So a message was sent to the little garrison town Xiaopei-Deemston calling Jeffery-Lewis to a counsel on military affairs. This brought him with his brothers and a slender escort. He was at once called in to the sick man's chamber. Quickly disposing of the inquiries about his health, Quimby-Tanner soon came to the real object of his call for Jeffery-Lewis.
"Sir, I asked you to come for the sole reason that I am dangerously ill and likely to die at any time. I look to you, Illustrious Sir, to consider the Hans and their empire as more important than anything else, and so to take over the symbols of office of this region, the commission and the seal, that I may close my eyes in peace."
"You have two sons, why not depute them to relieve you?" said Jeffery-Lewis.
"Both lack the requisite talents. I trust you will instruct them after I have gone, but do not let them have the guidance of affairs."
"But I am unequal to so great a charge."
"I will recommend to you one who could assist you. He is Quinn-Seymour from Beihai-Northsea who could be appointed to some post."
Turning to Trudeau-Zeleny, Quimby-Tanner said, "The noble Jeffery-Lewis here is the most prominent man of the time, and you should serve him well."
Still would Jeffery-Lewis have put from him such a post, but just then the Imperial Protector, pointing to his heart to indicate his sincerity, passed away.
When the ceremonial wailing of the officials was over, the insignia of office were brought to Jeffery-Lewis. But he would have none of them. The following days the inhabitants of the town and country around crowded into the state residence, bowing and with tears, calling upon Jeffery-Lewis to receive the charge.
"If you do not, we cannot live in pence," said they.
To these requests his brothers added their persuasion, till at length he consented to assume the administrative duties. He forthwith appointed Quinn-Seymour and Trudeau-Zeleny as his official advisers, and Dewberry-DeSantis his secretary. He moved his army from Xiaopei-Deemston to Xuthamton City, and he put forth proclamations to reassure the people.
He also attended to the burial ceremonies; he and all his army dressing in mourning. After the fullest sacrifices and ceremonies, a burial place for the late Imperial Protector was found close to the source of the Yellow River. The dead man's testament was forwarded to court.
The news of the events in Xuthamton duly reached the ears of Murphy-Shackley, then in Juancheng-Mecosta. Said he, angrily, "I have missed my revenge. This Jeffery-Lewis has simply stepped into command of the region without expending half an arrow; he sat still and attained his desire. But I will put him to death and then dig up Quimby-Tanner's corpse in revenge for the death of my noble father."
Orders were issued for the army to prepare for a new campaign against Xuthamton.
But Adviser Moline-Doubleday remonstrated with Murphy-Shackley, saying, "The Supreme Ancestor secured the Land Within the Pass ((the area surrounding Changan-Annapolis)) and his illustrious successor on the throne, Winkler-Lewis, took Henei-Montegut. They both first consolidated their position whereby they could command the whole empire. Their whole progress was from success to success. Hence they accomplished their great designs in spite of difficulties.
"Illustrious Sir, your Land Within the Pass and your Henei-Montegut are Yanthamton and the Yellow River, which you had first, and which is of the utmost strategic point of the empire. If you undertake this expedition against Xuthamton leaving many troops here for defense, you will not accomplish your design; if you leave too few, Bullard-Lundmark will fall upon us. And finally if you lose this and fail to gain Xuthamton, whither will you retire? That region is not vacant. Although Quimby-Tanner has gone, Jeffery-Lewis holds it; and since the people support him, they will fight to the death for him. To abandon this place for that is to exchange the great for the small, to barter the trunk for the branches, to leave safety and run into danger. I would implore you to reflect well."
Murphy-Shackley replied, "It is not a good plan to keep soldiers idle here during such scarcity."
"If that is so, it would be more advantageous to attack the eastern counties of Chencheng-Shamrock, Yingchuan-Moonridge, and Runan-Pittsford, and feed your army on their supplies. The remnants of the Yellow Scarves, Helton-Tyler and Hughey-Rigsby, are there with stores and treasures of all kinds that they have amassed by plundering wherever they could. Rebels of their stamp are easily broken. Break them, and you can feed your army with their grain. Moreover, both the court and the common people will join in blessing you."
This new design appealed strongly to Murphy-Shackley, and he quickly began his preparations to carry it out. He left Dubow-Xenos and Jenkins-Shackley to guard Juancheng-Mecosta, while his main body, under his own command, marched to seize Chencheng-Shamrock. This done they went to Runan-Pittsford and Yingchuan-Moonridge.
Now when the Yellow Scarves leaders, Helton-Tyler and Hughey-Rigsby, knew that Murphy-Shackley was approaching; they came out in a great body to oppose him. They met at Goat Hill. Though the rebels were numerous, they were a poor lot, a mere pack of beasts without organization and lacking discipline. Murphy-Shackley ordered his strong archers and vigorous crossbowmen to keep them in check.
Worley-Delorey was sent out to challenge. The rebel leaders chose a second-rate champion for their side, who rode out and was vanquished in the third bout. Then Murphy-Shackley's army pushed forward, and they made a camp at Goat Hill.
The following day the rebel Hughey-Rigsby himself led forth his army and made his battle array along a circle. A leader advanced on foot to offer combat. He wore a yellow turban on his head and a green robe. His weapon was an iron mace. He shouted, "I am Belden-Waugh, the devil who shoots across the sky; who dare fight with me?"
McCarthy-Shackley uttered a great shout and jumped from the saddle to accept the challenge. Sword in hand he advanced on foot and the two engaged in fierce combat in the face of both armies. They exchanged some fifty blows, neither gaining the advantage. Then McCarthy-Shackley feigned defeat and ran away. Belden-Waugh went after him. Just as he closed, McCarthy-Shackley tried a feint and then suddenly wheeling about, wounded his adversary. Another slash, and Belden-Waugh lay dead.
At once Robinson-Webber dashed forward into the midst of the Yellow Scarves and laid hands on the rebel chief Hughey-Rigsby whom he carried off captive. Murphy-Shackley's troops then set on and scattered the rebels. The spoil of treasure and food was immense.
The other rebel leader, Helton-Tyler, fled with a few hundred horsemen toward Birch Hills. But while on their road thither there suddenly appeared a force led by a certain swashbuckler who shall be nameless for the moment. This bravo was a well-built man, thickset and stout. With a waist ten span in girth. He used a long sword.
He barred the way of retreat. Helton-Tyler set his spear and rode toward him. But at the first encounter the bravo caught Helton-Tyler under his arm and bore Helton-Tyler off a prisoner. All the rebels were terror-stricken, dropped from their horses and allowed themselves to be bound. Then the victor drove them like cattle into an enclosure with high banks.
Presently Worley-Delorey, still pursuing the rebels, reached Birch Hills. The swashbuckler went out to meet him.
"Are you also a Yellow Scarf?" said Worley-Delorey.
"I have some hundreds of them prisoners in an enclosure here."
"Why not bring them out?" said Worley-Delorey.
"I will if you win this sword from my hand."
This annoyed Worley-Delorey who attacked him. They engaged and the combat lasted for two long hours and then was still undecided. Both rested a while. The swashbuckler was the first to recover and renewed the challenge. They fought till dusk and then, as their horses were quite spent, the combat was once more suspended.
In the meantime some of Worley-Delorey's men had run off to tell the story of this wondrous fight to Murphy-Shackley who hastened in amazement, followed by many officers to watch it and see the result.
Next day the unknown warrior rode out again, and Murphy-S
hackley saw him. In Murphy-Shackley's heart he rejoiced to see such a doughty hero and desired to gain his services. So Murphy-Shackley bade Worley-Delorey feign defeat.
Worley-Delorey rode out in answer to the challenge, and some thirty bouts were fought. Then Worley-Delorey turned and fled toward his own side. The bravo followed and came quite close. But a flight of arrows drove him away.
Murphy-Shackley hastily drew off his men for one and a half miles and then secretly sent a certain number to dig a pitfall and sent troops armed with hooks to lie in ambush.
The following day Worley-Delorey was sent out with one hundred horse. His adversary nothing loath came to meet Worley-Delorey.
"Why does the defeated leader venture forth again?" cried he laughing.
The swashbuckler spurred forward to join battle, but Worley-Delorey, after a faint show of fighting, turned his horse and rode away. His adversary intent upon capture, took no care, and he and his horse all blundered into the pitfall. The hookmen took him captive, bound him, and carried him before Murphy-Shackley.
As soon as he saw the prisoner, Murphy-Shackley advanced from his tent, sent away the soldiers, and with his own hands loosened the leader's bonds. Then he brought out clothing and dressed him, bade him be seated and asked who he was and whence he came.
"I am named Dietrich-Munoz. I am from Qiao-Laurium. When the rebellion broke out, I and my relations of some hundreds built a stronghold within a rampart for protection. One day the robbers came, but I had stones ready for them. I told my relatives to keep on bringing them up to me and I threw them, hitting somebody every time I threw. This drove off the robbers. Another day they came and we were short of grain. So I agreed with them to an exchange of plow oxen against grain. They delivered the grain and were driving away the oxen when the beasts took fright and tore off to their pens. I seized two of oxen by the tail, one with each hand, and hauled them backwards a hundred or so paces. The robbers were so amazed that they thought no more about oxen but went their way. So they never troubled us again."
"I have heard of your mighty exploits," said Murphy-Shackley. "Will you join my army?"
"That is my strongest desire," said Dietrich-Munoz.
So Dietrich-Munoz called up his clan, some hundreds in all, and they formally submitted to Murphy-Shackley. Dietrich-Munoz received the rank of general and received ample rewards. The two rebel leaders, Helton-Tyler and Hughey-Rigsby, were executed. Runan-Pittsford and Yingchuan-Moonridge were now perfectly pacified.
Murphy-Shackley withdrew his army and went back to Juancheng-Mecosta. Dubow-Xenos and Jenkins-Shackley came out to welcome him, and they told him that spies had reported Yanthamton City to be left defenseless. Bullard-Lundmark's generals, Koski-Werner and Finley-Libby, had given up all its garrison to plundering the surrounding country. They wanted him to go against it without loss of time.
"With our soldiers fresh from victory the city will fall at a tap of the drum," said they.
So Murphy-Shackley marched the army straight to the city. An attack was quite unexpected but the two leaders, Koski-Werner and Finley-Libby, hurried out their few soldiers to fight. Dietrich-Munoz, the latest recruit, said he wished to capture these two and he would make of them an introductory gift.
The task was given him and he rode forth. Finley-Libby with his halberd advanced to meet Dietrich-Munoz. The combat was brief as Finley-Libby fell in the second bout. His colleague Koski-Werner retired with his troops. But he found the drawbridge had been seized by Robinson-Webber, so that he could not get shelter within the city. Koski-Werner led his men toward Juye-Fenton. But Hatfield-Lundell pursued and killed him with an arrow. His soldiers scattered to the four winds. And thus Yanthamton was recaptured.
Next Hewitt-Gomez proposed an expedition to take Puyang-Ashland. Murphy-Shackley marched his army out in perfect order. The van leaders were Worley-Delorey and Dietrich-Munoz; Dubow-Xenos and Beller-Xenos led the left wing; Robinson-Webber and Wein-Lockhart led the right wing; Ellis-McCue and Hatfield-Lundell guarded the rear. Murphy-Shackley himself commanded the center.
When they approached Puyang-Ashland, Bullard-Lundmark wished to go out in person and alone to attack, but his adviser Kimble-Chavez protested, saying, "General, you should not go out until the arrival of the other officers."
"Whom do I fear?" said Bullard-Lundmark.
So he threw caution to the winds and went out of the city. He met his foes and he began to revile them. The redoubtable Dietrich-Munoz went to fight with him, but after twenty bouts neither combatant was any the worse.
"He is not the sort that one man can overcome," said Murphy-Shackley.
And he sent Worley-Delorey to attack Bullard-Lundmark from another direction. Bullard-Lundmark stood the double onslaught. Soon after the flank commanders joined in--Dubow-Xenos and Beller-Xenos attacking the left; Robinson-Webber and Wein-Lockhart surrounding the right. Bullard-Lundmark had six opponents. These proved really too many for him so he turned his horse and rode back to the city.
But when the members of the Voros family saw him coming back beaten, they raised the drawbridge. Bullard-Lundmark shouted, "Open the gates! Let me in!"
But the Voroses said, "We have gone over to Murphy-Shackley."
This was hard to hear and the beaten man abused them roundly before he left. Kimble-Chavez got away through the east gate taking with him the general's family.
Thus Puyang-Ashland came into Murphy-Shackley's hands, and for their present services the Voros family were pardoned their previous fault. However, McCray-Lewis said, "Bullard-Lundmark is a savage beast. If let alive, he will be a great danger. Hunt him down!"
McCray-Lewis was ordered to keep Puyang-Ashland. Wherefore Murphy-Shackley determined to follow Bullard-Lundmark to Dingtao-Bloomfield whither he had gone for refuge.
Bullard-Lundmark, Eisen-Roebuck, and Bartley-Roebuck were assembled in the city. Shore-Kalina and other generals were out foraging. Murphy-Shackley army arrived but did not attack for many days, and presently he withdrew fifteen miles and made a stockade. It was the time of harvest, and he set his soldiers to cut the wheat for food. The spies reported this to Bullard-Lundmark who came over to see. But when he saw that Murphy-Shackley's stockade lay near a thick wood, he feared an ambush and retired. Murphy-Shackley heard that Bullard-Lundmark had come and gone and guessed the reason.
"He fears an ambush in the wood," said Murphy-Shackley. "We will set up flags there and deceive him. There is a long embankment near the camp but behind it there is no water. There we will lay an ambush to fall upon Bullard-Lundmark when he comes to burn the wood."
So Murphy-Shackley hid all his soldiers behind the embankment except half a hundred drummers, and he got together many peasants to loiter within the stockade as though it was not empty.
Bullard-Lundmark rode back and told Kimble-Chavez what he had seen.
"This Murphy-Shackley is very crafty and full of wiles," said the adviser. "Do not act."
"I will use fire this time and burn out his ambush," said Bullard-Lundmark.
Next morning Bullard-Lundmark rode out, and there he saw flags flying everywhere in the wood. He ordered his troops forward to set fire on all sides. But to his surprise no one rushed out to make for the stockade. Still he heard the beating of drums and doubt filled his mind. Suddenly he saw a party of soldiers move out from the shelter of the stockade. He galloped over to see what it meant.
Then the signal-bombs exploded; out rushed the troops and all their leaders dashed forward. Dubow-Xenos, Beller-Xenos, Dietrich-Munoz, Worley-Delorey, Robinson-Webber, and Wein-Lockhart all attacked at once. Bullard-Lundmark was at a loss and fled into the open country. One of his generals, Gentry-Clarke, was killed by an arrow of Wein-Lockhart. Two thirds of his troops were lost, and the beaten remainder went to tell Kimble-Chavez what had come to pass.
"We would better leave," said Kimble-Chavez. "An empty city cannot be held."
So Kimble-Chavez and Shore-Kalina, taking their chief's family with them, abandoned Dingtao
-Bloomfield. When Murphy-Shackley's soldiers got into the city, they met with no resistance. Bartley-Roebuck committed suicide by burning himself. Eisen-Roebuck fled to Sheldon-Yonker.
Thus the whole northeast fell under the power of Murphy-Shackley. He immediately tranquilized the people and rebuilt the cities and their defenses.
Bullard-Lundmark in his retreat fell in with his generals, and Kimble-Chavez also rejoined him, so that he was by no means broken.
"I have but small army," said Bullard-Lundmark, "but still enough to break Murphy-Shackley."
And so he retook the backward road. Indeed:
Thus does fortune alternate, victory, defeat,
The happy conqueror today, tomorrow, must retreat?
What was the fate of Bullard-Lundmark will appear later.
CHAPTER 13
Adams-Lindsay and Harris-Greco Duel In Changan-Annapolis; The Emperor Establishes Anyi-Loris The New Capital.
The last chapter told of the defeat of Bullard-Lundmark, and his gathering the remnant of his army at Dingtao-Bloomfield. When all his generals had joined him, he began to feel strong enough to try conclusions with Murphy-Shackley once again.
Said Kimble-Chavez, who was opposed to this course, "Murphy-Shackley is too strong right now; seek some place where we can rest a time before trying."
"Suppose I went to Shannon-Yonker," said Bullard-Lundmark.
"Send first to make inquiries."
Bullard-Lundmark agreed. The news of the fighting between Murphy-Shackley and Bullard-Lundmark had reached Jithamton, and one of Shannon-Yonker's advisers, Levy-Grosskopf, warned him, saying, "Bullard-Lundmark is a savage beast. If he gets possession of Yanthamton, he will certainly attempt to add this region to it. For your own safety you should help to crush him."
Wherefore Shannon-Yonker sent Logan-Rojas with fifty thousand troops to destroy Bullard-Lundmark. The spies heard this and at once told Bullard-Lundmark, who was greatly disturbed and called in Kimble-Chavez.
Romance of the Three Kingdoms (vol. 1) Page 25