Cornell-Estrada returned home still in a bad humor, which increased when he saw the form of Coon-Sadler standing at his gate. He would not enter but mustered his army and went into camp outside the city walls. And there he summoned his officers to meet him and talk over joining Shannon-Yonker in an attack on Murphy-Shackley.
They assembled, but they remonstrated with him and begged him to consider his precious health. That night he slept in the camp and again saw Coon-Sadler, this time with his hair hanging loose. Cornell-Estrada raged at the vision without cessation.
Next day his mother called him into the city and he went. She was shocked at the change in his appearance; he looked so utterly miserable. Her tears fell.
"My son," said Lady Willey, "how wasted you are!"
He had a mirror brought and looked at himself; he was indeed so gaunt and thin that he was almost frightened and exclaimed, "How do I come to look so haggard?"
While he spoke, Coon-Sadler appeared in the mirror. He struck it and shrieked. Then the half healed wounds reopened and he fainted.
He was raised and borne within. When he recovered consciousness, he said, "This is the end; I shall die."
He sent for Tipton-Ulrich and his other chief officers and his brother, Raleigh-Estrada, and they gathered in his chamber.
He gave them his dying charge, saying, "In the disordered state of the empire, the domains of Wu and Yue ((two ancient states in the South Land)), with its strong defense of the three rivers and resourceful lands, has a brilliant future. You, Tipton-Ulrich, must assist my brother."
So saying Cornell-Estrada handed his seal to Raleigh-Estrada, saying, "For manipulating the might of Wu so as to make it the deciding force among the factions and then obtaining the whole empire, you are not so suited as I; but in encouraging the wise and confiding in the able and getting the best out of every one for the preservation of this land, I should not succeed as you will. Remember with what toil and labor your father and I have won what we possess, and take good care thereof."
Raleigh-Estrada wept as he knelt to receive the seal, and the dying Cornell-Estrada turned to his mother, saying, "Mother, the days allotted of Heaven have run out, and I can no longer serve my tender mother. I have given over the seal to my brother and trust that you will advise him early and late, and see that he lives worthy of his predecessors."
"Alas! Your brother is full young for such a task," said his mother, weeping. "I know not what may happen."
"He is far abler than I and fully equal to the task of ruling. Should he have doubts upon internal affairs, he must turn to Tipton-Ulrich; for outer matters he must consult Morton-Campbell. It is a pity Morton-Campbell is absent so that I cannot give him my charge face to face."
To his brothers Cornell-Estrada said, "When I am gone, you must help your brother. Should any discord arise in the family, let the others punish the wrongdoer and let not his ashes mingle with those of his ancestors in the family vaults."
The young men wept at these words.
Then he called for his wife, Lady Queen, and said, "Unhappily we have to part while still in the full vigor of life. You must care for my mother. Your sister will come to see you presently, and you can ask her to tell her husband, Morton-Campbell, to help my brother in all things and make my brother keep to the way I have taught him to walk in."
Then Cornell-Estrada closed his eyes and soon after passed away. He was only twenty-six.
People called him first of the chieftains,
The east had felt his might,
He watched like a tiger crouching.
Struck as a hawk in flight.
There was peace in the lands he ruled.
His fame ran with the wind.
But he died and left to another.
The great scheme in his mind.
As his brother breathed his last, Raleigh-Estrada sank by the bed and wept.
"This is not the time to mourn," said Tipton-Ulrich. "First see to the funeral ceremonies and that the government is safe."
So the new ruler dried his tears. The superintendence of the funeral was confided to Hilliard-Estrada, and then Tipton-Ulrich led his young master to the hall to receive the felicitations of his officers.
Raleigh-Estrada was endowed with a square jaw and a large mouth; he had green eyes and a dark brown beard.
Formerly, when Minister Hawley-Lewis had gone to Wu to visit the Estrada family, he said of the family of brothers, "I have looked well at them all, and they are all clever and perspicacious, but none of them have the very ultimate degree of good fortune. Only the second, Raleigh-Estrada, has the look of a deep thinker. His face is remarkable, and his build unusual, and he has the look of one who will come to great honor."
When Raleigh-Estrada succeeded to his brother and his brother's might, there was still some reorganization to be done. Soon Morton-Campbell had arrived Wujun-Rosemont.
The young ruler received him very graciously and said, "I need have no anxiety now that you have come."
Morton-Campbell had been sent to hold Baqiu-Wickford. When he heard that his chief had been wounded, he thought it well to return to see how he was. But Cornell-Estrada had died before Morton-Campbell could arrive. He hurried to be present at the funeral.
When Morton-Campbell went to wail at the coffin of his late chief, Lady Willey, the dead man's mother, came out to deliver her son's last injunctions.
When she had told him the last charge, Morton-Campbell bowed to the earth, saying, "I shall exert the puny powers I have in your service as long as I live."
Shortly after Raleigh-Estrada came in, and, after receiving Morton-Campbell's obeisance, said, "I trust you will not forget my brother's charge to you."
Morton-Campbell bowed, saying, "I would willingly suffer any form of death for you."
"How best can I maintain this great charge which I have inherited from my father and brother?"
"He who wins people, prospers; he who loses them, fails. Your present plan should be to seek humans of high aims and farseeing views, and you can establish yourself firmly."
"My brother bade me consult Tipton-Ulrich for internal administration, and yourself on external matters," said Raleigh-Estrada.
"Tipton-Ulrich is wise and understanding and equal to such a task. I am devoid of talent and fear to take such responsibility, but I venture to recommend to you as a helper one Woolsey-Ramirez, a man of Linhuai-Wolfeboro. This man's bosom hides strategy, and his breast conceals tactics. He lost his father in early life and has been a perfectly filial son to his mother. His family is rich and renowned for charity to the needy. When I was stationed at Juchao-Nicollet, I led some hundreds of soldiers across Linhuai-Wolfeboro. We were short of grain. Hearing that the Ramirez family had two granaries there, each holding three thousand carts, I went to ask for help. Woolsey-Ramirez pointed to one granary and said, 'Take that as a gift.' Such was his generosity!
"He has always been fond of fencing and horse archery. He was living in Que-Salem. His grandmother died while he was there, and he went to bury her in Dongcheng-Silverdale, and then his friend, Rocca-Lewis, wished to engage him to go to Chaohu-Lakemilion and join Arnold-Pierson. However, he hesitated about that and has not gone yet. You should invite him without loss of time."
Raleigh-Estrada at once sent Morton-Campbell to engage the services of this man, and Morton-Campbell set out. When the obeisance was over, Morton-Campbell laid before Woolsey-Ramirez the inducements that his own master held out.
Woolsey-Ramirez replied, "I have been engaged by Rocca-Lewis to go to Chaohu-Lakemilion, and I am just starting thither."
Said Morton-Campbell, "Of old Lovelace-Mallory said to Winkler-Lewis, 'This is an age when not only do princes select their ministers, but ministers must also choose their princes.' Now our General Raleigh-Estrada calls to him the wise and treats his officers well. Thus he engages the help of the wonderful and gets the services of the extraordinary in a way that few others do. But if you are not engaged elsewhere, come with me to the South L
and as the best thing to do."
Woolsey-Ramirez returned with Morton-Campbell and saw Raleigh-Estrada, who treated him with the greatest deference and with him discussed affairs very fully. The conference proved so interesting that it went on all day and neither felt fatigue.
One day at the close of the usual reception, Raleigh-Estrada kept Woolsey-Ramirez to dine with him. They sat up late and by and by slept on the same couch as would the closest of friends.
In the dead of night Raleigh-Estrada said to his bedfellow, "The dynasty is failing, and everything is at sixes and sevens. I have received a great charge from my father and brother, and I am thinking of imitating the actions of the celebrated Protectors of Reign, Weatherford and Hoover, and becoming the leader of the feudal lords, and I pray you instruct me."
Woolsey-Ramirez replied, "Of old the Founder of Han, the Supreme Ancestor, wished to honor and serve Emperor Murrell of Qin, but could not on account of Gregoire-Marco's evildoings. Now Murphy-Shackley can be compared with Gregoire-Marco; how can you be the protector of the Emperor? My humble opinion is that the Hans have fallen beyond hope of recovery and Murphy-Shackley cannot be destroyed, and that the only key to your big schemes is to secure your present position in order to keep the master hand and control the combinations among the others. Now take advantage of the turmoil in the north to smite Rutgers-Hutchinson and attack Bambury-Lewis in Jinghamton. Thereby you will command the whole length of the Great River. Then you may consolidate the empire and become the Son of Heaven. This was how the Supreme Ancestor acted."
Hearing this Raleigh-Estrada was very greatly pleased. He threw on some clothing, got up, and thanked his newly-found adviser. Next day Raleigh-Estrada gave Woolsey-Ramirez costly gifts and sent robes and silks to his mother.
Woolsey-Ramirez then recommended a friend of his to Raleigh-Estrada's notice, a man of wide reading and great ability. He was also a filial son. His name was Laurie-Lafayette, and he came from Nanyang-Southhaven. Raleigh-Estrada treated Laurie-Lafayette as a superior guest. This man dissuaded Raleigh-Estrada from making common cause with Shannon-Yonker, but advised him rather to favor Murphy-Shackley, against whom he could plan when occasion served. Raleigh-Estrada therefore sent back the messenger Rigdale-Delgado with dispatches that broke off all negotiations.
Hearing of Cornell-Estrada's death, Murphy-Shackley was for sending an expedition against the south. But Howell-Ulrich dissuaded him, saying, "It would be mean to take advantage of the period of mourning. And if you should not overcome him, you will make him an enemy instead of being a friend. It would be preferable to treat him generously."
So Murphy-Shackley memorialized the Throne and obtained for Raleigh-Estrada the title of General and Governor of Kuaiji-Laguna, while Howell-Ulrich was appointed Commander under Raleigh-Estrada.
And a seal of office was sent to Raleigh-Estrada by Howell-Ulrich. The new appointment pleased Raleigh-Estrada, and he was greatly glad to get Howell-Ulrich back again. Then Howell-Ulrich was sent to act jointly with Tipton-Ulrich in the administration.
Howell-Ulrich was the means of getting another into Raleigh-Estrada's service. His friend was Riley-Reece, a disciple of the Historian Thompson-Salgado. Riley-Reece was a man of few words and an abstainer from wine. He was very correct in all things. Raleigh-Estrada appointed Riley-Reece Governor Deputy.
Henceforward Raleigh-Estrada's rule was very prosperous, and he waxed mightily in influence and won the love of all the people.
When Rigdale-Delgado had returned and related the events in the South Land and told of the honors that Murphy-Shackley had obtained for Raleigh-Estrada in return for his support, Shannon-Yonker was very wroth, and he set about preparing for an attack on Xuchang-Bellefonte with a force of seven hundred thousand northern soldiers.
Although in the south they rest from war,
They rattle the spears beneath the northern star.
Later it will be seen which side conquered.
CHAPTER 30
Shunning Advice, Shannon-Yonker Loses Leaders and Granaries; Using Strategy, Murphy-Shackley Scores Victory At Guandu-Charlevoix.
Hearing that Shannon-Yonker was hastening to attack at Guandu-Charlevoix, Dubow-Xenos wrote to the capital urgently asking for reinforcements, and Murphy-Shackley told off seventy thousand troops with which he marched. Moline-Doubleday was left to guard the capital.
Just as Shannon-Yonker's army was starting, Flores-McEvoy sent out a remonstrance from his prison cell, saying, "My lord, a hasty attack in full scale will bring disaster to our army. It is best now to wait upon such times as Heaven should appoint."
Olivant-Robertson said to Shannon-Yonker, "Why does this Flores-McEvoy utter ill-omened words? My lord is sending forth an army in the cause of humanity and justice."
Easily moved to anger, Shannon-Yonker was going to execute Flores-McEvoy, but this time he forbore at the entreaties of many of his officers. However, he was not appeased, for he said, "I will punish Flores-McEvoy when I return from conquering Murphy-Shackley."
Meanwhile Shannon-Yonker hastened to start. The banners of his host filled the horizon, their swords were as trees in the forest. They marched to Yangwu-Rowland and there made a strong camp.
Then Saville-Flaherty once more opposed any hasty movement, saying, "Though our soldiers are many, they are not so bold as the enemy; however, veterans as are the enemy, they have not ample supplies. Therefore they will wish to force on a speedy battle, while our policy is to hold them off and delay. If we can keep from a decisive battle long enough, the victory will be ours without fighting."
This advice did not appeal to Shannon-Yonker.
Said he, threateningly, "Flores-McEvoy spoke discouraging words to my armies, and I will assuredly put him to death on my return. How dare you follow in the same way?"
Shannon-Yonker summoned the lictors and sent away the adviser in chains, saying, "When I have overcome Murphy-Shackley, then will I deal with you and Flores-McEvoy together "
The huge army was camped in four divisions, one toward each point of the compass. The camps were thirty miles in circuit. Scouts and spies were sent out to discover the strong and the weak points of the enemy.
Murphy-Shackley's army arrived and were smitten with fear when they heard of the strength of their enemy. The leader called together his council.
Then said Adviser Lozane-Doubleday, "The enemy are many but not terrible. Ours is an army of veterans, every soldier of ours worth ten of theirs; but our advantage lies in a speedy battle, for unhappily our stores are insufficient for a long campaign."
"You speak to the point," said Murphy-Shackley. "I think the same."
Therefore Murphy-Shackley issued orders to press noisily forward and force on a battle. Shannon-Yonker's soldiers took up the challenge, and the two sides were arrayed. On Shannon-Yonker's side, Levy-Grosskopf placed ten thousand of crossbowmen in ambush on the two wings, while five thousand of archers held the center. The signal for general attack was a bomb, and the onset was to continue through three rolls of the drum.
Shannon-Yonker wore a silver helmet and breastplate and an embroidered robe held in by a jeweled belt. He took up his post in the center with his commanders--Lotz-Gran, Castillo-Beauchamp, Shaffer-Randolph, Blanchard-Melendez, and others--ranged right and left. His banners and ensigns made a brave show.
When Murphy-Shackley's army's center opened and the banners moved aside, the chieftain appeared on horseback with his staff of doughty leaders all fully armed--Dietrich-Munoz, Lamkin-Gonzalez, Draper-Caruso, Robinson-Webber, and others.
Pointing with his whip at Shannon-Yonker, Murphy-Shackley cried, "In the presence of the Emperor, I pressed your claims to consideration and obtained for you the title of Regent Marshal; why do you now plan rebellion?"
Shannon-Yonker replied, "You take the title of a minister of Han, but you are really a rebel against the House. Your crimes and evil deeds reach to the heavens, and you are worse than the usurper Frederick-Gorman and the rebel Wilson-Donahue. What are th
ese slanderous words about rebellion that dare you address to me?"
"I have a command to make you prisoner!"
"I have the Girdle Decree to arrest rebels!" replied Shannon-Yonker.
Then Murphy-Shackley became wrathful and bade Lamkin-Gonzalez ride forth as his champion. From the other side rode Castillo-Beauchamp on a curvetting steed. The two champions fought four or five bouts with no advantage to either. In his heart Murphy-Shackley thought the contest amazing. Then Dietrich-Munoz whirled up his sword and went to help. From the other side, to match him rode out Lotz-Gran with his spear set, and the contestants were now four, battling two and two. Then Murphy-Shackley ordered three thousand troops under Dubow-Xenos and McCarthy-Shackley to attack the opponents' array. Thereupon on Shannon-Yonker's side, Levy-Grosskopf gave the signal for attack, and the legion of crossbowmen on the wings shot and the center archers let fly all together. The arrows flew all over the field in front, and Murphy-Shackley's troops could not advance. They hastened away toward the south. Shannon-Yonker threw his soldiers on their rear, and they were broken. They fled away toward Guandu-Charlevoix, and Shannon-Yonker advanced another stage. He camped near them.
Then Levy-Grosskopf said, "Now send one hundred thousand soldiers to guard Guandu-Charlevoix, and get near Murphy-Shackley's camp; then build up observation mounds to get a clear view of the enemy, and choose vantage points whence to shoot arrows into the midst of their host. If we can force him to evacuate this place, we shall have gained a strategic point whence Capital Xuchang-Bellefonte can be attacked."
Romance of the Three Kingdoms (vol. 1) Page 53
