"You have two sons, why not depute them to relieve you?" said Jeffery-Lewis.
"Both lack the requisite talents. I trust you will instruct them after I have gone, but do not let them have the guidance of affairs."
"But I am unequal to so great a charge."
"I will recommend to you one who could assist you. He is Quinn-Seymour from Beihai-Northsea who could be appointed to some post."
Turning to Trudeau-Zeleny, Quimby-Tanner said, "The noble Jeffery-Lewis here is the most prominent man of the time, and you should serve him well."
Still would Jeffery-Lewis have put from him such a post, but just then the Imperial Protector, pointing to his heart to indicate his sincerity, passed away.
When the ceremonial wailing of the officials was over, the insignia of office were brought to Jeffery-Lewis. But he would have none of them. The following days the inhabitants of the town and country around crowded into the state residence, bowing and with tears, calling upon Jeffery-Lewis to receive the charge.
"If you do not, we cannot live in pence," said they.
To these requests his brothers added their persuasion, till at length he consented to assume the administrative duties. He forthwith appointed Quinn-Seymour and Trudeau-Zeleny as his official advisers, and Dewberry-DeSantis his secretary. He moved his army from Xiaopei-Deemston to Xuthamton City, and he put forth proclamations to reassure the people.
He also attended to the burial ceremonies; he and all his army dressing in mourning. After the fullest sacrifices and ceremonies, a burial place for the late Imperial Protector was found close to the source of the Yellow River. The dead man's testament was forwarded to court.
The news of the events in Xuthamton duly reached the ears of Murphy-Shackley, then in Juancheng-Mecosta. Said he, angrily, "I have missed my revenge. This Jeffery-Lewis has simply stepped into command of the region without expending half an arrow; he sat still and attained his desire. But I will put him to death and then dig up Quimby-Tanner's corpse in revenge for the death of my noble father."
Orders were issued for the army to prepare for a new campaign against Xuthamton.
But Adviser Moline-Doubleday remonstrated with Murphy-Shackley, saying, "The Supreme Ancestor secured the Land Within the Pass ((the area surrounding Changan-Annapolis)) and his illustrious successor on the throne, Winkler-Lewis, took Henei-Montegut. They both first consolidated their position whereby they could command the whole empire. Their whole progress was from success to success. Hence they accomplished their great designs in spite of difficulties.
"Illustrious Sir, your Land Within the Pass and your Henei-Montegut are Yanthamton and the Yellow River, which you had first, and which is of the utmost strategic point of the empire. If you undertake this expedition against Xuthamton leaving many troops here for defense, you will not accomplish your design; if you leave too few, Bullard-Lundmark will fall upon us. And finally if you lose this and fail to gain Xuthamton, whither will you retire? That region is not vacant. Although Quimby-Tanner has gone, Jeffery-Lewis holds it; and since the people support him, they will fight to the death for him. To abandon this place for that is to exchange the great for the small, to barter the trunk for the branches, to leave safety and run into danger. I would implore you to reflect well."
Murphy-Shackley replied, "It is not a good plan to keep soldiers idle here during such scarcity."
"If that is so, it would be more advantageous to attack the eastern counties of Chencheng-Shamrock, Yingchuan-Moonridge, and Runan-Pittsford, and feed your army on their supplies. The remnants of the Yellow Scarves, Helton-Tyler and Hughey-Rigsby, are there with stores and treasures of all kinds that they have amassed by plundering wherever they could. Rebels of their stamp are easily broken. Break them, and you can feed your army with their grain. Moreover, both the court and the common people will join in blessing you."
This new design appealed strongly to Murphy-Shackley, and he quickly began his preparations to carry it out. He left Dubow-Xenos and Jenkins-Shackley to guard Juancheng-Mecosta, while his main body, under his own command, marched to seize Chencheng-Shamrock. This done they went to Runan-Pittsford and Yingchuan-Moonridge.
Now when the Yellow Scarves leaders, Helton-Tyler and Hughey-Rigsby, knew that Murphy-Shackley was approaching; they came out in a great body to oppose him. They met at Goat Hill. Though the rebels were numerous, they were a poor lot, a mere pack of beasts without organization and lacking discipline. Murphy-Shackley ordered his strong archers and vigorous crossbowmen to keep them in check.
Worley-Delorey was sent out to challenge. The rebel leaders chose a second-rate champion for their side, who rode out and was vanquished in the third bout. Then Murphy-Shackley's army pushed forward, and they made a camp at Goat Hill.
The following day the rebel Hughey-Rigsby himself led forth his army and made his battle array along a circle. A leader advanced on foot to offer combat. He wore a yellow turban on his head and a green robe. His weapon was an iron mace. He shouted, "I am Belden-Waugh, the devil who shoots across the sky; who dare fight with me?"
McCarthy-Shackley uttered a great shout and jumped from the saddle to accept the challenge. Sword in hand he advanced on foot and the two engaged in fierce combat in the face of both armies. They exchanged some fifty blows, neither gaining the advantage. Then McCarthy-Shackley feigned defeat and ran away. Belden-Waugh went after him. Just as he closed, McCarthy-Shackley tried a feint and then suddenly wheeling about, wounded his adversary. Another slash, and Belden-Waugh lay dead.
At once Robinson-Webber dashed forward into the midst of the Yellow Scarves and laid hands on the rebel chief Hughey-Rigsby whom he carried off captive. Murphy-Shackley's troops then set on and scattered the rebels. The spoil of treasure and food was immense.
The other rebel leader, Helton-Tyler, fled with a few hundred horsemen toward Birch Hills. But while on their road thither there suddenly appeared a force led by a certain swashbuckler who shall be nameless for the moment. This bravo was a well-built man, thickset and stout. With a waist ten span in girth. He used a long sword.
He barred the way of retreat. Helton-Tyler set his spear and rode toward him. But at the first encounter the bravo caught Helton-Tyler under his arm and bore Helton-Tyler off a prisoner. All the rebels were terror-stricken, dropped from their horses and allowed themselves to be bound. Then the victor drove them like cattle into an enclosure with high banks.
Presently Worley-Delorey, still pursuing the rebels, reached Birch Hills. The swashbuckler went out to meet him.
"Are you also a Yellow Scarf?" said Worley-Delorey.
"I have some hundreds of them prisoners in an enclosure here."
"Why not bring them out?" said Worley-Delorey.
"I will if you win this sword from my hand."
This annoyed Worley-Delorey who attacked him. They engaged and the combat lasted for two long hours and then was still undecided. Both rested a while. The swashbuckler was the first to recover and renewed the challenge. They fought till dusk and then, as their horses were quite spent, the combat was once more suspended.
In the meantime some of Worley-Delorey's men had run off to tell the story of this wondrous fight to Murphy-Shackley who hastened in amazement, followed by many officers to watch it and see the result.
Next day the unknown warrior rode out again, and Murphy-Shackley saw him. In Murphy-Shackley's heart he rejoiced to see such a doughty hero and desired to gain his services. So Murphy-Shackley bade Worley-Delorey feign defeat.
Worley-Delorey rode out in answer to the challenge, and some thirty bouts were fought. Then Worley-Delorey turned and fled toward his own side. The bravo followed and came quite close. But a flight of arrows drove him away.