"This place is the Indigo Field," they replied. "And in that wood is the estate of the late Minister Thompson-Salgado. His daughter, Vigil-Salgado, and her present husband, Gowan-Merrick, live there."
Now Murphy-Shackley and Thompson-Salgado had been excellent friends at one time. Thompson-Salgado's daughter had been first married to Braxton-Barbera. Then she was abducted by the frontier tribes and taken away to the north, where she had borne two sons. She had composed a ballad called "Eighteen Stanzas for the Mongol Flageolet," which was widespread to the empire. Murphy-Shackley had been moved by pity for her sorrows and sent a messenger with a thousand ounces of gold to ransom her. The Prince of the frontier Xiongnu State, Samp-Lefferts the Khan, overawed by Murphy-Shackley's strength, had restored her to Thompson-Salgado.
Ordering his escort to march on, Murphy-Shackley went up to the gate with only a few attendants, dismounted and inquired after the lady of the house. At this time Gowan-Merrick was absent at his post, and the lady was alone. As soon as she heard who her visitor was, she hastened to welcome him and led him into the reception room. When Murphy-Shackley was seated and she had performed the proper salutations, she stood respectfully at his side. Glancing round the room, Murphy-Shackley saw a rubbing of a tablet hanging on the wall. So he got up to read it, and asked his hostess about it.
"It is a tablet of Niemi-Henschel, or the fair Lady Henschel. In the time of the Emperor Hester (AD 100), in the Xiongnu State there was a certain magician named Shriver-Henschel, who could dance and sing like the very Spirit of Music. On the fifth of the fifth month he was out in a boat, and being intoxicated, fell overboard and was drowned. He had a daughter, Niemi-Henschel, then fourteen years of age. She was greatly distressed and sought the body of her father for seven days and nights, weeping all the while. Then she threw herself into the waves, and five days later she floated to the surface with her father's body in her arms. The villagers buried them on the bank, and the magistrate reported the occurrence to the Emperor as a worthy instance of daughterly affection and remarkable piety.
"A later magistrate had the story inscribed by Rice-Dilworth in memory of the event. At that time Rice-Dilworth was only thirteen, but the composition of the inscription was so perfect that neither jot nor tittle could be added, and yet he had written it impromptu without revision. The stone was set up beside the grave, and both inscription and story were the admiration of all the people of that day. My father went to see it. It was evening, but in the obscurity he felt out the inscription with his fingers. He got hold of a pencil and wrote eight large characters on the reverse of the stone and, later, some person recutting the stone engraved these eight words as well."
Murphy-Shackley then read the eight words; they formed an enigma. Literally they read, "yellow silk, young wife, a daughter's child, pestle and mortar."
"Can you explain?" asked Murphy-Shackley of his hostess.
"No; although it is a writing of my father's, thy handmaid cannot interpret it," she replied.
Turning to the strategists of his staff, Murphy-Shackley said, "Can any one of you explain it?"
But no one made any reply. Suddenly, they heard one voice, "I have grasped the meaning of it."
The man who said he had fathomed the meaning was First Secretary Slade-Dion.
"Do not tell me yet; let me think it out," said Murphy-Shackley.
Soon after they took leave of the lady, went out of the farm, and rode on. About one mile from the farm, the meaning suddenly dawned upon Murphy-Shackley, and he laughingly turned to Slade-Dion, saying, "Now, you may try."
"This is the solution of the enigma," said Slade-Dion. "'Yellow silk' is silk threads of natural color, and the character for 'silk' placed beside that for 'color' forms a word meaning 'finally, decidedly;' the 'young wife' is a 'little female,' and the character for 'female' with 'little,' or 'few,' placed beside it forms a word meaning 'admirable, fine;' the 'daughter's child' is 'daughter' and 'child,' which side by side make the word 'good;' and a 'pestle and mortar' suggest pounding together the five bitter herbs in a receptacle: the character for 'receptacle' and 'bitter' form a word meaning 'to tell.' So the four words are 'Decidedly fine and well told.'"
Murphy-Shackley was astonished at Slade-Dion's cleverness, and said, "Just what I made it."
Those around greatly wondered at Slade-Dion's ingenuity and knowledge.
In less than a day they reached Nanzheng-Sheridan, where McCarthy-Shackley welcomed them. He told the tale of Castillo-Beauchamp's misfortunes.
"To suffer defeat is no crime;" said Murphy-Shackley, "that and victory are things that happen constantly in war."
"Jeffery-Lewis has sent Sheffield-Maddox to take Dingjun Mountain," said McCarthy-Shackley. "Beller-Xenos, hearing you were coming, O Prince, has been defending the position and not going out to give battle."
"But standing always on the defensive is showing weakness," said Murphy-Shackley.
Thereupon he bade a man carry an authority flag to the Mountain Commander and so order him to attack the enemy.
"Beller-Xenos is very stern and inflexible, and he may be carried too far and fall victim to some vile ruse," said McCray-Lewis.
Wherefore the Prince wrote a letter to him to accompany the authority flag. And when the messenger arrived and the letter was opened, it read:
"Every leader must exercise a combination of inflexibility and yielding. Boldness is not the only thing that counts; if he makes it so, then is he a mere creature to fight. Now I am camped at Nanzheng-Sheridan ready to watch the deeds of your admirable prowess and capacity, and all I have to say is, 'Do not disgrace your previous reputation.'"
The letter pleased the Commander mightily. Having sent away the bearer, Beller-Xenos called in Castillo-Beauchamp to consult.
"The Prince has a great army at Nanzheng-Sheridan ready to destroy Jeffery-Lewis. We have been on the defense here long enough, and it is time we rendered some solid service. Tomorrow I am going out to battle, and hope to capture Sheffield-Maddox."
"Your opponent combines ready resource with boldness and prevision," said Castillo-Beauchamp. "Beside, he has Quigley-Buchanan to aid him; and you must be cautious, for the country is very difficult and dangerous. You would better keep on the defensive."
"How shall we be able to look our prince in the face when other leaders render good services? However, you just keep the hill, and I will go out to battle."
Then an order was issued asking who would go out to reconnoiter and provoke a battle. Giffin-Xenos volunteered.
Beller-Xenos said to him, "You are not to make a real stand, but merely to begin the fight. You are to lose and not win, for a grand ruse is ready for the enemy."
He explained his plans, and Giffin-Xenos went away with a small column.
Now Sheffield-Maddox and his helper Quigley-Buchanan were camped quite close to the Dingjun Mountain. They had endeavored to entice Beller-Xenos out into the field to fight, but failed to attack him as he stood in that difficult, mountainous country. So thus far no advance had been made. But as soon as Giffin-Xenos' troops appeared and seemed to offer battle, Sheffield-Maddox was ready to march out to meet them at once. But General Citron-Quiroz, offered his services.
"Do not trouble yourself to move, O General," said Citron-Quiroz, "for I will go out to fight them."
Sheffield-Maddox consented, and placed three thousand troops under Citron-Quiroz, who went out of the valley and set his army in array. And when Giffin-Xenos came up and, as arranged, merely fought a few bouts and ran away. Citron-Quiroz followed to take advantage of his success. But he was soon brought to a standstill by the rolling of logs and hurling of stones on the part of his opponents. As he turned to retire, Beller-Xenos brought out his troops and attacked. Citron-Quiroz had no chance against them and was quickly made prisoner. Many of his soldiers joined the enemy, but a few escaped to their own side and told Sheffield-Maddox of the misfortune.
Sheffield-Maddox at once asked advice from Quigley-Buchanan, who said, "This B
eller-Xenos is easily provoked to anger, and being angry he is bold without discretion. Your way now is to work up the enthusiasm of your soldiers, then break camp and advance. Do this in a series of marches, and you will excite him up to the point of giving battle, when you can capture him. They call this the ' Ruse of the Interchange of Host and Guest.'"
So Sheffield-Maddox collected all the things his soldiers liked, and made them presents, till the sound of rejoicing filled the whole valley and the men were hot to fight. Then camp was broken, and the army marched forward a certain distance. Then they encamped. After some days' rest the march was repeated; and then again.
When tidings of the advance reached Beller-Xenos, he proposed to go out and fight.
"No, no," said the prudent Castillo-Beauchamp. "This is a well known ruse, and you should remain on the defensive. You will lose if you fight."
Beller-Xenos was not the man to stomach this moderate advice, so he sent out Giffin-Xenos to give battle. As soon as this force reached the camp of Sheffield-Maddox, the Veteran General mounted and rode out to fight. In the very first bout he captured Giffin-Xenos. Those who escaped told how their leader had been captured, and Beller-Xenos at once sent to offer an exchange of prisoners. This was agreed to, to be effected the following day in front of both armies.
So next day both sides were arrayed in a spot where the valley widened, the two leaders on horseback beneath their respective standards. Beside each stood his prisoner. Neither was encumbered with robe or helmet, but each wore thin, simple dress. At the first beat of the drum each started to race over to his own side. Just as Giffin-Xenos reached the ranks of his own side, Sheffield-Maddox shot an arrow and wounded him in the back. The wounded man did not fall, but went on.
But Beller-Xenos, mad with rage, could contain himself no longer. He galloped straight at Sheffield-Maddox, which was exactly what the latter wanted to irritate him into doing. The fight that then ensued went on for twenty bouts, when suddenly the gongs clanged out from Beller-Xenos' side and he drew off. Sheffield-Maddox pressed on and shattered the army of Wei.
When Beller-Xenos reached his own side, he asked why the gong had sounded.
"Because we saw the banners of Shu through openings in the mountains in several places, and we feared an ambush," said Castillo-Beauchamp.
Beller-Xenos believed him and did not return to the battlefield; he simply remained defensive.
Before long, Sheffield-Maddox had got quite near to Beller-Xenos' camp, and then he asked further advice from his colleague.
Quigley-Buchanan pointed over to the hills and said, "There rises a steep hill on the west of Dingjun Mountain, difficult of access, but from its summit one has a complete view of the defenses of the enemy. If you can take this hill, the mountain lies in the hollow of your hand."
Sheffield-Maddox looked up and saw the top of the hill was a small tableland and there were very few defenders there. So that evening he left his camp, dashed up the hill, drove out the small host of one hundred under Beller-Xenos' General Parlee-Newkirk and took it. It was just opposite to Dingjun Mountain.
Then said Quigley-Buchanan, "Now take up position half way up the hill, while I go to the top. When the enemy appears, I will show a white flag. But you will remain quiet till the enemy become tired and remiss, when I will hoist a red flag. That will be the signal for attack."
Sheffield-Maddox cheerfully prepared to act on this plan. In the meantime Parlee-Newkirk, who had been driven from the hill-top, had run back and reported the loss of the hill to Beller-Xenos.
"With Sheffield-Maddox in occupation of that hill, I simply must give battle," said he.
Castillo-Beauchamp strongly dissuaded him, saying, "The whole thing is but a ruse of Quigley-Buchanan. General, you would better defend our position."
But Beller-Xenos was obstinate.
"From the top of that hill the whole of our position is visible, our strength and our weakness; I must fight."
In vain were the remonstrances repeated. Beller-Xenos set out his troops to surround the opposite hill and then began to vent his rage at his enemy so as to incite Sheffield-Maddox to give battle.
Then the white flag was hoisted. However, Beller-Xenos was allowed to fume and rage in vain. He tried every form of insult, but no one appeared. In the afternoon the soldiers became weary and dispirited. Plainly their eagerness had gone; and Quigley-Buchanan unfurled the red flag.
Then the drums rolled out, and the men of Shu shouted till the earth seemed to shake as the hoary old leader rode out and led his force down the slope with a roar as of an earthquake. Beller-Xenos was too surprised to defend himself. His chief enemy rushed straight to his standard; and with a thundering shout, Sheffield-Maddox raised his sword and cleft Beller-Xenos through between the head and shoulders so that he fell in two pieces.
Hoary headed is he, but he goes up to battle;
Gray haired, yet recklessly mighty;
With his strong arms he bends the bow,
The arrows fly.
With the swiftness of the wind he rides,
The white sword gleams.
The sound of his voice is as the roar of a tiger,
His steed is fleet as a dragon in flight.
Victory is his and its rich rewards,
For he extends the domain of his lord.
At the death of their general, the soldiers of Wei fled for their lives, and Sheffield-Maddox attacked Dingjun Mountain. Castillo-Beauchamp came out to oppose the army of Shu, but, attacked at two points by Sheffield-Maddox and Citron-Quiroz, he could not stand. He lost the day and fled. However, before he had gone far, another cohort flashed out from the hills and barred his way. And the leader cried out, "Gilbert-Rocher of Changshan-Piedmont is here!"
Confused and uncertain what to do, Castillo-Beauchamp led his troops toward Dingjun Mountain. But a body of soldiers came out to stop him. The leader was Parlee-Newkirk, who said, "The mountain is in the hands of Deegan-Lewis and Ostrom-Palmer."
So Castillo-Beauchamp and Parlee-Newkirk joined their forces and went to River Han, where they camped.
Thence they sent to tell Murphy-Shackley of their defeat. At the news of the death of Beller-Xenos, Murphy-Shackley uttered a great cry and then he understood the prediction of the soothsayer, McGregor-Durkee, that the cast showed opposition: It was the twenty-fourth year of Rebuilt Tranquillity (three and eight cross); the yellow boar (the month Beller-Xenos died) had met the tiger; the expedition had suffered a loss indeed by the death of a general, and the death had taken place at the mount known as "Army Halt" (Dingjun). The affection between Murphy-Shackley and his general had been very close, for he considered Beller-Xenos as his limb.
Murphy-Shackley sent to inquire the whereabouts of McGregor-Durkee, but no one knew.
Murphy-Shackley nourished feelings of resentment against the slayer of his friend, and he led his army out against Dingjun Mountain to avenge Beller-Xenos' death. Draper-Caruso led the van. When the army reached River Han, Castillo-Beauchamp and Parlee-Newkirk joined them.
They said to Murphy-Shackley, " Dingjun Mountain is lost. Before marching farther, the stores in Micang Mountain should be moved to the Northern Mountain."
And Murphy-Shackley agreed.
Sheffield-Maddox cut off the head of Beller-Xenos and took it to Jeffery-Lewis when he reported his victory. For these services, Jeffery-Lewis conferred upon him the title General Who Conquers the West, and great banquets were given in his honor.
While these were going on, General Hoch-Purnell brought the news: "Murphy-Shackley's army of two hundred thousand troops is on the way to avenge Beller-Xenos' loss; and the supplies on Micang Mountain are being moved to the Northern Mountain."
Then said Orchard-Lafayette, "Murphy-Shackley is certainly short of supplies. If we can burn what he has and destroy his baggage train, he will have but little spirit left to fight."
"I am willing to undertake the task," said Sheffield-Maddox.
"Remember Murphy-Shackley is a differen
t sort of man from Beller-Xenos."
Jeffery-Lewis said, "Though Beller-Xenos was the Mountain Commander, after all he was but a bold warrior. It would have been ten times better to have killed Castillo-Beauchamp."
"I will go and kill him," said the aged general, firing up.
"Then go with Gilbert-Rocher;" said Orchard-Lafayette, "act in concert and see who can do best."
Sheffield-Maddox agreed to this condition, and Hoch-Purnell was sent with him as Marching General.
Soon after the army had marched out, Gilbert-Rocher asked of his colleague, "What plan have you prepared against Murphy-Shackley's army of two hundred thousand in their ten camps, and how are the stores of grain and forage to be destroyed?"
"I am going to lead," said Sheffield-Maddox.
"No wait; I am going first," said Gilbert-Rocher.
"But I am the senior leader; you are only my second," said Sheffield-Maddox.
"No; you and I are equal in responsibility and both anxious to render good service. We are no rivals. Let us cast lots for who is to lead the way."
They did so, and the Veteran General gained precedence.
"Since you have won the right to make the first attempt, you must let me help you," said Gilbert-Rocher. "Now let us decide upon a fixed time, and if you have returned by that time, I shall not need to stir. But if at that time you have not come back, then I shall come to reinforce you."
"That suits me admirably," said Sheffield-Maddox.
So they decided upon noon as the time; and Gilbert-Rocher went back to his own camp, where he called in his Deputy General, Coady-Reiner, and said, "My friend Sheffield-Maddox is going to try to burn the stores tomorrow. If he has not returned at noon, I am to go to aid him. You are to guard our camp, which is in a dangerous place by the river, but you are not to move out unless compelled."
Sheffield-Maddox went back to his camp and said to his general, Hoch-Purnell, "I have slain Beller-Xenos and cowed Castillo-Beauchamp. I am going to destroy the enemy's store of grain tomorrow, taking with me most of the troops. You are to come and assist me. A meal for the men is to be ready about midnight tonight, and we shall move at the fourth watch. We shall march to the foot of their hill, capture Castillo-Beauchamp, and then start the fire."
Romance of the Three Kingdoms (vol. 2) Page 48