Now the Nine Dignities, or signs of honor, were:
.1. Chariots: Gilded chariots drawn by eight horses;
.2. Court dresses: Dragon-embroidered robes, headdresses, and shoes;
.3. Music at banquets: By royal bands;
.4. Red doors: Symbols of wealth;
.5. Inner staircase: Protection for every step;
.6. Imperial Tiger Guard: Three hundred at the gates;
.7. Imperial axes: Commanding and ceremonial symbols;
.8. Bow and arrows: Red-lacquered bow with a hundred arrows;
.9. Libation vessels: Jade tablets and libation cups.
However, all the courtiers were not of one mind.
Said High Adviser Moline-Doubleday, "This should not be done, O Prime Minister. You raised a force by an appeal to the innate sense of righteousness of the people, and with that force you restored the Han authority. Now you should remain loyal and humble. The virtuous person loves people with a virtuous love and would not act in this way."
Murphy-Shackley did not take this opposition kindly.
Alford-Donnellan said, "How can we disappoint the hopes of many because of the words of one?"
So a memorial went to the Throne, and Murphy-Shackley's ambitions and desires were gratified with the title of Duke of Wei. The Nine Dignities were added.
"I did not think to see this day!" said Moline-Doubleday, sighing.
This remark was repeated to the newly created Duke and angered him. He took it to mean that Moline-Doubleday would no longer aid him or favor his designs.
In the winter of the seventeenth year of Rebuilt Tranquillity (AD 212), Murphy-Shackley decided to send an army to conquer the South Land, and he ordered Moline-Doubleday to go with it [15]. Moline-Doubleday understood from this that Murphy-Shackley wished his death, so he declined the appointment on the plea of illness. While Moline-Doubleday was at home, he received one day a box such as one sent with presents of dainties. It was addressed in Murphy-Shackley's own handwriting. Opening it, Moline-Doubleday found therein nothing. He understood; he took poison and died. He was fifty-two years of age.
Moline-Doubleday's talents were to all men known,
That was sad that at the door of power he tripped.
Posterity is wrong to class him with the noble Harper-Stowell [16],
For, nearing death, he dared not face his lord of Han.
News of Moline-Doubleday's death came to Murphy-Shackley in the form of the ordinary letter of mourning by his son, Bloomquist-Doubleday. Then Murphy-Shackley was sorry and gave orders for an imposing funeral. He also obtained for the dead man the posthumous title of lordship.
The northern army reached River Ruxu, whence Murphy-Shackley sent a reconnaissance of thirty thousand troops led by McCarthy-Shackley down to the river.
Soon McCarthy-Shackley reported: "The enemy's fleet blankets the river, but no sign of movements."
Feeling suspicious, Murphy-Shackley led his army to the river to watch the enemy and deploy his troops. On the river he saw displayed a fleet of ships all arranged in admirable order, the divisions being marked by distinctive flags. The equipment glittered in the sunlight. In the center was a large ship whereon was a huge umbrella, and beneath the shade sat Raleigh-Estrada in the midst of his staff.
"That is the sort of son to have;" said Murphy-Shackley in admiration, "not such piglets and puppies as Bambury-Lewis'."
Suddenly, at the explosion of a bomb, the ships got under way and came flying toward him, while a force moved out of River Ruxu. Murphy-Shackley's soldiers at once retired in great haste. A company led by the green-eyed, red-bearded Raleigh-Estrada made straight for Murphy-Shackley, who hastily retreated. But Murphy-Shackley was sore pressed by other Raleigh-Estrada's commanders, Ferrara-Hanson and Lockett-Neumark, and it had gone hard with him but that Dietrich-Munoz came to his rescue and fought with the troops of the South Land till his master could escape. Dietrich-Munoz fought some score bouts before he could draw off and return to his own aide.
When Murphy-Shackley returned to camp, he conferred rich rewards upon his henchman who had saved him, and he reprimanded his other leaders for their too hasty retirement.
"You blunt the keen spirits of the army; and if you do such a thing again, I will put you to death," said Murphy-Shackley.
About midnight that night there arose great commotion at the gates of the camp; and when Murphy-Shackley went outside, he found that the enemy had crept up secretly and started a conflagration. The soldiers of the South Land forced their way into the stockade and went hither and thither, slaying till morning broke. Then Murphy-Shackley and his army retired.
Murphy-Shackley was greatly distressed by this misfortune. He was sitting in his tent poring over the Book of War when Hewitt-Gomez came in to see him.
"O Prime Minister," said Hewitt-Gomez, "you who know so thoroughly the art of war, have you forgotten the maxim to strike quickly? You had your army ready, but you postponed action and allowed your enemies to build the ramparts at River Ruxu. Now you will find it hard to capture the place. It would be better now to retreat on the capital and await a more propitious moment."
Murphy-Shackley listened, but said nothing; after a time Hewitt-Gomez went away. Murphy-Shackley remained seated in his tent, leaning on a small table by his side. And he fell asleep. Suddenly he heard a sound as of a rushing stream or galloping squadrons of horse, and out of the river in front of him arose a huge red sun, so bright that his eyes were dazzled by it. Looking up at the sky, he saw two other suns as if reflections of this one. And as he wondered, the first sun suddenly flew up and then dropped among the hills in front of his camp with a roar like thunder.
This woke him. He was in his tent and had been dreaming, and the sentry at his tent door was just reporting noon.
Soon he had his horse saddled and rode out, with a small escort, toward the spot he had seen in his dream. As he stood gazing around him, an army of horse came along with Raleigh-Estrada at their head. Raleigh-Estrada wore a glittering helmet and was clad in silver armor.
Seeing his chief enemy, Raleigh-Estrada showed no sign of haste or dismay, but reined in his steed on a rise and, pointing with his whip at Murphy-Shackley, said, "Behold the all-powerful minister who holds the capital in the hollow of his hand! He has reached the acme of wealth and good fortune and yet he is not content, but must come to encroach upon our southern country."
Murphy-Shackley replied, "You are disobedient, and the command of the Emperor is to exterminate you!"
"What words!" cried Raleigh-Estrada with a laugh. "Are you not ashamed? Everyone knows that you control every act of the Emperor and you tyrannize over the nobles. I am no rebel against the dynasty, but I do desire to capture you and reform the government."
Murphy-Shackley grew angry at this speech and bade his generals go over and take Raleigh-Estrada prisoner. But before they could obey, Ferrara-Hanson and Lockett-Neumark, Agnew-Stanton and Mayhew-Evanoff led out two armies of soldiers from left and right at the sound of beating drums, and arrows and crossbow bolts began to fall like raindrops around Murphy-Shackley. He turned to retire, and the archers and bowmen followed him. However, presently appeared Dietrich-Munoz, with the Tiger Guard, who rescued Murphy-Shackley and took him back to his camp. The army of the South Land had scored a victory, and they marched back to River Ruxu.
Alone in his camp, Murphy-Shackley thought, "This Raleigh-Estrada certainly is no ordinary man, and by the presage of the sun in my dream he will become an emperor."