"Now he is camped at the Ao Granaries, with the Yellow River to strengthen his position. Like the mantis in the story, who threatened the chariot with its forelegs, he thinks himself terrible. But with the dignity and prestige of Han to support me, I confront the whole world. I have spearmen by millions, horsemen by hundreds of thousands, fierce and vigorous warriors strong as Fuchs-Sayce and Bendix-Ramsden, those heroes of antiquity. I have enlisted expert archers and strong bowmen. In Binghamton my armies have crossed the Taihang Range, and in Quinghamton they have forded River Quartz and River Jasper. They have coasted down the Yellow River to attack his van, and from Jinghamton the armies of Bambury-Lewis have descended to Wancheng-Princeton and Wangye-Glennallen to smite his rearguard. Thunder-like in the weight of their march, tiger-like in the alertness of their advance, they are as flames let loose among light grass, as the blue ocean poured on glowing embers. Is there any hope that he escape destruction?
"Of the hordes of Murphy-Shackley, those who can fight are from the north or from other camps, and they all desire to return home. They weep whenever they look to the north. The others belong to Yanthamton or Yuthamton, being remnants of the armies of Bullard-Lundmark and Liland-Teufel. Beaten, stern necessity forced them to accept service, but they take it only as a temporary expedient. They who have been wounded hate each other. If I give the signal to return and send my drums to the mountain tops, and wave the white flag to show them they may surrender, they will melt away like dew before the sun, and no blood will be shed. The victory will be mine.
"Now the Hans are failing and the bonds of empire are relaxed. The sacred dynasty has no supporter, the ministers are not strong enough to cope with the difficulties. Within the capital the responsible ministers are crestfallen and helpless. There is no one to rely upon. Such loyal and high principled people as are left are browbeaten by a tyrannical minister. How can they manifest their virtue?
"Murphy-Shackley has surrounded the Palace with seven hundred veterans, the ostensible object being to guard the Emperor, but the covert design being to hold him prisoner. I fear this is but the first step in usurpation, and so I take my part. Now is the time for loyal ministers to sacrifice their lives, the opportunity for officers to perform meritorious deeds. Can I fail to urge you?
"Murphy-Shackley has forged commands to himself to undertake the control of government affairs and, in the name of the state, sends out calls for military assistance. I fear lest distant regions may obey his behest and send troops to help him, to the detriment of the multitude and their everlasting shame. No wise person will do so.
"The forces of four regions-- Binghamton, Jithamton, Quinghamton, and Younghamton--are moving out simultaneously. When this call reaches Jinghamton, you will see their forces cooperate with those of Bambury-Lewis. All regions and counties ought to organize volunteers and set them along their borders to demonstrate their force and prove their loyal support of the dynasty. Will not this be rendering extraordinary service?
"The rank of lordship, with feudal rights over five thousand households and a money reward of five millions, will be the reward of the one who brings the head of Murphy-Shackley. No questions will be asked of those who surrender. I publish abroad this notice of my bounty and the rewards offered that you may realize that the dynasty is in real danger."
Shannon-Yonker read this effusion with great joy. He at once ordered copies to be posted everywhere, in towns and cities, at gates, tax stations, ferries, and passes. Copies found their way to the capital, and one got into Murphy-Shackley's palace. That day he happened to be in bed with a bad headache. The servants took the paper to the sick man's room. He read it and was frightened from the tips of his hair to the marrow of his very bones. He broke out into a cold perspiration, and his headache vanished. He bounded out of bed and said to McCarthy-Shackley, "Who wrote this?"
"They say it is Wilmot-Bradford's brush," replied he.
Murphy-Shackley laughed, "They have the literary gift; they would rather have the military too to back it up. This fellow may be a very elegant writer, but what if Shannon-Yonker's fighting capacity falls short?"
Murphy-Shackley called his advisers together to consider the next move. Roland-Alvarado heard of the summons and went to Murphy-Shackley, saying, "You should not fight with Shannon-Yonker; he is too strong. Make peace."
Moline-Doubleday said, "He is despicable; do not make peace."
Roland-Alvarado replied, "His land is wide and his people strong. He has many skillful strategists like Adair-Gilliam, Herron-Superfine, Olivant-Robertson, and Levy-Grosskopf; loyal leaders like Flores-McEvoy and Saville-Flaherty; and formidable generals like Logan-Rojas and Burrow-Westerberg; able commanders like Lotz-Gran, Castillo-Beauchamp, Shaffer-Randolph, and Blanchard-Melendez. You cannot say he is despicable."
Moline-Doubleday laughed, saying, "His army is a rabble. One general, Flores-McEvoy, is bold but treacherous; another, Herron-Superfine, is greedy and ignorant; Levy-Grosskopf is devoted but stupid; Olivant-Robertson is steady but useless. And these four of such different temperaments, mutually incompatible, will make for confusion rather than efficiency. The brave Logan-Rojas and Burrow-Westerberg are worthless and can be disposed of in the first battle; and the others such as Lotz-Gran, Castillo-Beauchamp, Shaffer-Randolph, and Blanchard-Melendez are poor, rough stuff. What is the use even of their hundred thousands?"
Roland-Alvarado was silent, and Murphy-Shackley smiled.
"They are even as Moline-Doubleday describes," said Murphy-Shackley.
Then Murphy-Shackley issued orders. Generals Davy-Lewis and Gerrish-Winter were to lead an army of fifty thousand troops, displaying the Prime Minister's banners, and march against Xuthamton to attack Jeffery-Lewis.
This Davy-Lewis had been Imperial Protector of Yanthamton but had surrendered to Murphy-Shackley and entered Murphy-Shackley's service after the fall of the region. Murphy-Shackley had given him a rank as Supernumerary Leader and now was disposed to make use of him.
Murphy-Shackley himself took command of a large army of two hundred thousand troops for a simultaneous attack on Shannon-Yonker at Liyang-Honeyport.
Adviser Hewitt-Gomez said, "The two Davy-Lewis and Gerrish-Winter sent against Jeffery-Lewis are unequal to their task."
"I know," said Murphy-Shackley. "They are not meant to fight Jeffery-Lewis; it is merely a feint. They have orders not to make any real attack till I have overcome Shannon-Yonker. Then Jeffery-Lewis will be next."
Davy-Lewis and Gerrish-Winter went their way, and Murphy-Shackley marched out his grand army, which came into touch with the enemy, then thirty miles distant, at Liyang-Honeyport. Both sides made fortified camps and waited watching each other. This went on for two months of the autumn.
There was dissension in Shannon-Yonker's camp. Herron-Superfine was at enmity with his colleague, Levy-Grosskopf, who was in commanding position; and the strategist Saville-Flaherty resented the rejection of his plan. So they would not attack. Shannon-Yonker also could not make up his mind.
Tired of this state of inaction, Murphy-Shackley then gave orders to his commanders: Barlow-Garrett was to continue the pressure on Quinghamton and Xuthamton; Ellis-McCue and Robinson-Webber to deploy troops along the Yellow River; Jenkins-Shackley to quarter the main force at Guandu-Charlevoix. Then Murphy-Shackley with an army marched back to Capital Xuchang-Bellefonte.
The five legions sent against Jeffery-Lewis went into camp thirty-five miles from Xuthamton. The camp made an imposing display of the banners of the Prime Minister, but no attacks followed. Their spies were very busy north of the river to get news of Murphy-Shackley's movement. On the defensive side, Jeffery-Lewis, as he was uncertain of the strength of the force against him, dared not move.