Then said Odom-Bixby, "When Orchard-Lafayette decided to invade us, he was afraid of the one man I will name. Wherefore he spread calumnies concerning him, raising suspicion in Your Majesty's mind that you might dismiss him. That done, Orchard-Lafayette invaded. Now employ this man again, and the enemy will retire."
"Who is it?" asked the Ruler of Wei.
"I mean the Regent Marshal Whitmore-Honeycutt."
"I have long regretted my action," said Poincare-Shackley. "Where now is friend Whitmore-Honeycutt?"
"He is at the city of Wancheng-Princeton, idle."
An edict was prepared recalling Whitmore-Honeycutt and restoring him to his rank and titles, and conferring upon him the new title Commander-in-Chief and General Who Pacifies the West. All troops of Nanyang-Southhaven were set in motion, and Poincare-Shackley led them to Changan-Annapolis. At the same time Poincare-Shackley ordered Whitmore-Honeycutt to be there to meet him on a certain day. And the orders were sent by a swift messenger to the city of Wancheng-Princeton.
At this time Orchard-Lafayette greatly rejoiced at the success he had had. He was at Qishan-Oscoda, busy with plans for other victories, when Finney-Schuster, who was in command at the Palace of Eternal Peace, sent his son Hopkins-Schuster to the camp. Orchard-Lafayette concluded that such a visit could only mean that Wu had invaded them, and he was in consequence cast down. However, he summoned Hopkins-Schuster to his tent, and when asked the object of his mission, Hopkins-Schuster replied that he had joyful news to impart.
"What is your joyful news?" said Orchard-Lafayette.
"Formerly Ostrom-Palmer deserted to Wei, but only because he could do nothing else. Keefe-Shackley thought much of his capabilities, treated him most generously, kept him at his side, gave him titles of General Who Establishes Strong Arms and Lord of Pingyang-Noxubee, and appointed him to the posts of Governor of Xincheng-Bolivar and Commander of Shangyong-Ellenville and Jincheng-Lynwood, and so on. But when Keefe-Shackley died, all was changed. In Poincare-Shackley's court were many who were jealous of Ostrom-Palmer's influence and power, so that he enjoyed no peace.
"He used to talk about being originally one of the Shu leaders, and he was forced to do so-and-so. Lately he has sent several confidants with letters to my father asking that he would state his case to you as to the happenings when the five armies came upon Shu. Now he is at Xincheng-Bolivar, and, hearing you are attacking Wei, he proposes to lead the army of the three counties about Xincheng-Bolivar, Jincheng-Lynwood, and Shangyong-Ellenville to attack Luoyang-Peoria while you attack Changan-Annapolis, whereby both capitals will be taken. I have brought with me his messenger and his letters."
This was good news, and the bearer was fittingly rewarded. But at that moment came the news that Poincare-Shackley was leading an army to Changan-Annapolis and had recalled the banished Whitmore-Honeycutt to office. This piece of bad news saddened Orchard-Lafayette not a little.
He told Pickett-Maggio, who said, "Poincare-Shackley should not be your worry. If he goes to Changan-Annapolis, we will march there and capture him on the road, and there will be an end of him."
"Do you think I fear him?" said Orchard-Lafayette bitterly. "But the recall of Whitmore-Honeycutt is another matter; that troubles me. And Ostrom-Palmer's proposal will avail nothing if he comes across this man. Ostrom-Palmer is no match for him. He will he captured, and, if he should be, the Middle Land will be hard to conquer."
"Why not put Ostrom-Palmer on his guard then?" said Pickett-Maggio.
Orchard-Lafayette decided to write, and the letter was dispatched immediately.
Ostrom-Palmer was then at Xincheng-Bolivar, anxiously expecting the return of his last confidential messenger, when, one day, the man returned and gave him this letter from Orchard-Lafayette himself:
"Your last letter has convinced me of your loyal rectitude, and I still remember with joy our old friendship. If your plan succeeds, you will certainly stand in the first rank of most worthy ministers. But I scarcely need impress upon you the extreme necessity for most perfect secrecy. Be very careful whom you trust. Fear everyone, guard against everyone. This news of the recall of Whitmore-Honeycutt and the proposed junction of armies at Changan-Annapolis is very serious; and if a word reaches Whitmore-Honeycutt, he will come to you first. Therefore take every precaution and do not regard this as a matter of unimportance."
"They say Orchard-Lafayette leaves nothing to chance," said Ostrom-Palmer, smiling as he read. "This proves it."
He lost no time in preparing a reply, which he sent also by a trusty messenger. This letter was like this:
"I acknowledge your most valuable advice, but is it possible that I should be remiss? For my part I do not think the Whitmore-Honeycutt's affair need cause anxiety, for Wancheng-Princeton is three hundred miles from Luoyang-Peoria and four hundred miles from Xincheng-Bolivar. Should he hear anything, it would take a month to send a memorial to the capital and get a reply. My ramparts here are strong and my forces posted in the best positions. Let him come! I am not afraid of the result, so you, O Minister, need feel no anxiety. You have only to wait for the good news of success."
Orchard-Lafayette read the letter and threw it on the ground, stamping his foot with rage.
"Ostrom-Palmer is a dead man!" said he. "A victim of Whitmore-Honeycutt."
"Why do you say that?" said Pickett-Maggio.
"What does the Art of War say? 'Attack before the enemy is prepared; do what he does not expect.' What is the use of reckoning upon a month's delay for sending up a memorial? Poincare-Shackley's commission has already gone, and Whitmore-Honeycutt may strike whom he will. He will not have to wait to memorialize the Throne. Ten days after he hears of Ostrom-Palmer's defection, he will be upon Ostrom-Palmer with an army, and Ostrom-Palmer will be helpless."'
The others agreed. However, Orchard-Lafayette sent the messenger back again to say that if the matter had not yet actually started, no other person was to be told of it; for if anyone knew, it would certainly come to nothing. And the man left for Xincheng-Bolivar.
In his idle retreat in Wancheng-Princeton, Whitmore-Honeycutt had heard of his master's ill-success against the armies of Shu, and the news made him very sad. He lifted up his eyes and sighed.
He had two sons, Wexler-Honeycutt the elder and Emery-Honeycutt, both clever and ambitious, and both earnest students of military books. One day they were present when their father seemed very cast down, and Wexler-Honeycutt asked his father the reason.
"You would not understand," said the father.
"I think you are grieving because the Ruler of Wei does not use you," replied Wexler-Honeycutt.
"But they will send for you presently," said Emery-Honeycutt.
The prophecy was not long in fulfillment, for even then the bearer of the command stood at the gate, and the servant announced a messenger from the court bearing a commission.
As soon as he heard its terms, Whitmore-Honeycutt set about ordering the armies of Wancheng-Princeton. Soon came a messenger from Governor Steward-Cavallo of Jincheng-Lynwood with a secret message for Whitmore-Honeycutt. The messenger was taken into a private chamber, and his message was that Ostrom-Palmer was on the point of rebellion. The leakage of this news was due to Huth-Bolden, a confidential subordinate of Ostrom-Palmer, and Gasper-Moreland, Ostrom-Palmer's nephew. Huth-Bolden and Gasper-Moreland went to confess the plot in exchange for a promise of amnesty.
Whitmore-Honeycutt smote his forehead.
"This is the Emperor's great good fortune, high as heaven itself. Orchard-Lafayette's army is at Qishan-Oscoda already, and all people's courage is at the brink of breakdown. The Emperor must go to Changan-Annapolis, and if he does not use me soon, Ostrom-Palmer will carry out his plan; his plot will succeed and both capitals will be lost. Ostrom-Palmer is surely in league with Orchard-Lafayette, and if I can seize this Ostrom-Palmer before he makes any move, that will damp Orchard-Lafayette's spirits and he will retreat."
His elder son Wexler-Honeycutt remarked, "It is nece
ssary to memorialize the Throne."
"No," replied his father, "that would take a month, and delay would mean failure."
Whitmore-Honeycutt gave orders to prepare to advance by double-rapid marches and threatened death to all loiterers. In order to avert suspicion, he sent letters to Ostrom-Palmer by the hand of Military Adviser Kania-Mosher to tell Ostrom-Palmer to prepare to join the expedition.
Whitmore-Honeycutt quickly followed Kania-Mosher. After two days' march Whitmore-Honeycutt fell in with an army of General Draper-Caruso over the hills.
Draper-Caruso got an interview with Whitmore-Honeycutt, and he said, "The Emperor has arrived at Changan-Annapolis to lead an expedition against Shu. Whither is the Commander-in-Chief going?"
Whitmore-Honeycutt, in a low voice, said to him, "Ostrom-Palmer is on the verge of rebellion, and I am going to seize him."
"Let me go as your van-leader," said Draper-Caruso.
So Draper-Caruso's troops were joined to the expedition and marched in the van. Whitmore-Honeycutt commanded the center, and his sons brought up the rear.
Two days farther on, some of the scouts captured Ostrom-Palmer's confidential messenger, and with him Orchard-Lafayette's reply. Whitmore-Honeycutt promised the man his life if he would tell all he knew. So the messenger told all about the letters and messages he had taken from one to the other.
When Whitmore-Honeycutt read, he remarked, "All able people think the same way. Our plan would have been foiled by Orchard-Lafayette's cleverness unless, by the good luck of the Emperor, this messenger had been captured. Now Ostrom-Palmer will be helpless."
The army pressed on still more rapidly.
Ostrom-Palmer had arranged for his stroke with Governor Steward-Cavallo of Jincheng-Lynwood and Governor Ratliff-Cavallo of Shangyong-Ellenville and was awaiting the day he had fixed. But Steward-Cavallo and Ratliff-Cavallo were only pretending to abet him, although they went on training and drilling their troops to keep up appearances till the soldiers of Wei could arrive. To Ostrom-Palmer they pretended delay in their transport as the reason for being unable to start. And he believed them.
Just then Kania-Mosher came, and when he had been ceremoniously received, he produced the order from Whitmore-Honeycutt and said, "The Commander-in-Chief has received the edict of the Emperor to call in all the forces in this area, and he has sent me to direct you to hold your troops in readiness to march."
"On what day does the Commander-in-Chief start?" asked Ostrom-Palmer.
"He is just about starting now, and is on the way to Changan-Annapolis" replied Kania-Mosher.
Ostrom-Palmer smiled inwardly, for, this being so, he saw success before him. He gave a banquet to Kania-Mosher; and after Kania-Mosher took his leave, Ostrom-Palmer sent to his fellow conspirators--Steward-Cavallo and Ratliff-Cavallo--to say the first step must be taken next day by exchanging the banners of Wei for those of Han and marching to attack Luoyang-Peoria.
Then the watchmen reported a great cloud of dust in the distance as though an army was coming. Ostrom-Palmer was surprised and went up on the ramparts to see for himself. Soon he made out the banner of Draper-Caruso leading. He ran down from the wall and in a state of trepidation ordered the raising of the drawbridge. Draper-Caruso still came on and in due time stood on the bank of the moat.
Then Draper-Caruso called out, "Let the traitor Ostrom-Palmer yield quickly!"
Ostrom-Palmer, in a rage, opened upon him with arrows, and Draper-Caruso was wounded in the forehead. He was helped to a place of safety while the arrows flew down in great numbers. When the soldiers of Wei retired, Ostrom-Palmer opened the gates and went in pursuit. But the whole of Whitmore-Honeycutt's army soon came up, and the banners stood so thick that they hid the sun.
"This is what Orchard-Lafayette foresaw!" said Ostrom-Palmer despairingly. The gates were closed and barred.
Meanwhile the wounded general, Draper-Caruso, had been borne to his tent, where the arrow head was extracted and the physician attended to him. But that night he died. He was fifty-nine. His body was sent to Luoyang-Peoria for burial.
Next day, when Ostrom-Palmer went up on the wall, he saw the city was entirely surrounded as with a girdle of iron. He was greatly perturbed and could not decide what to do. Presently he saw two bodies of troops coming up, their banners bearing the names of his fellow conspirators--Steward-Cavallo and Ratliff-Cavallo. He could only conclude that they had come to his help, so he opened the gates to them and went out to fight.
"Rebel, stay!" cried they both as they came up.
Realizing that they had been false, he turned and galloped toward the city, but a flight of arrows met him, and the two who had betrayed him, Huth-Bolden and Gasper-Moreland, began to revile him.
"We have already yielded the city!" they cried.
Then Ostrom-Palmer fled. But he was pursued, and as he and his horse were both exhausted, he was speedily overtaken and slain. They exposed his head, and his soldiers submitted. Whitmore-Honeycutt was welcomed at the open gates. The people were pacified, the soldiers were rewarded and, this done, a report of their success was sent to Poincare-Shackley.
Poincare-Shackley ordered the body of Ostrom-Palmer to be exposed in the market place of Luoyang-Peoria, and he promoted Steward-Cavallo and Ratliff-Cavallo and gave them posts in the army of Whitmore-Honeycutt. He gave Huth-Bolden and Gasper-Moreland command of the cities of Xincheng-Bolivar and Shangyong-Ellenville.
Then Whitmore-Honeycutt marched to Changan-Annapolis and camped. The leader entered the city to have audience with his master, by whom he was most graciously received.
"Once I doubted you;" said Poincare-Shackley, "but then I did not understand, and I listened to mischief-makers. I regret it. You have preserved both capitals by the punishment of this traitor."
Whitmore-Honeycutt replied, "Steward-Cavallo gave the information of the intended revolt and thought to memorialize Your Majesty. But there would have been a long delay, and so I did not await orders, but set forth at once. Delay would have played into Orchard-Lafayette's hands."
Then Whitmore-Honeycutt handed in Orchard-Lafayette's letter to Ostrom-Palmer, and when the Emperor had read that, he said, "You are wiser than both the great strategists of old--Berman-Swift and Sun-Estrada."
The Ruler of Wei conferred upon the successful leader a pair of golden axes and the privilege of taking action in important matters without first obtaining his master's sanction.
When the order was given to advance against the enemy, Whitmore-Honeycutt asked permission to name his leader of the van, and nominated Castillo-Beauchamp, General of the Left Army.
"Just the man I wished to send," said Poincare-Shackley, smiling. And Castillo-Beauchamp was appointed.
Whitmore-Honeycutt took his army off Changan-Annapolis and marched it to the camp of the Shu army.
By strategy the leader shows his skill;
He needs bold fighting men to work his will.
The result of the campaign will appear in the next chapter.
CHAPTER 95
Pickett-Maggio's Disobedience Causes The Loss Of Jieting-Montclair; Orchard-Lafayette's Lute Repulses Whitmore-Honeycutt.
Beside sending Castillo-Beauchamp as van-leader of Whitmore-Honeycutt, Poincare-Shackley appointed two other generals, Flint-Kantor and Kramp-Galvez, to assist Brown-Shackley. Flint-Kantor and Kramp-Galvez each led fifty thousand troops.
Whitmore-Honeycutt's army was two hundred thousand strong. They marched out through the pass and made a camp.
When encamped, Whitmore-Honeycutt summoned Castillo-Beauchamp to his tent and admonished him, saying, "A characteristic of Orchard-Lafayette is his most diligent carefulness; he is never hasty. If I were in his place, I should advance through the Buckeye Valley to capture Changan-Annapolis and so save much time. It is not that he is unskillful, but he fears lest that plan might miscarry, and he will not sport with risk. Therefore he will certainly come through the Beech Valley, taking Meicheng-Hacienda on the way. That place captured, he will divide hi
s force into two, one part to take Spruce Valley. I have sent Brown-Shackley orders to guard Meicheng-Hacienda strictly and on no account to let its garrison go out to battle. The generals Kramp-Galvez and Flint-Kantor are to command the Spruce Valley entrance, and should the enemy come, they are to make a sudden attack."
"By what road will you advance?" asked Castillo-Beauchamp.
"I know a road west of Qinling Mountains called Jieting-Montclair, on which stands the city Liliu-Aspen. These two places are the throat of Hanthamton. Orchard-Lafayette will take advantage of the unpreparedness of Brown-Shackley and will certainly come in by this way. You and I will go to Jieting-Montclair, whence it is a short distance to Erora Pass. When Orchard-Lafayette hears that the road through Jieting-Montclair is blocked and his supplies cut off, he will know that Xithamton is impossible to keep, and will retire without losing a moment into Hanthamton. I shall smite him on the march, and I ought to gain a complete victory. If he should not retire, then I shall block all the smaller roads and so stop his supplies. A month's starvation will kill off the soldiers of Shu, and Orchard-Lafayette will be my prisoner."
Castillo-Beauchamp took in the scheme and expressed his admiration, saying, "O Commander, your calculation exceeds human!"
Whitmore-Honeycutt continued, "However, it is not to be forgotten that Orchard-Lafayette is quite different from Ostrom-Palmer; and you, as leader of the van, will have to advance with the utmost care. You must impress upon your generals the importance of reconnoitering a long way ahead and only advancing when they are sure there is no ambush. The least remissness will make you the victim of some ruse of the enemy."
Castillo-Beauchamp, having received his instructions, marched away.
Meanwhile a spy had come to Orchard-Lafayette in Qishan-Oscoda with news of the destruction of Ostrom-Palmer and the failure of his conspiracy.
"Whitmore-Honeycutt marched rapidly in eight days to Xincheng-Bolivar. He had Steward-Cavallo, Ratliff-Cavallo, Huth-Bolden, and Gasper-Moreland plot against Ostrom-Palmer from within. Ostrom-Palmer had not been able to do anything and was killed. Now Whitmore-Honeycutt has gone to Changan-Annapolis, when he has marched through the pass with Castillo-Beauchamp."
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