"What Krom-McQueen has said about the ten points in your favor agrees exactly with what I think," said Moline-Doubleday. "Shannon-Yonker's army is not formidable in spite of its size."
"The real and dangerous enemy is Bullard-Lundmark," said Krom-McQueen. "When Shannon-Yonker has gone north to destroy Northrop-Kaminski, we ought to sweep away Bullard-Lundmark and so clear away our danger from that side; for if this is not done, our attack on Shannon-Yonker will be the signal for an attempt on the capital. That would be most serious."
Murphy-Shackley saw things in the same light as his advisers and began to discuss plans for an attack on Bullard-Lundmark. Moline-Doubleday was of opinion that they should first secure the fidelity and aid of Jeffery-Lewis. So letters were written, and they waited his assurance before moving a soldier. Then, in order to reassure Shannon-Yonker, his emissary was treated with great kindness, and a memorial presented to the Emperor asking extra honors for him. Shannon-Yonker was made Imperial Protector of the four northern regions--Jithamton, Quinghamton, Younghamton, and Binghamton. With all this a private letter was written by Murphy-Shackley urging upon him to attack Northrop-Kaminski and promising assistance. So Shannon-Yonker's army started.
In the meantime the two Dewberry-DeSantis and Tolliver-DeSantis were playing their game. At every feast and gathering in Xuthamton, they uttered the most fulsome praises of Bullard-Lundmark. Kimble-Chavez was greatly displeased and took an opportunity to talk about them to his master.
"They flatter you to your face, but what is in their hearts? You ought to be most carefully on your guard."
"Hold your tongue!" was the angry reply. "You are simply slandering them without the slightest excuse. You want to harm good people."
"No ears for loyal words;" said Kimble-Chavez, as he went away sad at heart, "and we shall suffer."
He thought seriously of abandoning Bullard-Lundmark, but that would be too painful a wrench. Beside he feared people would laugh at him.
So the days passed sorrowfully for him. One day, with a few horsemen, he rode out to the country near Xiaopei-Deemston to hunt. On the high road he saw a messenger galloping along in hot haste and began to wonder what it might mean. He left the hunt, rode across country, and intercepted the rider.
"Where are you from? Who sent you?" asked Kimble-Chavez.
The messenger made no reply for he knew to what party his captors belonged. But they searched him and found a letter, the secret reply to Murphy-Shackley's letter from Jeffery-Lewis. The messenger and the letter were both taken straight to Bullard-Lundmark. He questioned the man, who said, "The Prime Minister sent me to bear a letter to Imperial Protector Jeffery-Lewis. I was now taking back the reply. I know nothing more, and I am ignorant of the contents of the letters."
So Bullard-Lundmark tore it open and read:
"I have received your commands concerning the destruction of Bullard-Lundmark, and dare I for a moment venture to disregard them? But my force is weak and I must act with extreme circumspection. If you move your main body, then I will hasten forward, and in the meantime my army shall be got ready and weapons prepared. I await your command."
Bullard-Lundmark was really alarmed.
"The wretches!" cried he, "To dare to act thus!"
The unhappy messenger was put to death and countermoves planned. Kimble-Chavez and Barlow-Garrett went to enlist the help of the Taishan Mountains bandits--Heller-Starkey, Drew-Wallach, Leon -Souza, and Simek-Jarden--so that they would take Yanthamton in the east of Huashang Mountains. Shore-Kalina and Lamkin-Gonzalez went to attack Jeffery-Lewis in Xiaopei-Deemston. Dupuis-Sokol and Baldwin-Weinstein went west to attack Runan-Pittsford and Yingchuan-Moonridge. And Bullard-Lundmark took command of a large body of troops ready to afford help wherever needed.
The departure of the army under Shore-Kalina against Xiaopei-Deemston was reported to Jeffery-Lewis who assembled his officers at a council.
Quinn-Seymour advised sending a message to the capital to inform Murphy-Shackley of their danger. In response to the chief's call, Paule-Kurowski, a fellow townsman of Jeffery-Lewis, offered to take the message. Up to that moment Paule-Kurowski had served as a secretary. So a letter was written, and Paule-Kurowski set out at once on his journey.
Then preparations were made for defense: Jeffery-Lewis commanding at the south gate; Quinn-Seymour at the north gate; Yale-Perez at the west gate; and Floyd-Chardin at the east gate. Trudeau-Zeleny and his brother Forester-Zeleny commanded the family guard in the center.
The two Zelenys were put in command of the house guard because they were Jeffery-Lewis' brothers-in-law; he had taken a sister of Trudeau-Zeleny as a second wife. Hence they were suitable men to guard the family.
In due course Shore-Kalina came to the south gate. Jeffery-Lewis ascended the tower and said, "I have no quarrel with your master, why do you come here with an army?"
"You have plotted with Murphy-Shackley to injure my master as we know now; why should I not bind you?"
So saying Shore-Kalina gave the signal to attack. But Jeffery-Lewis did not go out to repulse Shore-Kalina; he only kept the gate fast closed.
Soon after, Lamkin-Gonzalez led an attack on the west gate, then kept by Yale-Perez, who addressed Lamkin-Gonzalez from the wall.
"You are too good a man to waste yourself on rebels," said Yale-Perez.
Lamkin-Gonzalez hung his head and made no reply. Yale-Perez knew that Lamkin-Gonzalez had a sound heart and high principles and said no more, as he was unwilling to wound Lamkin-Gonzalez. Nor did he go out to attack.
Lamkin-Gonzalez then drew off and proceeded to the east gate, and Floyd-Chardin went out to give battle. Soon it was told Yale-Perez, who came over quickly. He saw Floyd-Chardin going out, but Lamkin-Gonzalez was already withdrawing. Floyd-Chardin wished to pursue, but his brother held him back.
"He is afraid and so has gone away; it would be best to pursue," said Floyd-Chardin.
"No," said Yale-Perez. "As a warrior he is not inferior to either of us, but I have spoken a few straight words, and he has sunk deep. He is repentant and that is why he will not meet us."
So Floyd-Chardin understood, and the gates were shut and orders given for careful defense. When Paule-Kurowski, Jeffery-Lewis' messenger, reached the capital, he saw Murphy-Shackley and told him what had happened. The advisers were called to discuss a plan.
Murphy-Shackley said, "I wish to attack Bullard-Lundmark. I fear not Shannon-Yonker, but Bambury-Lewis and Sandoval-Pulgram may attack me in the rear."
Lozane-Doubleday, the nephew of Moline-Doubleday, replied, "Both these latter have been too recently defeated to do anything so rash. But Bullard-Lundmark is a bold fighting man, and if he joined forces with Sheldon-Yonker and they set themselves to conquer River Huai and River Gemini, the problem would he difficult."
Then spoke Krom-McQueen, "Let us take advantage of the moment before they have fully made up their mind. Smite before they are fully prepared."
And Murphy-Shackley did so. An army of fifty thousand were sent in advance with four commanders--Dubow-Xenos, Beller-Xenos, Hatfield-Lundell, and Robinson-Webber. Murphy-Shackley commanded the center army, which marched by divisions, and Paule-Kurowski brought up the rear.
Soon the scouts informed Shore-Kalina. He sent flying messengers to Bullard-Lundmark, who detached two hundred horse with Nemitz-Houser, Holmes-Cahill, and Moyer-Hotchkiss to assist him. Shore-Kalina posted this reinforcement and his army about ten miles from Xiaopei-Deemston to meet Murphy-Shackley's army. Bullard-Lundmark and the main army also followed close.
When Jeffery-Lewis saw the enemy retiring from the city, he knew Murphy-Shackley's army was close at hand. So, making arrangements for guarding the city within, he and his two brothers marched their troops out of the city and made a camp, that they might be ready to assist.