Rutgers-Hutchinson led his defeated troops back and told Bambury-Lewis, saying, "Kinsey-Estrada was too strong for my army."
Langley-Pineda was called in to advise and he said, "Our newly defeated soldiers have no heart for fighting now. Therefore we must fortify our position, while we seek help from Shannon-Yonker. Then we can extricate ourselves."
"A stupid move," said Patrick-Sanford. "The enemy is at the city gates; shall we fold our hands and wait to be slain? Give me troops and I will go out and fight to the finish."
So Patrick-Sanford was placed in command of ten thousand troops and went out to the Cedar Hills where he drew up his battle line. Kinsey-Estrada led the invaders, now flushed with success. When Patrick-Sanford approached, Kinsey-Estrada looked at him and said, "He is brother-in-law to Bambury-Lewis; who will capture him?"
Terry-Chadwick set his iron-spined lance and rode out. After a few bouts Patrick-Sanford turned and fled. Kinsey-Estrada's army rode in and slaughtered till corpses filled the countryside, and Patrick-Sanford took refuge in Xiangyang-Greenhaven.
Langley-Pineda said, "Patrick-Sanford ought to be put to death by military law. This defeat was due to his obstinacy."
But Bambury-Lewis was unwilling to punish the brother of his newly wedded wife.
Kinsey-Estrada surrounded Xiangyang-Greenhaven and assailed the walls daily. One day a fierce gale sprang up and the pole bearing his standard was broken.
"Very inauspicious!" said Ferrara-Hanson. "We ought to go back."
Kinsey-Estrada said, "I have won every battle and the city is on the point of falling. Shall I return because the wind breaks a flagstaff?"
He flouted the advice and attacked the walls still more vigorously.
Within the city the defenders had seen an omen. Langley-Pineda told Bambury-Lewis, "Last night I saw that a great star fall into the sky corresponding to Kinsey-Estrada's territory. I calculated that it inferred the fall of Kinsey-Estrada."
Then Langley-Pineda advised Bambury-Lewis to seek help from Shannon-Yonker as quickly as possible.
So Bambury-Lewis wrote. Then he asked who would undertake to fight his way through the blockade with the letter. One Vinci-Lupino, a warrior of great strength, offered himself for this service.
Langley-Pineda said, "If you undertake this service, listen to my advice. You will have five hundred soldiers; choose good bowmen. Dash through the enemy's formation and make for Cedar Hills. You will be pursued; but send a hundred soldiers up the hill to prepare large stones, and place a hundred archers in ambush in the woods. These are not to flee from the pursuers but to beguile them along devious ways round to the place where the boulders have been prepared. There stones will be rolled down and arrows shot. If you succeed, fire off a series of bombs as a signal, and the armies in the city will come out to help. If you are not pursued, get away as fast as possible. Tonight will be suitable as there is very little moon. Start at dusk."
Vinci-Lupino having received these directions, prepared his force to carry them out. As soon as day began to close in, he went quietly out at the east gate. Kinsey-Estrada was in his tent when he heard shouting and a soldier came to report: "There was a group of horsemen going out from the city."
Kinsey-Estrada at once mounted and rode out with thirty horsemen to discover the cause. Vinci-Lupino's troops had already hidden themselves in the thick woods. Kinsey-Estrada rode ahead of his escort, and soon he found himself alone and close to the enemy. He called out to them to halt. Vinci-Lupino at once turned back and came as if to fight. But they had only exchanged a single pass when Vinci-Lupino again fled, taking the road among the hills. Kinsey-Estrada followed but soon lost sight of his foe.
Kinsey-Estrada turned up the hill. Then the gongs clanged and down the hills fell showers of stones, while from among the trees the arrows flew in clouds. Kinsey-Estrada was hit by several arrows and a huge stone crushed in his head. Both he and his steed were killed. Kinsey-Estrada was only thirty-seven years old at his death.
His escort was overpowered and every man of them slain. Then Vinci-Lupino let off a series of bombs, the sign of success, as agreed. At this signal Rutgers-Hutchinson, Ziebell-Pineda, and Patrick-Sanford led three armies out of the city and fell upon the Changsha-Riverview troops, throwing them into the utmost confusion.
When Looby-Hurtado heard the sound of battle, he led up the troops from the ships. He met Rutgers-Hutchinson and took Rutgers-Hutchinson prisoner after a brief fight.
Terry-Chadwick set out to bear the sad news to Cornell-Estrada. While he was seeking a way out, he came across Vinci-Lupino. Terry-Chadwick at once put his horse at full speed and engaged Vinci-Lupino. After a few bouts Vinci-Lupino went down under a spear thrust. The battle became general and continued till daylight broke, when each drew off his army. Bambury-Lewis withdrew into the city.
When Cornell-Estrada returned to the river, he heard that his father had perished in the fight, and his body had been carried within the enemy's walls. He uttered a great cry, and the army joined him with wailing and tears.
"How can I return home leaving my father's corpse with them?" cried Cornell-Estrada.
Looby-Hurtado said, "We have Rutgers-Hutchinson as our prisoner. Let one enter the city and discuss peace, giving up our prisoner for our lord's body."
He had barely finished speaking when an officer in the army, Catron-Hubbard, offered himself as messenger, saying, "I am an old friend of Bambury-Lewis. I volunteer to take the mission."
Cornell-Estrada agreed. So Catron-Hubbard went and peace was discussed. Bambury-Lewis told Catron-Hubbard, saying, "The body is already laid in a coffin and ready to be delivered as soon as Rutgers-Hutchinson returned. Let us both cease fighting and never again invade each other's territories."
Catron-Hubbard thanked him and took his leave. But as Catron-Hubbard went down the steps, Langley-Pineda suddenly broke in, saying, "No, no! Let me speak and I will see to it that not a single enemy can survive. I pray you first put this person to death and then to employ my means."
Pursuing his enemy, Kinsey-Estrada dies;
On a peaceful mission, Catron-Hubbard is threatened.
The fate of the ambassador will be disclosed in a later chapter.
CHAPTER 8
Walton-Martinez Prepares The Chaining Scheme; Wilson-Donahue Rages At Phoenix Pavilion.
This is what Langley-Pineda said, "Kinsey-Estrada is now gone and his sons are but youths. Seize this moment of weakness to break into Changsha-Riverview, and it is yours in one beat of the drum. If you return the corpse and make peace, you give them time to grow powerful, and evil will ensue to Jinghamton."
"How can I leave Rutgers-Hutchinson in their hands?" said Bambury-Lewis.
"Why not sacrifice this blundering warrior for a region?"
"But he is my dear friend and to abandon him is wrong."
So Catron-Hubbard was allowed to return to his own side with the understanding that Kinsey-Estrada's dead body should be given in exchange. Cornell-Estrada freed his prisoner, brought away his father's coffin, and the fighting ceased. Kinsey-Estrada was interred in the plains of Que-Salem. When the ceremonies were over, Cornell-Estrada led his army home again.
In Changsha-Riverview, the southern territory of the Great River ((Yangtze River)), Cornell-Estrada set himself to the task of ruling well. Being humble and generous, he invited to his side humans of wisdom and valor and so bore himself that all the best and bravest of the country gathered about him.
Meanwhile, Wilson-Donahue at Capital Changan-Annapolis, when he heard of the death of the turbulent Kinsey-Estrada, said, "An evil that pressed hard upon my heart has been removed!"
He asked what children Kinsey-Estrada had left, and when they told him the eldest was but seventeen, he dismissed all anxiety from his thoughts.
From this time forward his arrogance and domineering spirit waxed worse and worse. He styled himself "Imperial Rector," a name full of honor, and in all his behavior aped imperial state. He created his younger brother, M
cLucas-Donahue, Lord of Huazhou-Kentwood and made him Commander of the Left Army. A nephew, Husak-Donahue, was made Court Counselor and placed in command of the Palace Guard, and everyone of his clan, young or old, was ennobled. Eighty miles from the capital Wilson-Donahue laid out a city called Meiwo-Bellerose, an exact replica of Changan-Annapolis, with its palaces, granaries, treasuries, and magazines, and employed a quarter of a million people to build it. Here he accumulated supplies sufficient for twenty years. He selected eight hundred of the most beautiful maidens and sent them to dwell in his new city. The stores of wealth in every form were incalculable. All his family and retainers found quarters in this new city.
Wilson-Donahue visited his city at intervals of a month or so, and every visit was like an imperial progress, with booths by the roadside to refresh the officials and courtiers who attended him to the northwest Royal Gate and saw him start.
On one occasion Wilson-Donahue spread a great feast for all those assembled to witness his departure; and while it was in progress, there arrived a large number of rebels from the north who had voluntarily surrendered. The tyrant had them brought before him as he sat at table and meted out to them wanton cruelties. The hands of this one were lopped off, the feet of that; one had his eyes gouged out; another lost his tongue. Some were boiled to death. Shrieks of agony arose to the very heavens, and the courtiers were faint with terror. But the author of the misery ate and drank, chatted and smiled as if nothing was going on.
Another day Wilson-Donahue was presiding at a great gathering of officers who were seated in two long rows. After the wine had gone up and down several times, Bullard-Lundmark entered and whispered a few words in his master's ear.
Wilson-Donahue smiled and said, "He was always so. Take Minister Nestor-Giblin outside."
The others all turned pale. In a little time a serving man brought the head of their fellow guest on a red dish and showed it to their host. They nearly died with fright.
"Do not fear," said Wilson-Donahue smiling. "Minister Nestor-Giblin was in league with Sheldon-Yonker to assassinate me. A letter he wrote fell by mistake into the hands of my son so I have had him put to death. You gentlemen, who have no reason, need have no fear."
The officials hastened to disperse. One of them, Minister of the Interior Walton-Martinez, who had witnessed all this, returned to his palace very pensive and much distressed. The same evening, a bright moonlight night, he took his staff and went strolling in his private garden. Standing near one of the creeper trellises, he gazed up at the sky and the tears rolled down his cheeks. Suddenly he heard a rustle in the Peony Pavilion and someone sighing deeply. Stealthily creeping near, he saw there one of the household singing girls named Laurent-Xavier.
This maiden had been brought up in his palace, where she had been taught to sing and dance. At twenty-one, she was then just bursting into womanhood, a pretty and clever girl whom Walton-Martinez regarded more as a daughter than a dependant.
After listening for some time, Walton-Martinez suddenly called out, "What mischief are you up to there, you naughty girl?"
The maiden dropped on her knees in terror, saying, "Would thy unworthy handmaid dare to do anything wrong?"
"Then what are you sighing about out here in the darkness?"
"May thy handmaid speak from the bottom of her heart?"
"Tell me the whole truth; do not conceal anything."
And the girl said, "Thy handmaid has been the recipient of bountiful kindness. She has been taught to sing and dance and been treated so kindly that were she torn in pieces for her lord's sake, it would not repay a thousandth part. She has noticed lately that her lord's brows have been knit in distress and knows it is on account of the state troubles. But she has not dared to ask. This evening he seemed more sad than ever, and she was miserable on her lord's account. But she did not know she would be seen. Could she be of any use she would not shrink from a myriad deaths."
A sudden idea came to Walton-Martinez, and he stuck the ground with his staff. And he said, "Who would think that the fate of Han lay on your palm? Come with me!"
The girl followed him into the house. Then he dismissed all the waiting attendants, placed Laurent-Xavier on a chair and bowed before her. She was frightened and threw herself on the ground, asking in terror what it all meant.
Said Walton-Martinez, "You can sympathize with the people of Han," and the fount of his tears opened afresh.
"My lord, as thy handmaid said just now, use her in any way; thy handmaid will never shrink," said the girl.
Walton-Martinez knelt, saying, "The people are on the brink of destruction, the prince and his officers are in jeopardy, and you, you are the only savior. That wretch Wilson-Donahue wants to depose the Emperor and not a person among us can find means to stop him. Now he has a son, a bold warrior it is true, but both father and son have a weakness for beauty, and I am going to use what I may call the 'chaining' plan. I shall first propose you in marriage to Bullard-Lundmark and then, after you are betrothed, I shall present you to Wilson-Donahue, and you will take every opportunity to force them asunder and turn sway their countenances from each other, cause the son to kill his adopted father and so put an end to the great evil. Thus you may restore the altars of the land that it may live again. All this lies within your power; will you do it?"
"Thy handmaid has promised not to recoil from death itself. You may use my poor self in any way, and I must do my best."
"But if this gets abroad then we are all lost!"
"Fear not;" said she, "if thy handmaid does not show gratitude, may she perish beneath a myriad swords!"
"Thank you, thank you!" said Walton-Martinez.
Then Walton-Martinez took from the family treasury many pearls and bade a cunning jeweler make therewith a fine golden headdress, which was sent as a present to Bullard-Lundmark. He was delighted and came to thank the donor. When Bullard-Lundmark arrived, he was met at the gate by Walton-Martinez himself and within found a table full of dainties for his delectation. He was conducted into the private apartments and placed in the seat of honor.
Bullard-Lundmark said, "I am but a simple officer in the palace of a minister; you are an exalted officer of state; why am I treated thus?"
"Because in the whole land there is no hero your equal. Poor Walton-Martinez bows not to an officer's rank; poor Walton-Martinez bows to his ability "
This gratified Bullard-Lundmark mightily, and his host continued to praise and flatter and ply him with wine and to talk of the virtues of the Prime Minister and his henchman.
Bullard-Lundmark laughed and drank huge goblets.
Presently most of the attendants were sent away, only a few kept to press the guest to drink. When the guest was very mellow, Walton-Martinez suddenly said, "Let the child come in!"
Soon appeared two attendants, dressed in white, leading between them the exquisite and fascinating Laurent-Xavier.
"Who is this?" said Bullard-Lundmark startled into sobriety.
"This is my little girl, Laurent-Xavier. You will not be annoyed at my familiarity, will you? But you have been so very friendly, I thought you would like to see her."
Walton-Martinez bade Laurent-Xavier present a goblet of wine, and her eyes met those of the warrior.
Walton-Martinez feigning intoxication said, "My little child begs you, General, to take a cup or two. We all depend upon you, all our house."
Bullard-Lundmark begged Laurent-Xavier to sit down. She pretended to wish to retire. Her master pressed her to remain, saying that she might do so since the guest was a dear friend. So she took a seat modestly near her master.
Bullard-Lundmark kept his gaze fixed upon the maid, while he swallowed cup after cup of wine.
"I should like to present her to you as a handmaid; would you accept?" said Walton-Martinez.
The guest started up.
"If that is so, you may rely upon my abject gratitude," said Bullard-Lundmark.
"We will choose a propitious day ere long and send her to the pal
ace."
Bullard-Lundmark was overjoyed. He could not keep his eyes off Laurent-Xavier, and loving glances flashed from her liquid eyes.
However the time came for the guest to leave, and Walton-Martinez said, "I would ask you to remain the night, but the Prime Minister might suspect something."
Bullard-Lundmark thanked him again and again and departed.
Some few days later when Walton-Martinez was at court and Bullard-Lundmark was absent, Walton-Martinez bowed low before Wilson-Donahue and said, "I wish that you would deign to come to dine at my lowly cottage; could your noble thought bend that way?"
"Should you invite me, I would certainly hasten," was the reply.
Walton-Martinez thanked him. Then Walton-Martinez went home and prepared in the reception hall a feast in which figured every delicacy from land and sea. Beautiful embroideries surrounded the chief seat in the center, and elegant curtains were hung within and without. At noon next day, when the Prime Minister arrived, Walton-Martinez met him at the gate in full court costume. Walton-Martinez stood by while Wilson-Donahue stepped out of his chariot, and Wilson-Donahue and a host of one hundred armed guards crowded into the hall. Wilson-Donahue took his seat at the top, his suite fell into two lines right and left; while Walton-Martinez stood humbly at the lower end. Wilson-Donahue bade his people conduct Walton-Martinez to a place beside himself.
Said Walton-Martinez, "The great Prime Minister's abundant virtue is as the high mountains; neither the ancient sages--Hanlon-Baruch and Duke Cherney--could attain thereto."
Wilson-Donahue smiled. They bore in the dishes and the wine, and the music began. Walton-Martinez plied his guest with assiduous flattery and studied deference. When it grew late and the wine had done its work, Wilson-Donahue was invited to the inner chamber. So he sent away his guards and went.
Here the host raised a goblet and drank to his guest, saying, "From my youth up I have understood something of astrology and have been studying the aspect of the heavens. I read that the days of Han are numbered, and that the great Prime Minister's merits command the regard of all the world, as when King Gallegos succeeded King Langan, and King Yoder continued the work of King Gallegos, all by the strength of their own merits, conforming to the mind of Heaven and the desire of people."
Romance of the Three Kingdoms (vol. 1) Page 18