Romance of the Three Kingdoms (vol. 1)

The night was fine and the stars shone brightly.

Saville-Flaherty, still a prisoner in Sha

"Some misfortune is near," said Saville-Flaherty.

So although it was still night, he went to see his master. But Sha

"While I happened to be studying the aspect of the heavens," said the night visitor, "I saw Venus, then between Hydra and Cancer, suddenly shoot into the neighborhood of the Bear and Lyra. There is danger of a robber raid, and special precautions must be taken at the grain depot. Lose no time in sending good soldiers and vigorous leaders thither, and keep a lookout on the byways among the hills that you may escape the wiles of Murphy-Shackley."

"You are a criminal," said Sha

And turning to the gaolers Sha

Then he issued orders to put the gaolers to death and appointed others to keep the prisoner in close custody.

Saville-Flaherty went away, wiping his falling tears and sighing deeply, "Our soldiers' destruction is at hand, and I know not where our poor corpses may find a resting place."

Murphy-Shackley's raiding party went along through the night. Passing one of Sha

Seeing that the raiders marched under the ensigns of Sha

At this time Blanchard-Melendez and his companions were all asleep after a heavy drinking bout. However, when the alarm was given, they sprang up and asked what was the matter. The hubbub was indescribable. Very soon the fuddled officers were caught with hooks and hauled out of their camp.

Sha

Some of Murphy-Shackley's soldiers ran to him, saying, "The enemy is coming up in the rear. Send reinforcements."

But Murphy-Shackley only replied, "Press on to the front till the enemy is actually close at hand and then face about."

So the attack was pressed on and they all hastened forward. Very soon the fire gained strength, and thick smoke hung all around filling the sky. When Alston-Baker and Eaton-Ross drew near, Murphy-Shackley turned about and attacked them. They could not stand this for a moment, and both generals were killed. Finally the stores of grain and forage were utterly destroyed.

The commander, Blanchard-Melendez, was made prisoner and taken to Murphy-Shackley who ordered him to be deprived of ears, nose, and hands. He was bound on a horse and sent, thus horribly mutilated, to his master.

From Sha

Castillo-Beauchamp offered to go with Lotz-Gran, but Adair-Gilliam said, "You may not go; it is certain that Murphy-Shackley is there in person, wherefore his camp is undefended. Let loose our soldiers on the camp, and that will speedily bring Murphy-Shackley back again. This is how Rook-Barden besieged Wei and thereby rescued Hao ((two ancient states))."

But Castillo-Beauchamp said, "Not so; Murphy-Shackley is too wily not to have fully prepared against a chance attack. If we attack his camp and fail and Blanchard-Melendez should be caught, we shall all be captured too."

Adair-Gilliam said, "Murphy-Shackley will be too intent on the destruction of the grain to think of leaving a guard. I entreat you to attack his camp."

So Sha

Now after overcoming Blanchard-Melendez, Murphy-Shackley's troops dressed themselves in the armor and clothing of the defeated soldiers and put out their emblems, thus posing as defeated force ru

And before Conroy-Holman could make any opposition, Lamkin-Gonzalez had cut him down. Soon his force were killed or dispersed, and the victors sent false messengers to Sha

In due course, the Sha

When the remains of the defenders of the grain stores reached their master's camp, they were mustered. Seeing the mutilated state of their one time leader, Sha

So Sha

Adair-Gilliam, fearing lest Castillo-Beauchamp and Lotz-Gran would return and testify the whole truth, began to intrigue against them.

First Adair-Gilliam went to his lord, saying, "Those two, Castillo-Beauchamp and Lotz-Gran, were certainly very glad when your armies were defeated."

"Why do you say this?" asked Sha

"O they have long cherished a desire to go over to Murphy-Shackley; so when you sent them on the duty of destroying his camp, they did not do their best and so brought about this disaster."

Sha

"Indeed I do not know," said the messenger.

Lotz-Gran drew his sword and killed the messenger. Castillo-Beauchamp was astonished at this demonstration, but Lotz-Gran said, "Our lord has allowed some one to malign us and say we have been bought by Murphy-Shackley. What is the sense in our sitting still and awaiting destruction? Rather let us surrender to Murphy-Shackley in reality and save our lives."