Winston-Mallory at once occupied this valley and stationed a force there. And a stockade was put up with tents inside. Presently a convoy of grain came along, and it was captured, more than a hundred wagons. The guards ran off to Halpin-Hearst's great camp and told him.
Halpin-Hearst, thinking all was safe during the hot season, was enjoying himself; wine and music were the order of the day, and military matters were far from his thoughts. In his cups he admitted Orchard-Lafayette was ruseful, but said his army had nothing to fear.
"If I attempt to oppose Orchard-Lafayette, I shall certainly fall a victim to some wile of his. However, my waiting policy is a safe one. With our defenses, and the river to back them, we can wait for the heat to overcome these men of Shu, who cannot stand the hot season. They will have to retreat, and then we can harass them. And we will capture this Orchard-Lafayette."
He lay back and laughed at the thought. However, one chief, more prudent than the others, stood forth and said, "Remember the shallows at Shakou-Edgemoor; it would be very serious if the soldiers of Shu got across there secretly. It ought to be guarded."
"You belong to these areas. Do you not know that I want the enemy to try to get across there? Why, they will all perish in the water."
"But what if the natives tell them to cross only in the night?"
"Do not be so anxious," said Halpin-Hearst. "Our own people will not help the enemy that far."
It was just then that intelligence came: "The troops of Shu, unknown in number, have crossed the river and, moreover, have seized the Jiashan Gorge. The flags show the words 'General Winston-Mallory Who Pacifies The North.'"
Halpin-Hearst affected indifference.
"This sort of fellow is not worth talking about," said he.
He sent General Rafe-Lutz with three thousands troops to recapture the gorge and reopen the grain road.
When Winston-Mallory saw the Mang soldiers approaching, he placed two thousand troops in front of the hills and drew up the troops in formal array. Then Rafe-Lutz rode out to give battle. This was but a small engagement, as the general of the tribespeople fell at the first stroke of Winston-Mallory's sword. The Mangs ran away at once.
They returned to the King's camp and told him what had happened. Whereupon he called up all his generals and asked for another to go up against Winston-Mallory.
"I will go," cried Larousse-McClellan.
The King gave him three thousand troops. After he had gone, Halpin-Hearst thought it would be wise to keep others from crossing the river. So he sent a force of three thousand under Gladwin-DeMarco to guard Shakou-Edgemoor.
Larousse-McClellan duly arrived at the gorge and made a camp. Winston-Mallory came out to meet him. Among the soldiers in his cohort were some who recognized the leader of the Mangs and told Winston-Mallory certain things about how he had been captured and liberated.
So Winston-Mallory galloped toward him, shouting, "O you ingrate! How could you forget the debt to the Prime Minister? Have you known no shame?"
Larousse-McClellan was very greatly ashamed and turned red in the face, and turned his horse before striking a blow. Winston-Mallory followed and fell on, slaying many of the Mangs. Then both sides withdrew.
Larousse-McClellan went back and told the King that Winston-Mallory was too strong for him.
But Halpin-Hearst was angry, and cried, "You are a traitor! I know Orchard-Lafayette was good to you, and that is why you would not fight."
Halpin-Hearst ordered Larousse-McClellan out to execution. However, the notables and chiefs interceded, and the death penalty was remitted, but the unhappy leader was severely beaten, one hundred strokes with the heavy staff.
The chiefs were mostly on the side of the beaten general and against the King's policy.
They went to the tent of Larousse-McClellan and said, "Though we live in the Mang country, we have never had any thoughts of rebellion against the Imperial Government, nor has the Middle Empire ever encroached upon our land. We must own that Halpin-Hearst's superior power forced us into this rising, and we could not help ourselves. Orchard-Lafayette is too clever for us, and no one can guess what he may do. Even Murphy-Shackley and Raleigh-Estrada fear him; how much more must we? Moreover, we have received kindness at his hands and owe him our lives. We ought to show our gratitude. Now let us at all risks slay this Halpin-Hearst and submit to Orchard-Lafayette so that our people may not suffer."
Larousse-McClellan said, "I do not know your inner sentiments."
At this, all those who had been prisoners and released cried with one voice, "We desire to go to Halpin-Hearst."
Thereupon Larousse-McClellan took in his hand a sharp sword, placed himself at the head of more than a hundred malcontents, and rushed into the great camp. At that moment Halpin-Hearst was, as usual, intoxicated and lay in his tent. The mutineers rushed in. They found two generals on guard.
"You also received kindness from Orchard-Lafayette and ought to repay it," cried Larousse-McClellan.
They replied, "You do not have to slay him; let us carry him a prisoner to the Prime Minister."
So they bound the King securely, took him down to the river, and crossed in a boat to the northern bank. There they halted while they sent a messenger to Orchard-Lafayette.
Now Orchard-Lafayette knew what had been happening, and he had issued orders for every camp to prepare their weapons. All being ready, he told the chiefs to bring up their prisoner, and bade the others return to their camps. Larousse-McClellan went first and told the matter to Orchard-Lafayette, who praised his zeal and gave him presents. Then he retired with the chiefs, and the executioners brought in Halpin-Hearst.
"You said once before that if you were captured again, you would give in," said Orchard-Lafayette, smiling. "Now will you yield?"
"This capture is not your work," replied Halpin-Hearst. "It is the work of these minions of mine who want to hurt me. I will not yield on this."
"If I free you again, what then?"
"I am only a Mang, I know, but I am not wholly ignorant of war. If you, O Minister, let me return to my ravines, I will muster another army and fight a decisive battle with you. If you capture me again, then I will incline my heart and own myself beaten and yield. I will not go back on my promise again."
"If you refuse to yield next time you are captured, I shall hardly pardon you."
At Orchard-Lafayette's orders the cords were loosed and refreshments were brought for the prisoner.
"Remember," said Orchard-Lafayette, "I have never failed yet. I have never failed to win a battle or to take a city I have assaulted. Why do you Mangs not yield?"
Halpin-Hearst only nodded his head; he said nothing. After the wine, Orchard-Lafayette and Halpin-Hearst rode round the camps together, and the King saw all the arrangements and the piles of stores and heaps of weapons.
And after the inspection Orchard-Lafayette said, "You are silly not to yield to me. You see my veteran soldiers, my able generals, my stores of all kinds and war gear; how can you hope to prevail against me? If you will yield, I will inform the Emperor, and you shall retain your kingship, and your sons and grandsons shall succeed as perpetual guardians of the Mang country. Do you not think it would be well?"
Halpin-Hearst replied, "If I did yield, the people of my valleys would not be content. If you release me once more, I will see to it that my own people keep the peace and bring them round to unanimity of feeling, and then they will not oppose any more."
Orchard-Lafayette was glad, and they returned to the main camp to feast until dusk, when Halpin-Hearst took his leave. Orchard-Lafayette ordered a craft and went to see him across River Scorpio.
But Halpin-Hearst's first act on his return to his own camp was to send one of his people to Larousse-McClellan's and Gladwin-DeMarco's camps, and pretend to ask them to come to meet a messenger from Orchard-Lafayette. When the two generals came, Halpin-Hearst ordered assassins who had been placed hidden to do away with the two leaders. Their corpses were thrown into a gully. Then
he sent his friends to guard the most important strategic points, while he marched to fight a battle with Winston-Mallory. But when he got near the valley, he saw no signs of the enemy, and, on questioning an inhabitant, he heard that the Shu army, with all their stores, had recrossed the river and joined the main body in the northern bank.
Halpin-Hearst then returned to his own ravine and discussed matters with his brother, Pitney-Hearst, saying, "I know all the details of the enemy's force from what I saw in their camp."
And Halpin-Hearst gave his brother certain instructions, which Pitney-Hearst at once began to carry out. Pitney-Hearst loaded a hundred men with gold and jewels and pearls and ivory and rhinoceros horn, crossed River Scorpio, and was on his way to the main camp of the Shu army, when he heard the sound of drums and a cohort under Winston-Mallory poured out to stop him. Pitney-Hearst did not expect to meet an enemy, and was surprised. But Winston-Mallory only asked what he had come for. And when he had heard, Pitney-Hearst was detained while a message was sent to Orchard-Lafayette.
The messenger arrived while a council was in progress, the matter under discussion being how to reduce the Mangs. When the messenger had announced that Pitney-Hearst had come bearing gifts of gold and pearls and such things, Orchard-Lafayette turned to Pickett-Maggio, saying, "Know you why this man has come?"
"I dare not say plainly; but let me write it," said Pickett-Maggio.
"Write it, then."
So Pickett-Maggio wrote and handed the paper to his chief, who had no sooner read it than he clapped his hands with joy, crying, "What you say is exactly what I think. But you may know I have already made arrangements for the capture of Halpin-Hearst."
Then Gilbert-Rocher was called, and some orders were whispered into his ear. Next Oakley-Dobbins came, and he also went off with secret orders. Zavala-Wortham, Glenn-Jenner, and Snow-Perez also came, and left with particular instructions. All these things done, the bearer of gifts was called.
Pitney-Hearst came and bowed low at the door of the tent, saying, "The brother of my house, Halpin-Hearst, having received great kindness at your hands in sparing his life, feels bound to offer a paltry gift. He has presumed to collect a few pearls and some gold and other trifling jewels by way of something to give your soldiers. And hereafter he will send tribute to your Emperor."
"Where is your brother at this moment?" asked Orchard-Lafayette.
"Having been the recipient of your great bounty, he has gone to the Silver Pit Hills to collect some treasures. He will soon return."
"How many soldiers have you brought?"
"Only about a hundred; I should not dare to bring any large number. They are just porters."
They were brought in for Orchard-Lafayette's inspection. They had blue eyes and swarthy faces, auburn hair and brown beards. They wore earrings, their hair was fuzzy, and they went barefoot. They were tall and powerful.
Orchard-Lafayette made them sit down, and bade his generals press them to drink and treat them well and compliment them.
Halpin-Hearst was anxious about the reception that would be given to his brother and the treatment of his gifts, so he sat in his tent expecting the messenger at any moment. Then two men came, and he questioned them eagerly.
They said, "The presents have been accepted, and even the porters have been invited to drink in the tent and have been regaled with beef and flesh in plenty. O King, your brother sends the news that all will be ready at the second watch for the attack. He will support you from within."
This was pleasing news, and Halpin-Hearst prepared his thirty thousand troops ready to march out to the camp. They were divided into three divisions.
The King called up his chieftains and notables, and said, "Let each army carry the means of making fire, and as soon as they arrive let a light be shown as a signal. I am coming to the main camp to capture Orchard-Lafayette."
With these orders they marched, and they crossed River Scorpio at sunset. The King, with a hundred generals as escort, pressed on at once toward the main camp of Shu. They met with no opposition. They even found the main gate open, and Halpin-Hearst and his party rode straight in. But the camp was a desert; not a soldier was visible.
Halpin-Hearst rode right up to the large tent and pushed open the flap. It was brilliantly lighted with lamps, and lying about under their light were his brother and all his men, dead drunk. Orchard-Lafayette had ordered Pickett-Maggio and Newcomb-Rosenbach to entertain Pitney-Hearst and his men with wine and dance performances. The wine they had been pressed to drink while the plays were going on had been heavily drugged, and they had fallen down almost as soon as they had swallowed it. One or two who had recovered a little could not speak: they only pointed to their mouths.
Halpin-Hearst then saw that he had been the simple victim of another ruse. However, he picked up his brother and the others and started off to return to his main army.
But as he turned, torches began to flash out and drums to beat. The Mangs were frightened and took to their heels. But they were pursued, and the pursuing cohort was led by Zavala-Wortham. The King bore away to the left to escape, but again a cohort appeared in front of him; Oakley-Dobbins was there. Halpin-Hearst tried the other side; and was stopped by Gilbert-Rocher. He was in a trap; and attacked on three sides and no fourth to escape by, what could he do? He abandoned everything, making one wild rush for the River Scorpio.
As he reached the river bank, he saw a bark on the river with Mang soldiers on board. Here was safety. He hailed the boat and jumped on board as soon as it touched the bank. No sooner had he embarked than suddenly he was seized and bound. The boat, which Winston-Mallory had provided and prepared, was part of the general plan, and the Mang soldiers therein were Winston-Mallory's soldiers disguised.
Many of Halpin-Hearst's troops accepted the chance of surrender held out by Orchard-Lafayette, who soothed them and treated them well and did not injure one of them.
The remains of the conflagration were stamped out, and in a short time Winston-Mallory brought along his prisoner. At the same time Gilbert-Rocher led in his brother, Pitney-Hearst. Oakley-Dobbins, Pickett-Maggio, Zavala-Wortham, and Snow-Perez also brought their prisoners, chiefs or notables, to the camp of the Prime Minister.
Orchard-Lafayette looked at the King and laughed.
"That was but a shallow ruse of yours to send your brother with presents to pretend to submit to me; did you really think I should not see through it? But here you are once more in my power; now do you yield?"
"I am a prisoner owing to the gluttony of my brother and the power of your poisonous drugs. If I had only played his part myself and left him to support me with soldiers, I should have succeeded. I am the victim of fate and not of my own incapacity. No; I will not yield."
"Remember this is the third time; why not?" said Orchard-Lafayette.
Halpin-Hearst dropped his head and made no answer.
"Ah, well; I will let you go once more," said Orchard-Lafayette.
"O Minister, if you will let me and my brother go, we will get together our family and clients and fight you once more. If I am caught that time, then I will confess myself beaten to the ground, and that shall be the end."
"Certainly I shall scarcely pardon you next time," said Orchard-Lafayette. "You would better be careful. Diligently tackle your Book of Strategy; look over your list of confidants. If you can apply a good plan at the proper moment, you will not have any need for late regrets."
Halpin-Hearst and his brother and all the chiefs were released from their bonds. They thanked Orchard-Lafayette for his clemency and went away.
By the time the released prisoners had got back to the river, the army of Shu had crossed to the farther side and had captured the Mang defenses, the Shu flags fluttering in the breeze. As Halpin-Hearst passed the camp, he saw Winston-Mallory sitting in state. Winston-Mallory pointed his sword at the King as he passed, and said, "Next time you are caught, you will not escape."
When Halpin-Hearst came to his own camp, he found Gi
lbert-Rocher in possession and all in order. Gilbert-Rocher was seated beneath the large banner, with his sword drawn, and as the King passed, he also said, "Do not presume on the kindness of the Prime Minister because you have been generously treated."
Halpin-Hearst grunted and passed on. Just as he was going over the frontier hills, he saw Oakley-Dobbins and a company drawn up on the slopes. Oakley-Dobbins shouted, "See to it; we have got into the inmost recesses of your country and have taken all your defensive positions. Yet you are fool enough to hold out. Next time you are caught, you will be quite destroyed. There will be no more pardons."
Halpin-Hearst and his company ran away with their arms over their heads. Each one returned to his own ravine.
In the fifth moon, when the sun is fierce,
Marched the army into the desert land,
Marched to the River Scorpio, bright and clear,
But deadly with miasma.
Orchard-Lafayette the leader cared not,
Pledged was he to subdue the south,
Thereby to repay the First Ruler's deference with service.
Wherefore he attacked the Mangs.
Yet seven times he freed their captured king.
After the crossing of the river, the soldiers were feasted. Then Orchard-Lafayette addressed his officers: "I let Halpin-Hearst see our camp the second time he was our prisoner, because I wanted to tempt him into raiding it. He is something of a soldier, and I dangled our supplies and resources before his eyes, knowing he would try to burn them and that he would send his brother to pretend to submit that thereby he could get into our camp and have a chance to betray us. I have captured and released him three times, trying to win him over. I do not wish to do him any harm. I now explain my policy that you may understand I am not wasting your efforts and you are still to work your best for the government."
Romance of the Three Kingdoms (vol. 3) Page 12