Romance of the Three Kingdoms (vol. 3)

by Luo Guanzhong

  Then they caught a spy. He was taken into the presence of the Commander-in-Chief to be questioned.

  The man knelt down and said, "I am not really a spy in the bad sense. I was bringing a secret communication for you, Sir, but I was captured by one of the parties in ambush. Pray send away your attendants."

  The man's bonds were loosed and the tent cleared. The captive said, "I am a confidant of Sparrow-McCollum, who has entrusted me with a secret letter."

  "Where is the letter?"

  The man took it from among his garments and presented it to Brown-Shackley, who read:

  "I, Sparrow-McCollum, your guilty general, make a hundred prostrations to the great leader Brown-Shackley, now in the field. I have never forgotten that I was in the employment of Wei and disgraced myself; having enjoyed favors, I never repaid them. Lately I have been an unhappy victim of Orchard-Lafayette's wiles and so fell into the depths. But I never forgot my old allegiance; how could I forget?

  "Now happily the army of Shu has gone west, and Orchard-Lafayette trusts me. I rely upon your leading an army this way. If resistance be met, then you may simulate defeat and retire, but I shall be behind and will make a blaze as signal. Then I shall set fire to their stores, whereupon you will face about and attack. Orchard-Lafayette ought to fall into your hands. If it be that I cannot render service and repay my debt to the state, then punish me for my former crime.

  "If this should be deemed worthy of your attention, then without delay communicate your commands."

  The letter pleased Brown-Shackley, and he said, "This is heaven-sent help to aid me in an achievement."

  Brown-Shackley rewarded the messenger and bade him return to say that it was accepted. Then he called Baggett-Kowalski to his councils and said, "I have just had a secret letter from Sparrow-McCollum telling me to act in a certain fashion."

  But Baggett-Kowalski replied, "Orchard-Lafayette is very crafty, and Sparrow-McCollum is very knowing. If by chance Orchard-Lafayette has planned all this and sent this man, we may fall into a snare."

  "But Sparrow-McCollum is really a man of Wei; he was forced into surrender. Why are you suspicious?"

  "My advice is not to go, but to remain here on guard. Let me go to meet this man, and any service I can accomplish will redound to your credit. And if there be any craft, I can meet it for you."

  Brown-Shackley approved this and bade Baggett-Kowalski take fifty thousand troops by way of the Beech Valley.

  Baggett-Kowalski marched away and halted after the second or third stage and send out scouts. This was done, and the scouts reported that the Shu army was coming through the valley. Baggett-Kowalski at once advanced, but before the troops of Shu got into contact with him, they retired. Baggett-Kowalski pursued. Then the troops of Shu came on again. Just as Baggett-Kowalski was forming up for battle, the Shu army retreated again. And these maneuvers were repeated thrice, and a day and a night passed without any repose for the Wei army.

  At length rest was imperative, and they were on the point of entrenching themselves to prepare food when a great hubbub arose all around, and with beating of drums and blaring of trumpets, the whole country was filled with the soldiers of Shu. Suddenly there was a stir near by the great standard, and out came a small four-wheeled chariot in which sat Orchard-Lafayette. He bade a herald call the leader of the Wei army to a parley.

  Baggett-Kowalski rode out and, seeing Orchard-Lafayette, he secretly rejoiced. Turning to those about him, he said, "If the soldiers of Shu come on, you are to retire and look out for a signal. If you see a blaze, you are to turn and attack, for you will be reinforced by Sparrow-McCollum."

  Then Baggett-Kowalski rode to the front and shouted, "You rebel leader in front there; how dare you come here again after the last defeat?"

  Orchard-Lafayette replied, "Go and call Brown-Shackley to a parley."

  "My chief, Brown-Shackley, is of the royal stock; think you that he will come to parley with rebels?"

  Orchard-Lafayette angrily waved his fan, and there came forth Winston-Mallory and Neuberg-Giordano and their troops with a rush. The Wei army retired. But ere they had gone far, they saw a blaze in the rear of the advancing host of Shu and heard a great shouting. Baggett-Kowalski could only conclude that this was the signal of Sparrow-McCollum he was looking for, and so he faced about to attack.

  But the enemy also turned about and retired. Baggett-Kowalski led the pursuit, sword in hand, hastening to the point whence the shouting came. Nearing the signal fire, the drums beat louder than ever, and then out came two armies, one under Stanley-Perez and the other under Fritz-Chardin, while arrows and stones rained from the hill-tops. The Wei troops could not stand it and knew not only they were beaten, but beaten by a ruse. Baggett-Kowalski tried to withdraw his force into the shelter of the valley to rest, but the enemy pressed on him, and the army of Wei fell into confusion. Pressing upon each other, many fell into the streams and were drowned.

  Baggett-Kowalski could do nothing but flee for his life. Just as he was passing by a steep hill there appeared a cohort, and the leader was Sparrow-McCollum.

  Baggett-Kowalski began to upbraid him, crying, "Faithless ingrate! I have haplessly fallen in your treachery and craftiness!"

  Sparrow-McCollum replied, "You are the wrong victim; we meant to capture Brown-Shackley not you. You would do well to yield!"

  But Baggett-Kowalski only galloped away toward a ravine. Suddenly the ravine filled with flame. Then he lost all hope. The pursuers were close behind, so Baggett-Kowalski with a sword put an end to his own life.

  Of the army of Wei many surrendered. The Shu army pressed home their advantage and, hastening forward, reached Qishan-Oscoda and made a camp. There the army was mustered and put in order.

  Sparrow-McCollum received a reward, but he was chagrined that Brown-Shackley had not been taken.

  "My regret is that I did not slay Brown-Shackley," said he.

  "Indeed, yes," replied Orchard-Lafayette. "It is a pity that a great scheme should have had so poor a result."

  Brown-Shackley was very sad when he heard of the loss of Baggett-Kowalski. He consulted Norwood-Vicari as to a new plan to drive back the enemy.

  Meanwhile, flying messengers had gone to the capital with news of Orchard-Lafayette's arrival at Qishan-Oscoda and the defeat. Poincare-Shackley called Whitmore-Honeycutt to ask for a plan to meet these new conditions.

  "I have a scheme all ready, not only to turn back Orchard-Lafayette, but to do so without any exertion on our part. They will retire of their own will."

  Brown-Shackley's wits are dull; so he

  Fights on Whitmore-Honeycutt's strategy.

  The strategy will appear in the next chapter.

  CHAPTER 98

  Pursuing The Shu Army, Raush-Carlton Meets His Death; Raiding Chencang-Elberta, Orchard-Lafayette Scores A Victory.

  Now Whitmore-Honeycutt spoke to the Ruler of Wei, saying, "I have said repeatedly that Orchard-Lafayette would come against us by way of Chencang-Elberta; wherefore I set Duckett-Beebe to guard it. If an enemy did invade, he could easily obtain his supplies by that road; but with Duckett-Beebe and Raush-Carlton on guard there, he will not dare to come that way. It is very difficult to get supplies any other way. Therefore I can give the invaders a month to exhaust their food. Hence their advantage lies in forcing a battle; ours is postponing it as long as possible. Wherefore I pray Your Majesty order Brown-Shackley to hold passes and positions tenaciously and on no account to seek battle. In a month the enemy will have to retreat, and that will be our opportunity."

  Poincare-Shackley was pleased to hear so succinct a statement, but he said, "Since, Noble Sir, you foresaw all this so plainly, why did you not lead an army to prevent it?"

  "It is not because I grudged the effort, but I had to keep the army here to guard against Newell-Sanchez of Wu. Raleigh-Estrada will declare himself 'Emperor' before long. If he does, he will be afraid of Your Majesty's attack, and so he will try to invade us first. I shall be ready to defend
our frontier. The army is prepared."

  Just then one of the courtiers announced dispatches from Brown-Shackley on military affairs, and Whitmore-Honeycutt closed his speech, saying, "Your Majesty should send someone especially to caution the general to be careful not to be tricked by Orchard-Lafayette, not to pursue rashly, and never to penetrate deeply into the enemy country."

  The Ruler of Wei gave the order, and he sent the command by the hand of Minister Wade-Pollock and gave him authority to warn Brown-Shackley against giving battle.

  Whitmore-Honeycutt escorted the royal messenger out of the city and, at parting, said, "I am giving this magnificent opportunity to obtain glory to Brown-Shackley, but do not tell him the suggestion was mine; only quote the royal command. Tell him that defense is the best, pursuit is to be most cautious, and he is not to send any impetuous leader to follow up the enemy."

  Wade-Pollock agreed and took leave.

  Brown-Shackley was deep in affairs connected with his army when they brought news of a royal messenger, but he went forth to bid Wade-Pollock welcome; and when the ceremonial receipt of the edict had come to an end, he retired to discuss matters with Norwood-Vicari and Kramp-Galvez.

  "That is Whitmore-Honeycutt's idea," said Norwood-Vicari with a laugh.

  "But what of the idea?" asked Brown-Shackley.

  "It means that the man who perfectly understands Orchard-Lafayette's plans and who will eventually have to be called in to defeat them is our friend Whitmore-Honeycutt."

  "But if the Shu army holds its ground?"

  "We will send Raush-Carlton to reconnoiter and keep on the move along the by-roads so that they dare not attempt to bring up supplies. They must retreat when they have no more to eat, and we shall be able to beat them."

  Then said Kramp-Galvez, "Let me go out to Qishan-Oscoda as if to escort a convoy from Xithamton, only the carts shall be laden with combustibles instead of grain. We will sprinkle sulfur and saltpeter over wood and reeds. The troops of Shu, who lack supplies, will surely seize the convoy and take it to their own camp, when we will set fire to the carts. When they are blazing, our hidden men can attack."

  "It seems an excellent plan," said Brown-Shackley.

  And he issued the requisite orders: Kramp-Galvez to pretend to escort a convoy; Raush-Carlton to prowl about the by-roads; Norwood-Vicari and various generals to command in the Spruce Valley, Jieting-Montclair, and other strategic points. Also Harrell-Gonzalez, son of Lamkin-Gonzalez, was made leader of the van, and Meredith-Lockhart, son of Wein-Lockhart, was his second. These two were to remain on guard in the outermost camp.

  Now at Qishan-Oscoda, Orchard-Lafayette sought to bring on a battle, and daily sent champions to provoke a combat. But the men of Wei would not come out.

  Then Orchard-Lafayette called Sparrow-McCollum and certain others to him and said, "I do not know what to do. The enemy refuse battle, because they know we are short of food. We can get none by way of Chencang-Elberta, and all other roads are very difficult. I reckon the grain we brought with us will not last a month."

  While thus perplexed, they heard that many carts of provisions for Wei were passing by from Xithamton, and the convoy was commanded by Kramp-Galvez.

  "What is known of this Kramp-Galvez?" asked Orchard-Lafayette.

  A certain man of Wei replied, "He is a bold man. Once he was out hunting with the Ruler of Wei on Great Rock Hill, and a tiger suddenly appeared in front of his master's chariot. He jumped off his horse and dispatched the beast with his sword. He was rewarded with a leadership. He is an intimate friend of Brown-Shackley."

  "This is a ruse," said Orchard-Lafayette. "They know we are short of food, and those carts are only a temptation. They are laden with combustibles. How can they imagine that I shall be deceived by this sort of thing, when I have fought them with fire so many times? If we go to seize the convoy, they will come and raid our camp. But I will meet ruse with ruse."

  Then Orchard-Lafayette sent Winston-Mallory with order: "You and three thousand troops are to make your way to the enemy's store camp and, when the wind serves, to start a fire. When the stores are burning, the soldiers of Wei will come to surround our camp. That is how we will provoke a battle."

  He also sent Glenn-Jenner and Neuberg-Giordano with five thousand troops each to halt near the camp so that they might attack from without.

  These having gone, he called Stanley-Perez and Fritz-Chardin, and said, "The outermost camp of Wei is on the main road. This night, when the enemy see a blaze, our camp will be attacked, so you two are to lie in wait on the two sides of the Wei camp and seize it when they have left."

  Calling Reed-Simons and Ferris-Beaver, he said, "You are to lie in wait outside the camp to cut off the retreat of the force of Wei."

  All these arrangements made, Orchard-Lafayette betook himself to the summit of the Qishan Mountains to watch the results.

  The soldiers of Wei heard that their enemies were coming to seize the grain convoy and ran to tell Kramp-Galvez, who sent on a message to Brown-Shackley. Brown-Shackley sent to the chief camp to Harrell-Gonzalez and Meredith-Lockhart and told them to look out for a signal blaze; that would mean the coming of the army of Shu, and then they were to raid the Shu camp immediately. Watchers were sent on the tower to look out for the promised blaze.

  Meanwhile Kramp-Galvez marched over and hid in the west hills to await the coming of the men of Shu. That night, at the second watch, Winston-Mallory came with his three thousand troops all silent, the soldiers with gags, the horses with a lashing round their muzzles. They saw tier after tier of carts on the hills, making an enclosure like a walled camp, and on the carts were planted many flags.

  They waited. Presently the southwest wind came up, and then they launched the fire. Soon all the carts were in a blaze that lit up the sky. Kramp-Galvez saw the blaze and could only conclude that the troops of Shu had arrived and his own side were giving the signal, so he dashed out to attack. But soon two parties of soldiers were heard behind him closing in. These were Glenn-Jenner and Neuberg-Giordano, who soon had Kramp-Galvez as in a net. Then he heard a third ominous roll of drums, which heralded the approach of Winston-Mallory from the direction of the blaze.

  Under these several attacks, the troops of Wei quailed and gave way. The fire grew more and more fierce. Soldiers ran and horses stampeded, and the dead were too many to count. Kramp-Galvez made a dash through the smoke and fire of the battle and got away.

  When Harrell-Gonzalez and Meredith-Lockhart saw the fire, they threw open the gates of their camp and sallied forth to help defeat the army of Shu by seizing their camp. But when they reached the Shu camp, they found it empty. So they hurried to set out to return. That was the moment for Reed-Simons and Ferris-Beaver to appear and cut off their retreat. However, they fought bravely and got through. But when at length they reached their own camp, they were met by arrows flying thick as locusts. For Stanley-Perez and Fritz-Chardin had taken possession in their absence.

  They could only set out for headquarters to report their mishap. As they neared Brown-Shackley's camp, they met another remnant marching up. They were Kramp-Galvez's soldiers, and the two parties went into camp together and told the tale of their victimization. Brown-Shackley thereafter looked to his defenses and attacked no more.

  Thus victorious, the soldiers of Shu went to Orchard-Lafayette, who at once dispatched secret directions to Oakley-Dobbins. Then Orchard-Lafayette gave orders to break camp and retreat.

  This move was not understood, and Swensen-Crowley asked the leader, "O Minister, you have just scored a victory, and the enemy have lost their bravery; why retreat?"

  "Because we are short of food," said Orchard-Lafayette. "Our success lay in swift victory, but the enemy will not fight, and thus they weaken us day by day. Though we have worsted them now, they will soon be reinforced, and their light horse can cut off our provisions. Then we could not retreat at all. For a time they will not dare look at us, and we must take the occasion to do what they do not expect, and r
etreat. But I am solicitous about Oakley-Dobbins, who is on the Chencang-Elberta road to keep off Raush-Carlton. I fear he cannot get away. I have sent him certain orders to slay Raush-Carlton, and then the force of Wei will not dare to pursue."

  So the retreat began, but to deceive the enemy the watchmen were left in the empty camp to beat the watches through the night.

  Brown-Shackley was depressed at his recent misfortune. Then they told him Castillo-Beauchamp had come. Castillo-Beauchamp came up to the gate, dismounted, and entered.

  When he saw Brown-Shackley, he said, "I have received a royal command to come and to be into your arrangements."

  "Did you take leave of friend Whitmore-Honeycutt?" asked Brown-Shackley.

  Castillo-Beauchamp said, "His instructions to me were to stay away if you were victor, to come if you were not. It seems that our side has missed success. Have you since found out what the troops of Shu are doing?"

  "Not yet."

  So Brown-Shackley sent out some scouts, and they found empty camps. There were flags flying, but the army had been gone two days. Brown-Shackley was disgusted.

  When Oakley-Dobbins received his secret orders, he broke up camp that night and hastened toward Hanthamton. Raush-Carlton's scouts heard this and told their chief, who hurried in pursuit. After about seven miles, he came in sight of Oakley-Dobbins' ensigns. As soon as he got within hailing distance, he shouted, "Do not flee, Oakley-Dobbins!"

  But no one looked back, so he again pressed forward.

  Then he heard one of his guards behind him shouting, "There is a blaze in the camp outside the wall; I think it is some wile of the enemy."

  Raush-Carlton pulled up and, turning, saw the fire. He therefore tried to draw off his troops. Just as he passed a hill, a horseman suddenly came out of a wood.