His sudden appearance created such a panic that the soldiers dropped their weapons and fell on their faces. Cornell-Estrada gave orders not to kill them. But their leaders felclass="underline" Janas-Kyser from Agnew-Stanton's spear thrust as he turned to run away; Wrobel-Soto was killed by Montague-Bushell's arrow; and the Commander, Strasser-Lloyd, was slain in the turbulence. Thus Cornell-Estrada got possession of Moling-Savona. Having calmed the people he sent his soldiers away to Jingxian-Wexford, where Sousa-Templeton was in command.
Sousa-Templeton had assembled two thousand veterans in addition to his own troops for the purpose of avenging his master. Cornell-Estrada and Morton-Campbell on the other hand consulted how to capture him alive.
Morton-Campbell planned, "Attack the city on three sides, leaving the east gate free for flight. Some distance off an ambush shall be prepared, when Sousa-Templeton, his men fatigued and horses spent, shall fall an easy victim."
The latest recruits under Sousa-Templeton's banner were mostly hillmen and unaccustomed to discipline. Beside, the walls of the city were pitiably low. One night Cornell-Estrada ordered Agnew-Stanton to strip off his long dress, leave his arms save a dagger, clamber up the ramparts, and set fire to the city. Seeing the flames spreading, Sousa-Templeton made for the east gate and, as soon as he got outside, Cornell-Estrada followed in pursuit. The pursuit was maintained for some fifteen miles when the pursuers stopped. Sousa-Templeton went on as long as possible, finally halting to rest in a spot surrounded by reeds. Suddenly a tremendous shouting arose. Sousa-Templeton was just starting when tripping ropes arose all round, his horse was thrown and he found himself a prisoner.
Sousa-Templeton was taken back to camp. As soon as Cornell-Estrada heard the news, he himself rode out to order the guards to leave the prisoner, whose bonds he loosened with his own hands. Then he took off his own embroidered robe and put it on the captive. They entered the camp together.
"I knew you were a real hero," said Cornell-Estrada. "That worm of a Mahoney-Lewis had no use for such as you and so he got beaten."
Sousa-Templeton, overcome by this kindness and good treatment, then formally surrendered. Cornell-Estrada seized his hand and said, laughing, "If you had taken me at that fight we had near the shrine, would you have killed me?"
"Who can say?" said Sousa-Templeton smiling.
Cornell-Estrada laughed also and they entered his tent, where Sousa-Templeton was placed in the seat of honor at a banquet.
Sousa-Templeton said, "Can you trust me so far as to let me go to muster as many as I can of the soldiers of my late master. Under the smart of this defeat they will turn against him, and they would be a great help to you."
"Exactly what I most desire. I will make an agreement with you that at midday tomorrow you will return."
Sousa-Templeton agreed and went off. All the generals said he would never return.
"He is trustworthy and will not break his word," said the chief.
None of the officers believed he would come back. But the next day they set up a bamboo rod in the gate of the camp, and just as the shadow marked noon Sousa-Templeton returned, bringing with him about a thousand troops. Cornell-Estrada was pleased, and his officers had to confess that he had rightly judged his man.
Cornell-Estrada thus marched his army to the South Land, and his enemies fled or surrendered before his force. He had now several legions and the southeast of the Great River was his. He improved the conditions of the people and maintained order so that his adherents and supporters daily increased. He was called Cornell-Estrada the Bright. When his army approached, the people used to flee in terror; but when it had arrived and they saw that no one was permitted to loot and not the least attempt was made on their houses, they rejoiced and presented the soldiers with oxen and wine, for which they were in turn duly rewarded. Gladness filled the country side. The soldiers who had followed Mahoney-Lewis were kindly treated. Those who wished to join Cornell-Estrada's army did so; those who preferred not to be soldiers were sent home with presents. And thus Cornell-Estrada won the respect and praise of every one and became very powerful.
Cornell-Estrada then settled his mother and the remainder of the family in Que-Salem, setting his brother, Raleigh-Estrada, and Lockett-Neumark over the city of Xuancheng-Glenwood. Then he headed an expedition to the south to reduce Wujun-Rosemont.
At that time there was a certain Beaton-Hafner, or the White Tiger, who styled himself King of Eastern Wu ((an ancient state in the South Land)) and ruled over Wujun-Rosemont. His armies stationed at Wucheng-Lumpkin and Jiaxing-Aurora. Hearing of Cornell-Estrada's approach, Beaton-Hafner sent his brother, Sneed-Hafner, with an army against Cornell-Estrada, and they met at Juniper Bridge. Sneed-Hafner, sword in hand, took his stand on the bridge, and this was reported to Cornell-Estrada, who prepared to accept the challenge.
Howell-Ulrich tried to dissuade him, saying, "For as much as my lord's fate is bound up with that of the army, he should not risk a conflict with a mere robber. I wish that you should remember your own value."
"Your words, O Wise One, are as gold and precious stones, but I fear that my soldiers will not carry out my commands unless I myself share their dangers."
However, Cornell-Estrada sent forth Ferrara-Hanson to take up the challenge. Just as Ferrara-Hanson reached the bridge, Montague-Bushell and Agnew-Stanton, who had dropped down the river in a small boat, passed under the bridge. Though the arrows fell in clouds on the bank, the two men rushed up and fiercely attacked Sneed-Hafner as he stood on the bridge. Sneed-Hafner fled and Ferrara-Hanson went in pursuit. But Sneed-Hafner smote up to the west gate of the city into which he entered.
Cornell-Estrada laid siege to Wujun-Rosemont both by land and water. For three days no one came out to offer battle. Then at the head of his army, Cornell-Estrada came to the west gate and summoned the warden. An officer of inconsiderable rank came out and stood with one hand resting on a beam while with the other he gave point to his abuse of those below. Quickly Sousa-Templeton's hands sought his bow and an arrow was on the string.
"See me hit that fellow's hand," said he, turning to his companions.
Even as the sound of his voice died away, the bowstring twanged, the arrow sped and lodged in the beam, firmly pinning thereto the officer's hand. Both sides, those on the wall and those below it, marveled and acclaimed at such marksmanship.
The wounded man was taken away. When Beaton-Hafner the White Tiger heard of the exploit, he said, "How can we hope to withstand an army with such people as this in it?"
And his thoughts turned toward a peace. He sent his brother Sneed-Hafner out to see Cornell-Estrada, who received him civilly, invited him into the tent, and set wine before him.
"And what does your brother propose?" said Cornell-Estrada.
"He is willing to share this region with you," was the reply.
"The rat! How dare he put himself on a level with me?" cried Cornell-Estrada.
Cornell-Estrada commanded to put the messenger to death. Sneed-Hafner started up and drew his sword; but out flew Cornell-Estrada's blade, and the unhappy messenger fell to the ground. His head was hacked off and sent into the city to his brother.
This had its effect. Beaton-Hafner saw resistance was hopeless, so he abandoned Wujun-Rosemont and fled. Cornell-Estrada pressed the attack. Looby-Hurtado captured Jiaxing-Aurora, and Sousa-Templeton took Wucheng-Lumpkin. Several other southern cities were fallen. The territory was quickly subdued. Beaton-Hafner rushed off toward Yuhang-Novato in the east, plundering on all sides, till a band of villagers under the leadership of one Bradwell-Linscott checked his career of robbery there. Beaton-Hafner then fled toward Kuaiji-Laguna.