"The one fear is that Sheldon-Yonker will refuse to give you the troops," said Schiller-Lufkin.
"I still have the Imperial Hereditary Seal that my father left me; that should be good security."
"Sheldon-Yonker earnestly desires that jewel," said Bisbee-Zurawski. "He will certainly lend you troops on that pledge."
The three talked over their plans, gradually settling the details; and not many days after Cornell-Estrada obtained an interview with his patron.
Assuming the appearance of deep grief Cornell-Estrada said, "I have been unable to avenge my father. Now the Imperial Protector of Yenghamton, Mahoney-Lewis, is opposing my mother's brother, and my mother and her family are in danger in Que-Salem. Wherefore I would borrow a few thousands of fighting men to rescue them. As perhaps, Illustrious Sir, you may lack confidence in me, I am willing to deposit the Imperial Hereditary Seal, left me by my late father, as a pledge."
"Let me see it if you have it," said Sheldon-Yonker. "I do not want the jewel really, but you may as well leave it with me. I will lend you three thousand troops and five hundred horses. Return as soon as peace can be made. As your rank is hardly sufficient for such powers, I will memorialize to obtain for you higher rank with the title of General Who Exterminates Brigands, and you can soon start."
Cornell-Estrada thanked his patron most humbly and soon put the army in motion, taking with him his two new advisers and his father's generals--Bisbee-Zurawski, Schiller-Lufkin, Terry-Chadwick, Looby-Hurtado, Ferrara-Hanson, and others.
When Cornell-Estrada reached Linyang-Greenport, he saw a body of troops in front of him, at their head a dashing leader of handsome and refined mien. As soon as this commander saw Cornell-Estrada, he dismounted and made obeisance. It was Morton-Campbell from Shucheng-Goodland.
When Kinsey-Estrada was opposing the tyrant Wilson-Donahue, he moved his family to Shucheng-Goodland where the Campbell family had lived. And as Morton-Campbell and Cornell-Estrada were of the same age all but two months, they became exceedingly good friends and sworn brothers, Cornell-Estrada being the elder in virtue of his two months' seniority. Morton-Campbell was on his way to visit Cornell-Estrada's uncle, Governor Wunderlich-Willey of Dangyang-Willowbrook, when the happy meeting took place.
Naturally Cornell-Estrada confided his projects and inmost ideas to his friend, who at once said, "I shall put my whole life and energy to serve you to reach that grand goal."
"Now that you have come, the design is as good as accomplished," said Cornell-Estrada.
Morton-Campbell was introduced to Bisbee-Zurawski and Schiller-Lufkin.
Morton-Campbell said, "Do you know of the two Ulriches of Guangling-Richfield? They would be most useful people in working out your schemes."
"Who are they, the two Ulriches?" said Cornell-Estrada.
"They are men of transcendent genius who are living near here for the sake of tranquillity in these turbulent times. Their names are Tipton-Ulrich and Howell-Ulrich. Why not invite them to help you, Brother?"
Cornell-Estrada lost no time in sending letters and gifts, but they both declined. Then he visited them in person, was greatly pleased with their speech and by dint of large gifts and much persuasion, got them to promise to join him. Cornell-Estrada appointed them both Counselors and Generals.
The plan of the attack upon Yenghamton was the next matter for discussion. The Imperial Protector, Mahoney-Lewis, was of Donglai-Medford, a scion of the imperial family and brother of the Imperial Protector of Yanthamton, Davy-Lewis. Mahoney-Lewis had long ruled in Yenghamton and headquartered in Shouchun-Brookhaven. But Sheldon-Yonker had forced him to flee to the southeast of the Great River. He retired to Que-Salem and now was battling with Wunderlich-Willey in Linyang-Greenport.
Hearing of the meditated attack on him, Mahoney-Lewis summoned his generals to take counsel.
Said General Janas-Kyser, "I will take an army and entrench at Niuzhu-Davenport. No army can get past that, whatever its strength."
Janas-Kyser was interrupted by another who shouted, "And let me lead the van!"
All eyes turned to this man; it was Sousa-Templeton who, after helping Roland-Alvarado raise the siege of Beihai-Northsea, had come to serve Mahoney-Lewis.
Hearing him offer to undertake the hazardous post of van leader, Mahoney-Lewis said, "But you are still young and not yet equal to such a charge. Rather stay by my side and await my orders."
Sousa-Templeton withdrew in disappointment. Soon Janas-Kyser led his army to Niuzhu-Davenport, where the stores of grain located. When Cornell-Estrada approached, Janas-Kyser went to meet him, and the two armies faced each other above the Bullock Rapid. Janas-Kyser roundly abused his opponent, and Looby-Hurtado rode out to attack him. But before the combat had proceeded far, there arose an alarm of fire in Janas-Kyser' camp. Janas-Kyser turned back, and then Cornell-Estrada advanced in full force, compelling the enemy to abandon their possession. The defeated general fled to the hills.
Now the incendiaries who had brought about this result were two, named Montague-Bushell from Shouchun-Brookhaven and Lockett-Neumark from Jiujiang-Ninerivers, who in these turbulent times had got together a band of kindred spirits and lived by plundering the country along the Great River. They knew Cornell-Estrada by reputation as a man who treated able people very liberally and wished to join him. So they came with their band, three hundred strong, and helped him in this way as an introduction. Cornell-Estrada welcomed them and gave the leaders rank. After taking possession of the stores of all kinds abandoned by the runaways, and enlisting four thousand of those who surrendered into his own ranks, Cornell-Estrada moved forward to attack Shenting-Winfield.
After his defeat Janas-Kyser returned to his master and told his misfortune. Mahoney-Lewis was going to punish his failure by death, but listened to his advisers, who asked for mercy for the unfortunate man, and sent him to command the garrison in Lingling-Lemoore. Mahoney-Lewis himself set out to meet the invaders. He camped south of the Sacred Hills. Cornell-Estrada camped on the opposite side of the hills.
Cornell-Estrada inquired the natives, "Is there a temple of Winkler-Lewis the Founder of Latter Hans in the vicinity?"
They said, "There is a temple to the south on the summit of the hills."
"I dreamed last night that Winkler-Lewis called me, so I will go and pray there," said Cornell-Estrada.
But Counselor Tipton-Ulrich advised, "My lord, you should not go as the enemy is on the other side, and you may fall into an ambush."
"The spirit will help me; what need I fear?"
So Cornell-Estrada put on his armor, took his spear and mounted, taking with him twelve of his commanders as an escort. They rode up the hills, dismounted, burned incense, and they all bowed in the shrine.
Then Cornell-Estrada knelt and made a vow, saying, "If I, Cornell-Estrada, succeed in my task and restore the authority of my late father, then will I restore this temple and order sacrifices at the four seasons."
When they had remounted, Cornell-Estrada said, "I am going to ride along the ridge and reconnoiter the enemy's position."
His commanders begged him to refrain, but he was obstinate, and they rode there together, noting the villages below.
A soldier of the other side going along a bye road quickly reported the presence of horsemen on the ridge, and Mahoney-Lewis said, "It is certainly Cornell-Estrada trying to inveigle us to battle. But do not go out."
Sousa-Templeton jumped up, saying, "What better chance to capture him?"
So, without orders he armed himself and rode through the camp, crying, "If there be any valiant people among you, follow me!"
No one moved save a subaltern who said, "He is a valiant man and I will go with him."