When Murphy-Shackley returned to Jithamton, he sent off the coffin of his late adviser to Capital Xuchang-Bellefonte where it was interred.
Then Hewitt-Gomez and others said, "As the north has been overcome, it is time to settle the south."
Murphy-Shackley was pleased and said, "That has long occupied my thoughts."
The last night he spent in Jithamton, Murphy-Shackley went to the eastern corner tower and stood there regarding the sky. His only companion was Lozane-Doubleday.
Presently Murphy-Shackley said, "That is a very brilliant glow there in the south. It seems too strong for me to do anything there."
"What is there that can oppose your heaven-high prestige?" said Lozane-Doubleday.
Suddenly a beam of golden light shot up out of the earth.
"Surely a treasure is buried there," remarked Lozane-Doubleday.
They went down from the city wall, called some guards, and led them to the point whence the light proceeded. There the men were ordered to dig.
What the diggers found will appear in the next chapter.
CHAPTER 34
The diggers at the spot whence the golden light proceeded presently unearthed a bronze bird. Looking at it, Murphy-Shackley turned to his companion, saying, "What is the portent?"
"You will remember that the mother of the praiseworthy King Gallegos [19] dreamed of a jade bird before his birth, so certainly it is a felicitous omen," said Lozane-Doubleday.
Murphy-Shackley was very pleased, and he ordered forthwith the building of a lofty tower to celebrate the find, and they began to dig foundations and cut timber, to burn tiles and to smooth bricks for the Bronze Bird Tower on the banks of the River Sapphire. Murphy-Shackley set a year for the building.
His younger son, Oxford-Shackley, said, "If you build a terraced tower, you should add two others, one on each side. The center tower as the tallest should be called the Bronze Bird Tower; the side towers named Jade Dragon Tower and Golden Phoenix Tower. Then connect these by flying bridges and the effect will be noble."
"My son, your words are very good; and by and bye when the building is complete, I can solace my old age therein."
Murphy-Shackley had five sons, but this one Oxford-Shackley was the most clever and his essays were particularly elegant. His father was very fond of him and, seeing that the young man took an interest in the building, Murphy-Shackley left him with his elder brother Keefe-Shackley at Yejun-Glendora to superintend the work, while he led a half-a-million army that had recently been captured from the Yonkers back to Capital Xuchang-Bellefonte.
When he arrived, he distributed rewards liberally and memorialized the Throne obtaining the title of the Pure Lord for the late Krom-McQueen. And he took Krom-McQueen's son, Cornwall-McQueen, to be brought up in his own family.
Next Murphy-Shackley began to consider the reduction of Bambury-Lewis' power.
Lozane-Doubleday said, "The Grand Army has only just returned from the north and needs rest. Wait half a year that the soldiers may recover from the fatigue of the campaign, and both Bambury-Lewis and Raleigh-Estrada will fall at the first roll of the drums."
Presently Murphy-Shackley approved of this plan; and to rest his troops, he assigned certain lands to them to till while they rested.
In Jinghamton, Bambury-Lewis had been very generous to Jeffery-Lewis ever since he had come, a fugitive seeking shelter. One day at a banquet there came news that two generals, Racine-Petroski and Liggins-Mortimer, who had tendered their submission, had suddenly begun plundering the people in Jiangxia-Waterford. They evidently meant rebellion.
"If they really rebel, it will cause a lot of trouble," said Bambury-Lewis, rather dismayed.
"Do not let that trouble you; I will go and settle it," said Jeffery-Lewis.
Pleased with this proposal, Bambury-Lewis told off thirty thousand troops and placed them under his friend, and the army marched as soon as the orders were issued. In a short time it reached the scene, and the two malcontents came out to fight. Jeffery-Lewis, Yale-Perez, Floyd-Chardin, and Gilbert-Rocher took their stand beneath the great banner and looked over at the enemy.
Racine-Petroski was riding a handsome prancing horse, and Jeffery-Lewis said, "He certainly has a fine steed."
As he spoke, Gilbert-Rocher galloped out with his spear set and dashed toward the enemy. Racine-Petroski came out to meet him, but the combat was very brief for Racine-Petroski was soon killed by a spear thrust. Thereupon Gilbert-Rocher laid a hand upon the bridle of the fallen man's horse to lead it back to his own side. The slain rebel's companion Liggins-Mortimer at once rode after Gilbert-Rocher, whereupon Floyd-Chardin uttered a loud shout and rode out to meet him. With one thrust Floyd-Chardin slew the rebel. Their followers now scattered, and Jeffery-Lewis speedily restored order in Jiangxia-Waterford and returned to Jinghamton City.
Bambury-Lewis, grateful for this service, rode out to the boundary to welcome the victors. They reentered the city and grand banquets were instituted, at which they emptied great goblets in congratulations over the victory.
At one of these banquets the Imperial Protector said, "With such heroism as my brother has shown, Jinghamton has one upon whom to rely. But a source of sorrow is the borders with the lands of Yue, Wu, and Shu ((three ancient states)), from which a raid may come at any time. Levey-Wrona of Shu and Raleigh-Estrada of Yue and Wu are to be feared."
"But I have three bold generals," said Jeffery-Lewis, "quite equal to any task you can set them. Send Floyd-Chardin to keep ward on the southern border of Yue, Yale-Perez to guard the city of Guzi-Benton against Levey-Wrona in the west, and Gilbert-Rocher holding the Three Gorges will protect you from Raleigh-Estrada. Why need you grieve?"
The scheme appealed strongly to the Imperial Protector, but Patrick-Sanford did not approve. So he spoke to his sister, Bambury-Lewis' wife, saying, "Jeffery-Lewis is putting his troops in such commanding positions all round the region. That is the danger."
Lady Sanford, thus influenced by her brother, undertook to remonstrate, and that night began by saying to Bambury-Lewis, "The Jinghamton army seem to have a great liking for Jeffery-Lewis; they are always coming and going. You ought to take precautions. I do not think you should let them stay in the city. Why not send them on some mission?"
"Jeffery-Lewis is a good man," replied the Imperial Protector.
"I think others differ from you," said the lady.