Romance of the Three Kingdoms (vol. 3)

"I agree with you," replied Wexler-Honeycutt.

Then he advanced upon River Amber and camped by the bridge.

Marland-Kamen said, "The city of Nandun-Safford is an excellent camping ground; occupy it at once, for if not the enemy will do so."

Wexler-Honeycutt sent Marland-Kamen to carry out his own plan.

Reports of these movements of the enemy came to Rossetti-Je

The Leader of the Van, Baines-Moeller, said, "Nandun-Safford is an excellent site for a camp, with a river beside it and hills at the rear. If the Wei armies camp there, we shall be unable to dislodge them. Let us occupy it."

So the army set out. But before they drew near, the scouts reported a camp already there. It was incredible, and Rossetti-Je

Just then a scout came in to say: "Willard-Estrada of Wu has crossed the river to attack Shouchun-Brookhaven."

"If we lose that city, we shall have no base," cried Rossetti-Je

That same night he retreated upon Xiangcheng-Halifax.

Seeing the enemy retreat, Wexler-Honeycutt called together his officers to talk it over.

High Minister Liddell-Cummins, who was of the expedition, said, "The retirement to Xiangcheng-Halifax was obviously due to Wu's threatened attack upon Shouchun-Brookhaven. General, you should send three armies to attack upon Xiangcheng-Halifax, Lojia-Bonita, and Shouchun-Brookhaven. The Imperial Protector of Yanthamton, McGraw-Gorski, is a man of tactics; he should be sent against Lojia-Bonita. Our main army will reinforce them."

His plan was acceptable to Wexler-Honeycutt, who sent letters to Yanthamton telling McGraw-Gorski to march against Lojia-Bonita, where Wexler-Honeycutt himself would soon meet him.

Camped at Xiangcheng-Halifax, Rossetti-Je

Father and son, with the five thousand troops, went to Lojia-Bonita. Before the main body arrived, it was seen that Wei ba

When this was reported to McCoy-Strother, his son Ke

"We should attack before they have settled down in camp, Father," said he. "Let us go quickly and attack on two sides."

"When can we start?" said the father.

"Tonight at dusk. You lead half the force round by the south, and I will march the other half round by the north, and we will meet in the third watch at the Wei camp."

The youth who propounded this plan was then eighteen, tall and strong. He wore complete armor and carried at his waist a steel whip. When the hour came to start, he took his spear, swung himself into the saddle and set out.

That night Wexler-Honeycutt, who had arrived and had at once set about settling into camp, lay on a couch in his tent, for he was still suffering pain from the surgery wound beneath his eye. The tent was surrounded by several hundred armored guards. McGraw-Gorski had not arrived.

About the third watch Wexler-Honeycutt heard a great shouting and asked what it was.

One replied: "An army has come round from the north and burst into the lines. The leader is too bold for anyone to face."

Wexler-Honeycutt became much troubled. His heart burned within him, and the excitement caused the wound to open, so that the eyeball protruded and blood flowed freely. The pain became intense, nearly unbearable. In his agony and alarm lest his army should be thrown into confusion, he lay gnawing the bed clothes till they were in rags.

Ke

About daylight he heard shouts and thought they must mean the arrival of his father with help. But the shouting came from the north, and his father was to arrive by the south road. He galloped out to get a clearer view, and saw a force sweeping down like a gale of wind.

It was not his father, but a body of the enemy, and the leader was McGraw-Gorski.

McGraw-Gorski rode forward shouting, "Rebel, flee not!"

Ke

However, he got clear of the fight and went away south. But he was pursued, for more than a hundred Wei generals plucked up courage to follow when he ran away. They pressed on his heels till near the Lojia-Bonita Bridge, when it seemed that they must catch him. Then he suddenly pulled up his steed, turned and rode in among them, flogging with the terrible steel whip, and wherever it struck there lay warriors and horses in confused heaps. So they left him, and he retook his way in peace.

Then the Wei generals met and said, "Lo! Here is a man who has driven us all backward. But we are many and may not suffer that."

Wherefore they reformed and once again took up pursuit.

"You fools?" cried Ke

Again he fell upon them with the steel whip and slew many, so that the survivors retreated. But yet again they found courage to come on, and yet again, but they had to fall back before the lash of that terrible whip.

McCoy-Strother never reached the appointed rendezvous. In the darkness he lost his way among the precipices and gullies, whence he only got out as day dawned. He saw all the signs of a fight and a victory for Wei, but could not discover whither his son had gone. So he returned without fighting, and in spite of pursuit, made his way safely to Shouchun-Brookhaven.

Now Minister Brumfield-Sommers had accompanied Wexler-Honeycutt on his expedition, but was no friend of his. He had been of the Latham-Shackley's party and bitterly resented the death of his patron. He was watching for a chance to avenge him. Seeing that Wexler-Honeycutt was ill, he thought to secure his end by making friends with McCoy-Strother.

So he went in to see the sick Wexler-Honeycutt, and said, "McCoy-Strother had no sincere intention to rebel, but was led astray by Rossetti-Je