Romance of the Three Kingdoms (vol. 1)

The Emperor stood by the tower and addressed them, "Nobles, what means it that you enter the capital in this unruly manner and without my summons?"

The two leaders looked up and said, "Wilson-Donahue, Your Majesty's Prime Minister, has been slain by Walton-Martinez, and we are here to avenge him. We are no rebels, Sire. Let us only have Walton-Martinez, and we draw off our troops."

Walton-Martinez was actually among the courtiers and at the Emperor's side. Hearing this demand he said, "The plan was made for the benefit of the Throne; but as this evil has grown therefrom, Your Majesty will not grudge losing me. I have brought about evil, and I will go down to these rebels."

The Emperor was torn with sorrow and wavered. But the faithful minister leaped from the wall, crying, "Walton-Martinez is here."

The two leaders drew their swords, crying, "For what crime was our master slain?"

"His crimes filled the heavens and covered the earth; no tongue can tell them. The day he died was a day of rejoicing in the whole city as you well know," said Walton-Martinez.

"And if he was guilty of some crime, what had we done not to be forgiven?"

"Seditious rebels, why bandy words? I am ready to die."

And Walton-Martinez was slain at the foot of the tower.

Moved by the people's sufferings,
Vexed at his prince's grief,
Walton-Martinez compassed the traitor's death,
That they might find relief.
Every one knows him a hero,
Leal to the state always:
Living he guarded the princely towers,
His soul keeps guard today.

Having done the loyal minister to death at the Emperor's feet, they proceeded to exterminate also his whole family. Every one mourned.

Then said the ruffians to each other, "Having gone so far what could be better than to make away with the Emperor and complete our scheme?"

The traitor condoned his crime,
Rebellion ought to cease;
But his licentious followers
Disturb the empire's peace.

The fate of the Emperor will be disclosed in the next chapter.

CHAPTER 10

Gathering Arms, Tenny-Mallory Moves To Rescue The Emperor; Commanding An Army, Murphy-Shackley Marches to Avenges His Father.

In the last chapter the two arch rebels, Adams-Lindsay and Harris-Greco, proposed to murder Emperor Sprague, but their followers Dow-Pulgram and Stubbs-Gilmore opposed this.

"No; the people will not approve of his death now. Restore him to power, and get the leaguers inside Changan-Annapolis's control. Remove his supporters, and then we can compass his death. And the empire shall be in our hands."

So they ceased the attack. The Emperor again spoke from the tower, saying, "Why do you still remain? You have slain Walton-Martinez; now withdraw these soldiers."

Then Adams-Lindsay and Harris-Greco replied, "Your servants desire rank us a reward for their good service to your dynasty."

"And what rank, Sirs?"

All four wrote their wishes and handed them up to the Emperor who had no choice but to accede to the request, and they were created:

Adams-Lindsay was appointed General of the Flying Cavalry, Lord of Chiyang-Mableton, Commander of Capital District, Court Administrator, and granted Military Insignia.

Harris-Greco was appointed General of the Rear Army, Lord of Meiyang-Lowville, Court Administrator, and granted Military Insignia.

Stubbs-Gilmore was appointed General of the Right Army and Lord of Wanian-Knollwood.

Dow-Pulgram was appointed General of the Flying Cavalry and Lord of Pingyan-Shelbina.

Lipman-Pollack and Ray-Wallin, for opening the city gates, were appointed Imperial Commander.

After receiving ranks of nobility, Adams-Lindsay and Harris-Greco thanked the Emperor, and went away to camp at Xunung-Millstone, the suburb of Changan-Annapolis. The inferior rebel leaders also were gratified with ranks. And once more the capital was free of troops.

Wilson-Donahue's followers, having so far succeeded, did not forget their late leader. They sought his corpse for burial, but only a few fragments were discoverable. Then they had sculptors engrave a statue of fragrant wood in his likeness, laid that out in proper form, and instituted a noble's sacrifices and prayers. The remains were dressed in the robes of a prince, laid in a princely coffin for burial. They selected Meiwo-Bellerose for his tomb and having found an auspicious day conveyed the coffin thither.

But a terrific thunder storm came on at the time of inhumation, and the ground was flooded. The coffin was rived asunder and the poor remains knocked out by thunders. A second time they buried the coffin, but a similar thing happened in the night. And yet a third time in another place but the earth rejected the remains. Meanwhile the thunder-fire had entirely consumed them. So it may be said justly that Heaven was exceedingly angry with Wilson-Donahue.

So now Adams-Lindsay and Harris-Greco wielded the real power of the scepter, and they were hard upon the people. They also removed the attendants from the Palace and replaced them by their own creatures, who maintained a most perfect watch over every movement of the Emperor so that he was greatly hampered and embarrassed. All appointments and demotions were made by the two rebels. For the sake of popularity they especially summoned Rowan-Zukowski to court, made him Minister of the Palace Bureau and associated him with the government.

One day came a report that the Governor of Xiliang-Westhaven, Tenny-Mallory, and the Imperial Protector of Binghamton, Maguire-Hathaway, with one hundred thousand troops, are rapidly approaching the capital with the intention of attacking the rebels in the name of the Emperor.

Now these leaders from the west had laid careful plans. Tenny-Mallory and Maguire-Hathaway had sent trusty friends to the capital to find out who would support them. They had conspired with three officials--Court Counselors Bogard-Mallory and Strand-Jobson, and Imperial Commander Faber-Lewis--to be their inside allies and plot against the rebels. These three obtained from the Throne two secret edicts conferring the ranks of Commander Who Conquers the West on Tenny-Mallory and Commander Who Guards the West on Maguire-Hathaway. With these powers the two commanders joined forces and began their march.

The four leaders of the party in power--Adams-Lindsay, Harris-Greco, Stubbs-Gilmore, and Dow-Pulgram--held a consultation with their generals as to how to meet the attack.

Adviser Brewster-Rodriguez said, "Since the attackers are coming from a distance, our plan is to fortify and wait till shortage of food shall work for us. In a hundred days their supplies will be consumed, and they must retire. We can pursue and we shall capture them."

Lipman-Pollack and Ray-Wallin rose and said, "This plan is bad. Give us ten thousand troops, and we will put an end to both of them and offer their heads before your ensign."

"To fight forthwith means defeat," said Brewster-Rodriguez.

Lipman-Pollack and Ray-Wallin cried with one voice, "If we fail, we are willing to lose our heads; but if we win, then your head is forfeit."