Romance of the Three Kingdoms (vol. 3)

So they thanked their liberator and went away. As soon as they reached their own camp, they told the whole story. Then Gary-Collett sent a spy to the camp of McComb-Goldstein to find out what was doing. There the spy met those who had been released, and they were all talking about Orchard-Lafayette's kindness, and many of them were inclined to desert their own camp for the other.

Although this seemed very satisfactory, yet Gary-Collett did not feel convinced, and he sent another man to Orchard-Lafayette's camp to try to verify the rumor. But this man was captured and taken before the Commander-in-Chief, who pretended that he thought the spy belonged to McComb-Goldstein, and said to him, "Why has your leader failed to send me the heads of Gary-Collett and Bacon-Novak as he promised? You lot are not very clever, and what are you come to spy out?"

The soldier muttered and mumbled in confusion. But Orchard-Lafayette gave the man wine and food, and then wrote a letter which he handed to the spy, saying, "You give this letter to your commander, McComb-Goldstein, and tell him to get the job done quickly."

The spy took the letter and got away. As soon as he reached camp, he gave the letter to Gary-Collett and also the message.

Gary-Collett read the missive and became very angry.

"I have ever been true to him, and yet he wants to kill me. It is hard to be either friendly or reasonable."

Then he decided to take Easley-Kohler into his confidence, and called him. Easley-Kohler was much prejudiced in favor of Orchard-Lafayette, and said, "Orchard-Lafayette is a most benevolent man, and it would be ill to turn our backs upon him. It is McComb-Goldstein's fault that we are now rebels, and our best course would be to slay him and betake ourselves to Orchard-Lafayette."

"How could it be done?" asked Gary-Collett.

"Invite him to a banquet. If he refuses, it means he is a traitor, and then you can attack him in front while I will lie in wait behind his camp to capture him as he runs away."

They agreed to try this plan; the banquet was prepared and McComb-Goldstein invited. But as McComb-Goldstein's mind was full of suspicion from what his returned soldiers had said, he would not come. That night, as soon as darkness fell, Gary-Collett attacked his camp.

Now the soldiers who had been released were imbued with the goodness of Gary-Collett all quite ready to help him fight. On the other hand, McComb-Goldstein's troops mutinied against him, and so McComb-Goldstein mounted his steed and fled. Before he had gone far, he found his road blocked by the cohort under Easley-Kohler, who galloped out with his halberd and confronted the fugitive. McComb-Goldstein could not defend himself, and was struck down. Easley-Kohler decapitated him. As soon as they knew he was dead, his troops joined themselves to Gary-Collett, who then went and surrendered to Orchard-Lafayette.

Orchard-Lafayette received Gary-Collett sitting in state in his tent, but at once ordered the lictors to decapitate Gary-Collett.

But Gary-Collett said, "Influenced by your kindness, Sir, I have brought the head of my colleague as a proof of the sincerity of my surrender; why should I die?"

"You come with false intent; do you think you can hoodwink me?" said Orchard-Lafayette, laughing.

"What proof have you that I am false?"

Orchard-Lafayette drew a letter from his box, and said, "Bacon-Novak sent this secretly to say he wished to surrender, and he said you and McComb-Goldstein were sworn friends to death. How could you suddenly change your feelings and slay him? That is how I know your treachery."

"Bacon-Novak only tried to make trouble," cried Gary-Collett, kneeling.

Orchard-Lafayette still refused to believe him, and said, "I ca

"Do not doubt me. What if I go and capture this man?"

"If you did that, my doubts would be set at rest."

Thereupon Gary-Collett and his subordinate, Easley-Kohler, led away their troops to the camp of Bacon-Novak. When they were about three miles from his camp, Bacon-Novak appeared with a cohort. As soon as they recognized each other, Bacon-Novak hastily came forward to parley.

But Gary-Collett cried out to him, "Why did you write a letter to the Prime Minister and so intrigue with him to get me killed?"

Bacon-Novak stared open mouthed and could not reply. Then Easley-Kohler rode out from behind his chief and struck Bacon-Novak with his halberd so that he fell to the ground.

Thereupon Gary-Collett shouted, "The soldiers should either yield or be slain!"

And they yielded in a body.

Gary-Collett then went back to Orchard-Lafayette and offered the head of the man just slain.

Orchard-Lafayette laughed again. "I have made you kill both these as a proof of loyalty."

Then he created Gary-Collett Governor of Yiathamton and chief of three territories, while Easley-Kohler was made General. Thus the three divisions were disposed of and troubled the peace no more.

Governor Farwell-Lackey of Yongchang-Bollinger then came out of the city and welcomed Orchard-Lafayette; and, when Orchard-Lafayette had made his entry into that city, he called Farwell-Lackey and asked, "Who has aided you in the defense of this city?"

The Governor said, "The safety of this city is due entirely to Newcomb-Rosenbach."

So Newcomb-Rosenbach was called. He came and bowed.

Orchard-Lafayette said, "Long since I heard of you as a remarkable person of this area. We are greatly indebted to you for its safety. Now we wish to conquer the Mangs; have you any advice to offer?"

Newcomb-Rosenbach then produced a map of the country and presented it, saying, "From the time of my appointment, I have felt certain that the southern tribespeople would rise against you, and so I sent secret agents to map out the country and find the strategic points. From that information I prepared this map, which I call 'The Plan to Subdue the Mangs.' I beg you, Sir, to accept it, as it may be of use."

Then Orchard-Lafayette took Newcomb-Rosenbach into his service as Military Adviser and Guide. With Newcomb-Rosenbach's help, Orchard-Lafayette advanced and penetrated deeply into the country.

While the army was advancing, there came a messenger from the court. When he appeared, Orchard-Lafayette saw it was Pickett-Maggio, and he was clothed in white. He was in mourning for his brother, Westlake-Maggio, who had just died.

He said, "I come by special command of the Emperor with gifts of wine and silks for the soldiers."

When the ceremonies proper on receipt of a mandate from the Emperor had been performed, and the gifts distributed as instructed, Pickett-Maggio was asked to remain to talk over matters.

Orchard-Lafayette said, "I have His Majesty's command to conquer these Mangs. I hear you have some advice to offer, and I should be pleased if you would instruct me."

"Yes; I have one thing to say that may be worth thinking over. These people refuse to recognize our supremacy, because they think their country is distant and difficult. If you should overcome them today, tomorrow they would revolt. Wherever your army marches, they are overcome and submit; but the day you withdraw the army and attack Keefe-Shackley, they will renew their attack. In arms even it is best to attack hearts rather than cities; to fight with sentiment is better than to fight with weapons. It will be well if you can win them over."

"You read my inmost thoughts," said Orchard-Lafayette.

Then Pickett-Maggio was retained with the army as Military Adviser, and the army marched on.

When the King of the Mangs, Halpin-Hearst, heard how cleverly Orchard-Lafayette had got rid of McComb-Goldstein, he called together the leaders of the "Three Ravines" to discuss matters. The chief of the first Ravine was Rothschild-McDermott, of the second Larousse-McClellan, and of the third Gladwin-DeMarco.