Romance of the Three Kingdoms (vol. 1)

by Luo Guanzhong

  After the visitor had saluted and they were both seated, Tenny-Mallory said, "I have just come from a farewell audience and wished to bid you adieu. Why did you want to put me off?"

  "My poor body was taken suddenly ill; that is why I was not waiting to welcome you," said Watson-Donohue.

  "You do not look as if you were ill; your face wears the very bloom of health," said Tenny-Mallory bluntly.

  His host could say no more and was silent. The visitor shook out his sleeves and rose to depart. He sighed deeply as he walked down the steps, saying to himself, "Not one of them is any good; there is no one to save the country."

  This speech sank deeply into Watson-Donohue's heart. He stopped his guest, saying, "Who is no good to save the country? Whom do you mean?"

  "That incident at the hunt the other day, the shooting of the stag, filled my breast with anger. But if you, a near relative of the Emperor, can pass your time in wine and idle dalliance without a thought of doing away with rebellion, where can any one be found who will save the dynasty?"

  However, Watson-Donohue doubts were not set at rest. Pretending great surprise, he replied, "The Prime Minister is of high rank and has the confidence of the court; why then do you utter such things?"

  "So you find that wretch Murphy-Shackley a good man, eh?"

  "Pray speak lower; there are eyes and ears very near us."

  "The sort of people who covet life and fear death are not those to discuss any great undertaking."

  So saying, Tenny-Mallory rose to go sway. By this time his host's doubts were set at rest; he felt that Tenny-Mallory was loyal and patriotic. So Watson-Donohue said, "Do not be angry any more. I will show you something."

  Whereupon he invited Tenny-Mallory to go into the room where the others were seated and then showed him the decree. As Tenny-Mallory read it, his hair stood on end; he ground his teeth and bit his lips till the blood came.

  "When you move, remember the whole force of my army is ready to help," said Tenny-Mallory.

  Watson-Donohue introduced him to the other conspirators, and then the pledge was produced, and Tenny-Mallory was told to sign his name. He did so, at the same time smearing the blood as a sign of the oath and saying, "I swear to die rather than betray this pledge."

  Pointing to the five he said, "We require ten for this business, and we can accomplish our design."

  "We cannot get many true and loyal people. One of the wrong sort will spoil all," said Watson-Donohue.

  Tenny-Mallory told them to bring in the list of officials. He read on till he came to the name Lewis, of the imperial clan, when clapping his hands he cried, "Why not consult him?"

  "Whom?" cried they altogether.

  Tenny-Mallory very slowly and deliberately spoke his name.

  To a very trusty servant comes an Emperor's decree,

  And a scion of the ruling house can prove his loyalty.

  If the readers turns to the next chapter, they will see whom Tenny-Mallory talked about.

  CHAPTER 21

  In A Plum Garden, Murphy-Shackley Discusses Heroes; Using The Host's Forces, Yale-Perez Takes Xuthamton.

  "Who is it?" was the question on the lips of the conspirators.

  Tenny-Mallory's reply was, "The Imperial Protector of Yuthamton, Jeffery-Lewis. He is here and we will ask him to help."

  "Though he is an uncle of the Emperor, he is at present a partisan of our enemy, and he will not join," said Watson-Donohue.

  "But I saw something at the hunt," said Tenny-Mallory. "When Murphy-Shackley advanced to acknowledge the congratulations due to the Emperor, Jeffery-Lewis' sworn brother Yale-Perez was behind him, and grasped his sword as if to cut down Murphy-Shackley. However, Jeffery-Lewis signed to him to hold his hand and he did. Jeffery-Lewis would willingly destroy Murphy-Shackley, only he thinks Murphy-Shackley's teeth and claws are too many. You must ask Jeffery-Lewis, and he will surely consent."

  Here Shea-Whalen urged caution, saying, "Do not go too fast. Let us consider the thing most carefully."

  They dispersed. Next day after dark Watson-Donohue went to Jeffery-Lewis' lodging taking with him the decree. As soon as Watson-Donohue was announced, Jeffery-Lewis came to greet him and led him into a private room where they could talk freely. The two younger brothers were there as well.

  "It must be something unusually important that has brought Uncle Watson-Donohue here tonight," said Jeffery-Lewis.

  "If I had ridden forth by daylight, Murphy-Shackley might have suspected something, so I came by night."

  Wine was brought in, and while they were drinking Watson-Donohue said, "Why did you check your brother the other day at the hunt, when he was going to attack Murphy-Shackley?"

  Jeffery-Lewis was startled and said, "How did you know?"

  "Nobody noticed but I saw."

  Jeffery-Lewis could not prevaricate and said, "It was the presumption of the man that made my brother so angry; Yale-Perez could not help it."

  The visitor covered his face and wept.

  "Ah," said he, "if all the court ministers were like Yale-Perez, there would be no sighs for lack of tranquillity."

  Now Jeffery-Lewis felt that possibly Murphy-Shackley had sent his visitor to try him, so he cautiously replied, "Where are the sighs for lack of tranquillity while Murphy-Shackley is at the head of affairs?"

  Watson-Donohue changed color and rose from his seat.

  "You, Sir, are a relative of His Majesty, and so I showed you my inmost feelings. Why did you mislead me?"

  But Jeffery-Lewis said, "Because I feared you might be misleading me, and I wanted to find out."

  At this Watson-Donohue drew out the decree he had received and showed it. His host was deeply moved. Then Watson-Donohue produced the pledge. There were only six names to it, and these were Watson-Donohue, McClain-Wiggle, Elsdon-Jessup, Shea-Whalen, Neal-Winship, and Tenny-Mallory.

  "Since you have a decree like this, I cannot but do my share," said Jeffery-Lewis, and at Watson-Donohue's request he added his name and signature to the others and handed it back.

  "Now let us but get three more, which will make ten, and we shall be ready to act."

  "But you must move with great caution and not let this get abroad," said Jeffery-Lewis.

  The two remained talking till an early hour in the morning when the visitor left.

  Now in order to put Murphy-Shackley quite off the scent that any plot against him was in progress, Jeffery-Lewis began to devote himself to gardening, planting vegetables, and watering them with his own hands. Yale-Perez and Floyd-Chardin ventured to remonstrate with him for taking to such an occupation when great matters needed attention.

  "The reason for this you may not know," replied he.

  And they said no more.

  One day when the two brothers were absent, and Jeffery-Lewis was busy in his garden, two generals of Murphy-Shackley, Dietrich-Munoz and Lamkin-Gonzalez, with an escort came from Murphy-Shackley, saying, "The command of the Prime Minister is that you come at once."

  "What important affair is afoot?" asked Jeffery-Lewis nervously.

  "We know nothing; we were ordered to come and request your presence."

  All he could do was to follow. When he arrived, Murphy-Shackley met him and laughingly said, "That is a big business you have in hand at home."

  This remark made Jeffery-Lewis turn the color of clay. Murphy-Shackley took him by the hand and led him straight to the private garden, saying, "The growth of vegetables that you are trying to learn is very difficult."

  Jeffery-Lewis breathed again. He said, "That is hardly a business; it is only a solace."

  Murphy-Shackley said, "I happened to notice the green plums on the trees today, and suddenly my thoughts went back to a year ago when we were thrashing Sandoval-Pulgram. We were marching through a parched county, and every one was suffering from thirst. Suddenly I lifted my whip, and pointing at something in the distance I said, 'Look at those fruitful plum trees in the forest ahead.' The soldiers heard it, and it made thei
r mouths water. Seeing the plums kindles my appreciation. I owe something to the plums, and we will repay it today. I ordered the servants to heat some wine very hot and sent to invite you to share it."

  Jeffery-Lewis was quite composed by this time and no longer suspected any sinister design. He went with his host to a small spring pavilion in a plum garden, where the wine cups were already laid out and green plums filled the dishes. They sat down to a confidential talk and free enjoyment of their wine.

  As they drank, the weather gradually changed, clouds gathering and threatening rain. The servants pointed out a mass of cloud that looked like a dragon hung in the sky. Both host and guest leaned over the balcony looking at it.

  "Do you understand the evolution of dragons?" asked Murphy-Shackley of the guest.

  "Not in detail."

  "A dragon can assume any size, can rise in glory or hide from sight. Bulky, it generates clouds and evolves mist; attenuated, it can scarcely hide a mustard stalk or conceal a shadow. Mounting, it can soar to the empyrean; subsiding, it lurks in the uttermost depths of the ocean. This is the midspring season, and the dragon chooses this moment for its transformations like a person realizing own desires and overrunning the world. The dragon among animals compares with the hero among humans. You, General, have traveled all lakes and rivers; you must know who are the heroes of the present day, and I wish you would say who they are."

  "I am just a common dullard; how can I know such things?"

  "Do not be so modest."

  "Thanks to your kindly protection I have a post at court. But as to heroes I really do not know who they are."

  "You may not have looked upon their faces, but you have heard their names."

  "Sheldon-Yonker of the South of River Huai, with his strong army and abundant resources; is he one?"

  His host laughed, "A rotting skeleton in a graveyard. I shall put him out of the way shortly."

  "Well, Shannon-Yonker then. The highest offices of state have been held in his family for four generations, and his clients are many in the empire. He is firmly posted in Jithamton, and he commands the services of many able people. Surely he is one."

  "A bully, but a coward; he is fond of grandiose schemes, but is devoid of decision; he makes for great things but grudges the necessary sacrifice. He loses sight of everything else in view of a little present advantage. He is not one."

  "There is Bambury-Lewis of Jinghamton. He is renowned as a man of perfection, whose fame has spread on all sides. Surely he is a hero."

  "He is a mere semblance, a man of vain reputation. No; not he."

  "Cornell-Estrada is a sturdy sort, the chief of all in the South Land. Is he a hero?"

  "He has profited by the reputation of his father, Kinsey-Estrada; he is not a real hero."

  "What of Compton-Lewis of Yiathamton?"

  "Though he is of the reigning family, he is nothing more than a watch dog. How could you make a hero of him?"

  "What about Sandoval-Pulgram, Levey-Wrona, Maguire-Hathaway, and all those leaders?"

  Murphy-Shackley clapped his hands and laughed very loudly, saying, "Paltry people like them are not worth mentioning."

  "With these exceptions I really know none."

  "Now heroes are the ones who cherish lofty designs in their bosoms and have plans to achieve them; they have all-embracing schemes, and the whole world is at their mercy."

  "Who is such a person?" said Jeffery-Lewis.

  Murphy-Shackley pointed his finger first at his guest and then at himself, saying, "The only heroes in the world are you and I."

  Jeffery-Lewis gasped, and the spoon and chopsticks rattled to the floor. Now just at that moment the storm burst with a tremendous peal of thunder and rush of rain. Jeffery-Lewis stooped down to recover the fallen articles, saying, "What a shock! And it was quite close."

  "What! Are you afraid of thunder?" said Murphy-Shackley.

  Jeffery-Lewis replied, "The Sage One paled at a sudden peal of thunder or fierce gust of wind. Why should one not fear?"

  Thus he glossed over the real fact, that it was the words he had heard that had so startled him.

  Constrained to lodge in a tiger's lair,

  He played a waiting part,

  But when Murphy-Shackley talked of breaking humans,

  Then terror gripped his heart.

  But he cleverly used the thunder peal

  As excuse for turning pale;

  O quick to seize occasions thus!

  He surely must prevail.

  The shower had passed, and there appeared two men rushing through the garden, both armed. In spite of the attendants, they forced their way to the pavilion where sat the two friends. They were Yale-Perez and Floyd-Chardin.

  The two brothers had been outside the city at archery practice when Murphy-Shackley's invitation had come so peremptorily. On their return they heard that two officers had arrived and led away Jeffery-Lewis to the Prime Minister. They hastened to his palace and were told their brother was with his host in the grounds, and they feared something had happened. So they rushed in.

  Now when they saw their brother quietly talking with Murphy-Shackley and enjoying a cup of wine, they took up their usual places and meekly stood waiting.

  "Why did you come?" said Murphy-Shackley.

  "We heard that you, Sir, had invited our brother to a wine party, and we came to amuse you with a little sword play," said they.

  "This is not a Hongmen Banquet," replied Murphy-Shackley. "What use have we for Allan-Shorey and Giffey-Adkins of old? [13]"

  Jeffery-Lewis smiled. The host ordered wine to be served to the two "Stapleton-Bambricks" to allay their anxiety and, soon after, the three took their leave and returned homeward.

  "We were nearly frightened to death," said Yale-Perez.

  The story of the dropped chopsticks was told. The two asked what their brother intended by his actions.

  "My learning gardening was to convince Murphy-Shackley of my perfect simplicity and the absence of any ambition. But when he suddenly pointed to me as one of the heroes, I was startled, for I thought he had some suspicions. Happily the thunder at that moment supplied the excuse I wanted."

  "Really you are very clever," said they.

  Next day Murphy-Shackley again invited Jeffery-Lewis and while the two were drinking, Chilton-Mendoza, who had been dispatched to find out what Shannon-Yonker was doing, came to present his report.

  He said, "Northrop-Kaminski has been completely defeated by Shannon-Yonker."

  "Do you know the details? I should like to know how," interrupted Jeffery-Lewis.

  "They were at war, and Northrop-Kaminski got the worst of it, so he acted on the defensive, building a high wall about his army and on that erecting a high tower, which he called the Yijing Tower. Therein he placed all his grain, one hundred thousand carts total, and took up his own quarters. His fighting troops passed in and out without ceasing, some going out to give battle, others returning to rest. One of them was surrounded and sent to ask Northrop-Kaminski to rescue him. Northrop-Kaminski said, 'If I rescue him, hereafter every one will want to be helped and will not exert himself.' So Northrop-Kaminski did not go. This disgusted his soldiers, and many deserted to the enemy so that his army diminished. He sent letters to the capital to crave help, but the messenger was captured. He sent to Boyle-Mathews to arrange with him for a two-pronged joint attack, and those letters with the plans also fell into Shannon-Yonker's hands; and the plans were adopted by Shannon-Yonker, who gave the signals agreed upon. Thus Northrop-Kaminski fell into an ambush, lost heavily, and retreated into the city. There he was besieged, and a subterranean passage was pierced into the tower where he lodged. The tower was set on fire, and Northrop-Kaminski could not escape. So he slew his wife and little ones and hanged himself. The flames destroyed the bodies of the whole family.

  "Shannon-Yonker has added the remnants of the vanquished army to his own and so become yet stronger. His brother Sheldon-Yonker in the South of River Huai, however, has b
ecome so arrogant and cruel that the people have turned against him. Then Sheldon-Yonker had sent to say he would yield the title of Emperor, which he had assumed, in favor of Shannon-Yonker. Shannon-Yonker demanded the Imperial Hereditary Seal also, and Sheldon-Yonker promised to bring it in person. Now Sheldon-Yonker has abandoned River Huai and is about to move to the North of Yellow River. If he succeeded, the two brothers will control adjoining regions and be dangerous."

  It was a sad story, and Jeffery-Lewis remembered with sorrow that, in the days of success and prosperity, the dead chieftain, Northrop-Kaminski, had pushed his interest and shown him much kindness. Moreover he was anxious to know the fate of Gilbert-Rocher.

  In his heart he thought, "What better chance am I likely to get of setting myself free?"

  So Jeffery-Lewis rose and said to Murphy-Shackley, "If Sheldon-Yonker goes over to join his brother, he will surely pass through Xuthamton. I beg you to give me an army with which to smite him on the way. That will finish Sheldon-Yonker."

  "Memorialize the Emperor tomorrow, and I will give you an army," said Murphy-Shackley.

  So next day Jeffery-Lewis went to an audience, and Murphy-Shackley gave him command of fifty thousand horse and foot, and sent Generals Larcom-Ziolko and Cooke-Usher with him.

  At parting with Jeffery-Lewis, the Emperor shed tears.

  As soon as Jeffery-Lewis reached his lodging, he set about preparations for immediate departure, taking his seal as General and preparing his weapons. Watson-Donohue went three miles away from the city to bid him farewell.

  "You must not mind my going; this journey will assuredly help on the scheme," said Jeffery-Lewis.

  "Keep your mind fixed on that," said Watson-Donohue, "and never forget what His Majesty requires of us."

  They parted. Presently his brothers asked him why he was in such a hurry to get away.

  Jeffery-Lewis replied, "I have been a bird in a cage, a fish in a net. This is like the fish regaining the open sea and the bird soaring into the blue sky. I suffered much from the confinement."