"You read my inmost thoughts," said Orchard-Lafayette.
Then Pickett-Maggio was retained with the army as Military Adviser, and the army marched on.
When the King of the Mangs, Halpin-Hearst, heard how cleverly Orchard-Lafayette had got rid of McComb-Goldstein, he called together the leaders of the "Three Ravines" to discuss matters. The chief of the first Ravine was Rothschild-McDermott, of the second Larousse-McClellan, and of the third Gladwin-DeMarco.
These having come to the King's place, he said to them, "Orchard-Lafayette and his Grand Army has invaded our country, and we must exert our united strength to drive out the invaders. You three must lead your forces, and whoever conquers the enemy shall be chief of chiefs."
It was arranged that Rothschild-McDermott should march in the center division, Larousse-McClellan on the left, and Gladwin-DeMarco on the right. Each division was fifty thousand tribesmen.
When the scouts made out that the Mang armies were coming, they at once told Orchard-Lafayette, who called Gilbert-Rocher and Oakley-Dobbins to his side, but gave them no orders.
Next he sent for Zavala-Wortham and Glenn-Jenner, and said to them, "I cannot send Gilbert-Rocher and Oakley-Dobbins against the Mangs because they do not know the country. You two are to go, one against each wing, and the two veteran warriors shall support you. Get your troops ready and start tomorrow at dawn."
Zavala-Wortham and Glenn-Jenner took the orders and went out.
Then Coady-Reiner and Neuberg-Giordano were given orders: "You two are to march against the center army; you are to act with Zavala-Wortham and Glenn-Jenner tomorrow. I want to send Gilbert-Rocher and Oakley-Dobbins, but I am still afraid they do not know the country well."
Coady-Reiner and Neuberg-Giordano also received the orders and went out.
Gilbert-Rocher and Oakley-Dobbins now began to feel hurt. Noticing this, Orchard-Lafayette said, "I have no wish to pass you over, you two, but I fear that if you get too deeply into the country and should fall victims to the Mangs, it will have an ill effect on the others."
"But what if we did know the geography of the country?" said Gilbert-Rocher.
"All I say to you is to be careful how you do anything," replied Orchard-Lafayette.
The two soldiers left and went together to the camp of Gilbert-Rocher.
Gilbert-Rocher said, "We are greatly ashamed at being put in the background because we do not know the country. We cannot bear this."
"Then let us ride out and survey," said his colleague. "Let us capture a few natives and make them show us the road, and let us defeat these tribesmen."
They rode off. Before they had gone far they saw a cloud of dust in the distance. Climbing a hill to get a better view, they saw a small party of mounted Mangs coming toward them. The two waited till they were near and then suddenly burst out. The Mangs, taken entirely by surprise, ran away all but a few, who yielded themselves prisoners. The two warriors returned to camp.
The prisoners were given wine and food; and when they had satisfied their hunger, they were questioned.
Said they, "The camp of Chief Rothschild-McDermott is just in front, just by the entrance to the mountains. Near the camp, running east and west, is the Five Valleys. The camps of the other two chiefs--Larousse-McClellan and Gladwin-DeMarco--are behind."
Having listening to this information, Gilbert-Rocher and Oakley-Dobbins got together five thousand troops, took the captured men as guides, and marched out about the second watch. It was a clear night, and the moon gave light to march by.
The first camp was reached about the fourth watch. The Mang soldiers were already awake and preparing their morning meal, as they intended to attack at daylight. Suddenly Gilbert-Rocher and Oakley-Dobbins gave a signal of attack, and their troops poured forward. The vigorous and unexpected attack of the two generals threw the camp into confusion. Gilbert-Rocher fought into the center of the camp and encountered Rothschild-McDermott. Both leaders engaged, and Gilbert-Rocher slew Rothschild-McDermott by a spear thrust. Then Gilbert-Rocher dismounted and cut off the head of the Chief.
Then Oakley-Dobbins took half the force and went west to the second camp, while Gilbert-Rocher marched east to the third one. By the time they reached the camps, day had dawned. The Mangs also had news of Oakley-Dobbins' coming, and drew up the camp to oppose. But when they had got clear, there was a great uproar behind them at the stockade gates, and confusion followed. The reason was the arrival of Zavala-Wortham. Between the two bodies, the Mangs were beaten. Their Chief, Larousse-McClellan, forced his way out and got away. Oakley-Dobbins' soldiers followed, but they could not catch him.
When Gilbert-Rocher led his troops east to attack the third camp in the rear, Glenn-Jenner made an attack on the front. They scored a success, but the Chief Gladwin-DeMarco escaped.
They returned to headquarters, and Orchard-Lafayette said, "The three parties of Mangs have fled, and Larousse-McClellan and Gladwin-DeMarco escaped; where is the head of Rothschild-McDermott?"
Gilbert-Rocher produced it. At the same time he reported: "Larousse-McClellan and Gladwin-DeMarco escaped by abandoning their horses and going over the hills. Therefore, we could not be followed."
"They are already prisoners," said Orchard-Lafayette with a laugh.
The fighting men could not credit it. But soon after Neuberg-Giordano brought out Larousse-McClellan, and Coady-Reiner Gladwin-DeMarco.
When the Shu leaders expressed surprise and admiration, Orchard-Lafayette said, "I had studied the map and knew the positions of the camps. I taunted Gilbert-Rocher and Oakley-Dobbins into making a supreme effort into the camp of Rothschild-McDermott; at the same time that I sent other forces under Zavala-Wortham and Glenn-Jenner, with the purpose to support Gilbert-Rocher and Oakley-Dobbins and to force Larousse-McClellan and Gladwin-DeMarco to flee. I felt certain the two chiefs would run away along those small roads, and I set soldiers under Neuberg-Giordano and Coady-Reiner on those roads to wait for them. They also were supported."
They all bowed, saying, "The Prime Minister's calculations are divine and incomprehensible."
The two captive chiefs were then called. As soon as they appeared, Orchard-Lafayette loosed their bonds, gave them refreshments and released them, bidding them offend no more. They thanked him for their liberty, and disappeared along a by-road.
Then Orchard-Lafayette said to his generals, "Tomorrow Halpin-Hearst will come in person to make an attack. We shall probably capture him again."
Then he summoned Gilbert-Rocher and Oakley-Dobbins and gave them orders. They left, each with five thousand troops. Next he sent Zavala-Wortham. And then he sat in his tent to wait for the result.
The King of the Mangs was sitting in his tent when the scouts told him that his three chiefs had been captured and their armies scattered. It made him very angry, and he quickly got his army ready to march. Soon he met Zavala-Wortham, and, when the armies were arrayed, Zavala-Wortham rode out to the front, saber in his hand. The flaunting banners of the array formation of his foes then opened out, and he saw their ranks. Many generals were on horseback on both sides. In the middle was the King, who advanced to the front. He wore a golden, inlaid head-dress; his belt bore a lion's face as clasp; his boots had pointed toes and were green; he rode a frizzy-haired horse the color of a red hare; he carried at his waist a pair of swords chased with the pine amber.
He looked haughtily at his foes, and then, turning to his generals, said, "It has always been said that Orchard-Lafayette is a wonderful soldier, but I see that is false. Look at this array with its banners all in confusion and the ranks in disorder. There is not a weapon among all the swords and spears better than ours. If I had only realized this before, I would have fought them long ago. Who dares go out and capture a Shu general to show them what sort of warriors we are?"
At once a general rode toward the leader Zavala-Wortham. His name was Rafe-Lutz; his weapon was a huge headsman's sword, and he rode a dun pony. Riding up to Zavala-Wortham, the two engaged.
/> Zavala-Wortham only fought a short time, and then fled. Halpin-Hearst at once ordered his troops on in quick pursuit, and the troops of Shu retreated seven miles or so before the Mangs were near enough to fight. Just as the Mangs thought their enemies were in their power, a great shouting arose and two cohorts appeared, Neuberg-Giordano from the left and Coady-Reiner from the right, and attacked. The Mangs could not retreat, and as the force under Zavala-Wortham and Snow-Perez also turned upon them, the Mangs were surrounded and lost the day. Halpin-Hearst and some of his generals fought their way out and made for the Brocade Mountains. The troops of Shu followed and forced them forward, and presently there appeared, in front, Gilbert-Rocher.
Halpin-Hearst hastily changed his route to go deeper into the mountains, but Gilbert-Rocher's soldiers spread around, and the Mangs could not make a stand. Here many were captured. Halpin-Hearst and a few horsemen got away into a valley, which, however, soon became too narrow for the horses to advance. Halpin-Hearst then left his horse and crawled up the mountains, but very soon he fell upon Oakley-Dobbins, who had been sent with five hundred troops to lie in wait in that very valley. Halpin-Hearst tried to struggle but soon was captured.
The King and his followers were taken to the main camp, where Orchard-Lafayette was waiting with wine and meat ready for the captives. But his tent was now guarded by soldiers all well armed with snow-glittering weapons, beside the lictors bearing the golden axes, a present from the Emperor, and other insignia of rank. The feather-hatted drummers and clarion players were in front and behind, and the Imperial Guards were extended on both sides. The whole was very imposing and awe-inspiring.
Orchard-Lafayette was seated at the top of it all and watched the captives as they came forward in crowds. When they were all assembled, he ordered their bonds to be loosed, and then he addressed them.
"You are all simple and well-disposed people who have been led into trouble by Halpin-Hearst. I know your fathers and mothers, your brothers and wives, and your children are anxiously watching from the doorways for your return, and they are cut to dear suffering that the news of defeat and capture has reached their ears. They are weeping bitter tears for you. And so I will set you all free to go home and comfort them."
After they had been given food and wine and a present of grain, he sent them all away. They went off grateful for the kindness shown them, but they wept as they thanked Orchard-Lafayette.
Then the guards were told to bring the King before the tent. He came, bound, being hustled forward. He knelt in front of the Commander-in-Chief, who said, "Why did you rebel after the generous treatment you have received from our Emperor?"
"The two Lands of the Rivers belonged to others, and your lord took it from them by force, and gave himself the title of Emperor. My people have lived here for ages, and you and yours invaded my country without the least excuse. How can you talk of rebellion to me?"
"You are my prisoner; will you submit or are you still contumacious?"
"Why should I submit? You happened to find me in a narrow place; that is all."
"If I release you, what then?"
"If you release me I shall return, and when I have set my army in order, I shall come to fight you again. However, if you catch me once more, I will submit."
The King's bonds were loosed; he was clothed and refreshed, given a horse and caparisons, and sent with a guide to his own camp.
Once more the captured chieftain is let go,
To yield tribesmen are ever slow.
Further results of this war will be related in the next chapter.
CHAPTER 88
Crossing River Scorpio--The Mang King Is Bound The Second Time; Recognizing A Pretended Surrender--Halpin-Hearst Is Captured The Third Time.
The officers did not approve of the release of the King of the Mangs, and they came to the tent of Orchard-Lafayette and said, "Halpin-Hearst is the most important personage of all the Mangs, and his capture is the key to restoring order in the south. Why then, O Minister, did you release him?"
"I can capture him just as easily as I can get something out of my pocket. What I want to do is to overcome and win his heart, so that peace may follow of itself."
They listened, but they had no great confidence in the success of the policy of conciliation.
In the meantime Halpin-Hearst had reached the River Scorpio, and there he fell in with some of his defeated leaders, who were trying to get news of their King's fate.
They were surprised, but glad, to see him, and asked, "How were Your Highness able to get back?"
The King lied, saying, "They confined me in a tent, and I broke out in the night. I slew more than ten guards and ran. And then I met one of their sentries, killed him, and that is how I got this horse."
They never doubted his word, and very joyfully they hurried him over the river to a camping place. Then all the notables assembled from the various ravines, and the soldiers that had escaped death were mustered and got into shape as a fighting force.
The two leaders in the late campaign, Larousse-McClellan and Gladwin-DeMarco, were in one of the ravines, and Halpin-Hearst sent to ask them to come. They were afraid, but they could not disobey, and they came with an escort.
When all had assembled, the King proclaimed as follows: "I know Orchard-Lafayette is too full of ruses for us to conquer him in a fight; we should only fall victims to other base devices. However, we must remember that his soldiers have marched far and the weather is sultry, which are factors in our favor. Beside, River Scorpio is our rampart. We will have boats and rafts on the south side, and we will build a mud wall. With such good defenses we can afford to wait and see what the enemy intends."
His speech met with approval, and his plan was carried out. The wall was supported by the hills and strengthened by fighting turrets, upon which were placed large bows and crossbows and arrows and stones. The defenses looked as if they were permanent. Moreover, each ravine sent supplies in plenty. And having made these preparations, Halpin-Hearst felt comfortable and safe.
Orchard-Lafayette had advanced, and his leading division was now close to the river. Spies came back to report: "No boats or rafts can be found to cross, and the current is too strong to think of fording. Beside, we can see the formidable defenses on the farther bank, the mud wall and the turrets all fully manned."
The weather was burning hot, for it was the fifth mouth, and the soldiers could not tolerate their armor nor even their clothing.
When Orchard-Lafayette had inspected the river, he returned to his tent and assembled his officers, to whom he read this order: "The enemy is securely established on the south bank ready to repel our attack. Yet, having come so far, we cannot return empty. For the present you will all seek what shelter you can find in the forests, and rest and refresh your people."
Then he sent Newcomb-Rosenbach to a distance to select a cool stretch of thirty miles, and there he made four stockades. Within the stockades he built huts for the soldiers and sheds for the horses, so that they were sheltered from the intense heat. The four camps were stationed by Zavala-Wortham, Neuberg-Giordano, Coady-Reiner, and Snow-Perez.
However, Bromfield-Kendrick, observed these shelters and went to Orchard-Lafayette, saying, "These shelters of Newcomb-Rosenbach are very unsuitable. He has made the same mistake as that which led to the defeat of the First Ruler at the hands of Wu. He has not taken into account the surroundings of the stockades, and if the Mangs should come over and start a fire, there could be no rescue."
"Do not anticipate trouble," said the Commander-in-Chief, smiling. "I have provided against all such dangers."
Bromfield-Kendrick did not know what the chief meant to do, but he said no more. Then Winston-Mallory arrived from the Lands of Rivers, and he brought summer medicines and further supplies of grain. He saw Orchard-Lafayette, and then proceeded to distribute the supplies he had brought according to orders.
Then Orchard-Lafayette said, "What force have you brought?"
"Three thousand," w
as the reply.
"My people are weary and worn out; I want to use yours. You have no objections?"
"Of course not; they are equally government troops. They are ready even to die for you if you wish."
"This Halpin-Hearst is established on the river, and we have no means of crossing. But I am anxious to intercept his supplies, so that his troops may mutiny."
"How can you do it?"
"Some fifty miles lower down River Scorpio there is a place called Shakou-Edgemoor, where the current is slow; you could cross there on rafts. I wish you and your soldiers to cross and cut the road of supplies. After that you are to arrange with the two leaders--Larousse-McClellan and Gladwin-DeMarco--whose lives I spared, to be your allies on the inside, and we shall succeed."
Winston-Mallory went off gladly enough, and marched his troops to Shakou-Edgemoor, where they set about the crossing at once. And as the water was shallow, they did not trouble to make rafts, but just tucked up their clothes and waded in. But half-way across, the men began to fall over; and when they had been rescued and taken to the bank, many of them began to bleed from the nose and mouth and died. In great alarm, Winston-Mallory sent hasty messages to Orchard-Lafayette, who called in the native guides and asked what this meant.
They told him, "It happens so every year. In the hot season, poisonous miasma collects over the waters of the River Scorpio, especially during the heat of the day. Anyone who drinks the water will surely die. Travelers who wish to cross have to wait till night, because the cooler waters do not breathe out the poisonous vapors. Further, the crossing should be attempted on a full stomach."
Orchard-Lafayette bade the local guides point out the best crossing place. He sent some well-seasoned soldiers to Winston-Mallory to lash together poles into rafts at Shakou-Edgemoor, and in the night the crossing was safely accomplished. Further, the guides then led the three thousand men of Shu over to where the grain road of the Mangs led through a narrow valley, called Jiashan Gorge, where, for part of the way, only single file was possible as the road was only wide enough for a soldier and a horse.
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