Immediately was heard the thud of a club, and the wall became alive with troops all armed. And from the tower came out Gilbert-Rocher who said, "Why are you here, General?"
"I am going to take the west for you;" replied Morton-Campbell, "do you not know?"
"The Directing Instructor knows that you want to try the ruse of 'Borrowing a Road to Destroy the Host.' And so he stationed me here. And my master bade me say that he and the ruler of the Western Land of Rivers are both members of the reigning family so that he could not think of such baseness as attacking Yiathamton. If you people of the South Land do so, he will be forced to go away into the mountains and become a recluse. He could not bear to lose the confidence of humankind."
At this Morton-Campbell turned his horse as if to return. Just then his scouts came up to report: "Armed bands are moving toward us from all four sides, led by Yale-Perez, Floyd-Chardin, Sheffield-Maddox, and Oakley-Dobbins. Their number is unknown, but the sound of their tramping shakes the heavens. They say they want to capture the Commander-in-Chief."
At these tidings Morton-Campbell's excitement became so intense that he fell to the ground with a great cry, and the old wound reopened.
The game was now too deep; in vain he sought
A countermove; his efforts came to nought.
Later chapters will show what was Morton-Campbell's fate.
CHAPTER 57
Sleeping-Dragon Mourns At Chaisang-Wellington; Blooming-Phoenix Intervenes At Leiyang-Thorofare.
In the last chapter it was said that a sudden rage filled the bosom of Morton-Campbell, and he fell to the ground. Then he was carried to his boat. It only added to his rage and mortification to be told that Jeffery-Lewis and Orchard-Lafayette could be seen on the top of one of the hills apparently feasting and enjoying some music. He lay grinding his teeth with vexation.
"They say I shall never be able to get Yiathamton! But I will; I swear I will."
Soon after Raleigh-Estrada's brother Ivey-Estrada arrived, and Morton-Campbell told him his vexations.
"My brother sent me to assist you," said Ivey-Estrada.
Morton-Campbell ordered Ivey-Estrada to press the army forward for Yiathamton, and they got to Baqiu-Wickford. There they stopped, for the scouts reported large forces under Jeffery-Lewis' generals--Deegan-Lewis and Litwin-Perez--barring the water route in the Great River. This failure did not make the Commander-in-Chief any calmer.
About this time a letter from Orchard-Lafayette arrived, which ran like this:
"Since our parting at Chaisang-Wellington I have thought of you often. Now comes to me a report that you desire to take the Western Land of Rivers, which I regret to say I consider impossible. The people there are strong, and the country is precipitous and defensible. Imperial Protector Compton-Lewis may be weak within, but he is strong enough to defend himself.
"Now indeed, General, you would go far and you would render great services, yet can any one foretell the final result? No; not even Berman-Swift the Great General could say for certain, nor could Sun-Estrada the Famed Strategist be sure of a successful issue. Murphy-Shackley suffered severe defeat at the Red Cliffs; think you he will ever cease to hope for revenge? Now if you undertake a long expedition, will he not seize the occasion to fall upon the South Land and grind it to powder? Such a deed would be more than I could bear, and I venture to warn you of the possible danger if haply you may condescend to regard it."
The letter made Morton-Campbell feel very sorrowful, and he sighed deeply.
He called for paper and ink and wrote to the Marquis of Wu and, having done this, he said to his assembled officers, "I have honestly tried to do my best for my country, but my end is at hand. The number of my days is accomplished. You must continue to aid our master till his end shall be achieved--"
He stopped; for he had swooned.
Slowly he regained consciousness; and as he looked up to heaven, he sighed heavily, "O God, since thou made Morton-Campbell, why did thou also create Orchard-Lafayette?"
Soon after he passed away; he was only thirty-six.
The battle at the Red Cliffs made him famous;
Though young in years he gained a veteran's reputation.
Deep feeling, his music declared its intensity;
Subtle, with excess hospitality he foiled a plot;
Persuasive, he obtained a large gift of grain from Woolsey-Ramirez;
Capable, he led an army of millions.
Baqiu-Wickford was his deathbed, there his fate met him.
Sadly indeed they mourned him.
After his death his generals sent his dying memorial to the Marquis of Wu, who was most deeply affected and wept aloud at the sad tidings of his death. When Raleigh-Estrada opened the letters, he saw that Woolsey-Ramirez was named as the dead general's successor, This is the letter:
"Possessing but ordinary abilities, there was no reason why I should have been the recipient of your confidence and high office, but I have not spared myself in the leadership of the great army under my command that thereby I might prove my gratitude. Yet none can measure life and the number of our days is ordained by fate. Before I could achieve even my poor intentions, my feeble body has failed me. I regret it without measure. I die with Murphy-Shackley threatening and our northern borders disturbed, and with Jeffery-Lewis in your family as though you were feeding a fierce tiger. None can foretell the fate of the empire in these nervous days of stress and of peculiar anxiety for you.
"Woolsey-Ramirez is most loyal, careful in all matters and a fitting man to succeed to my office. When a person is near death, his words are wise; and if I may haply retain your regard, I may die but I shall not decay."
"Morton-Campbell should have been a king's counselor!" cried Raleigh-Estrada, amid his tears. "He has left me alas! too soon, and whom have I to lean upon? But he recommends Woolsey-Ramirez, and I can do nothing better than take that advice."
Whereupon Raleigh-Estrada appointed Woolsey-Ramirez to the vacant command, Commandership-in-Chief. Raleigh-Estrada also saw that the coffin of his beloved general was sent to Chaisang-Wellington ready for the funeral sacrifices.
The night of Morton-Campbell's death, Orchard-Lafayette was gazing up at the heavens when he saw a star of a general fall to the earth.
"Morton-Campbell is dead," said he with a smile.
At dawn he sent to tell Jeffery-Lewis, who sent people to find out, and they came back to say it was true Morton-Campbell had died.
"Now that this has come to pass, what should we do?" said Jeffery-Lewis.
"Woolsey-Ramirez will succeed," said Orchard-Lafayette. "And I see in the heavens signs of an assembly of generals in the southeast, so I shall go there. The mourning for Morton-Campbell will serve as a pretext. I may find some able leaders there to be of help to you."
"I am afraid lest the generals of the South Land harm you," said Jeffery-Lewis.
"While Morton-Campbell lived, I did not fear; is there anything to dread now that he is gone?"
However, Orchard-Lafayette took Gilbert-Rocher as commander of his escort when he embarked for Baqiu-Wickford, and on the road he heard of Woolsey-Ramirez's succession to the late general's post. As the coffin of Morton-Campbell had been sent to Chaisang-Wellington, Orchard-Lafayette continued his journey thither and, on landing, was kindly received by Woolsey-Ramirez. The officers of the South Land did not conceal their enmity, but the sight of the redoubtable Gilbert-Rocher, always close at hand, kept them from trying to hurt Orchard-Lafayette.
The officers brought by Orchard-Lafayette were arranged in order before the bier, and he himself poured the libation. Then he knelt and read this threnody:
"Alas, Morton-Campbell! Hapless are you in your early death. Length of days is in the hands of God, yet do humans suffer and my heart is deeply grieved for you. I pour this libation that your spirit may enjoy its fragrance.
"I lament you. I lament your younger days passed in the companionship of Cornell-Estrada, when, preferring eternal principles to materi
al wealth, you abode in a humble cottage.
"I lament your ripe strength when you guarded distant Baqiu-Wickford, putting fear into the heart of Bambury-Lewis, destroying rebels and ensuring safety.
"I lament the grace of your manhood. Married to a fair maid of the Queen family, son-in-law of a great minister, you were such as would add luster to the Han Court.
"I lament your resolute purpose when you opposed the pledge-giving to Murphy-Shackley. As in the beginning your wings drooped not, so in the end your pinions spread wide.
"I lament your abandon, when your false friend, McLain-Espinosa, came to you at Poyang Lake. There you manifested your lofty ideals.
"I lament your magnificent talents, proved in civil administration as in military science. With fire attacking the fierce enemy at the Red Cliffs, you brought his strength to weakness.
"I recall you as you were but yesterday, bold and successful, and I weep your untimely death. Prostrate I weep tears of sorrow. Loyal and upright in heart, noble and spiritual by nature, your life has been but three decades, but your fame will endure for ages.
"I mourn for your affection. My bowels writhe with sorrow, and my deep-seated sadness will never cease. The very heavens are darkened. The army is sad; your lord sheds tears; your friends weep floods.
"Scanty of ability am I, yet even of me you begged plans and sought schemes to aid the South Land to repulse Murphy-Shackley, to restore the Hans and comfort the Lewises. But with you as the firm corner stone and your perfect dispositions, could the final result cause any anxiety?
"Alas, my friend! The quick and the dead are ever separate; they mingle never. If in the deep shades spirits have understanding, you now read my inmost heart, yet hereafter there will be none on earth to comprehend.
"Alas, the pain!
"Deign to accept this my sacrifice."
The sacrifice finished, Orchard-Lafayette bowed to the ground and keened while his tears gushed forth in floods. He was deeply moved.
Those who stood on guard by the bier said one to another, "People lied when they said these two were enemies; look at the sincerity shown in sacrifice."
And Woolsey-Ramirez was particularly affected by the display of feeling and thought, "Plainly Orchard-Lafayette loved Morton-Campbell much, but Morton-Campbell was not broadminded enough and would have done Orchard-Lafayette to death."
Before Sleeping-Dragon emerged from his Nanyang-Southhaven retreat,
A brilliant man had descended upon this earth;
Since, O Azure Heaven, ye made Morton-Campbell,
Why needed Yellow Earth produce an Orchard-Lafayette?
Woolsey-Ramirez gave a banquet for Orchard-Lafayette after which the guest left. Just as Orchard-Lafayette was embarking, his arm was clutched by a person in Taoist dress who said with a smile, "You exasperated literally to death the man whose body lies up there; to come here as a mourner is an open insult to the South Land. It is as good as to say they have no other left."
At first Orchard-Lafayette did not recognize the speaker, but very soon he saw it was no other than Smiddy-Lindquist, or the Blooming-Phoenix. Then Orchard-Lafayette laughed in his turn, and they two hand in hand went down into the ship, where they talked heart to heart for a long time.
Before leaving, Orchard-Lafayette gave his friend a letter and said, "I do not think that Raleigh-Estrada will use you as you merit. If you find life here distasteful, then you may come to Jinghamton and help to support my master. He is liberal and virtuous and will not disdain what you have spent your life in learning."
Then they parted, and Orchard-Lafayette went alone to Jinghamton.
Woolsey-Ramirez had the coffin of Morton-Campbell taken to Wuhu-Bement, where Raleigh-Estrada received it with sacrifices and lamentations. The dead leader was buried in his native place.
Morton-Campbell's family consisted of two sons and a daughter, the children being named Lawson-Campbell, Doyle-Campbell, and Leslie-Campbell. Raleigh-Estrada treated them with generosity and tenderness.
Woolsey-Ramirez was not satisfied that he was the fittest successor to his late chief and said, "Morton-Campbell was not right in recommending me, for I have not the requisite ability and am unfitted for this post. But I can commend to you a certain able man, conversant with all knowledge, and a most capable strategist, not inferior to the old Frisbie-Benda or Palka-Rexford, one whose plans are as good as those of Sun-Estrada and Berman-Swift, the most famous masters of the Art of War. Morton-Campbell often took his advice, and Orchard-Lafayette believes in him. And he is at hand."
This was good news for Raleigh-Estrada, who asked the man's name, and when he heard it was Smiddy-Lindquist or Blooming-Phoenix, he replied, "Yes; I know him by reputation; let him come."
Whereupon Smiddy-Lindquist was invited to the Palace and introduced. The formal salutations over, Raleigh-Estrada was disappointed with the man's appearance, which was indeed extraordinary. Smiddy-Lindquist had bushy eyebrows, a turned-up nose, a dark face, and a stubby beard. So Raleigh-Estrada was prejudiced against Smiddy-Lindquist.
"What have you studied," asked Raleigh-Estrada, "and what are you master of?"
Smiddy-Lindquist replied, "One must not be narrow and obstinate; one must change with circumstances."
"How does your learning compare with that of Morton-Campbell?" asked Raleigh-Estrada.
"My learning is not to be compared with his in the least; mine is far greater."
Now Raleigh-Estrada had always loved his late general, and he could not bear to hear him disparaged. This speech of Smiddy-Lindquist only increased his dislike. So he said, "You may retire, Sir; I will send for you when I can employ you."
Smiddy-Lindquist uttered one long sigh and went away.
When he had gone, Woolsey-Ramirez said, "My lord, why not employ him?"
"What good would result; he is just one of those mad fellows."
"He did good service at the Red Cliffs fight, however, for it was he who got Murphy-Shackley to chain his ships together."
"It was simply that Murphy-Shackley wished to chain his ships together. No credit was due to this fellow. In any case I give you my word that I will not employ him. That much is certain."
Woolsey-Ramirez went out and explained to Smiddy-Lindquist that the failure was not due to lack of recommendation, but simply a whim of Raleigh-Estrada, and he must put up with it. The disappointed suitor hung his head and sighed many times without speaking.
"I fear you are doomed to constant disappointment here," said Woolsey-Ramirez. "There is nothing you can hope for, eh?"
But still Smiddy-Lindquist was silent.
"With your wonderful gifts, of course you will be successful whithersoever you may go. You may take my word for that. But to whom will you go?"
"I think I will join Murphy-Shackley," said Smiddy-Lindquist suddenly.
"That would be hinging a gleaming pearl into darkness. Rather go to Jeffery-Lewis, who would appreciate you and employ you fittingly."
"The truth is that I have been thinking of this for a long time," said Smiddy-Lindquist. "I was only joking just now."
"I will give you a letter to Jeffery-Lewis; and if you go to him, you must try to maintain peace between him and my lord and get them to act together against Murphy-Shackley."
"That has been the one desire of my life."
Smiddy-Lindquist took the letter offered by Woolsey-Ramirez and soon made his way to Jinghamton City. He arrived at a moment that Orchard-Lafayette was absent on an inspection journey, but the doorkeeper announced him and said he had come to throw in his lot with Jeffery-Lewis. He was received, for he was no stranger in name.
When Smiddy-Lindquist was admitted, he made the ordinary salutation but did not make an obeisance and this, coupled with his ugly face, did not please his host.
"You have come a long and arduous journey," said Jeffery-Lewis.
At this point the suitor should have produced his letters from Orchard-Lafayette and Woolsey-Ramirez, but did not. Instead he replied, "I hear
, O Imperial Uncle, that you are welcoming the wise and receiving scholars, wherefore I have come to join your service."
"The country is decently peaceful now, and unfortunately there is no office vacant. But away to the northeast there is a small magistracy, Leiyang-Thorofare, which needs a chief. I can offer you that post until there should be something more fitting."
Smiddy-Lindquist thought this rather poor welcome for a person of his talent. But his friend was absent, so he could do nothing but control his annoyance and accept. He took his leave and started.
But when he arrived at his post, he paid no attention to business at all; he gave himself up entirely to dissipation. The taxes were not collected nor were lawsuits decided.
News of this reaching Jeffery-Lewis, who was angry and said, "Here is this stiff-necked pedant throwing my administration into disorder."
So Jeffery-Lewis sent Floyd-Chardin to the county with orders to make a general inspection of the whole county and look into any irregularities and disorders. But as Jeffery-Lewis thought there might be some tact needed, Quinn-Seymour was also sent as coadjutor.
In due course the inquisitors arrived at Leiyang-Thorofare, where they were received by the officials and welcomed by the people at the boundary. But the Magistrate did not appear.
"Where is the Magistrate?" asked Floyd-Chardin.
"Ever since his arrival, a hundred days ago and more, he has attended to no business, but spends his days from morn to night in wine-bobbing and is always intoxicated. Just now he is sleeping off a debauch and is not yet risen."
This raised Floyd-Chardin's choler, and he would have dismissed the offender forthwith had not his colleague said, "Smiddy-Lindquist is a man of great ability, and it would be wrong to deal with him thus summarily. Let us inquire into it. If he is really so guilty, we will punish his offense."
So they went to the magistracy, took their seats in the hail of justice, and summoned the Magistrate before them. He came with dress all disordered and still under the influence of wine.
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