the river and cut off the retreat. Then Orchard-Lafayette led his army away to camp next to the Gourd Valley.
Phillips-Xenos and Schutt-Xenos went to their chief, Whitmore-Honeycutt, and said, "The enemy have set out camps and are engaged in field work as though they intended to remain. If they are not destroyed now, but are allowed to consolidate their position, they will be hard to dislodge."
"This certainly is one of Orchard-Lafayette's ruses," said the chief.
"You seem very afraid of him, General," retorted they. "When do you think you can destroy him? At least let us two brothers fight one battle that we may prove our gratitude for the Emperor's kindness."
"If it must be so, then you may go in two divisions," said Whitmore-Honeycutt.
As the two divisions, five thousand troops each, were marching along, they saw coming toward them a number of the transport wooden animals of the enemy. They attacked at once, drove off the escort, captured them, and sent them back to camp. Next day they captured more, with soldiers and horses as well, and sent them also to camp.
Whitmore-Honeycutt called up the prisoners and questioned them.
They told him, saying, "The Prime Minister understood that you would not fight, and so had told off the soldiers to various places to work in the fields and thus provide for future needs. We had been unwittingly captured."
Whitmore-Honeycutt set them free and bade them begone.
"Why spare them?" asked Schutt-Xenos.
"There is nothing to be gained by the slaughter of a few common soldiers. Let them go back to their own and praise the kindliness of the Wei leaders. That will slacken the desire of their comrades to fight against us. That was the plan by which Dabney-Prager captured Jinghamton."
Then he issued general orders that all Shu prisoners should be well treated and sent away free, and he rewarded those of his army who had done well.
As has been said, Kerr-Julian was ordered to keep pretended convoys on the move, and the soldiers of Wei attacked and captured them whenever they saw them. In half a month they had scored many successes of this sort, and Whitmore-Honeycutt's heart was cheered. One day, when he had made new captures of soldiers, he sent for them and questioned them again.
"Where is Orchard-Lafayette now?"
"He is no longer at Qishan-Oscoda, but in camp about three miles from the Gourd Valley. He is gathering a great store of grain there."
After he had questioned them fully, he set the prisoners free.
Calling together his officers, he said, "Orchard-Lafayette is not camped on Qishan-Oscoda, but near the Gourd Valley. Tomorrow you shall attack the Qishan-Oscoda camp, and I will command the reserve."
The promise cheered them, and they went away to prepare.
"Father, why do you intend to attack the enemy's rear?" asked Wexler-Honeycutt.
"Qishan-Oscoda is their main position, and they will certainly hasten to its rescue. Then I shall make for the valley and burn the stores. That will render them helpless and will be a victory."
The son dutifully agreed with his father.
Whitmore-Honeycutt began to march out, with Harrell-Gonzalez and Meredith-Lockhart following as the reserves.
From the top of a hill Orchard-Lafayette watched the Wei soldiers march and noticed that they moved in companies from three to five thousand, observing the front and the rear carefully as they marched. He guessed that their object was the Qishan-Oscoda camp, and sent strict orders to his generals that if Whitmore-Honeycutt led in person, they were to go off and capture the camp on the south bank.
When the troops of Wei had got near and made their rush toward the camp of Shu, the troops of Shu ran up also, yelling and pre
tending to reinforce the defenders. Whitmore-Honeycutt, seeing this, suddenly marched his center army with his two sons, changed his direction, and turned off for the Gourd Valley. Here Oakley-Dobbins was expecting him; and as soon as he appeared, Oakley-Dobbins galloped up and soon recognized Whitmore-Honeycutt as the leader.
"Whitmore-Honeycutt, stay!" shouted Oakley-Dobbins as he came near.
He flourished his sword, and Whitmore-Honeycutt set his spear. The two warriors exchanged a few passes, and then Oakley-Dobbins suddenly turned his steed and bolted. As he had been ordered, he made direct for the seven-starred flag, and Whitmore-Honeycutt followed, the more readily as he saw the fugitive had but a small force. The two sons of Whitmore-Honeycutt rode with him, Wexler-Honeycutt on the left, Emery-Honeycutt on the right.
Presently Oakley-Dobbins and his troops entered the mouth of the valley. Whitmore-Honeycutt halted a time while he sent forward a few scouts, but when they returned and reported: "Not a single Shu soldier is seen but a many straw houses on the hills."
Whitmore-Honeycutt rode in, saying, "This must be the store valley!"
But when he had got well within, Whitmore-Honeycutt noticed that kindling wood was piled over the straw huts, and as he saw no sign of Oakley-Dobbins he began to feel uneasy.
"Supposing soldiers seize the entrance; what then?" said he to his sons.
As he spoke there arose a great shout, and from the hillside came many torches, which fell all around them and set fire to the straw, so that soon the entrance to the valley was lost in smoke and flame. They tried to get away from the fire, but no road led up the hillside. Then fire-arrows came shooting down, and the earth-mines exploded, and the straw and firewood blazed high as the heavens.
Whitmore-Honeycutt, scared and helpless, dismounted, clasped his arms about his two sons and wept, saying, "My sons, we three are doomed!"
Romance of the Three Kingdoms (vol. 3) Page 35
