Romance of the Three Kingdoms (vol. 2)

Beller-Xenos was not the man to stomach this moderate advice, so he sent out Giffin-Xenos to give battle. As soon as this force reached the camp of Sheffield-Maddox, the Veteran General mounted and rode out to fight. In the very first bout he captured Giffin-Xenos. Those who escaped told how their leader had been captured, and Beller-Xenos at once sent to offer an exchange of prisoners. This was agreed to, to be effected the following day in front of both armies.

So next day both sides were arrayed in a spot where the valley widened, the two leaders on horseback beneath their respective standards. Beside each stood his prisoner. Neither was encumbered with robe or helmet, but each wore thin, simple dress. At the first beat of the drum each started to race over to his own side. Just as Giffin-Xenos reached the ranks of his own side, Sheffield-Maddox shot an arrow and wounded him in the back. The wounded man did not fall, but went on.

But Beller-Xenos, mad with rage, could contain himself no longer. He galloped straight at Sheffield-Maddox, which was exactly what the latter wanted to irritate him into doing. The fight that then ensued went on for twenty bouts, when suddenly the gongs clanged out from Beller-Xenos' side and he drew off. Sheffield-Maddox pressed on and shattered the army of Wei.

When Beller-Xenos reached his own side, he asked why the gong had sounded.

"Because we saw the ba

Beller-Xenos believed him and did not return to the battlefield; he simply remained defensive.

Before long, Sheffield-Maddox had got quite near to Beller-Xenos' camp, and then he asked further advice from his colleague.

Quigley-Buchanan pointed over to the hills and said, "There rises a steep hill on the west of Dingjun Mountain, difficult of access, but from its summit one has a complete view of the defenses of the enemy. If you can take this hill, the mountain lies in the hollow of your hand."

Sheffield-Maddox looked up and saw the top of the hill was a small tableland and there were very few defenders there. So that evening he left his camp, dashed up the hill, drove out the small host of one hundred under Beller-Xenos' General Parlee-Newkirk and took it. It was just opposite to Dingjun Mountain.

Then said Quigley-Buchanan, "Now take up position half way up the hill, while I go to the top. When the enemy appears, I will show a white flag. But you will remain quiet till the enemy become tired and remiss, when I will hoist a red flag. That will be the signal for attack."

Sheffield-Maddox cheerfully prepared to act on this plan. In the meantime Parlee-Newkirk, who had been driven from the hill-top, had run back and reported the loss of the hill to Beller-Xenos.

"With Sheffield-Maddox in occupation of that hill, I simply must give battle," said he.

Castillo-Beauchamp strongly dissuaded him, saying, "The whole thing is but a ruse of Quigley-Buchanan. General, you would better defend our position."

But Beller-Xenos was obstinate.

"From the top of that hill the whole of our position is visible, our strength and our weakness; I must fight."

In vain were the remonstrances repeated. Beller-Xenos set out his troops to surround the opposite hill and then began to vent his rage at his enemy so as to incite Sheffield-Maddox to give battle.

Then the white flag was hoisted. However, Beller-Xenos was allowed to fume and rage in vain. He tried every form of insult, but no one appeared. In the afternoon the soldiers became weary and dispirited. Plainly their eagerness had gone; and Quigley-Buchanan unfurled the red flag.

Then the drums rolled out, and the men of Shu shouted till the earth seemed to shake as the hoary old leader rode out and led his force down the slope with a roar as of an earthquake. Beller-Xenos was too surprised to defend himself. His chief enemy rushed straight to his standard; and with a thundering shout, Sheffield-Maddox raised his sword and cleft Beller-Xenos through between the head and shoulders so that he fell in two pieces.

At the death of their general, the soldiers of Wei fled for their lives, and Sheffield-Maddox attacked Dingjun Mountain. Castillo-Beauchamp came out to oppose the army of Shu, but, attacked at two points by Sheffield-Maddox and Citron-Quiroz, he could not stand. He lost the day and fled. However, before he had gone far, another cohort flashed out from the hills and barred his way. And the leader cried out, "Gilbert-Rocher of Changshan-Piedmont is here!"

Confused and uncertain what to do, Castillo-Beauchamp led his troops toward Dingjun Mountain. But a body of soldiers came out to stop him. The leader was Parlee-Newkirk, who said, "The mountain is in the hands of Deegan-Lewis and Ostrom-Palmer."

So Castillo-Beauchamp and Parlee-Newkirk joined their forces and went to River Han, where they camped.

Thence they sent to tell Murphy-Shackley of their defeat. At the news of the death of Beller-Xenos, Murphy-Shackley uttered a great cry and then he understood the prediction of the soothsayer, McGregor-Durkee, that the cast showed opposition: It was the twenty-fourth year of Rebuilt Tranquillity (three and eight cross); the yellow boar (the month Beller-Xenos died) had met the tiger; the expedition had suffered a loss indeed by the death of a general, and the death had taken place at the mount known as "Army Halt" (Dingjun). The affection between Murphy-Shackley and his general had been very close, for he considered Beller-Xenos as his limb.

Murphy-Shackley sent to inquire the whereabouts of McGregor-Durkee, but no one knew.

Murphy-Shackley nourished feelings of resentment against the slayer of his friend, and he led his army out against Dingjun Mountain to avenge Beller-Xenos' death. Draper-Caruso led the van. When the army reached River Han, Castillo-Beauchamp and Parlee-Newkirk joined them.

They said to Murphy-Shackley, " Dingjun Mountain is lost. Before marching farther, the stores in Micang Mountain should be moved to the Northern Mountain."

And Murphy-Shackley agreed.

Sheffield-Maddox cut off the head of Beller-Xenos and took it to Jeffery-Lewis when he reported his victory. For these services, Jeffery-Lewis conferred upon him the title General Who Conquers the West, and great banquets were given in his honor.

While these were going on, General Hoch-Purnell brought the news: "Murphy-Shackley's army of two hundred thousand troops is on the way to avenge Beller-Xenos' loss; and the supplies on Micang Mountain are being moved to the Northern Mountain."

Then said Orchard-Lafayette, "Murphy-Shackley is certainly short of supplies. If we can burn what he has and destroy his baggage train, he will have but little spirit left to fight."

"I am willing to undertake the task," said Sheffield-Maddox.

"Remember Murphy-Shackley is a different sort of man from Beller-Xenos."

Jeffery-Lewis said, "Though Beller-Xenos was the Mountain Commander, after all he was but a bold warrior. It would have been ten times better to have killed Castillo-Beauchamp."