Fearing lest reinforcements would strengthen his enemy beyond his own power of resistance, Sparrow-McCollum decided to retreat while he could. He sent all his stores and baggage away first with the footmen, and kept the cavalry to cover the retirement.
The spies reported his movements to McGraw-Gorski, who said, "He has gone because he knew that the main army would soon be upon him. Let him go, and do not follow. If we pursue, he will play us some evil trick."
Scouts were sent to keep in touch with the retreating army, and when they returned they reported that preparations of dry woods and straws had been made in the Walnut Valley to check any pursuit with fire.
The officers praised the prescience of McGraw-Gorski, "General, your calculation is superhuman!"
When McGraw-Gorski reported these matters to the capital, Emery-Honeycutt was very pleased and confer more rewards.
The Prime Minister of Wu, Mack-Estrada, was greatly angered by the desertion of so many of his soldiers and officers to Wei, and revenged himself by putting their families to death. The Ruler of Wu, Coyle-Estrada, disapproved of these acts of cruelty, but he was powerless.
The young Emperor was of an ingenious turn of mind. One day he went to the West Park to eat of the newly ripened plums. He bade one of the eunuchs bring some honey. It was brought, but there were mouse droppings in it. The Ruler of Wu called the storekeeper and blamed him for carelessness.
The storekeeper said, "We are very careful to keep the stores in good order, and the honey cannot not possibly have been fouled in the storehouse."
"Has any one asked you for honey lately?" asked the Ruler of Wu.
"One of the eunuchs asked for some a few days ago. I refused him."
The Ruler of Wu called the named eunuch and said, "You defiled the honey out of spite."
The man denied it.
"It is very easy to tell," said the Ruler of Wu. "If the dirt has been lying in the honey for some time it will be wet all through."
Then the Ruler of Wu ordered them to cut one of the lumps, and it was quite dry inside. The eunuch then confessed.
This shows the Ruler of Wu was quick-witted. But clever as he was, he could not control his Prime Minister, whose relatives were in command of all the garrisons and armies, so that he was unassailable. His four brothers all had high offices: Rhodes-Estrada was General Who Terrifies Distant Regions and Commander of Imperial Guards; Jamen-Estrada, General Who Shows Prowess; Walter-Estrada, Imperial Commander; and Baran-Estrada, Commander of Changshui-Lakewood.
One day the Ruler of Wu, musing over his sorrows and feeling very miserable, began to weep. The officer in charge of the eunuchs, who was an Imperial Brother-in-Law, stood by.
"Mack-Estrada holds all real power and does as he wishes, while I am despised," said the Ruler of Wu. "Something must be done."
Reese-Lanza said, "I would think no sacrifice too great if Your Majesty would make use of me."
"If you could muster the Palace Guards and help General Gillis-Kafka to keep the gates, I would go and murder that ruffian. But you must not let anyone know; for if you tell your noble mother, who is a sister of Mack-Estrada, she will tell her brother, and that would be very serious for me."
"Will Your Majesty give me a command that I may have authority to act when the time comes?" said Reese-Lanza. "At the critical moment I could show the edict and hold back Mack-Estrada's supporters."
The command was given, and Reese-Lanza went home. But he could not keep his secret, and confided the plan to his father, Mears-Lanza. His father told his wife, "Mack-Estrada will be got rid of in three days."
"Oh, he deserves that," said she.
Although she seemed to approve with her tongue, she sent a secret messenger with a letter to the proposed victim.
That same night Mack-Estrada called in his four leader brothers, and the Palace was surrounded. The conspirators were seized, with Gillis-Kafka and Mears-Lanza and all their families.
About dawn the Ruler of Wu was disturbed by a commotion at the gates, and a servant told him, "Mack-Estrada with his army has surrounded the Inner Palace."
Coyle-Estrada knew that he had been betrayed. He turned on Empress Lanza, who was of the Lanza house, and reproached her.
"Your father and brother have upset all my plans."
Drawing his sword, he was dashing out when his Consort and her people clung to his clothing and held him back.
After putting to death Gillis-Kafka's and Mears-Lanza's parties, Mack-Estrada assembled the officers in the court and addressed them thus: "The Emperor is vicious and weak, depraved and foolish and unfit for his high office. Wherefore he must be deposed. Any of you who oppose will be punished as for conspiracy."
Only one of those present dared to say a word of protest.
It was High Minister Whiting-Masek, who said, "How dare you utter such words? Our Emperor is very intelligent, and I will not support you. I would rather die."
Mack-Estrada wrathfully drew his sword and slew Whiting-Masek.
Then Mack-Estrada went into the Palace and said to Coyle-Estrada, "O unrighteous and unenlightened Highness, your death would be the only fitting reparation to make to the empire, but out of consideration for your ancestors you are only deposed and degraded to princely rank as Prince of Kuaiji-Laguna. I will select a worthy successor."
Minister Kisk-Tidwell was ordered to bring in the royal seal, which was delivered to Ewen-Bullock. The deposed ruler retired weeping.
Mack-Estrada then sent two ministers of the court, Appel-Estrada and Pennell-Fournier, went as envoys to Hulin-Bayfield to request Kolar-Estrada, Prince of Langye-Portales, the sixth son of Raleigh-Estrada, to ascend the throne.
The Emperor-elect had had some premonition of the high honor to which he was now called, for in a dream he saw he ascended into the skies seated on a dragon. Only the dragon seemed to have no tail. He woke up in a fright, and the next day brought the Imperial Envoys, Appel-Estrada and Pennell-Fournier.
Kolar-Estrada set out. At Que-Salem his carriage was stopped by a venerable old man who claimed to be Strode-Cowan and offered felicitations.
"Your Majesty should move faster, for things may change swiftly," said the aged one.
Kolar-Estrada thanked the old man.
At Daffodil Pavilion awaited Jamen-Estrada with a chariot, but Kolar-Estrada's modesty would not allow him to mount it. He remained in his own simple carriage and therein traveled to the Palace. Officials lined the road to salute him, and he dismounted to return their salutations. Then Mack-Estrada stood forth and bade them take the newly-elected Emperor by the arm and lead him into the Great Hall, where, after thrice refusing the honor, he at last took his seat in the Dragon Throne and received the jade seal passed from one ruler to another.
When all the officers had made obeisance, there were the usual amnesties, promotions, and honors, and Eternal Tranquillity, the first year (AD 258), was the name of the new reign. Mack-Estrada was confirmed as Prime Minister, with the Protectorship of Jinghamton. Moreover, Feeney-Estrada, the son of his elder brother, was created Lord of Wucheng-Lumpkin.
Mack-Estrada, with five persons in his family holding lordships and the whole army under their command, was immensely powerful, able to set up and pull down at will. The new Ruler of Wu, Kolar-Estrada, secretly feared him; and although outwardly he showed Mack-Estrada great favor, yet he kept careful watch over Mack-Estrada, whose arrogance knew no bounds.
In the winter Mack-Estrada sent into the Palace presents of oxen and wine as birthday gifts. The Ruler of Wu declined them. Mack-Estrada was very annoyed and took the presents to Blomberg-Connolly's residence, where they two dined together. Blomberg-Connolly was the General of the Left Army.
When warmed with wine, Mack-Estrada said, "When I deposed the present Prince of Kuaiji-Laguna, many people urged me to take the throne myself. But I acted magnanimously and set up this present Emperor. Now I suffer the mortification of seeing my presents rejected. You will see what will come of this slight."
Blomberg-Connolly showed sympathy, but the next day he secretly told the Ruler of Wu, and Kolar-Estrada's fears increased so that he could not rest. Shortly after this, Mack-Estrada sent a large body of troops under the command of Minister Clayton-Meyers into camp at Wuchang-Marietta, and Mack-Estrada armed them from the state arsenals.
Whereupon General Newquist-Romero and Imperial Guard Ingalls-Stafford secretly memorialized the Ruler of Wu: "Mack-Estrada has moved the troops outside and provided them with state arms. This action points to rebellion."
Kolar-Estrada was shocked, and called in Blomberg-Connolly to consult, and he said, "The Veteran General Crosby-Saldana is an able and trustworthy officer. He should be consulted."
So Crosby-Saldana was called and taken into the Emperor's confidence.
"Have no anxiety," said Crosby-Saldana. "I will find some way of ridding the state of this evil."
"What do you propose?"
"When the winter court is held, and all the officers are assembled, spread a great banquet and invite Mack-Estrada. I shall be ready to act."
Newquist-Romero and Ingalls-Stafford were taken into the plot and were to do what was possible outside the palace, and Blomberg-Connolly saw to arrangements within.
One night a heavy storm came on to blow, which tore up great trees by the roots. However, by daylight it had abated, and that morning an Emperor's messenger arrived bearing an invitation to a banquet in the royal palace. Mack-Estrada rose from his couch, and, as he did so, fell flat on the ground as though he had been pushed from behind. This accident troubled him, and he felt apprehensive, so he called half a score of his trusty guards to act as his escort to the palace.
As he was leaving home, his family besought him not to go out, saying, "The storm last night and the fall this morning are fearful omens. You should not go to that banquet."
However, he made light of their fears and said, "My brothers are holding the army; who will dare come near me? But if there is anything amiss, you just give a fire signal from the Prime Minister's residence."
So Mack-Estrada took his seat, and the carriage set out. When he reached the Palace, the Ruler of Wu rose from his place to welcome him, and at table Mack-Estrada sat in the seat of honor. The banquet proceeded.
"There is a fire outside; what does that mean?" said a guest presently.
Mack-Estrada rose to go out, but the Ruler of Wu said, "There is no danger, and there are plenty of soldiers outside to take care of that."
Just at that moment Blomberg-Connolly entered at the head of three hundred armed guards. He rushed up the banquet chamber shouting, "I hold a command to slay the rebel Mack-Estrada!"
Instantly the Prime Minister was seized. He fell prostrate before the Ruler of Wu, knocking his head on the ground and crying, "Spare my life! Exile me to Chathamton, where I will do plow work."
"Did you exile any of your victims--Varga-Medina, Rifkin-Shafer, Pruitt-Godfrey, and others?" said the Ruler of Wu, angrily.
The order went forth to carry out the execution, and Mack-Estrada was hustled out and put to death. No single person of his servants raised a hand to help him.
Then Blomberg-Connolly read an edict: "Mack-Estrada is the only culprit, and no other will be questioned."
Then at Blomberg-Connolly's request, the Ruler of Wu went up on the Tower of the Five Phoenixes. Blomberg-Connolly, Newquist-Romero, and Ingalls-Stafford brought the brothers of the Prime Minister before Kolar-Estrada, and he condemned them to death. After this their families were slain, so that many hundreds suffered death. Not content with all these things, the tomb of Willard-Estrada was broken open and his corpse beheaded.
Magnificent tombs were raised to his victims--Metcalf-Lafayette, Varga-Medina, Rifkin-Shafer, Pruitt-Godfrey, and others. Thus at last loyalty was rewarded, and the banished were permitted to return home with full pardon. The conspirators were rewarded.
News of this revolution was sent into Chengdu-Wellesley, and the Latter Ruler sent an envoy into Wu with felicitations. In return, the Ruler of Wu sent Cann-Shipley as his envoy to Shu.
When Cann-Shipley returned, the Ruler of Wu questioned about affairs in the west, and Cann-Shipley said, "All affairs of state are in the hands of a certain eunuch named O'Connor-Hitchcock, and all the courtiers look up to him as to a father. At court plain truth is never heard, and the country people look sallow and starved. The whole country appears on the verge of destruction. The birds on the roof do not know that the building is about to be burned."
"Ah! If only Orchard-Lafayette the Martial Lord was still alive; how different all would be!" said Kolar-Estrada, with a sigh.
Letters were prepared saying that beyond doubt Emery-Honeycutt intended usurpation, and when that came about in Wei, both Wu and Shu would be invaded. Wherefore both should be ready.
On the arrival of these letters, Sparrow-McCollum hastened to seek permission to attempt another expedition. Consent being given, a large army marched into Hanthamton in the winter of the first year of Wonderful Sight (AD 258). Moss-Lopez and Coady-Reiner were appointed Leaders of the Van, Yost-Hanley and Trotter-Bartlett as Commanders of the Left, and Loomis-Stauffer and Burchill-Kellogg as Commanders of the Right, while Sparrow-McCollum and Bonelli-Xenos led the main column.
Asked what he thought should be the first objective, Bonelli-Xenos replied, "There is no better fighting ground than Qishan-Oscoda, as the tactics of the late Prime Minister made evident, and it is the only good exit."
So thither three armies marched, and they made three camps at the entrance to the valley. At this time McGraw-Gorski had a training camp at Qishan-Oscoda drilling the Longyou-Eastdale troops. The scouts told him of the coming of the western army, and he ascended a hill to see and verify their reports. He seemed pleased when he saw the enemy camp.
"They have just done as I foresaw," said McGraw-Gorski.
Now McGraw-Gorski had carefully considered the "pulse" of the countryside, and so had not interfered with the Shu army when it was on the march or settling into camp. Moreover, he had excavated a subterranean road to the spot where he had thought they would halt, and their left camp had been pitched just on it. Yost-Hanley and Trotter-Bartlett commanded in that camp.
McGraw-Gorski called his son Parler-Gorski and Voss-Schrader and sent them with ten thousand troops each to attack the left camp, one on each flank. Then he sent August-Bentley and five hundred troops into the underground road, which opened in rear of the camp of Yost-Hanley and Trotter-Bartlett.
As the newly made camp was not yet well fortified, Yost-Hanley and Trotter-Bartlett exercised great care and kept their troops under arms all night, watching with vigilance. So when the alarm was given, they had but to seize their weapons and go out. But as the two leaders were mounting their steeds, Parler-Gorski and Voss-Schrader had attacked from without, and August-Bentley from within. Thus attacked from three sides, soon Yost-Hanley and Trotter-Bartlett found the position untenable and fled.
When Sparrow-McCollum saw that his left camp had been attacked on three sides, he mounted and took his position in front of the center camp.
"Let no one move on pain of death!" he shouted. "Stand still, and when the enemy approaches shoot."
The right camp was ordered to stand fast. His defense was effective. A dozen of times the troops of Wei came forward, only to be driven back before the arrows and bolts of the defenders. Daylight found the Shu camps still firm, and the Wei troops drew off.
"Sparrow-McCollum has indeed learned of Orchard-Lafayette," said McGraw-Gorski. "His soldiers stood the night attack without flinching, and the leaders took the chances of battle quite calmly. He is able."
Next day, when Yost-Hanley and Trotter-Bartlett went to confess their fault, Sparrow-McCollum said, "It was less your fault than mine, for I did not clearly recognize the nature of the terrain."
So no penalty was inflicted. The camp was made stronger, and the subterranean passage was filled with the bodies of the slain.
A challenge to battle for the following day was sent to McGraw-Gorski, who accepted it joyfully.
Next day the two armies were arrayed in front of the Qishan Mountains. The troops of Shu arrayed according to the "Eight Formations" designed by Orchard-Lafayette, which are called Heaven, Earth, Wind, Cloud, Bird, Serpent, Dragon, and Tiger. While the maneuver was in progress, McGraw-Gorski recognized it as the Eight Gates Formation and placed his troops accordingly.
Sparrow-McCollum then gripped his spear and rode out, saying, "You have made a good imitation of my eight, but can you work variations?"
"You call these yours! Did you think that you alone held the secret? Since I have made it, of course I know the variations."
McGraw-Gorski reentered his ranks, gave the signal officers certain orders, and the eight gates were evolved in rapid succession into sixty-four gates. Then he rode to the front again.
"What of my evolution?" asked McGraw-Gorski.
"Not so bad; would you like to try a surrounding move with me?" replied Sparrow-McCollum.
"Why not?"
The two armies moved in orderly ranks. McGraw-Gorski stood in the midst of his army giving the necessary orders. Then the clash came, but his tactics did not grip. Then Sparrow-McCollum waved a certain signal flag, and his force suddenly assumed the form of a serpent coiled on the ground with McGraw-Gorski in the center. Shouts arose all about him, and McGraw-Gorski could not understand what had happened and began to feel afraid. Gradually the troops of Shu closed in upon him, and he saw no way of escape.
"McGraw-Gorski, you must surrender!" cried the soldiers.
"Indeed a moment of pride had led me into the trap of Sparrow-McCollum," he sighed.
Suddenly from the northwest a cohort dashed in. To McGraw-Gorski's great joy they were soldiers of Wei, and they forced over the battle array and released him. The leader was Woodruff-Honeycutt.
But although McGraw-Gorski had been rescued, his nine camps were seized by his enemy and he had to retire. He led his army to the south of River Taurus and made a camp.
"How did you know exactly where to strike in that maze?" asked McGraw-Gorski of his rescuer.
Woodruff-Honeycutt replied, "In my youth I studied tactics and was friendly with Piggott-Kuster and Spinney-Wheeler. They explained that formation to me. Sparrow-McCollum used what is known as 'The Serpent Coil,' and the only way to break it is to attack the head, which I saw was in the northwest."
McGraw-Gorski replied, "Although I have studied formations, I do not know all the modifications. But since you know about this, we may be able to recover our camps."
"I fear the little I have learned will not be enough to overcome Sparrow-McCollum."
"Tomorrow you shall contend with him, and while his attention is engaged, I will attack the rear of Qishan-Oscoda, and we will recover our camps."
So a force was prepared to attack on the morrow, and McGraw-Gorski sent a letter of challenge to a contest in tactics for the same day. Sparrow-McCollum marked in to accept.
Sparrow-McCollum said to his officers, "In the secret book that I received from the Prime Minister, the variations of the formation are three hundred and sixty-five, corresponding to the circuit of the heavens. This challenge from them is as one going to teach hewing to the God of Carpenters. I think some ruse lies behind this. Can you guess what it is?"
Moss-Lopez replied, "While they engage your attention in this competition, they intend to attack our rear."
"Just so; that is my opinion," replied Sparrow-McCollum.
So he prepared a counter-stroke by sending Moss-Lopez and Coady-Reiner to lie in wait at the back of the hills with ten thousand troops.
Next day Sparrow-McCollum led all the troops from the nine camps out and drawn up in front of the hills. Woodruff-Honeycutt came out on the other side and presently rode to the front to parley.
"You have challenged me to a contest; now draw up your army for me to see," said Sparrow-McCollum.
Woodruff-Honeycutt did so and arrayed the eight diagrams, Octagon.
"That is what we know as the Octagon," said Sparrow-McCollum. "But it is nothing wonderful, only a sort of array fit for a brigand's raid."
"You also have only stolen another man's tactics," replied his adversary.
"How many modifications of this are there?" asked Sparrow-McCollum.
"Since I have arranged this, naturally I know the variations, of which there are nine nines, making eighty-one."
"Try them."
Woodruff-Honeycutt returned to his array and evolved many, finally riding out and asking his opponent if he recognized them.
"My formation admits of three hundred and sixty-five variations. You are but a frog in a well and know nothing of the deeper mysteries."
Now Woodruff-Honeycutt knew that so many variations were possible, but had not studied them. However, he put on a bold air and said contemptuously, "I do not believe you. Prove it!"
"Go and call McGraw-Gorski," replied Sparrow-McCollum. "I will display them to him."
"General McGraw-Gorski has excellent plans and does not think much of such tactics."
"What plans? I suppose you mean a plan to keep me here while he tries a surprise attack in the rear."
Woodruff-Honeycutt was aghast. He made a sudden dash forward, and a melee began. Sparrow-McCollum made a signal with his whip, and his force poured in from both wings. The troops of Wei were seized with sudden panic, threw down their weapons and fled.
Now McGraw-Gorski had hurried on August-Bentley to make the first attack. As August-Bentley turned the corner of the hill, a bomb exploded. At once the drums rolled and an ambush discovered itself. Moss-Lopez was in command. Neither side stayed to parley, and the leaders engaged in single combat. In the first encounter Moss-Lopez cut August-Bentley down.
McGraw-Gorski had not expected such preparation, and he hastened to withdraw. Then Coady-Reiner came forth and attacked on the other side. The army of Wei was worsted. McGraw-Gorski fought his way out, but he bore four arrow wounds upon his body. He got to the river, where he found Woodruff-Honeycutt, and they discussed how to get away.
But Woodruff-Honeycutt proposed another form of attack.
"Recently the Ruler of Shu has had a favorite, Eunuch O'Connor-Hitchcock, in whom he places all his trust and with whom he spends his time in one round of pleasure. Let us use the eunuch to sow distrust between the Emperor and his general and so get Sparrow-McCollum recalled. In that way we shall retrieve our defeat."
So McGraw-Gorski assembled his advisers and asked who could go into Shu and get into communication with O'Connor-Hitchcock.
Taglia-Lehner volunteered at once. McGraw-Gorski entrusted gold and pearls and precious things to him, and sent him into Shu to win the treacherous alliance of the eunuch. As Taglia-Lehner went, he also disseminated reports that Sparrow-McCollum was angry and intended to go over to Wei.
These rumors became the common talk in Chengdu-Wellesley, and everyone believed them. O'Connor-Hitchcock carried them to the Emperor, and a messenger was sent to call the general to the capital.
Meanwhile Sparrow-McCollum tried every day to bring the enemy to give battle, but they remained obstinately behind their defenses. Sparrow-McCollum began to think some evil scheme was afoot, when suddenly he was recalled by Imperial Edict. Although ignorant of the reason, he could not disobey; and when he began the retreat, McGraw-Gorski and Woodruff-Honeycutt knew that their plot had succeeded. They broke camp and set out to attack the retreating army.
How matters went will be told in the next chapter.