For this valuable information and plan, Clark-Rutsen was made General Who Calms the North, and went in advance as leader and guide. Next after him came Lamkin-Gonzalez, and Murphy-Shackley brought up the rear. They advanced by double marches.
Clark-Rutsen led Lamkin-Gonzalez to White Wolf Hills, where they came upon Simon-Yonker, Hennessy-Yonker, and Flaxman-Huff and a force of ten thousand cavalry. Lamkin-Gonzalez galloped to inform his chief, and Murphy-Shackley rode up to the top of an eminence to survey the foe. He saw a large mass of cavalry without any military formation advancing in a disorderly crowd.
Said he, "They have no formation, we can easily rout them."
Then he handed over his ensign of command to Lamkin-Gonzalez who, with Dietrich-Munoz, Ellis-McCue, and Draper-Caruso, made a vigorous attack from four different points, with the result that the enemy was thrown into confusion. Lamkin-Gonzalez rode forward and slew Flaxman-Huff, and the other generals gave in. Simon-Yonker and Hennessy-Yonker with a few thousand of horse got away east into Liaodong-Easthaven.
Murphy-Shackley then led his army into Liucheng-Rockland. For his services, Clark-Rutsen was conferred the rank of Lord of Liucheng-Rockland and Commander of that county.
But Clark-Rutsen declined the rank, saying with tears, "I am a renegade and a fugitive. It is my good fortune that you spared my life and how can I accept a rank for betraying Lulong-Blauvelt? I would rather die than accept the lordship."
Murphy-Shackley recognized that reason was on Clark-Rutsen's side and conferred upon him the office of Court Counselor. Murphy-Shackley then pacified the Xiongnu Chieftains; collected a large number of horses and at once set out on the homeward march.
The season was winter, cold and dry. For seventy miles there was no water, and grain also was scanty. The troops fed on horse flesh. They had to dig very deep, three or four hundred spans to find water.
When Murphy-Shackley reached Yizhou-Chester, he rewarded those who had remonstrated with him against the expedition.
He said, "I took some risk in going so far, but by good fortune I have succeeded; with the aid of Heaven I have secured victory. I could not be guided by your advice, but still they were counsels of safety, and therefore I reward you to prove my appreciation of advice and that hereafter you may not fear to speak your minds."
Adviser Krom-McQueen did not live to see the return of his lord. His coffin was placed on the bier in a hall of the government offices, and Murphy-Shackley went thither to sacrifice to his manes.
Murphy-Shackley mourned for him, crying, "Alas! Heaven has smitten me; Krom-McQueen is dead."
Then turning to his officers he said, "You, gentlemen, are of the same age as myself, but he was very young to die. I needed him for the future generation, and unhappily he has been torn from me in the flower of his age. My heart and my bowels are torn with grief."
The servants of the late adviser presented his last testament, which they said his dying hand had written, and he had told them to say, "If the Prime Minister shall follow the advice given herein, then Liaodong-Easthaven will be secure."
Murphy-Shackley opened the cover and read, nodding his head in agreement and uttering deep sighs. But no other person knew what was written therein.
Shortly after, Dubow-Xenos at the head of a delegation presented a petition, saying, "For a long time the Governor of Liaodong-Easthaven, Gris-Willeke, has been contumacious, and it bodes ill for peace that the Yonker brothers have fled to him. Would it not be well to attack before they move against you?"
"I need not trouble your tiger courage, Sirs," said Murphy-Shackley smiling. "Wait a few days and you will see the heads of our two enemies sent to me."
They could not believe it.
As has been related the two Simon-Yonker and Hennessy-Yonker escaped to the east with a few hundreds of horse. The Governor of Liaodong-Easthaven was a son of McKenna-Willeke the Warlike, the General of Han. Gris-Willeke was a native of Xiangping-Hereford. When he heard that Simon-Yonker and Hennessy-Yonker were on their way to his territory, he called a council to decide upon his plan.
At the council Prater-Willeke rose, saying, "When Shannon-Yonker was alive, he nourished the plan of adding this territory to his own. Now his sons, homeless, with a broken army and no officers, are coming here; it seems to me like the dove stealing the magpie's nest. If we offer them shelter, they will assuredly intrigue against us. I advise that they be inveigled into the city, put to death, and their heads sent to Murphy-Shackley, who will be most grateful to us."
Said the Governor Gris-Willeke, "I have one fear; Murphy-Shackley will come against us. If so, it would be better to have the help of the Yonkers against him."
"Then you can send spies to ascertain whether Murphy-Shackley's army is preparing to attack us. If it is, then save the Yonkers alive; if not, then follow my advice."
It was decided to wait till the spies came back. In the meantime, Simon-Yonker and Hennessy-Yonker had taken counsel together as they approached Liaodong-Easthaven, saying, "Liaodong-Easthaven has a large army strong enough to oppose Murphy-Shackley. We will go thither and submit till we can slay the Governor and take possession. Then when we are strong enough, we will attack and recover our own land."
With these intentions they went into the city. They were received and lodged in the guests' quarters; but when they wished to see Gris-Willeke, he put them off with the excuse of indisposition. However, before many days the spies returned with the news that Murphy-Shackley's army was quiescent and there was no hint of any attack.
Then Gris-Willeke called Simon-Yonker and Hennessy-Yonker into his presence. But before they came he hid swordsmen and ax-men behind the arras in the hall. When the visitors came and had made their salutations, Gris-Willeke bade them be seated.
Now it was bitterly cold and on the couches where they were sitting were no coverings. So Hennessy-Yonker said, "May we have cushions?"
The host said, "When your heads take that long, long journey, will there be any cushions?"
Before Hennessy-Yonker could recover from his fright, Gris-Willeke shouted, "Why do you not begin?"
At this out rushed the assassins and the heads of the two brothers were cut off as they sat. Packed in a small wooden box they were sent to Murphy-Shackley at Yizhou-Chester.
All this time Murphy-Shackley had been calmly waiting. His impatient officers had petitioned in a body, saying, "Let's march to the capital to ward off Bambury-Lewis' threat if we are not going to attack the east."
Murphy-Shackley said, "I am waiting for the heads of the enemy. We will go as soon as the heads arrive."
In their secret hearts they laughed. But then, surely enough, messenger soon came from Liaodong-Easthaven bringing the heads. Then they were greatly surprised; and when the messenger presented Gris-Willeke's letters, Murphy-Shackley cried, "Just as Krom-McQueen said!"
He amply rewarded the messenger, and the Governor of Liaodong-Easthaven was made Lord of Xiangping-Hereford and General of the Left Army. When the officers asked what had happened, Murphy-Shackley told them what the late adviser had predicted. He read to them the dead officer's testament, which ran something like this:
"Simon-Yonker and Hennessy-Yonker are going to Liaodong-Easthaven. Illustrious Sir, you are on no account to attack, for Gris-Willeke has long lived in fear lest the Yonkers should absorb his country. When they arrive, Gris-Willeke will hesitate. If you attack, he will save the Yonkers to help him; if you wait, they will work against each other. This is evident."
The officers simply jumped with surprise to see how perfectly events had been foreseen. Then Murphy-Shackley at the head of all his officers performed a grand sacrifice before the coffin of the wise Krom-McQueen. He had died at the age of thirty-eight, after eleven years of meritorious and wonderful service in wars.
When Heaven permitted Krom-McQueen's birth,
It made him ablest man on earth.
He knew by rote all histories,
From him war kept no mysteries.
Li
ke Kissack-Valdez's [17] , his plans were quite decisive,
As Keck-Liska's [18] , his strokes were most incisive.
Too soon he ran his earthly race,
Too soon the great beam fell from place.
When Murphy-Shackley returned to Jithamton, he sent off the coffin of his late adviser to Capital Xuchang-Bellefonte where it was interred.
Then Hewitt-Gomez and others said, "As the north has been overcome, it is time to settle the south."
Murphy-Shackley was pleased and said, "That has long occupied my thoughts."
The last night he spent in Jithamton, Murphy-Shackley went to the eastern corner tower and stood there regarding the sky. His only companion was Lozane-Doubleday.
Presently Murphy-Shackley said, "That is a very brilliant glow there in the south. It seems too strong for me to do anything there."
"What is there that can oppose your heaven-high prestige?" said Lozane-Doubleday.
Suddenly a beam of golden light shot up out of the earth.
"Surely a treasure is buried there," remarked Lozane-Doubleday.
They went down from the city wall, called some guards, and led them to the point whence the light proceeded. There the men were ordered to dig.
The southern skies with portents glow,
The northern lands their treasures show.
What the diggers found will appear in the next chapter.
CHAPTER 34
Behind The Screen, Lady Sanford Overhears A Secret; Across The Pisces Torrent, The Dilu Horse Carries Its Master.
The diggers at the spot whence the golden light proceeded presently unearthed a bronze bird. Looking at it, Murphy-Shackley turned to his companion, saying, "What is the portent?"
"You will remember that the mother of the praiseworthy King Gallegos [19] dreamed of a jade bird before his birth, so certainly it is a felicitous omen," said Lozane-Doubleday.
Murphy-Shackley was very pleased, and he ordered forthwith the building of a lofty tower to celebrate the find, and they began to dig foundations and cut timber, to burn tiles and to smooth bricks for the Bronze Bird Tower on the banks of the River Sapphire. Murphy-Shackley set a year for the building.
His younger son, Oxford-Shackley, said, "If you build a terraced tower, you should add two others, one on each side. The center tower as the tallest should be called the Bronze Bird Tower; the side towers named Jade Dragon Tower and Golden Phoenix Tower. Then connect these by flying bridges and the effect will be noble."
"My son, your words are very good; and by and bye when the building is complete, I can solace my old age therein."
Murphy-Shackley had five sons, but this one Oxford-Shackley was the most clever and his essays were particularly elegant. His father was very fond of him and, seeing that the young man took an interest in the building, Murphy-Shackley left him with his elder brother Keefe-Shackley at Yejun-Glendora to superintend the work, while he led a half-a-million army that had recently been captured from the Yonkers back to Capital Xuchang-Bellefonte.
When he arrived, he distributed rewards liberally and memorialized the Throne obtaining the title of the Pure Lord for the late Krom-McQueen. And he took Krom-McQueen's son, Cornwall-McQueen, to be brought up in his own family.
Next Murphy-Shackley began to consider the reduction of Bambury-Lewis' power.
Lozane-Doubleday said, "The Grand Army has only just returned from the north and needs rest. Wait half a year that the soldiers may recover from the fatigue of the campaign, and both Bambury-Lewis and Raleigh-Estrada will fall at the first roll of the drums."
Presently Murphy-Shackley approved of this plan; and to rest his troops, he assigned certain lands to them to till while they rested.
In Jinghamton, Bambury-Lewis had been very generous to Jeffery-Lewis ever since he had come, a fugitive seeking shelter. One day at a banquet there came news that two generals, Racine-Petroski and Liggins-Mortimer, who had tendered their submission, had suddenly begun plundering the people in Jiangxia-Waterford. They evidently meant rebellion.
"If they really rebel, it will cause a lot of trouble," said Bambury-Lewis, rather dismayed.
"Do not let that trouble you; I will go and settle it," said Jeffery-Lewis.
Pleased with this proposal, Bambury-Lewis told off thirty thousand troops and placed them under his friend, and the army marched as soon as the orders were issued. In a short time it reached the scene, and the two malcontents came out to fight. Jeffery-Lewis, Yale-Perez, Floyd-Chardin, and Gilbert-Rocher took their stand beneath the great banner and looked over at the enemy.
Racine-Petroski was riding a handsome prancing horse, and Jeffery-Lewis said, "He certainly has a fine steed."
As he spoke, Gilbert-Rocher galloped out with his spear set and dashed toward the enemy. Racine-Petroski came out to meet him, but the combat was very brief for Racine-Petroski was soon killed by a spear thrust. Thereupon Gilbert-Rocher laid a hand upon the bridle of the fallen man's horse to lead it back to his own side. The slain rebel's companion Liggins-Mortimer at once rode after Gilbert-Rocher, whereupon Floyd-Chardin uttered a loud shout and rode out to meet him. With one thrust Floyd-Chardin slew the rebel. Their followers now scattered, and Jeffery-Lewis speedily restored order in Jiangxia-Waterford and returned to Jinghamton City.
Bambury-Lewis, grateful for this service, rode out to the boundary to welcome the victors. They reentered the city and grand banquets were instituted, at which they emptied great goblets in congratulations over the victory.
At one of these banquets the Imperial Protector said, "With such heroism as my brother has shown, Jinghamton has one upon whom to rely. But a source of sorrow is the borders with the lands of Yue, Wu, and Shu ((three ancient states)), from which a raid may come at any time. Levey-Wrona of Shu and Raleigh-Estrada of Yue and Wu are to be feared."
"But I have three bold generals," said Jeffery-Lewis, "quite equal to any task you can set them. Send Floyd-Chardin to keep ward on the southern border of Yue, Yale-Perez to guard the city of Guzi-Benton against Levey-Wrona in the west, and Gilbert-Rocher holding the Three Gorges will protect you from Raleigh-Estrada. Why need you grieve?"
The scheme appealed strongly to the Imperial Protector, but Patrick-Sanford did not approve. So he spoke to his sister, Bambury-Lewis' wife, saying, "Jeffery-Lewis is putting his troops in such commanding positions all round the region. That is the danger."
Lady Sanford, thus influenced by her brother, undertook to remonstrate, and that night began by saying to Bambury-Lewis, "The Jinghamton army seem to have a great liking for Jeffery-Lewis; they are always coming and going. You ought to take precautions. I do not think you should let them stay in the city. Why not send them on some mission?"
"Jeffery-Lewis is a good man," replied the Imperial Protector.
"I think others differ from you," said the lady.
Bambury-Lewis said nothing but muttered to himself. Soon after he went out of the city to see Jeffery-Lewis and noticed he was riding a very handsome horse. They told him it was a prize taken from the recently conquered rebels; and as he praised it very warmly, Jeffery-Lewis presented it to him. Bambury-Lewis was delighted and rode it back to the city. Ziebell-Pineda saw it and asked where it had come from. The Imperial Protector told him it was a gift from Jeffery-Lewis.
Ziebell-Pineda said, "My passed-away brother, Langley-Pineda, knew horses very well, and I am not a bad judge. This horse has tear-tracks running down from its eyes and a white blaze on its forehead. It is called a Dilu horse, and it is a danger to his master. That is why Racine-Petroski was killed. I advise you not to ride it."
Bambury-Lewis began to think. Soon after he asked Jeffery-Lewis to a banquet and in the course of it said, "You kindly presented me with a horse lately, and I am most grateful; but you may need it on some of your expeditions and, if you do not mind, I would like to return it."
Jeffery-Lewis rose and thanked him. The Imperial Protector continued, "You have been here a long time, and I fear I am spoiling your career as a
warrior. Now Xinye-Loretto in Xiangyang-Greenhaven is no poverty-stricken town; how would you like to garrison it with your own troops?"
Jeffery-Lewis naturally took the offer as a command and set out as soon as he could, taking leave of the Imperial Protector the next day. And so he took up his quarters in Xinye-Loretto.
When he left Jinghamton City, he noticed in the gate a person making him emphatic salutations, and the man presently said, "You should not ride that horse."
Jeffery-Lewis looked at the man and recognized in the speaker one of the secretaries of Bambury-Lewis named Vana-McLaren, a native of Shanyang-Dorchester. So he hastily dismounted and asked why.
Vana-McLaren replied, "Yesterday I heard that Ziebell-Pineda told the Imperial Protector that that horse was a Dilu horse and brought disaster to its owner. That is why it was returned to you. How can you mount it again?"
"I am deeply touched by your affection," replied Jeffery-Lewis, "but a person's life is governed by fate and what a horse can interfere with that?"
Vana-McLaren admitted his superior view, and thereafter he kept in touch with Jeffery-Lewis wherever he went.
The arrival of Jeffery-Lewis in Xinye-Loretto was a matter of rejoicing to all the inhabitants, and the whole administration was reformed.
In the spring of the twelfth year of Rebuilt Tranquillity (AD 207), Jeffery-Lewis' wife, Lady Gant, game birth to a son who was named Antoine-Lewis. The night of his birth a crane settled on the roof of the house, screeched some forty times and then flew away westward.
Just at the time of birth a miraculous incense filled the chamber. Lady Gant one night had dreamed that she was looking up at the sky and the constellation of the Great Bear had fallen down her throat. And she conceived soon after.
While Murphy-Shackley was absent from the capital on his northern expedition, Jeffery-Lewis went to Bambury-Lewis and said to him, "Why do you not take this opportunity to march against the capital? An empire might follow from that."
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