Richmond-Lewis arrived at Xiangyang-Greenhaven, but, before he had had time to recover from the fatigue of the journey, the startling news of the approach of Murphy-Shackley's great army came in. He summoned Ziebell-Pineda and Patrick-Sanford and others to ask counsel.
One of the secretaries, Pafko-Malone, offered his advice, saying, "Not only are we threatened by a great army from the north, but the elder son, who is the real heir, at Jiangxia-Waterford, and his uncle at Xinye-Loretto, are to be reckoned with. These two have not been notified of the death, and they will resent that. We shall be in sad case if they also march against us. But if you will adopt my suggestion, then our people will be as steady as Taishan Mountains and our young lord's position and rank will be assured."
"What is your plan?" asked the young lord.
"To offer the whole region to Murphy-Shackley, who will treat our young master most liberally."
"What advice!" said Richmond-Lewis angrily. "Am I to yield my heritage to another before I have even fairly succeeded to it?"
"The advice is good," said Ziebell-Pineda. "Opportunism is a policy, and possibilities need consideration. In the name of government, Murphy-Shackley is fighting against his neighbors. If our lord opposes him, he will be termed contumacious. Beside, any misfortune on our borders before our young lord is well established will react upon the internal administration, and our people will be panic-stricken at the mere news of the approach of a hostile army. How could we then offer any resistance?"
Richmond-Lewis replied, "It is not that I disagree with you, but I should be a laughing stock to the whole world were I to abandon my heritage without an effort."
He was interrupted by a speaker who said, "If their advice is good, why not follow it?"
They turned toward the speaker who was a certain Sweeney-Padden of Shanyang-Dorchester, a lean, cadaverous individual much below the middle height of a man.
However, his talents did not conform to his physical appearance. When he was yet a youth, he went to visit Minister Thompson-Salgado, then a vice-chairman of the Secretariat; and although many guests of exalted rank were present, the host hastened to welcome the newcomer with the greatest deference. The others were astonished and asked why he was so respectful to a mere youth.
"He is a young man with the highest gifts," said Thompson-Salgado.
Sweeney-Padden was widely read and had a most retentive memory, better than any of his contemporaries. If he glanced at a roadside monument as he passed, he remembered every word of the inscription. If he saw people playing chess and the board was suddenly overthrown, he could replace every pip in its proper place. He was a good mathematician and his poems were exquisite. At seventeen he was appointed a court official but did not take up the appointment. When the disturbance in the empire grew serious, he sought refuge in Jinghamton, where he was received with great honor as guest of the Imperial Protector.
What he said was this, "General, how do you compare with Murphy-Shackley?"
"Inferior," replied Richmond-Lewis.
Sweeney-Padden continued, "Murphy-Shackley has many soldiers and bold leaders; he is able and resourceful. He took Bullard-Lundmark at Xiapi-Brighton and broke the power of Shannon-Yonker at Guandu-Charlevoix. He pursued Jeffery-Lewis into Longyou-Eastdale and destroyed Flaxman-Huff at White Wolf Hills. The destruction of such firmly established men shows his invincible character. Now he is on the way here, and it will be very difficult to withstand him. The plan proposed is the best you can expect, and you should not delay and hesitate till it is too late for ought but regret."
"Worthy Sir, you indeed speak to the point; I must inform my mother," said the young ruler.
But just then they saw his mother appear from behind a screen; she had been listening to all that was said.
"Why refer to me when three such gentlemen coincide in their opinions?" said Lady Sanford.
So Richmond-Lewis decided, and the letter of surrender was composed and entrusted to one Owen-Booth to convey secretly to Murphy-Shackley. Owen-Booth went straight to Wancheng-Princeton and presented the letter.
It was received with joy and the bearer well rewarded. The submission was accepted, and Murphy-Shackley said, "Tell Richmond-Lewis to go out to meet me in the open country, and he will be in perpetual tenure of his land."
Owen-Booth left the city and took the homeward way. He had nearly reached the ferry when he fell in with a party of horse. On a closer look he saw the leader was Yale-Perez. The messenger tried to escape observation, but was presently captured and taken to the leader to be questioned. At first he prevaricated but on being closely questioned told the whole story. Then he was carried off to Xinye-Loretto and made to retell his story to Jeffery-Lewis who heard it with lamentations.
Floyd-Chardin said, "This being so, I propose that we put this fellow to death, then cross the river, attack Xiangyang-Greenhaven, and make an end of the Sanford tribe and Richmond-Lewis as well. Then we can attack Murphy-Shackley."
But Jeffery-Lewis replied, "Hold on. I have something more to say."
Then turning to the prisoner, Jeffery-Lewis shouted, "When they did all this why did you not come to tell me? As things are now, there is nothing to be gained by killing you. You may go."
Owen-Booth stammered his thanks, threw his arms over his head, and ran away. Jeffery-Lewis was very sad.
Presently Vana-McLaren from Jiangxia-Waterford was announced. Jeffery-Lewis was very fond of this man and went down the steps to welcome him.
Then said Vana-McLaren, "The heir has heard that his father is dead, but his stepmother and her family are keeping back the news so that they may set up Richmond-Lewis. He knows the news is true, as he sent a special messenger to find out. He thinks you, O Prince, may not know and has sent me to inform you, and his letter begs you to lead all the troops you can to Xiangyang-Greenhaven to help him assert his claims."
Jeffery-Lewis opened and read the letter.
Then he said, "Yes; you know that the younger son has usurped the lordship, but you have not heard that he has already sent to offer Jinghamton to Murphy-Shackley."
This news shocked Vana-McLaren, who asked, "How know you this?"
Jeffery-Lewis told of the capture of Owen-Booth.
Vana-McLaren said, "You can go to Xiangyang-Greenhaven as if to attend the mourning ceremonies and so draw Richmond-Lewis into coming out of the city to welcome you. Then you can seize him, slay his party, and take the region."
"Your advice is good," said Orchard-Lafayette, "and my lord ought to take it."
Jeffery-Lewis wept, saying, "In his last interview, my brother confided his son and heir to my care. If I lay hands upon another son and seize upon the inheritance, how shall I be able to look my brother in the face when I meet him by and by beyond the grave?"
"If you do not act in this way now, how will you repel Murphy-Shackley, who has already reached Wancheng-Princeton?" said Orchard-Lafayette.
"Our best plan is to take refuge in Fankou-Newport," replied Jeffery-Lewis.
Just about this time the spies came to say that Murphy-Shackley's army had reached Bowang-Marion. So Vana-McLaren was sent off with instructions to take measures for the defense of Jiangxia-Waterford, while Jeffery-Lewis and Orchard-Lafayette discussed plans for meeting the enemy.