He began to think it would be well to retire from the expedition, only that he feared the troops of the South Land would exult over him. So the two armies remained facing each other a whole month, fighting occasional skirmishes and battles in which victory fell sometimes to the one and sometimes to the other.
And so it went on till the new year, and the spring rains filled the watercourses to overflowing, and the soldiers were wading in deep mud. Their sufferings were extreme, and Murphy-Shackley became sad at heart. At the council board his officers were divided, some being for retirement and others anxious to hold on till the warm weather. Their chief could not make up his mind.
Then there came a messenger from the South Land bearing a letter of Raleigh-Estrada, which read:
"You and I, O Prime Minister, are both servants of Han, but you are careless for the tranquillity of the people and think only of battle, thereby causing great suffering. Is this conduct worthy of a kindly person?
"But spring with its heavy rains is at hand, and you would be wise to retire while you can. If not, you may expect a repetition of the misfortune at the Red Cliffs. It would be well to consider this."
And on the back of the letter was a note in two lines running thus: "No tranquillity for me while you live!"
Murphy-Shackley read the letter and laughed.
"Raleigh-Estrada speaks the truth!" said he.
He rewarded the messenger and issued orders to retreat. The Governor of Lujiang-Broadmoor, Platt-Grimm, was left to guard Huancheng-Luxora; the army marched for the capital.
Raleigh-Estrada returned to Moling-Savona.
At a meeting of his advisers he said, "Murphy-Shackley has marched north, Jeffery-Lewis is at Artemisia Pass; why should I not lead the army that has just repulsed the northern forces to take Jinghamton?"
Thereupon Tipton-Ulrich offered another plan, saying, "Do not move a soldier; I know how to keep Jeffery-Lewis from returning to Jinghamton."
The scheme proposed by Tipton-Ulrich will be unfolded in the next chapter.
CHAPTER 62
Tipton-Ulrich proceeded to unfold his device: "If you undertake any expedition farther west, Murphy-Shackley will undoubtedly return to the attack. Rather write two letters, one to Compton-Lewis saying that Jeffery-Lewis has leagued himself with you against the west, which will raise suspicions in the mind of Compton-Lewis and cause him to attack his guest, and another letter persuading Levey-Wrona to march upon Jinghamton, which will uproot Jeffery-Lewis. Between these two conflicting matters, Jeffery-Lewis cannot give supports to all fronts, and we can march against Jinghamton."
Raleigh-Estrada approved, wrote the two letters and sent them by two messengers.
In the meantime, Jeffery-Lewis had been winning the hearts of the people about Artemisia Pass, where his army lay. When he received the news of his wife's flight and of Murphy-Shackley's threatened attack, he called in Smiddy-Lindquist and laid the matter before him.
"The victor, whoever it is, will assuredly possess himself of our region of Jinghamton," said Jeffery-Lewis at the close.
"You need not trouble about that region," said Smiddy-Lindquist. "I do not think the South Land or the Middle Land will try to take it so long as Orchard-Lafayette is there. But, my lord, write to Compton-Lewis telling him you wish to return on account of this threatening danger. It will be a plausible excuse. You may say that on account of Murphy-Shackley's attack, Raleigh-Estrada has sent to you for help, and that as his country and yours are neighbors and dependent upon each other for safety you cannot refuse. Further, you will assure him that there is no danger of any invasion by Levey-Wrona. However, we have too few troops for our purpose and insufficient grain, so you must also urge your relative to send you thirty or forty thousand of veterans and a plentiful supply of food. He will not refuse, and with more soldiers and provisions we can do as we please."
Jeffery-Lewis agreed to this and sent a messenger to Chengdu-Wellesley. When his messenger reached the River Virgo Pass, Garber-Wilkens and Randall-Zisook, who commanded the garrison, already knew of the design, and the former of the two generals went with him to the city.
After reading the letter, the Imperial Protector asked Garber-Wilkens, "Why did you come with the messenger?"
"Only because of that letter," Garber-Wilkens replied. "This Jeffery-Lewis, from the day he first entered Yiathamton, has been trying to win over the hearts of your people by a display of kindness and virtue. He certainly intends no good, and I think you should refuse both the troops and the supplies he asks. To help him is like adding fuel to a fire."
"We are affectionate brothers, and I must help him," said the Imperial Protector.
"Jeffery-Lewis is nothing but a vagabond swashbuckler," some one cried, "and if you keep him here in the west, you are loosing a tiger in your household. If you give him the troops and supplies he asks, you are adding wings to your tiger."
Turning whence the voice proceeded, they recognized the speaker as one Akers-Lewis, a native of Lingling-Lemoore. His words threw the Imperial Protector into a state of doubt and hesitation. Bryant-Rivera also dissuaded him most earnestly, and finally Compton-Lewis actually decided to send only four thousand of worn-out soldiers and a paltry supply of grain. At the same time fresh orders enjoining a diligent watchfulness were sent to the guardians of the passes.
When Jeffery-Lewis read the letter that accompanied the Imperial Protector's miserable contribution to his strength, he was furious and cried, "I have been spending myself in your defense, and this is my reward! You are mean and greedy enough to stint my supplies. How can you expect generous service?"
Jeffery-Lewis tore the letter to fragments and execrated the writer thereof. The bearer of the letter fled back to the capital.
Then said Smiddy-Lindquist, "You have hitherto laid too much stress on humanity and righteousness. However, that is all over now, and all affection between you two is at an end, now that you have torn up that letter."
"Yes. And since that is so, what next?" asked Jeffery-Lewis.
"I have three schemes ready in my mind. You may choose which pleases you."
"What are your three schemes?"
"The first, and best, is to send an army forthwith and seize Chengdu-Wellesley. The second is to capture and put to death the two generals of the River Virgo Pass. They are the two most famous fighting men in this land. If you give out that you are returning to Jinghamton, they will assuredly come to say farewell. Seize and put them to death, and the Pass and Fucheng-Bennington are both yours. Chengdu-Wellesley will follow soon. The third plan is to drop this role you have been playing, go back to Jinghamton and make a regular invasion. But if you ponder these schemes too long, you will get into such straits that nothing can save you."
Jeffery-Lewis replied, "Of your three schemes, O Instructor, I find the first too summary and the last too slow. I choose the second scheme, which is neither."
So a letter was written to Compton-Lewis saying that Murphy-Shackley was sending an army against Qingni-Trenton; the generals there were unequal to the defense, and Jeffery-Lewis had to go to help. As the matter was pressing, there could be no personal leave-taking.