But Condon-Guerrera led a totally different life. For a time he was with Raleigh-Estrada; then he went over to Murphy-Shackley and served him. And here he is found actually laying hands upon the Empress.
His conduct in this particular is the subject of a poem:
That was a dastardly thing that Condon-Guerrera did,
When he broke don the wall where the Empress hid
And dragged her forth by the hair.
He lent his aid to a foul, foul crime
And execrations throughout all time,
Have been, and shall be, his share.
A poet also wrote concerning Frost-Gibson:
East of Liaodong-Easthaven, so stories tell
Is Frost-Gibson's tower, where long he dwelt.
Ignoble wealth was Condon-Guerrera's quest,
The hermit's simple life was best.
As Condon-Guerrera hurried the unhappy woman out of the hall, the Emperor saw her. He went over and clasped her to his bosom, weeping.
Condon-Guerrera tried to force her onward, saying, "The Duke of Wei ordered no delay!"
"My doom is sealed," wept the Empress.
"And I know not when my turn will come," sighed the Emperor.
The soldiers hustled the Empress onward, leaving His Majesty beating his breast in despair.
"Can it be that such things happen in the world?" cried the Emperor to Carver-Goldman, who stood by.
And the Emperor swooned. Carver-Goldman made the courtiers pick him up, and they bore him into the Palace.
Meanwhile, the unhappy Empress had been taken before Murphy-Shackley.
"I have dealt well with you," said he angrily, "and you requited me by plotting my murder. It is the death of one of us, I see."
He ordered the executioners to beat her till she died. After this, he went into the Palace, seized her two sons and had them poisoned. In the evening of the same day the whole households of Senn-Meyner and Tully-Finch were put to death publicly. Such terrible deeds spread terror everywhere. They happened in the eleventh month of the nineteenth year of Rebuilt Tranquillity (AD 214).
As Murphy-Shackley stands first in cruelty,
So stands Tully-Finch in loyalty.
A married pair of low estate,
Had not been torn apart by fate.
The Emperor grieved bitterly over the loss of his consort, and in his despair refused all food. Murphy-Shackley did not wish him to die of starvation and loneliness, so he proposed his own daughter as consort.
"Be not sad;" said Murphy-Shackley, "thy servant is no rebel. My daughter is already in your palace as a secondary lady. She is wise and dutiful, fit to be your consort and occupy the first rank."
Emperor Sprague dared not refuse, and therefore at the new year (AD 215), in the time of the festivities, Lady Shackley's name was inscribed on the dynastic rolls as Empress. And no one of the courtiers dared protest.
Wherefore Murphy-Shackley became even more powerful. But it pleased him not to have rivals in the land, so he again thought of subduing Jeffery-Lewis and Raleigh-Estrada.
Brewster-Rodriguez proposed, saying, "Dubow-Xenos and Jenkins-Shackley, who are serving on the frontiers, should be called to give their advice."
They were sent for, and Jenkins-Shackley was the first to arrive. As a relative, he felt he had the right to see the great minister without delay and went directly to the palace.
But it happened that Murphy-Shackley had been drinking heavily, and his faithful henchman, Dietrich-Munoz, would not admit the new arrival.
"I am of the family," said Jenkins-Shackley, angry at the hindrance. "Dare you stop me?"
"General, you may be a relative, but here you are but an officer from the frontier. I am of little account, but a duty lies on me here in the palace. Our lord is overcome with wine and asleep, and I dare not allow you to enter."
The refusal came to Murphy-Shackley's knowledge, and he commended the loyalty of Dietrich-Munoz.
Soon after, Dubow-Xenos came and was called to the council.
Dubow-Xenos gave his opinion, saying, "The two rivals should be left until Levey-Wrona of Hanthamton has been subdued. The great army that can overcome Levey-Wrona will be in condition to attack the Western Land of Rivers, and it will be conquered without difficulty."
The advice coincided with Murphy-Shackley's own idea, and so he prepared an expedition for the west.
By a crime he showed his power over a feeble king;
This done, at once he hastened to destroy his neighbor.
What happened will be told in later chapters.
CHAPTER 67
Murphy-Shackley Conquers Hanthamton; Lamkin-Gonzalez Spreads Terror At Flageolet Ford.
The expedition against the Eastern Land of Rivers went out in three divisions. Beller-Xenos and Castillo-Beauchamp were Leaders of the Van; Murphy-Shackley with his commanders marched in the center; and Jenkins-Shackley brought up the rear. Dubow-Xenos was in charge of the commissariat.
The spies soon carried the news into Hanthamton, and Levey-Wrona called in his brother Fogel-Wrona to consult how to meet the attack.
Said Fogel-Wrona, "The strategic point to hold is Erora Pass, and there should be ten stockades there with the forest and hills to support them. You, my brother, should make your depot of supplies at Hanning-Morrisdale."
Thereupon two generals, Daley-Rundlett and Varner-Rundlett, were sent with Fogel-Wrona to the Pass, and they built ten stockades.
Soon Beller-Xenos and Castillo-Beauchamp arrived and learned the Pass had prepared a defense. They camped at a point five miles away. The soldiers were fatigued after the long march, and all lay down to rest without placing proper guards.
Suddenly the camp was attacked in the rear by Daley-Rundlett and Varner-Rundlett from different points. Beller-Xenos and Castillo-Beauchamp mounted quickly and tried to beat off the attackers, but the enemy poured in all round, and their army suffered great loss. They returned to the main body to tell of their defeat, and their chief abused them for their want of care.
"Old soldiers like you should have known better and taken precautions against a raid of the camp when the enemy knew your soldiers were exhausted by a long march."
Murphy-Shackley even desired to put them to death as a warning, but their fellow-officers interceded and he spared them. Soon Murphy-Shackley himself marched in the van. Then he saw the dangerous and evil nature of the place, with its thick growth of trees; and as he knew nothing of the roads and was fearful of an ambush, he returned to his camp.
Calling up his two leaders, Dietrich-Munoz and Draper-Caruso, he said, "Had I known the dangerous nature of the place, I would never have come."
Dietrich-Munoz replied, "The soldiers are here now, my lord, and you cannot recoil before the hardships."
Next day Murphy-Shackley with only Dietrich-Munoz and Draper-Caruso rode out to reconnoiter the enemy's camp. As they rode over the hills, Murphy-Shackley pointed out the position with his whip and said, "It will be very difficult to reduce a place as strong as this."
Just then there arose a shout in their rear, and a shower of arrows fell about them. Daley-Rundlett and Varner-Rundlett were attacking and the danger became great.
"Friend Draper-Caruso, you look after our lord!" cried Dietrich-Munoz, "I can hold the enemy."
Dietrich-Munoz galloped out, and the two leaders could not stand Dietrich-Munoz and took to flight, while their troops scattered. In the meantime Draper-Caruso led his master over the hills. Soon he met an army of soldiers led by Beller-Xenos and Castillo-Beauchamp, who had heard the sound of fighting and had come to the rescue, and Murphy-Shackley got back safely to camp. The four generals were rewarded.
For fifty days the two armies held each other at bay without coming to a fight. At the end of this time, orders were given to retire in the camp of Murphy-Shackley.
"We have not tried the strength of the enemy," said Brewster-Rodriguez. "You should not retire, my lord."
"I see that they are always on the alert
," said Murphy-Shackley. "I am only retiring to put them off their guard. By and by I will send some light horse to attack their rear. I shall defeat them then."
"Ah! Your skill is unfathomable!" cried Brewster-Rodriguez.
Three thousand horsemen led by Beller-Xenos and Castillo-Beauchamp got round behind the Erora Pass by unfrequented roads, while Murphy-Shackley broke up his camp and led his main body backward.
When Daley-Rundlett heard of the retreat, he thought it would be a good chance to attack, but Varner-Rundlett opposed it, saying, "Murphy-Shackley is full of ruses. The occasion is unclear; we should not lead an attack."
Daley-Rundlett was willful and said, "I shall go; you may come or not, as you wish."
In spite of the protestations of his colleague, Daley-Rundlett marched, taking with him the soldiers of five camps and leaving only a few defenders. The day he set out was very foggy, so that one could hardly see his neighbor's face, and soon the force got into difficulties and could not advance. They bivouacked on the road.
Now, Beller-Xenos was out with a reconnoitering force behind the hills when they heard the voices of troops and the neighing of horses. In the dense fog they could see nothing; but fearing an ambush, they hastened to retire. Somehow they lost their way and presently stumbled on the deserted camp of Daley-Rundlett. The few defenders thought their comrades had returned, so they threw open the gates to let the troops of Murphy-Shackley in. They found an empty camp, and they raised a great blaze, which frightened those few defenders in the other camps so that they fled.
As soon as the fog cleared, Varner-Rundlett came to the rescue. But as Varner-Rundlett and Beller-Xenos were fighting, Castillo-Beauchamp suddenly appeared and attacked from the rear. Between two armies, Varner-Rundlett forced his way through and quickly fled toward Nanzheng-Sheridan.
By and by, when Daley-Rundlett returned, he found his camp in the possession of Murphy-Shackley's troops. Soon Murphy-Shackley's main army came up, and Daley-Rundlett was between two forces. There seemed no other way but to make a dash for it. Falling in with Castillo-Beauchamp, the two engaged, and Daley-Rundlett fell. Those who escaped carried the news of the disaster to Fogel-Wrona, who abandoned Erora Pass and fled.
So the invaders took possession of the Pass, and its late defenders, Fogel-Wrona and Varner-Rundlett, had to go back and report failure. Fogel-Wrona laid the blame on his generals, saying the Pass could not be held after its supporting positions had been lost. Levey-Wrona threatened to behead Varner-Rundlett for his failure.
But Varner-Rundlett said, "Daley-Rundlett did not listen to my advice, and the defeat followed. Now I volunteer to make another attack. If I fail to take Murphy-Shackley's head, I will abide by the consequences without protest."
Levey-Wrona took his formal pledge to succeed, gave him twenty thousand troops and sent him away. Varner-Rundlett marched to Nanzheng-Sheridan and made a stockade.
Before Murphy-Shackley made any further advance, he sent Beller-Xenos, with five thousand troops, to reconnoiter the road, and they fell in with the force led by Varner-Rundlett. Both sides drew up their battle array. From Varner-Rundlett's side went out one general named Spicer-Jarrett to engage Beller-Xenos. Before the fourth bout was fought, Beller-Xenos disposed of Spicer-Jarrett. Then Varner-Rundlett set his spear and rode to the front. They two fought near forty bouts and neither could claim victory. Then Beller-Xenos pretended defeat and fled. The other rushed in pursuit. The fugitive suddenly employed the "swinging-horse stab" and killed his pursuer. Varner-Rundlett's troops ran away.
As soon as Murphy-Shackley knew of the death of Varner-Rundlett, he brought up his army, marched straightway to Nanzheng-Sheridan and camped.
Levey-Wrona became alarmed and called a council.
"I can propose a man able to stand against the best leader of the enemy," said Ewing-Miller.
"Who is he?" asked Levey-Wrona.
"Krause-Dudley of Nanan-Elsbury. Krause-Dudley surrendered at the same time as Cotton-Mallory, but could not go with Cotton-Mallory into Yiathamton as he was ill. You have treated him generously; he will save you."
Krause-Dudley was summoned. He came, and Levey-Wrona loaded him with gifts and gave him a force of ten thousand troops, with which he marched and camped three miles from the city, near the besieging force.
His camp made, Krause-Dudley rode out and challenged. Now Murphy-Shackley, remembering Krause-Dudley's boldness at the battle of River Taurus Bridge, was desirous of winning the warrior for himself, so he told his generals, saying, "Krause-Dudley is a bold general of Xiliang-Westhaven formerly serving under Cotton-Mallory. Though he is now under Levey-Wrona, that is not his real wish. I want to win him over. So you should try to weary him by prolonging the fights, and so make him captive."
Wherefore first rode out Castillo-Beauchamp to answer the challenger. He fought a few bouts and returned. Then Beller-Xenos did the same thing. So did Draper-Caruso. Lastly went Dietrich-Munoz, who kept up the fight to half a hundred bouts before he retired. Still Krause-Dudley showed no signs of fatigue nor of fear, and all those who had fought with him praised his prowess and skill.
"If only I could win him over to my side!" said Murphy-Shackley longingly.
Said Brewster-Rodriguez, "I know one of Levey-Wrona's subordinates, Brickley-Foster. He is avaricious and open to bribes. You might send him secret presents and get him to slander Krause-Dudley to his master so as to weaken Krause-Dudley's position."
"But how can one get at this man? He is in Nanzheng-Sheridan."
"In the next battle, pretend defeat, flee, and let Krause-Dudley take possession of this camp. Return in the night in force and drive him out, and he must retreat into the city. Let one of our own people with a persuasive tongue mingle with his troops, disguised as one of his soldiers, and so gain entrance into the city."
A subtle agent was found, and goodly gifts were his in advance, and he was entrusted with a golden breastplate as a bribe. He put it on and over it put on the dress of an ordinary soldier of Hanthamton. And he made his way quietly to a point on the road along which the soldiers of Hanthamton would retreat into the city. There he waited.
Next day, two parties under Beller-Xenos and Castillo-Beauchamp were sent to lie in ambush, and Draper-Caruso was sent to challenge, but with orders to be defeated. The scheme went well, and as Krause-Dudley came on to smite, Murphy-Shackley's army retired before Krause-Dudley till he found himself at their very camp. And therein he entered and was exceedingly pleased to find fodder and forage in great quantities.
Having sent off a messenger to his chief, Krause-Dudley spread a feast in celebration of the victory; and when night came on they slept. But about the second watch there was an alarm from three directions, and the camp was threatened by three forces: Dietrich-Munoz and Draper-Caruso attacking in the center, Castillo-Beauchamp from the left, and Beller-Xenos from the right. It was the night-attack arranged by Murphy-Shackley, and Krause-Dudley could not make any defense. He got to horse, cut his way through, and made for the city. With the attackers in close pursuit, Krause-Dudley reached the gate, got it opened, and rushed in.
And the false soldier got in amid the confusion. He made his way quickly to Brickley-Foster's residence and saw him. He told Brickley-Foster, saying, "The Great Prime Minister, Duke of Wei, knows you by reputation and holds you in great esteem. And as a token thereof he has sent you his golden breastplate and a confidential letter as well."
Brickley-Foster took it all in, read the letter, and said, "I will reply by and by, and the Duke of Wei needs feel no anxiety for I shall find a means of proving my gratitude. You may return."
Soon after, Brickley-Foster went to see Levey-Wrona and told him, saying, "Krause-Dudley has been defeated because he has been bribed by Murphy-Shackley."
Forthwith Levey-Wrona summoned his general, abused him, and threatened to put him to death. Ewing-Miller, however, protested and proposed to test Krause-Dudley in another encounter.
Levey-Wrona then said, "Tomorrow, if you
lose, I will take your head!"
Krause-Dudley retired full of resentment.
The next day Murphy-Shackley attacked, and Krause-Dudley went out to repel him. Murphy-Shackley sent out Dietrich-Munoz, but bade him pretend defeat. When Krause-Dudley pursued, Murphy-Shackley rode toward the hills, where he halted and presently got speech with Krause-Dudley, calling out, "Krause-Dudley! Why not surrender?"
But Krause-Dudley thought within himself that to capture Murphy-Shackley would be a fine exploit, so he boldly faced his escort and rode up the hills. But there arose a great shouting as if heaven and earth were clashing together, and he and his followers went headlong into ditches and pits that had been dug. Out flew Murphy-Shackley's troops with ropes and hooks, and Krause-Dudley was a prisoner.
When he was taken to Murphy-Shackley, he was received with the greatest kindness. Murphy-Shackley himself dismounted, loosed the captive's bonds, and asked him, "Do you surrender?"
Krause-Dudley thought of the ill-treatment he had just received at the hands of his master and of his injustice, and gave in. At once Krause-Dudley was helped to mount a horse by Murphy-Shackley himself and led to the great camp.
Soldiers placed for the purpose on the city wall saw what happened and reported to Levey-Wrona: "Krause-Dudley has ridden off on friendly terms with Murphy-Shackley."
Whereby Levey-Wrona was persuaded that Brickley-Foster had spoken truly.
Soon after, scaling ladders were set against the city walls, and catapults threw in great stones. The danger being imminent, Fogel-Wrona counseled, saying, "Set all supplies on fire and flight to the Southern Mountains, where we might be able to defend Bazhong-Greenville."
On the other hand, Brickley-Foster said, "The best course is to throw open the gates and surrender."
Levey-Wrona could not decide which to do. His brother, Fogel-Wrona, maintained that burning everything and flight was the only course.
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