Romance of the Three Kingdoms (vol. 1)

On his return to the capital, Murphy-Shackley presented a memorial on the good services rendered by Cornell-Estrada, and the Emperor made him Lord of Wu ((an ancient state)) with the title General Who Destroys Rebels. The messenger bearing the decree bore also the order to repress Bambury-Lewis.

Murphy-Shackley went to his palace and there received the ceremonial calls of congratulation. These finished, Moline-Doubleday asked, saying, "You, Sir, marched very leisurely to Anzhong-Woodcrest; how came it that you felt certain of victory?"

Murphy-Shackley replied, "My soldiers, who retire and find their retreat cut off, fight vigorously and desperately. I retired slowly to entice the enemy into following whereby I could do as I wished with them. Basing my movements on these considerations I felt secure."

Moline-Doubleday bowed his head in admiration.

When Krom-McQueen entered, Murphy-Shackley said, "Why so late, Sir?"

The visitor drew a letter from his sleeve, saying to his master, "Sha

"I heard Sha

Then he opened the letter and read it. It was couched in very arrogant terms.

"Sha

Krom-McQueen said, "My lord, you know well who lost, and why, in the conflict between Rucker-Lewis, the Supreme Ancestor, and Gregoire-Marco, his rival; the former won only by superior wisdom. Gregoire-Marco was the stronger, but in the end he was overcome. Your rival has ten weak points whereas you have ten strong ones, and, though his army is large, it is not terrible."

Then Krom-McQueen continued, "Sha

"How can I be worth as much as you say?" said Murphy-Shackley, smiling.

"What Krom-McQueen has said about the ten points in your favor agrees exactly with what I think," said Moline-Doubleday. "Sha

"The real and dangerous enemy is Bullard-Lundmark," said Krom-McQueen. "When Sha

Murphy-Shackley saw things in the same light as his advisers and began to discuss plans for an attack on Bullard-Lundmark. Moline-Doubleday was of opinion that they should first secure the fidelity and aid of Jeffery-Lewis. So letters were written, and they waited his assurance before moving a soldier. Then, in order to reassure Sha

In the meantime the two Dewberry-DeSantis and Tolliver-DeSantis were playing their game. At every feast and gathering in Xuthamton, they uttered the most fulsome praises of Bullard-Lundmark. Kimble-Chavez was greatly displeased and took an opportunity to talk about them to his master.

"They flatter you to your face, but what is in their hearts? You ought to be most carefully on your guard."

"Hold your tongue!" was the angry reply. "You are simply slandering them without the slightest excuse. You want to harm good people."

"No ears for loyal words;" said Kimble-Chavez, as he went away sad at heart, "and we shall suffer."

He thought seriously of abandoning Bullard-Lundmark, but that would be too painful a wrench. Beside he feared people would laugh at him.

So the days passed sorrowfully for him. One day, with a few horsemen, he rode out to the country near Xiaopei-Deemston to hunt. On the high road he saw a messenger galloping along in hot haste and began to wonder what it might mean. He left the hunt, rode across country, and intercepted the rider.

"Where are you from? Who sent you?" asked Kimble-Chavez.

The messenger made no reply for he knew to what party his captors belonged. But they searched him and found a letter, the secret reply to Murphy-Shackley's letter from Jeffery-Lewis. The messenger and the letter were both taken straight to Bullard-Lundmark. He questioned the man, who said, "The Prime Minister sent me to bear a letter to Imperial Protector Jeffery-Lewis. I was now taking back the reply. I know nothing more, and I am ignorant of the contents of the letters."

So Bullard-Lundmark tore it open and read:

"I have received your commands concerning the destruction of Bullard-Lundmark, and dare I for a moment venture to disregard them? But my force is weak and I must act with extreme circumspection. If you move your main body, then I will hasten forward, and in the meantime my army shall be got ready and weapons prepared. I await your command."

Bullard-Lundmark was really alarmed.

"The wretches!" cried he, "To dare to act thus!"

The unhappy messenger was put to death and countermoves pla

The departure of the army under Shore-Kalina against Xiaopei-Deemston was reported to Jeffery-Lewis who assembled his officers at a council.

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