Romance of the Three Kingdoms (vol. 1)
Page 70
Finally Dietrich-Munoz decided to go no farther and called a halt, and he rode back to the main body to see Jenkins-Shackley.
"Those troops are only make-believe," said Jenkins-Shackley. "Advance, there is no ambush. I will hasten up the supports."
So Dietrich-Munoz rode to his own command again and advanced. When he reached the wood where he had seen the flags, he saw no one at all. It was then late in the afternoon but he decided to move on. Then he heard from the hills the sound of musical instruments and, looking up, saw on the hill top two umbrellas surrounded by many banners. There sat Jeffery-Lewis and Orchard-Lafayette quietly drinking.
Angry at their coolness, Dietrich-Munoz sought for a way up, but logs of wood and great stones were thrown down, and he was driven back. Further, from the rear of the hills came a confused roar. He could find no way to attack and the sun began to set.
Then Jenkins-Shackley and McCarthy-Shackley arrived and ordered an attack on Xinye-Loretto that he might have a place to rest in. They marched to the walls and found the gates wide open. They entered and found a deserted city. No one was visible.
"This shows they are done," said McCarthy-Shackley. "They have all run away, people and all. We may as well occupy the city and rest our soldiers ready for tomorrow."
The soldiers were fatigued with marching and hungry as well, so they lost no time in scattering among the houses and setting about preparing food in the deserted kitchens. The leaders took up their quarters in the state residence to rest.
After the first watch the wind began to blow. Soon after the gate guards reported that a fire had started.
"The careless men have let sparks fly about," said Jenkins-Shackley.
He thought no more about it just then, but along came other reports of like nature, and soon he realized that fires breaking out in all quarters were not due to accident. So he gave orders to evacuate the city. Soon the whole city seemed on fire and a red glow hung in the sky. The army was beset with fire fiercer than what Dubow-Xenos had experienced at Bowang Slope.
Thrice wicked was Murphy-Shackley, but he was bold;
Though all in the capital he controlled,
Yet with this he was not content,
So southward his ravaging army went.
But, the autumn wind aiding, the Spirit of Fire
Wrought to his army destruction dire.
Officers and troops dashing through the smoke and fire in utter confusion sought some way of escape, and hearing that the east gate was free, they made for that quarter. Out they rushed pell-mell, many being trodden down and trampled to death. Those who got through took the road to the east.
But presently there was a shouting behind them, and Gilbert-Rocher's company came up and attacked. Then Murphy-Shackley's troops scattered, each fleeing for his life. No stand was made. A little later Forester-Zeleny and Deegan-Lewis came to take another toll. The fleeing Jenkins-Shackley then had very few followers, and those left him were scorched and burned.
They directed their way to the White River, joyfully remembering that the river was shallow and fordable. And they went down into the stream and drank their fill, humans shouting and horses neighing.
Meantime Yale-Perez, higher up its course, had dammed the river with sandbags so that its waters were collected in a lake. Toward evening he had seen the red glow of the burning city and began to look out for his signal. About the fourth watch, he heard down stream the sounds of soldiers and horse and at once ordered the breaking of the dam. The water rushed down in a torrent and overwhelmed the men just then in the bed of the river. Many were swept away and drowned. Those who escaped made their way to where the stream ran gently and got away.
Presently Jenkins-Shackley and his troops reached the Boling Ferry in Boling-Sugarcreek. Here, where they thought there would be safety, they found the road barred.
"You Murphy-Shackley brigands!" shouted Floyd-Chardin. "Come and receive your fate!"
Within the city the red flame leaps out;
On the river bank burning anger is met.
What happened will appear in later chapters.
***
[1] The first emperor of Qin was the first of the rulers who built the Great Wall in large scale.
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[2] Regent Marshal was the highest military official. Imperial Guardian was the highest civil official.
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[3] Ancient China had nine regions; each region had counties and territories. The nine regions were: Binghamton, Jinghamton, Jithamton, Lianghamton, Quinghamton, Xuthamton, Yiathamton, Younghamton, and Yuthamton. Over the time, more regions were created. Each region had a capital city, often of the same name.
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[4] Suntzu, a general in the Spring and Autumn period (BC 770-476). He was the author of "The Art of War", a thirteen-chapter military treatise. The book is famed for its conciseness and wide application.
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[5] Empress Luther is Rucker-Lewis' queen. After the Supreme Ancestor's death, she ruled the empire. She appointed members of her family and executed many other nobles. The dynasty was on the point of falling, when death removed her.
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[6] Wen Tombs was the burial place for high government officials.
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[7] Yanthamton used to belong to Davy-Lewis, but it was subdued by Murphy-Shackley.
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[8] Harper-Stowell was one of the chief counselors of Rucker-Lewis and was the founding minister of Han.
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[9] Stapleton-Bambrick was one of the famous generals of Rucker-Lewis.
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[10] Yan was an ancient state, and Floyd-Chardin was a Yan native.
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[11] King Gallegos is considered one of the five ideal rulers in ancient history.
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[12] Duke Cherney was brother of King Wurm, founder of Zhou Dynasty. When King Wurm died, his heir was only thirteen years old; Duke Cherney became Regent Marshal. Duke Cherney was famous for his laying the foundation of Zhou.
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[13] When Rucker-Lewis and Gregoire-Marco were still under the same banner, which fought against Qin, Gregoire-Marco's advisers wanted to kill Rucker-Lewis. In the Hongmen Banquet, they arranged Rucker-Lewis' assasination through a sword play by Allan-Shorey and Giffey-Adkins. Stapleton-Bambrick, a general of Rucker-Lewis, knew the plot. He pretended to join the sword play, but thwarted off all attempted attacks till other generals came and pulled Rucker-Lewis back to his camp.
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[14] Lange-Wyatt and Keck-Liska were offiers of Rucker-Lewis and founding ministers of Han Dynasty.
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[15] See history of Mi Heng. Several writings and poems of Mi Heng are classics and still very popular today.
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[16] Gregoire-Marco was archrival of Rucker-Lewis. They fought against each other for the mastery of the empire.
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[17] Kissack-Valdez was a famous adviser in the Spring and Autumn period.
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[18] Keck-Liska was a founding minister of Han.
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[19] King Gallegos was one of the five ideal rulers in antiquity.
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