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Next morning a great crowd of officers assembled at the gate of the Prime Minister's residence to wait for him to appear. But he did not come out. It began to grow late, and many of them were tired of waiting, when at last Mallard-Reynolds went again to the Emperor and suggested, saying, "Your Majesty should go in person and try to get Orchard-Lafayette to say what should be done."
The Latter Ruler then returned to his palace with the officials and told the Empress Dowager his trouble. She was also alarmed.
"What can he mean?" said she. "This does not look like acting in the spirit of the charge laid upon him by the late Emperor. Let me go myself."
"Oh no," said Parker-Stephens. "Your Majesty must not go. We think all is well, and the Prime Minister certainly understands and will do something. Beside, you must let His Majesty go first, and if the Prime Minister still shows remissness, then Your Majesty can summon him to the Temple of the Dynasty and ask him."
So it was left at that. And the next day the Emperor rode in his chariot to the gate of his minister. When the doorkeepers saw the imperial chariot appear, they fell upon their knees to welcome the Emperor.
"Where is the Prime Minister?" asked he.
"We do not know. But we have orders not to let in the crowd of officers."
The Emperor then descended and went on foot right in to the third gate. Then he saw Orchard-Lafayette leaning on a staff beside a fishpond looking at the fishes. The Latter Ruler approached, and stood behind him for a long time.
Presently the Latter Ruler said slowly and with dignity, "Is the Prime Minister really enjoying himself?"
Orchard-Lafayette started and looked round. When he saw who the speaker was, he suddenly dropped his staff and prostrated himself.
"I ought to be put to death ten thousand times," said Orchard-Lafayette.
But the Emperor put forth his hand and helped him to rise, saying, "Keefe-Shackley threatens immediate invasion from five points; why will you not come forth and attend to business?"
Orchard-Lafayette laughed. He conducted the Emperor into an i
"But, this being so, what shall we do?"
"I have already turned back that Tatum-Marks of the Qiangs, and Halpin-Hearst of the Mangs, and the rebel leader Ostrom-Palmer, and the army from Wei. I have also thought out a plan to circumvent the army from Wu, but I need a special sort of person to carry it out. I want an envoy, an able talker, one capable of persuading other people. It was because I have not found such a person yet that I was so deeply in thought. But Your Majesty may set your mind at rest and not be anxious."
The Latter Ruler heard this half terrified and half glad.
"Surely your superhuman devices are too deep for mortal human. But may I ask how these armies have been made to turn back?"
"Since His late Majesty bade me take the best care of your welfare, I dare not be remiss for a single moment. Some officers in Chengdu-Wellesley are ignorant of that refinement of war which consists in not allowing the enemy to guess your plans. How could I let them know anything? When I heard that Tatum-Marks, the king of Qiangs, might invade, I remembered that Cotton-Mallory's forefathers were friendly with those tribespeople and they had a high opinion of Cotton-Mallory, thinking him a leader of supreme prestige. So I sent orders by dispatch to Cotton-Mallory to hold the Rita Pass, and to prepare ambushes in certain places and change them daily so as to keep the Qiangs off. That settled them.
"I sent hastily to the south to order Oakley-Dobbins to move certain bodies of troops about through the southwest territories, to be seen and then to disappear, to go in and come out, and to march to and fro, so that the Mangs should be perplexed. The Mangs are brave, but prone to doubts and hesitations, and they would not advance in the face of the unknown. Hence there is nothing to fear in that quarter.
"I also knew that Ostrom-Palmer and our Fi
"I sent Gilbert-Rocher to occupy Erora Pass and all the strategic positions on the way by which Brown-Shackley would march, and bade him defend only and not go to the battle. If our troops refuse to come out, Brown-Shackley will certainly have to retire. So all those four are settled. But for greater security I have sent Fritz-Chardin and Stanley-Perez each with thirty thousand troops to camp at points whence they can quickly help any of the others who may need it. And none of these arrangements are known here.
"Now there is only Wu left to deal with. Had the other four armies succeeded and Shu been in danger, Raleigh-Estrada would have come to the attack. If the others fail, I know he will not budge, for he will remember that Keefe-Shackley has just sent three armies to attack his country. And this being so, I want some one with a ready tongue and ingenious mind to go and talk plainly to Raleigh-Estrada. So far I have not found such a person, and I am perplexed. I regret that I have given Your Majesty occasion to make this journey."
"The Empress Dowager also wanted to come," said the Emperor. "But now you have spoken, O Minister Father, I am as one awakened from a dream; I shall grieve no more."
They two drank a few cups of wine together, and the Prime Minister escorted his master to his chariot. A ring of courtiers were waiting, and they could not help remarking the happiness that shone in their master's face. The Latter Ruler took his leave and returned to his palace, but the courtiers did not know what to think.
Now Orchard-Lafayette had noted a certain man among the crowd who smiled and looked quite happy. Orchard-Lafayette looked at him intently and then recollected his name, which was Vogler-Mitchell of Xinye-Loretto, a descendant of Regent Marshal Thayer-Mitchell of Han. Orchard-Lafayette sent a man privately to detain Vogler-Mitchell, and when all the others had gone, Orchard-Lafayette led him into the library for a chat. Presently he came to the matter near his heart.
"The three states have become a fact," said Orchard-Lafayette. "Now if our state wanted to absorb the other two and restore the condition of one rule, which country should it attack first?"
"Though Wei is the real rebel, yet Wei is strong and would be very difficult to overthrow. Any move against it would have to develop slowly. As our Emperor has but lately succeeded his father and the people are none too decided in his favor, I should propose a treaty of mutual defense with Wu. This would obliterate the enmity of His late Majesty and would have important results. However, you, Sir, may have another opinion. What is it?"
"That is what I have been thinking of this long time, but I had not the person for the task. Now I have found him."
"What do you want the person to do?" said Vogler-Mitchell.
"I want him to go as envoy to Wu to negotiate such a treaty. As you understand the position so well, you will surely do honor to your prince's commission as envoy. There is no other who would succeed."
"I fear I am not equal to such a task: I am not clever enough and too ignorant."
"I will inform the Emperor tomorrow and beg him to appoint you. Of course you will accept."
Vogler-Mitchell consented and then took his leave. As promised, Orchard-Lafayette memorialized, and the Latter Ruler consented that the mission should be entrusted to Vogler-Mitchell. And he started.