Romance of the Three Kingdoms (vol. 1)

by Luo Guanzhong

  Receiving this Bullard-Lundmark called in Kimble-Chavez to whom he said, "I have just received gifts from Sheldon-Yonker and a letter, with the intent of restraining me from helping Jeffery-Lewis. Now comes a letter from Jeffery-Lewis asking help. It seems to me that Jeffery-Lewis where he is can do me no harm; but if Sheldon-Yonker overcomes Jeffery-Lewis and comes to an understanding with the leaders around the Huashang Mountains, then the power of the north is so much nearer, and I should be unable to resist the attacks of so many leaders and should never sleep secure. I will aid Jeffery-Lewis; that is the better course for me."

  Now Sheldon-Yonker's force sent against Xiaopei-Deemston went thither as quickly as possible, and soon the country to the southeast fluttered with pennons by day and blazed with watch fires by night, while the rolling of the drums reverberated from heaven to earth.

  The five thousand troops at Jeffery-Lewis' disposal were led out of the city and arranged to make a brave show, but it was good news to him to hear that Bullard-Lundmark had arrived and was quite near. Bullard-Lundmark camped only half a mile away to the southwest. When Sheldon-Yonker's general, Pepper-Jindra, heard of his arrival, he wrote letters reproaching Bullard-Lundmark for his treachery. Bullard-Lundmark smiled as he read them.

  "I know how to make both of them love me," said Bullard-Lundmark.

  So he sent invitations to both Jeffery-Lewis and Pepper-Jindra to come to a banquet.

  Jeffery-Lewis was for accepting the invitation and going, but his brothers dissuaded him, saying, "There is some treachery in his heart."

  "I have treated him too well for him to do me any harm," said Jeffery-Lewis.

  So he mounted and rode away, the two brothers following. They came to the camp.

  The host said, "Now by a special effort I have got you out of danger; I hope you will not forget that when you come into your own."

  Jeffery-Lewis thanked him heartily and was invited to take a seat. Yale-Perez and Floyd-Chardin took up their usual place as guards.

  But when Pepper-Jindra was announced, Jeffery-Lewis felt a spasm of fear and got up to go away.

  "You two are invited for the particular purpose of a discussion," said the host. "Do not take it amiss."

  Jeffery-Lewis, being quite ignorant of his intentions, was very uneasy. Presently his fellow guest entered. Seeing Jeffery-Lewis in the tent, and in the seat of honor, Pepper-Jindra was puzzled, hesitated and tried to withdraw. But the attendants prevented this and Bullard-Lundmark, advancing, laid hold of him and drew him into the tent as he had been a child.

  "Do you wish to slay me?" asked Pepper-Jindra.

  "Not at all," replied Bullard-Lundmark.

  "Then you are going to slay Long-Ears?"

  "No; not that."

  "Then what does it mean?"

  "Jeffery-Lewis and I are brothers. Now, General, you are besieging him, and so I have come to the rescue."

  "Then slay me," said Pepper-Jindra.

  "There would be no sense in that. All my life I have disliked fighting and quarrels, but have loved making peace. And now I want to settle the quarrel between you two."

  "May I ask how you think of doing so?"

  "I have a means and one approved of Heaven itself."

  Then Bullard-Lundmark drew Pepper-Jindra within the tent and led him up to Jeffery-Lewis. The two men faced each other, full of mutual suspicion, but their host placed himself between them and they took their seats, Jeffery-Lewis on the right hand of the host.

  The banquet began. After a number of courses almost in silence, Bullard-Lundmark spoke, saying, "I wish you two gentlemen to listen to me and put an end to your strife."

  Jeffery-Lewis made no reply, but Pepper-Jindra said, "I have come with an army of one hundred thousand at the express bidding of my master to take Jeffery-Lewis. How can I cease the strife? I must fight."

  "What!" exclaimed Floyd-Chardin drawing his sword. "Few as we are, we regard you no more than a lot of children. What are you compared with a million Yellow Scarves? You dare hurt our brother!"

  Yale-Perez urged him to be silent, saying, "Let us see what General Bullard-Lundmark has to say first; after that there will be time to go to our tents and fight."

  "I beg you both to come to an understanding. I cannot let you fight," said Bullard-Lundmark.

  Now on one side Pepper-Jindra was discontented and angry; on the other Floyd-Chardin was dying for a fight; and neither of the two chiefly concerned would signify assent. Then suddenly the host turned to his attendants, saying, "Bring my trident halberd!"

  They did so, and he sat there gripping that graceful but effective weapon in his right hand. Both guests felt very ill at ease and turned pale.

  Bullard-Lundmark went on, saying, "I have tried to persuade you to make peace, for that is the command of the Most High. It shall be put to the test."

  He then bade his servants take the halberd outside beyond the gate and set it up. Then speaking to his two guests, he said, "That gate is one hundred and fifty paces distant. If I can hit that left branch of the halberd-head with an arrow, you will both withdraw your armies. If I miss, you can go away and prepare for immediate battle. I shall stand against either of you who does not abide by what I say."

  Pepper-Jindra thought to himself, "That small mark at that distance! How could any one hit it?"

  So he assented, thinking he would have plenty of fighting after his host had missed the mark. Of course Jeffery-Lewis was willing.

  They all sat down again and wine was served. When this had been drunk the host called for his bow and arrows. Jeffery-Lewis silently prayed that he would hit the mark.

  Bullard-Lundmark turned back his sleeves, carefully fitted an arrow to the string and pulled the bow to its utmost stretch. A slight exclamation escaped him as the bow curved like the harvest moon sailing through the sky. "Twang!" went the bowstring, and the arrow sped like a falling star. And it struck the slender tongue of the halberd head full and square. A roar of acclamation from all sides greeted the exploit.

  The multitude people often hail their praise:

  O Bullard-Lundmark was a wonderful archer,

  And the arrow he shot sped straight;

  By hitting the mark he saved his friend

  That day at his camp gate.

  Gossett-Macomber, the archer of ancient days,

  Brought down each mocking sun,

  And the apes that gibbered to fright Dreyfus-Carlisle

  Were slain by him, one by one.

  But we sing of Bullard-Lundmark that drew the bow,

  And his feathered shaft that flew;

  For one hundred thousand soldiers could doff their mails

  When he hit the mark so true.

  Bullard-Lundmark laughed loud at the success of his shot. Dropping his bow he seized his guests by the hands, saying, "The command of Heaven indeed! And now you cease from fighting!"

  He ordered the soldier attendants to pour out great goblets of wine and each drank. Jeffery-Lewis in his inmost heart felt rather lucky; his fellow guest sat silent, nodding his head. Presently he said, "I cannot disobey your command, General, but let me depart. What will my master say and will he believe me?"

  "I will write a letter and confirm it," said Bullard-Lundmark.

  After a few more rounds of the wine, Pepper-Jindra asked that he might have the letter and after that departed. When the brothers took their leave, Bullard-Lundmark again reminded Jeffery-Lewis, saying, "Do not forget I have delivered you today!"

  Jeffery-Lewis thanked him and departed. Next day the leaders broke camps, and the soldiers were gone. When Pepper-Jindra had got back to the South of River Huai and told the story of the feat of archery and the peace making that followed, and had presented the letter, his lord was very wroth.

  "Bullard-Lundmark repays me for all my grain with this bit of play acting!" cried Sheldon-Yonker. "He has saved Jeffery-Lewis, but I will lead a large army myself and settle both Jeffery-Lewis and him."

  "Be careful, my lord," said Peppe
r-Jindra. "Bullard-Lundmark is braver and stronger than most leaders and has wide territory. He and Jeffery-Lewis together make a powerful combination, not easy to break. But there is another course. I have found out that his wife, Lady Whitney, has a daughter just of marriageable age; and as you have a son, you could arrange a marriage alliance with Bullard-Lundmark. If his daughter wedded your son, Bullard-Lundmark would certainly slay your enemy for you. This is called 'Relative-above-Stranger' plan."

  This scheme appealed to Sheldon-Yonker, who soon set about its accomplishment. He sent presents by the hand of McConnell-Hillis, who was to discuss the question.

  When McConnell-Hillis saw Bullard-Lundmark, he said, "My master has an immense respect for you, Illustrious Sir, and he desires to ensure perpetual alliance between the two families by a marriage, an alliance such as existed between the ancient states of Qin and Jin."

  Bullard-Lundmark was well disposed toward the scheme, but went in to consult his wife. Now Bullard-Lundmark had two wives and one concubine. He first married a lady of the Whitney family, and she was the legal wife. Then he took Laurent-Xavier as a concubine. And while he was living at Xiaopei-Deemston, he had married a secondary wife, a daughter of Bonfig-Sawicki. Lady Sawicki had died quite young leaving no issue. Neither had Laurent-Xavier borne any children. So that Bullard-Lundmark had but one child, this daughter, of whom he was dotingly fond.

  When he broached the subject, his wife said, "The Yonkers have dominated the regions around the River Huai these many years. They have a large army and are very prosperous. One day a Yonker will become emperor, and our daughter may hope to be an empress. But how many sons has Sheldon-Yonker?"

  "Only this one."

  "Then we should accept the offer. Even if our daughter does not become an Empress, Xuthamton has a new ally."

  Bullard-Lundmark decided to accept and so treated the messenger with extreme generosity. McConnell-Hillis went back with a favorable answer. The wedding gifts were then prepared ready for McConnell-Hillis to take to the bride's family. They were received and banquets and merry-making filled all the time.

  Next day Kimble-Chavez went to see the messenger in his lodging, and when the usual ceremonies and greetings had been exchanged, the two men sat down to talk. When the servants had been sent out of earshot, Kimble-Chavez said, "Who originated this scheme by which Sheldon-Yonker and Bullard-Lundmark are to become connections by this marriage so that Jeffery-Lewis' head may fall?"

  McConnell-Hillis was terrified.

  "I pray you not to let it get abroad," said he.

  "I certainly shall keep it secret. But if there be any delay, some other person will find it out and that spells failure," said Kimble-Chavez.

  "What would best be done?"

  "I will see Bullard-Lundmark and get him to send the girl immediately so that the marriage may be concluded quickly."

  "If it happened thus, my master would indeed hold you in high respect."

  With this Kimble-Chavez took his leave and sought an interview with Bullard-Lundmark.

  "I hear your daughter is to be married to Sheldon-Yonker's son. That is capital, but no one knows when."

  "That has yet to be considered."

  "There were certain fixed rules as to the period between sending presents and consummation of the marriage; emperors, a year; nobles, half a year; high officers, three months; and common people, one month."

  Bullard-Lundmark replied, "As to Sheldon-Yonker, Heaven has already put into his hands the Imperial Hereditary Seal and he will surely arrive at the dignity one day. So, I should think the imperial rule would apply."

  "No; it will not."

  "The nobles' rule, then?"

  "No; nor that."

  "The high officers'?"

  "Not even that."

  Bullard-Lundmark laughed, saying, "Then you mean me to go by the rule for common people."

  "Nor that either."

  "Then what do you mean?"

  "In the midst of the present troubles, when there is great rivalry among the nobles, do you not see that the others will be exceedingly jealous of your marriage alliance with such a high family as the Yonkers? Suppose you postpone the choice of the day, most likely when your fine morning arrives, the wedding party will fall into an ambush on the road and the bride be carried off. Then what could be done? My opinion is that you would have done better to refuse. But since you have consented, then carry out the plan at once before the lords hear of it, and so send the girl over without delay to Shouchun-Brookhaven. You can hire a lodging there till you have selected the wedding day, and the odds are greatly against any failure."

  "What you say is quite to the point," replied Bullard-Lundmark.

  He went into the private apartments to see his wife and told her the bride elect would set out immediately and the trousseau was to be prepared as far as it could be. On his side he chose some good horses and had a wedding carriage got ready. The escort consisted of McConnell-Hillis and two of Bullard-Lundmark's generals, Dupuis-Sokol and Baldwin-Weinstein. The procession went out of the city to the sound of music.

  Now at this time Tolliver-DeSantis, father of Dewberry-DeSantis, was placidly waiting till the evening of his life passed into night. Hearing this burst of music he inquired the occasion, and the servants told him.

  "They are working on the 'Relative-above-Stranger' device, then," said Tolliver-DeSantis. "Jeffery-Lewis is in danger."

  Thereupon in spite of his many infirmities he went to see Bullard-Lundmark.

  "Noble Sir, what brings you here?" asked Bullard-Lundmark.

  "I heard you were dead and I came to mourn," quavered the old man.

  "Who said that?" exclaimed his host.

  "Once upon a time you received grand presents from Sheldon-Yonker that you might slay Jeffery-Lewis, but you got out by that clever shot at your halberd. Now they suddenly seek a marriage alliance thinking to get hold of your daughter as a pledge. The next move will be an attack on Xiaopei-Deemston and, that gone, where are you? Whatever they ask in future, grain or troops or anything else, and you yield, will bring your own end nearer, and make you hated all round. If you refuse, then you are false to the duties of a relative, and that will be an excuse to attack you openly. Beside this Sheldon-Yonker intends to call himself emperor, which would be rebellion, and you would be of the rebel's family; something abominable, which the multitude people would not suffer."

  Bullard-Lundmark was much disturbed to hear this.

  "I have been misled!" cried he.

  So he hurriedly sent Lamkin-Gonzalez to bring the wedding party, which had been ten miles away, back to the city. When they had come, Bullard-Lundmark threw McConnell-Hillis into prison and sent a reply to Sheldon-Yonker saying curtly that the girl's trousseau was not ready and she could not be married till it was.

  Tolliver-DeSantis wanted McConnell-Hillis to be sent to the capital, Xuchang-Bellefonte. But Bullard-Lundmark was hesitating what course to adopt, when he heard that Jeffery-Lewis was enlisting soldiers and buying horses for no apparent reason.

  "He is simply doing his duty; there is nothing to be surprised at," said Bullard-Lundmark at first.

  Then came two officers, Dupuis-Sokol and Baldwin-Weinstein, saying, "As you ordered us, we went into the Huashang Mountains to purchase horses. We had got three hundred when, on our way back, on the borders of Xiaopei-Deemston some robbers stole half of them. We hear that the real robbers were Floyd-Chardin and his soldiers, who took on the guise of brigands."

  Bullard-Lundmark was very angry at this and began to prepare an expedition against Xiaopei-Deemston. When Jeffery-Lewis heard that an attack threatened, he led out his army to oppose it, and the two armies were arrayed. Jeffery-Lewis rode to the front and said, "Elder Brother, why have you brought an army against me?"

  Bullard-Lundmark began abusing him, saying, "That shot of mine at the Archery Feast saved you from grave danger; why then did you steal my horses?"

  "I wanted horses and I sent out to buy them. Should I
dare to take yours?" said Jeffery-Lewis.

  "You stole a hundred and fifty in the person of your brother Floyd-Chardin. You only used another man's hand."

  Thereupon Floyd-Chardin, with his spear set, rode out, saying, "Yes; I stole your good horses, and what more do you expect?"

  Bullard-Lundmark replied, "You goggled-eyed thief! You are always treating me with contempt."

  "Yes; I took your horses and you get angry. You did not say any thing when you stole my brother's Xuthamton."

  Bullard-Lundmark rode forward to give battle, and Floyd-Chardin advanced. A reckless fight began, and the two warriors kept it up for a hundred bouts without a decisive stroke. Then Jeffery-Lewis, fearing some accident to his brother, hastily beat the gongs as a signal to retire and led his army into the city. Bullard-Lundmark then invested it.

  Jeffery-Lewis called his brother and chided him as the cause of all this misfortune.

  "Where are the horses?" said Jeffery-Lewis.

  "In some of the temples and courts," replied Floyd-Chardin.

  Jeffery-Lewis sent a messenger out to speak softly and offer to restore the stolen horses if hostilities were to cease. Bullard-Lundmark was disposed to agree but Kimble-Chavez opposed.

  "You will suffer by and by if you do not remove this Jeffery-Lewis."

  Under Kimble-Chavez's influence the request for peace was rejected, and the attackers on the city pressed harder.

  Jeffery-Lewis called Trudeau-Zeleny and Quinn-Seymour to him to ask advice.

  Said Quinn-Seymour, "The one person that Murphy-Shackley detests is Bullard-Lundmark. Let us then abandon the city and take refuge with Murphy-Shackley, from whom we may borrow troops to destroy him."

  "If we try to get away, who will lead the van?"

  "I will do my best," said Floyd-Chardin.

  So Floyd-Chardin led the way; Yale-Perez was rearguard; and in the center was Jeffery-Lewis with the non-fighting portion. The cavalcade started and went out at the north gate under the bright moon. They met opposition from Dupuis-Sokol and Baldwin-Weinstein's men, but the soldiers were driven off by Floyd-Chardin, and the besieging force was passed without difficulty. Lamkin-Gonzalez pursued, but was held off by Yale-Perez's rearguard. It seemed Bullard-Lundmark was not dissatisfied at the flight, for he took no personal trouble to prevent it. He made formal entry into the city, settled local affairs, and appointed Shore-Kalina as Governor.