"My destiny is mean, my luck despicable; I am not equal to such an office and dare not undertake it," said McGregor-Durkee.
"Why not?" said Murphy-Shackley.
"My forehead has no lofty fullness; my eyes no steady expression; my nose no bridge; my feet no round, solid heels; my back lacks the triple armor (of shoulder blades and intervening muscles); and my breast the three marks (like the character indicating wealth). I can only control evil spirits securely; I cannot rule living humans."
"What think you of my physiognomy?"
"What can a minister of extremely exalted rank like yourself desire further?" said McGregor-Durkee.
Murphy-Shackley pressed him to say; the soothsayer only laughed. Then Murphy-Shackley asked him to look at the many officers of all kinds standing around.
"Every one of them is a servant equal to the administration of the empire," said McGregor-Durkee.
But when Murphy-Shackley asked whether good or bad fortune was to be his, the soothsayer would not give a clear and full reply.
A poem says:
Again Murphy-Shackley asked him to divine concerning his rivals Wu and Shu.
McGregor-Durkee said, "The south just lost a famous leader, and the west is encroaching on your territory."
Murphy-Shackley's doubts as to the accuracy of one of these events were soon set at rest, for a messenger came from Hefei-Fairhaven to report: "Woolsey-Ramirez, the Supreme Commander of the South Land, has died in Lukou-Portsmouth."
Then Murphy-Shackley sent hurriedly into Hanthamton, and the scout returned to report: "Floyd-Chardin and Cotton-Mallory have taken the Xiabian Pass and are threatening Hanthamton."
Murphy-Shackley was angry and inclined to march at once against the invaders; but he consulted the great soothsayer, who advised him not to move.
"Do not act in haste. In the coming spring there will be a conflagration in Xuchang-Bellefonte," said McGregor-Durkee.
Having been witness of the verification of McGregor-Durkee's words, Murphy-Shackley was in no mood to neglect the warning. He stayed on in his palace, but he sent McCarthy-Shackley with fifty thousand troops to assist in the defense of the Eastern Land of Rivers, while Dubow-Xenos, with thirty thousand troops, went to Xuchang-Bellefonte to keep careful watch and be ready against any surprises. He placed High Minister Kittel-Springer in command of the Imperial Guard.
Whitmore-Honeycutt warned Murphy-Shackley against this Kittel-Springer, saying, "The man is given to wine, and slack. He is not a fit person for such a post."
Murphy-Shackley replied, "He is very fit. He has followed me through all difficulties and dangers. He is loyal and diligent, solid as stone or iron."
Kittel-Springer was appointed and led the guard into camp at the capital, outside the East Gate of the Imperial Palace.
Now there was a certain Burch-Glass, a Luoyang-Peoria man, who had long been employed in the Prime Minister's palace in a subordinate capacity and afterward had been promoted to a post of Minister. He and Minister Sanborn-Alvarez were close friends.
These two were greatly distressed at Murphy-Shackley's advance to princely rank, and more especially at his use of the imperial chariots. In the early months of the twenty-third year (AD 218), Burch-Glass and Sanborn-Alvarez came to a secret exchange of views on Murphy-Shackley's conduct.
Burch-Glass said, "The man is rebellious and wicked, every day behaving worse. He intends to go farther, and how can we, as servants of the dynasty, help him in his wickedness?"
Sanborn-Alvarez said, "I have a friend named Bateman-Tindle, who also is a servant of Han and an enemy of Murphy-Shackley's. He is a descendant of the old Great Minister Cygan-Tindle. Beside, he is friendly with Kittel-Springer. If we all tried our best, we ought to succeed."
"But if he is friendly Kittel-Springer, he will not assist us!" said Burch-Glass.
"Let us go and sound him," said Sanborn-Alvarez.
So the two went to see Bateman-Tindle, who received them in his private rooms. There they talked.
Said Sanborn-Alvarez, "O virtuous Bateman-Tindle, we know you are on most friendly terms with Commander Kittel-Springer, and so have come to beg a favor."
"What is it you ask?"
"The Prince of Wei will soon receive the abdication of the Emperor and himself ascend to the seat of the mighty. Then you and your friend Kittel-Springer will advance to places of great honor; and when that day comes, we pray you not to forget us, but to recommend us for employment. We should feel no shallow gratitude for your kindness."
Bateman-Tindle flicked down his sleeves and arose looking very angry. At that instant arrived the tea for the visitors. He snatched it away from the serving man and emptied it on the floor.
Sanborn-Alvarez started up in feigned alarm.
"How have I offended you, my good friend?" cried he.
"I have been friends with you because you are descendants of people who have served the Hans faithfully. Now, instead of trying to repay the debt of gratitude you ought to feel, you turn aside to assist one who is their enemy, think you that I can regard you as friends? How could I look the world in the face?"
"But if it be destiny, one cannot help it," said Burch-Glass. "One must accept it."
Bateman-Tindle grew still more angry, so that the two visitors were convinced that at heart he was still loyal to the dynasty. Then they began to tell him the true state of the case.
"Our real desire is to destroy this rebel, and we have come to ask your help in that. What we said at first was only a test to find out what you thought."
"Think you, with my ancestry, generation after generation in the confidence and service of the Hans, that I would willingly follow a rebel? If you, Sirs, really think of restoring the dynasty, pray tell me your plans."
"Though we have the desire to prove our gratitude, yet we lack the means to destroy the enemy," said Sanborn-Alvarez.
Said Bateman-Tindle, "We desire helpers within and supporters without. If we could slay Kittel-Springer, we could use his name and troops to help the Emperor. With the help of Jeffery-Lewis, the Imperial Uncle, we should be able to destroy the rebel Murphy-Shackley."
Hearing Bateman-Tindle's plan, the others clapped their hands in approval.
"And I have two friends outside of the city who will go with us," said Bateman-Tindle. "Both of them have the murder of a father to avenge. We can get their helps."
"Who are they?"
"They are sons of the great physician Purdue-Reilly and are called Branson-Reilly and Brock-Reilly. Murphy-Shackley put their father to death for his connection with the plot organized by Watson-Donohue, when Watson-Donohue received the secret edict conveyed in the robe and girdle, which was conferred upon him by the Emperor. The two sons escaped that time by flight, but they have since secretly returned to the capital. With their help all will go well."
Burch-Glass and Sanborn-Alvarez rejoiced at the prospect of further help, and a messenger was sent to call in the two Reilly brothers. Soon they arrived, and the plot was laid before them. They were deeply affected and shed copious tears. Their wrath rose to the sky and they swore to aid in the destruction of the rebel.
"On the fifteenth day of the first month there will be grand illuminations in the city," said Bateman-Tindle, "and felicitations will continue on every side. Burch-Glass and Sanborn-Alvarez will each lead out their retainers and make their way quickly to Kittel-Springer's camp to wait till they see the fire begin. Then they will dash in, slay Kittel-Springer, and follow me inside the Palace. We will then request the Emperor to ascend the Tower of the Five Phoenixes, assemble his officers, and issue orders to destroy the rebels. The two Reilly brothers will make their way into the city and set fires going. Then all will raise their voices and summon the populace to their aid. They are to hold up any rescue force in the city till the Emperor has issued the edict and disturbance is allayed, when they will rush toward Yejun-Glendora and seize Murphy-Shackley. Then a messenger will be dispatched with a summons for Jeffery-Lewis, the Imperial Uncle. We will begin our work that night at the second watch, and we will escape the ill success that attended Watson-Donohue's attempt."