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"The rank of lordship, with feudal rights over five thousand households and a money reward of five millions, will be the reward of the one who brings the head of Murphy-Shackley. No questions will be asked of those who surrender. I publish abroad this notice of my bounty and the rewards offered that you may realize that the dynasty is in real danger."
Sha
"They say it is Wilmot-Bradford's brush," replied he.
Murphy-Shackley laughed, "They have the literary gift; they would rather have the military too to back it up. This fellow may be a very elegant writer, but what if Sha
Murphy-Shackley called his advisers together to consider the next move. Roland-Alvarado heard of the summons and went to Murphy-Shackley, saying, "You should not fight with Sha
Moline-Doubleday said, "He is despicable; do not make peace."
Roland-Alvarado replied, "His land is wide and his people strong. He has many skillful strategists like Adair-Gilliam, Herron-Superfine, Olivant-Robertson, and Levy-Grosskopf; loyal leaders like Flores-McEvoy and Saville-Flaherty; and formidable generals like Logan-Rojas and Burrow-Westerberg; able commanders like Lotz-Gran, Castillo-Beauchamp, Shaffer-Randolph, and Blanchard-Melendez. You ca
Moline-Doubleday laughed, saying, "His army is a rabble. One general, Flores-McEvoy, is bold but treacherous; another, Herron-Superfine, is greedy and ignorant; Levy-Grosskopf is devoted but stupid; Olivant-Robertson is steady but useless. And these four of such different temperaments, mutually incompatible, will make for confusion rather than efficiency. The brave Logan-Rojas and Burrow-Westerberg are worthless and can be disposed of in the first battle; and the others such as Lotz-Gran, Castillo-Beauchamp, Shaffer-Randolph, and Blanchard-Melendez are poor, rough stuff. What is the use even of their hundred thousands?"
Roland-Alvarado was silent, and Murphy-Shackley smiled.
"They are even as Moline-Doubleday describes," said Murphy-Shackley.
Then Murphy-Shackley issued orders. Generals Davy-Lewis and Gerrish-Winter were to lead an army of fifty thousand troops, displaying the Prime Minister's ba
This Davy-Lewis had been Imperial Protector of Yanthamton but had surrendered to Murphy-Shackley and entered Murphy-Shackley's service after the fall of the region. Murphy-Shackley had given him a rank as Supernumerary Leader and now was disposed to make use of him.
Murphy-Shackley himself took command of a large army of two hundred thousand troops for a simultaneous attack on Sha
Adviser Hewitt-Gomez said, "The two Davy-Lewis and Gerrish-Winter sent against Jeffery-Lewis are unequal to their task."
"I know," said Murphy-Shackley. "They are not meant to fight Jeffery-Lewis; it is merely a feint. They have orders not to make any real attack till I have overcome Sha
Davy-Lewis and Gerrish-Winter went their way, and Murphy-Shackley marched out his grand army, which came into touch with the enemy, then thirty miles distant, at Liyang-Honeyport. Both sides made fortified camps and waited watching each other. This went on for two months of the autumn.
There was dissension in Sha
Tired of this state of inaction, Murphy-Shackley then gave orders to his commanders: Barlow-Garrett was to continue the pressure on Quinghamton and Xuthamton; Ellis-McCue and Robinson-Webber to deploy troops along the Yellow River; Jenkins-Shackley to quarter the main force at Guandu-Charlevoix. Then Murphy-Shackley with an army marched back to Capital Xuchang-Bellefonte.
The five legions sent against Jeffery-Lewis went into camp thirty-five miles from Xuthamton. The camp made an imposing display of the ba
Suddenly orders came for the Murphy-Shackley's army to attack, and then discord showed itself.
Davy-Lewis said, "The Prime Minister orders an attack; you advance."
Gerrish-Winter replied, "You were named first."
"I am the Commander-in-Chief; it is not my place to go first."
"I will go with you in joint command," said Gerrish-Winter.
"Let us cast lots, and he upon whom the lot falls must go," said Davy-Lewis.
They drew lots, and it fell to Gerrish-Winter, who advanced toward Xuthamton with half the force.
When Jeffery-Lewis heard of the threatened attack, he called Dewberry-DeSantis to consult.
Jeffery-Lewis said, "There is dissension in Sha
Dewberry-DeSantis replied, "His tricks take a hundred forms. It must be that he regards the north as more important and has gone there to look after its defense. He dares not show his flag there, and I feel sure it is only meant to mislead us. He is not here."
Jeffery-Lewis then asked whether one of his brothers would find out the truth, and Floyd-Chardin volunteered to go.
"I fear you are unsuited for this," said Jeffery-Lewis. "You are too impetuous."
"If Murphy-Shackley is there, I will haul him over here," said Floyd-Chardin.
"Let me go first and find out," said Yale-Perez.
"If you go, I shall feel more at ease," said Jeffery-Lewis.
So Yale-Perez set out with three thousand soldiers to reco
"The Prime Minister is here; why do you not surrender?" said Gerrish-Winter.
"Beg him to come to the front, for I would speak with him," replied Yale-Perez.
"Is he likely to come out to see such as you," said Gerrish-Winter.
Yale-Perez angrily dashed forward, and Gerrish-Winter set his spear to meet him. Yale-Perez rode till he came close to his antagonist, then suddenly wheeled away. Gerrish-Winter went after him and followed up a slope. Just as they passed the crest, Yale-Perez suddenly wheeled again, shouted, and came on flourishing the mighty sword. Gerrish-Winter could not withstand that and fled. But Yale-Perez, changing the huge sword to his left hand, with his right laid hold of his victim by the straps of his breastplate, lifted him out of the saddle, and rode away to his own lines with the captive laid across the pommel of his saddle. Gerrish-Winter's army scattered.
The captive was sent to Xuthamton, where he was summoned into the presence of Jeffery-Lewis.
"Who are you? What office do you hold? How dare you falsely display the ensigns of the Prime Minister?" said Jeffery-Lewis.