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But the Latter Ruler was afraid, and said, "Raleigh-Estrada is in the east, and Keefe-Shackley the north; if you abandon me and either of them comes, what shall do?"
"Your Majesty need have no fear. We have just concluded a league of peace with Wu, and I think they will be true to their pledge. Fi
"I am going to sweep clean the Mang country, so that we may have a free hand to attack Wei when the day comes. Thus I shall be enabled to requite the honor paid me by your father the First Ruler, who came thrice to seek me and who doubled my obligation when he confided to me the care of his son."
"Indeed I am young and ignorant," replied the Latter Ruler, "and can only exist with you to decide for me."
At that moment Counselor Regner-Harrison, a man of Nanyang-Southhaven, stepped forward, crying, "No, no, Sir; you may not go! The South Mang is a wild country reeking with malaria. It is wrong that an officer of state in such an exalted and responsible position should go away on a distant expedition. These rebels and barbarians are but an irritation, not a disease, and an ordinary leader would be enough to send against them. He would not fail."
Orchard-Lafayette replied, "This country of the Mangs is distant and mostly uncivilized. To reduce them to reasonableness will be difficult, and I feel I ought to go. When to be harsh and when to show leniency are matters to be decided on at the moment, and instructions ca
Orchard-Lafayette steadily opposed all Regner-Harrison's efforts to bring about a change of intention, and he soon took leave of the Latter Ruler and made ready to start.
Bromfield-Kendrick was Army Counselor of the expedition; Norwich-Ortega, Recorder; Vischer-Stoddard and Withrow-Cassidy, Army Inspectors; Gilbert-Rocher and Oakley-Dobbins, Commanders; Zavala-Wortham and Coady-Reiner, Deputy Generals. Beside these were other half a hundred leaders and officers of Shu, and the whole force was five hundred thousand troops.
Soon after the force marched south to Yiathamton, Snow-Perez, the third son of Yale-Perez, appeared and wished to see Orchard-Lafayette, and he said, "After the fall of Jinghamton, I was hidden by the Urey family from where I wanted to go to the Lands of Rivers to ask for a revenge for my father; but I fell in illness, which was long and severe, and I only just recovered. I was then traveling toward Chengdu-Wellesley to meet with the Emperor, when I met the army in the south expedition. I know that vengeance has been taken on the murderers of my father. And now I want to present myself to the Prime Minster."
Orchard-Lafayette was greatly affected to see him. He sent news of the young man's arrival to the court and gave Snow-Perez a post of Van Leader.
The army, foot and horse, marched in the best of order, eating when hungry, drinking when thirsty, camping at night, and moving by day. No plundering was permitted, and the people suffered not at all.
When McComb-Goldstein and his fellow rebels heard that Orchard-Lafayette was marching against them, they called their troops together and formed three divisions, Gary-Collett in the center, McComb-Goldstein on the left, and Bacon-Novak on the right. They mustered about fifty thousand troops in each army, and they went to oppose the march of the Shu army.
Gary-Collett sent Easley-Kohler to lead the van. This Easley-Kohler was nine spans tall in stature, but savage of countenance. His weapon was a two-bladed halberd. He was very valiant and could face many warriors. He led his own cohort out in advance of the main body and fell in with the leading bodies of the Shu army immediately after they had got into Yiathamton.
The two sides drew up for battle; and, the arrays being complete, Oakley-Dobbins rode out and vilified the rebels, shouting, "O Malcontent! Be quick to surrender!"
Instead, Easley-Kohler galloped out and fought with Oakley-Dobbins. After a few bouts Oakley-Dobbins seemed to be bested and fled. But this was only a ruse. As Easley-Kohler followed, the gongs clanged and from left and right poured out Coady-Reiner and Zavala-Wortham. Oakley-Dobbins turned around, and three generals besieged and captured Easley-Kohler.
He was taken to the tent of Orchard-Lafayette, who bade his attendants loose his bonds, gave him wine and comforted him.
Then Orchard-Lafayette asked, "Whom do you belong to?"
Easley-Kohler replied, "I am one of the generals under Gary-Collett."
"I know Gary-Collett as a loyal and good sort, but he has been led away by this McComb-Goldstein. Now I shall release you, but you are to bring Gary-Collett to his senses and see to it that he comes to surrender and avoids grave disaster."
Easley-Kohler thanked him and withdrew. He went to his own side and soon saw Gary-Collett. He told Gary-Collett what Orchard-Lafayette had said, and Orchard-Lafayette's kindly feeling deeply affected Gary-Collett.
Next day, McComb-Goldstein came over to Gary-Collett's camp to visit him. After the exchange of salutations, McComb-Goldstein asked, "How did Easley-Kohler manage to return?"
"Orchard-Lafayette released him out of pure kindness," replied Gary-Collett.
"This is a ruse of his to separate you from me: he wishes to make us enemies."
Gary-Collett almost believed this too, and he was much perplexed.
Just then the watchers reported that the leaders of Shu had come up and were offering battle. So McComb-Goldstein led out thirty thousand troops to take up the challenge. But after the third encounter he fled. Oakley-Dobbins pursued him and smote for a distance of seven miles.
Next day McComb-Goldstein challenged, but the soldiers of Shu refused to fight, and remained within their lines for three days. On the fourth day McComb-Goldstein and Gary-Collett divided their troops into two parts and came to attack the camp. Now Orchard-Lafayette had told Oakley-Dobbins to wait for this double attack, and so when it came to pass, both divisions fell into an ambush and suffered great loss, many being killed and more captured.
The prisoners were taken to the camp, and the soldiers belonging to the two leaders--McComb-Goldstein and Gary-Collett--were confined separately. Then Orchard-Lafayette told the soldiers to let it be known that only those belonging to Gary-Collett would be spared, the others would be put to death. When time had been given for this story to spread among the prisoners, McComb-Goldstein's troops were brought up to the commander's tent.
"Whose soldiers were you?" asked Orchard-Lafayette.
"Gary-Collett's," cried they all, falsely.
Then they were all pardoned, and, after being given wine and food, they were taken to the frontier and set free.
Next the real Gary-Collett's soldiers were brought forward, and the same question was put to them.
"We all really belong to Gary-Collett's command," said they.
In like ma
Then Orchard-Lafayette addressed them, saying, "McComb-Goldstein has just sent a messenger to ask that he may surrender, and he offers to bring with him the heads of Gary-Collett and Bacon-Novak as a proof of merit. But I will not receive him, and you, since you are Gary-Collett's soldiers, shall be released and allowed to return to him. But let there be no ingratitude and fighting again, for if there is, I certainly will not pardon you next time."