Orchard-Lafayette who was present, smiled. Jeffery-Lewis turned to him to know what he should do.
"This is a family affair; I cannot touch it!" replied Orchard-Lafayette.
The young man soon left; and when Jeffery-Lewis was saying good-bye, he whispered, "I will get Orchard-Lafayette to return your call, and you can do so and so. He will advise you."
Milford-Lewis thanked him and left. Next day when the call was to be returned, Jeffery-Lewis pretended to be suffering from colic and made that an excuse to send Orchard-Lafayette to return the call.
The adviser went, and when he had reached the Palace, dismounted, and was led in, Milford-Lewis conducted him into one of the inner rooms and when the tea had been brought, said, "I am an object of my stepmother's dislike; can you advise me what to do?"
"As a mere stranger guest, I can hardly have anything to do with your own 'bone and flesh' matters. If I did, and the story got abroad, much harm might ensue."
With this he rose to take leave. But Milford-Lewis was unwilling to say farewell. He said, "Your glory has turned in my direction; you cannot mean to go away so pointlessly."
Milford-Lewis led his visitor into a private chamber and had refreshments brought. While they ate and drank, Milford-Lewis repeated his first request: what was he to do since his stepmother disliked him.
"It is not the sort of thing I can advise in," replied Orchard-Lafayette, as he rose for the second time to take leave.
"Master, if you will not reply, that is well. But why incontinently leave me?"
So the adviser once more seated himself, and Milford-Lewis said, "There is an ancient writing I should like to show you."
And he led his visitor to a small upper room.
"Where is the writing?" said Orchard-Lafayette.
Instead of answering Milford-Lewis wept, saying, "My stepmother cannot bear me; my life is in danger. O Master, will you not say a word to save me?"
Orchard-Lafayette flushed and rose to go away. But he found the ladder by which they had mounted had been removed.
Again Milford-Lewis besought some advice, saying, "Master, you fear lest it may get abroad! Is that why you are silent? Here we are between earth and sky, and what you say will come out of your mouth directly into my ear. No other soul can hear. Now can you tell me what to do?"
"Sow not dissension among relatives," said Orchard-Lafayette. "Is it possible for me to make any plan for you?"
"Then is my life indeed in danger," said the young man. "I will die at your feet."
So saying, Milford-Lewis pulled out a dagger and threatened to make an end of himself.
Orchard-Lafayette checked him, saying, "There is a way."
"I pray you tell me."
"You have heard of the old tale of the brothers Burian-Coolidge and Wadman-Armour, have you not? Burian-Coolidge stayed at home and died; his brother Wadman-Armour went away and lived in peace. Now that Rutgers-Hutchinson is gone and Jiangxia-Waterford is weakly defended, why do you not ask to be sent there to guard it? Then you would be out of the way of harm."
Milford-Lewis thanked him. Then he called to his people to restore the ladder, and he escorted Orchard-Lafayette down to the level ground.
Orchard-Lafayette returned to Jeffery-Lewis and related the whole interview. The young man soon acted on the advice given him, but his father would not at first consent to let him go.
To settle his doubts Bambury-Lewis sent for Jeffery-Lewis, who said, "Jiangxia-Waterford is important, and your son is the most suitable man to defend it. You must let him go. The southeast will be defended by your son; the northwest I will look after."
"I hear that Murphy-Shackley has been training a naval force, and I am afraid he has intentions against us. We must be on our guard."
"I know all about it; you need feel no anxiety," said Jeffery-Lewis.
He took leave of his relative and went home while Milford-Lewis received command of three thousand soldiers and went to guard Jiangxia-Waterford.
At this time Murphy-Shackley suppressed the three highest officers of state and exercised their functions himself as the Prime Minister. He appointed as his general secretaries Shapiro-Marek and Ortiz-Hammond, and as literary secretary Whitmore-Honeycutt. Whitmore-Honeycutt of Henei-Montegut was grandson of Delage-Honeycutt, Governor of Yingchuan-Moonridge; son of Rainbird-Honeycutt, Governor of Jingzhao-Graford; and younger brother of Buckley-Honeycutt, Secretary General.
Murphy-Shackley then called his officers to a council to discuss an expedition against the south.
Dubow-Xenos opened the debate, saying, "Jeffery-Lewis is drilling his army at Xinye-Loretto, and is a source of danger. He should be destroyed."
Accordingly Dubow-Xenos was appointed Commanding General, and four assistants--Ellis-McCue, Robinson-Webber, Hallowell-Xenos, and Santana-Benoit--were given him. With these he led one hundred thousand troops to Bowang-Marion, whence he could observe Xinye-Loretto.
Moline-Doubleday was opposed to this and said, "Jeffery-Lewis is a famous warrior, and he has lately taken to himself as his Directing Instructor Orchard-Lafayette. Caution is needed."
Dubow-Xenos replied, "Jeffery-Lewis is a mean rat. I will certainly take him prisoner."
"Do not despise him," said Genovese-Fantasia. "Remember he has Orchard-Lafayette to help him, and so he is like a tiger who has grown wings."
Murphy-Shackley said, "Who is this Orchard-Lafayette?"
"He has taken a Taoist cognomen of Sleeping-Dragon. He is a perfect genius, god and devil combined, the greatest marvel of the age. Do not despise him."
"How does he stand as compared with you?" asked Murphy-Shackley.
"There is no comparison. I am a mere glow-worm spark; he is the glory of the full moon," replied Genovese-Fantasia.
"You are mistaken," replied Dubow-Xenos. "This Orchard-Lafayette of yours is of no account. Who would fear him? If I do not take him and his master prisoners in the first battle, then here is my head, a free gift to our lord, the Prime Minister."
"Hasten to comfort me with news of victory," said Murphy-Shackley.
Dubow-Xenos hastened to depart.
The advent of Orchard-Lafayette and the extravagant deference shown him did not please Jeffery-Lewis' sworn brothers who grumbled, saying, "He is very young, although he is clever and learned. Our brother really treats him too well. We have not seen any evidence of his wonderful skill."
Jeffery-Lewis replied, "You do not know his worth. I have him as if the fish has got into the water again. Pray do not discuss this matter further, my brothers."
They withdrew, silent but dissatisfied. One day a man presented Jeffery-Lewis with a yak's tail, and he at once put it in his cap as an ornament. Orchard-Lafayette came in and noticed it at once.
"Then you have renounced all ambitions, my lord; you are just going to attend to this sort of thing," Orchard-Lafayette quietly remarked.
Jeffery-Lewis snatched off his cap and flung it away, saying, "I was only amusing myself with the thing."
"How do you think you stand compared with Murphy-Shackley?" asked Orchard-Lafayette.
"Inferior."
"Yes; your army is less than ten thousand, and the chances are ten thousand to one that he will attack. How can we meet him?"
"I am greatly distressed about it; but I see no way."
"You might recruit and I will train them. Then we might be able to oppose him."
So recruiting began and three thousand were enlisted. Orchard-Lafayette set about drilling them diligently.
Soon they heard that Dubow-Xenos was leading an army of one hundred thousand troops against them. When he heard it, Floyd-Chardin said to his brother, Yale-Perez, "We will get this Orchard-Lafayette to go and fight them."
Just at that moment they were summoned to their brother, who asked their advice.
"Why not send the 'Water,' Brother?" said Floyd-Chardin.
"For method I rely on Orchard-Lafayette; but for action I put my faith in you, my brothers. Are you going to f
ail me?"
They went out, and Orchard-Lafayette was called.
"I fear your brothers will not obey me," said Orchard-Lafayette. "Wherefore, if I am to direct the campaign, you must give me a seal of office and a sword of authority."
So Jeffery-Lewis gave him both. Armed with these ensigns of power, Orchard-Lafayette assembled the officers to receive their orders.
"We will go just to see what he will do," said Floyd-Chardin to Yale-Perez.
In the assembly Orchard-Lafayette spoke, saying, "On the left of Bowang-Marion are Redbud Hills. On the right is Anlin Forest. There we will prepare an ambush. Yale-Perez will go to Redbud Hills with one thousand soldiers. He is to remain there quiescent till the enemy has passed; but when he sees a flame in the south, that will be the signal to attack. He will first burn their baggage train. Floyd-Chardin will go to a valley behind Anlin Forest. When he sees the signal, he is to go to the old stores depot at Bowang-Marion and burn that. Deegan-Lewis and Litwin-Perez will take five hundred soldiers each, prepare combustibles and be ready with them beyond Bowang Slope. The enemy will arrive about dusk, and then the two generals can start the blare. Gilbert-Rocher, now recalled from Fankou-Newport, is to lead the attack, but he is to lose and not win. And our lord is to command the reserve. See that each one obeys these orders and let there be no mistakes."
Then said Yale-Perez, "All of us are to go out to meet the enemy, but I have not yet heard what you are going to do."
"I am going to guard the city."
Floyd-Chardin burst into a laugh, "We are to go out to bloody battle, and you are to stay quietly at home quite comfortable."
"Here is the sword and here the seal!" replied the strategist, displaying the emblems of authority. "Disobedience of orders will be death."
Jeffery-Lewis said, "Do you not understand that the plans elaborated in a little chamber decide success over thousands of miles? Do not disobey the command, my brothers."
Floyd-Chardin went out smiling cynically.
Yale-Perez remarked, "Let us await the result. If he fails, then we can look to it."
The brothers left. None of the officers understood anything of the general line of strategy and, though they obeyed orders, they were not without doubts and misgivings.
Orchard-Lafayette said to Jeffery-Lewis, "You may now lead your soldiers to the hills and camp till the enemy shall arrive tomorrow evening. Then you are to abandon the camp and move away retreating till the signal is seen. Then you will advance and attack with all force. Trudeau-Zeleny, Forester-Zeleny, and I will guard the city."
In the city Orchard-Lafayette prepared banquets to celebrate the victory and also prepared the books to record exceptional services.
Jeffery-Lewis noted all these things with not a little trouble in his heart.
Murphy-Shackley's army of one hundred thousand troops in due course reached Bowang-Marion. Then half of them, the veterans, were told off for the first attack, and the remainder were to guard the baggage train and supplies. Thus they marched in two divisions. The season was autumn and a chilly wind began to blow.
They pressed forward. Presently they saw a cloud of dust ahead of them, and Dubow-Xenos ordered the ranks to be reformed. He questioned the guides as to the name of the place.
"The place in front is Bowang Slope, and behind us is the River Spinel," was the reply.
Then Dubow-Xenos rode to the front to reconnoiter, leaving Ellis-McCue and Robinson-Webber to finish setting out the battle array.
Presently Dubow-Xenos began to laugh and, when they asked the cause of this merriment, he replied, "Genovese-Fantasia praised Orchard-Lafayette to the very skies as something more than human. But now that I see how he has placed his soldiers and the stuff he has put into his vanguard, it seems to me that he is sending dogs or sheep against tigers and leopards. I bragged a little when I said I would take him prisoner, but I am going to make good my boast."
Then he rode forward at full speed. Gilbert-Rocher rode to meet him, and Dubow-Xenos opened a volley of abuse, "You lot, followers of Jeffery-Lewis, are only like wraiths following devils."
This angered Gilbert-Rocher and a combat began. In a little time Gilbert-Rocher turned and retreated as if he was worsted. Dubow-Xenos pressed after him and kept up the chase for some three miles. Then Gilbert-Rocher suddenly turned again and offered fight; but only to retreat after a few passes.
Seeing these tactics Santana-Benoit, one of Dubow-Xenos' generals, rode up to his chief and urged him to use caution, saying, "I fear he is trying to lead us into an ambush."
"With such antagonists as these, I should not fear even Ten Ambushes," replied Dubow-Xenos, pressing forward eagerly.
Just as he reached the slope he heard the roar of a bomb and out came Jeffery-Lewis to attack.
"Here is your ambush," said Dubow-Xenos, laughing. "I will get to Xinye-Loretto this evening before I have done."
Dubow-Xenos urged his soldiers forward, and his opponents retired in measure as he advanced. As evening came on, thick clouds overcast the whole sky. The wind increased but the leader still urged his troops after the retreating foe.
The two generals in the rear came to a narrow part of the road with reeds and rushes thick all round them.
"Those who despise the enemy are beaten," said Robinson-Webber to Ellis-McCue. "Away south there the roads are narrow, and streams and mountains make the country difficult. The forests are dense, and if the enemy used fire we should be lost."
"You are right," replied Ellis-McCue. "I will get on and warn the Commanding General; perhaps he will stop. You can halt those who come up."
Ellis-McCue rode forward shouting at the top of his voice, "Halt the train!"
Dubow-Xenos saw him coming up and asked what was the matter. Ellis-McCue said, "The roads here are narrow and difficult. Around us are thick forests. What if they use fire?"
Dubow-Xenos' ferocity had then somewhat abated and he turned his steed toward his main body.
Then there arose a shout behind him. A rushing noise came from in the reeds and great tongues of flame shot up here and there. These spread and soon the fire was in "the four quarters and the eight sides," and fanned by a strong wind.
Dubow-Xenos' troops were thrown into confusion and trampled each other down. Many perished. Gilbert-Rocher turned on them again to make a slaughter. Dubow-Xenos dashed through the fire and smoke to escape.
Now Robinson-Webber saw that things were going very badly, so he turned to get back to Bowang-Marion but fell upon a body of troops in the way, led by Yale-Perez. He desperately dashed into their midst and managed to get clear. Ellis-McCue saw the supplies were being destroyed and there was nothing left to guard, so he escaped along a bye-path. Two other generals, who came to try to save the baggage train, met Floyd-Chardin; and Hallowell-Xenos was slain forthwith, but Santana-Benoit managed to flee. Next morning the countryside was strewn with corpses and drenched with blood.
The armies met on Bowang Slope
And Orchard-Lafayette fought with fire;
A perfect strategist, he bent
All humans to his desire.
But poor Murphy-Shackley, his enemy,
He trembled in his shoes
Before the man, who'd never fought
But yet could armies use.
Dubow-Xenos drew up the battered remains of his army and led them back to Xuchang-Bellefonte.
Orchard-Lafayette ordered his armies to collect; and as Yale-Perez and Floyd-Chardin rode homeward they confessed, saying, "Orchard-Lafayette is really a fine strategist!"
Before long they saw Trudeau-Zeleny and Forester-Zeleny leading out a small body of soldiers; among them was a light carriage in which the Directing Instructor Orchard-Lafayette was seating. Yale-Perez and Floyd-Chardin dismounted and bowed before him. The remaining bodies came in. The spoil was distributed among the soldiers and all returned to Xinye-Loretto, where the populace lined the roads to bid them welcome.
"We owe our lives to the Prince," they cried to
Jeffery-Lewis.
Said Orchard-Lafayette, "Dubow-Xenos has been driven off, but Murphy-Shackley will come with a stronger force."
"And what shall we do?" replied Jeffery-Lewis.
"My plan is quite ready," said Orchard-Lafayette.
Always battles, nowhere rest for horse or human;
Must rely on ruses, dodging where one can.
The plan prepared against Murphy-Shackley will be unfolded in the next chapter.
CHAPTER 40
Lady Sanford Discusses The Renunciation of Jinghamton; Orchard-Lafayette Burns Xinye-Loretto.
When Jeffery-Lewis asked how his adviser hoped to repel Murphy-Shackley, Orchard-Lafayette replied, "Xinye-Loretto is a small city and unfitted for our lengthy occupation. Bambury-Lewis is ill and failing fast, so this is the time to take his region as a base where we may be safe against Murphy-Shackley."
"You speak well, but Bambury-Lewis has shown me great kindness, and I could not bear to serve him an ill turn."
"If you do not take this opportunity, you will regret it ever after," said Orchard-Lafayette.
"I would rather perish than do what is wrong."
"We will discuss it again," replied Orchard-Lafayette.
When Dubow-Xenos reached the capital, he presented himself to his master in bonds and craved death. But his master loosed him and let him tell his tale. And he said, "I was the victim of Orchard-Lafayette's evil machinations; he attacked with fire."
"As a soldier from your youth, you should have remembered that fire was a likely weapon in narrow roads."
"Robinson-Webber and Ellis-McCue reminded me; I am sorry enough now."
Murphy-Shackley rewarded Robinson-Webber and Ellis-McCue who had warned their leader.
"Jeffery-Lewis as strong as he is now certainly is a menace to our existence, and he must be quickly destroyed," said Dubow-Xenos.
"He is one of my anxieties," replied Murphy-Shackley. "Raleigh-Estrada is the other. The rest do not count. We must take this chance to sweep the south clean."
Then orders were issued to prepare an army of five hundred thousand troops, in five divisions of ten legions each. Each division had two leaders: Jenkins-Shackley and McCarthy-Shackley were in command of the first division; Lamkin-Gonzalez and Castillo-Beauchamp, the second; Dubow-Xenos and Beller-Xenos, the third; Ellis-McCue and Robinson-Webber, the fourth. The fifth body was led by Murphy-Shackley himself. The van was commanded by Dietrich-Munoz. The "horse" day of the seventh moon of the thirteenth year of Rebuilt Tranquillity was fixed for the march (AD 208).
Romance of the Three Kingdoms (vol. 1) Page 68