"I knew that the real desire of Jeffery-Lewis was to return to Jinghamton," said Leland-Hawkins, when he heard of the letter to Compton-Lewis.
Leland-Hawkins then also composed a letter to Jeffery-Lewis. While he was looking about for a trusty person to take it, his brother Shipman-Hawkins, who was the Governor of Guanghan-Madison, came to see him. Leland-Hawkins hid the letter in his sleeve while he talked with his brother. Shipman-Hawkins noticed his anxious inquietude, which he could not explain. Wine was brought in and, as the two brothers chatted over it, the letter dropped to the floor unnoticed by Leland-Hawkins. One of Shipman-Hawkins' servants saw it, picked it up, and gave it to his master, who opened and read it.
This is about how it ran:
"What I said to you lately was not mere meaningless talk. Why, then, postpone action? The ancients valued the person who took by force and held by conciliation. If you act at once, the whole matter is in your hand. Why abandon all and return to Jinghamton? Surely I do not hear aright! When you get this letter, attack without a moment's delay and remember that I am your ally on the inside. Above all, no delay!"
"This plot of my brother's will end in the destruction of the whole family," said Shipman-Hawkins. "I must get in the first word."
So at once he went in and laid the whole matter before the Imperial Protector.
"I have always treated your brother so well!" said Compton-Lewis, very angry.
Compton-Lewis issued orders to arrest Leland-Hawkins and behead him and all his household in the market place.
Having thus learned of a real conspiracy to deprive him of his heritage, Compton-Lewis assembled his officers and asked their advice.
Bryant-Rivera spoke out, saying, "Prompt action is needed. Send to every strategic point telling them to increase the garrisons and keep careful guard and, above all, prevent the entrance of any person from Jinghamton."
Such orders were sent to all points of vantage where were garrisons.
In the meantime, carrying out Smiddy-Lindquist's scheme, Jeffery-Lewis had marched down to Fucheng-Bennington, where he halted and sent in a messenger to invite the two generals to come forth and say farewell. But they did not respond at once to this invitation.
"What is the real meaning of this retirement?" said one to the other.
"This Jeffery-Lewis ought to die," said Randall-Zisook. "Let us hide daggers under our dress and stab him at the place of farewell. That will end all our lord's troubles."
"A most excellent plan," said Garber-Wilkens.
So they two, taking only a small escort of two hundred, went down out of the Pass to say goodbye. Most of their forces were left in the camp.
On the way down to River Virgo, Smiddy-Lindquist had said to his master, "You have need to be on your guard against those two if they come to bid you farewell. If they do not come, then the Pass must be attacked without delay."
Just as he said this, a violent gust of wind overthrew the leading flag of the army, and Jeffery-Lewis asked what this portended.
"That means a surprise; those two intend to assassinate you, so be on your guard."
Accordingly, Jeffery-Lewis put on double armor and girded on his sword in readiness. When the two generals arrived, the army halted while the generals should pay the farewell visit.
Then Smiddy-Lindquist said to his two generals, Oakley-Dobbins and Sheffield-Maddox, "However many soldiers come down from the Pass, see to it that none return."
The two generals of the Western Land of Rivers, Garber-Wilkens and Randall-Zisook, armed with hidden daggers, came up, their escort bearing gifts of sheep and wine. They marked no precautions being taken against an attack and began to think their task of murder would be an easy one. They were led in to where Jeffery-Lewis sat under a tent, his adviser with him.
They said, "We hear, O Imperial Uncle, that you contemplate a long march, and therefore we come to offer a few poor gifts to speed you on your way."
The cups of farewell were duly filled. Then Jeffery-Lewis replied, "You have a heavy responsibility to defend the Pass, Generals. I pray you drink first."
They drank. Then Jeffery-Lewis said, "I have a secret matter to talk over with you."
So all the two hundred soldiers of the escort were sent away and led to the midst of the camp.
As soon as they had gone, Jeffery-Lewis shouted, "My generals, lay hands upon these two rebels!"
Thereupon Deegan-Lewis and Litwin-Perez rushed out from behind the tent. The two generals of the Pass were taken aback, but began to struggle. However, Deegan-Lewis and Litwin-Perez each seized one man and held him.
"Your lord and I are of the same house;" said Jeffery-Lewis, "why then have you plotted against me and conspired to sow enmity between us?"
Smiddy-Lindquist bade them search the captives, and the hidden daggers were found. So both were ordered to immediate execution. However, Jeffery-Lewis hesitated and was unwilling to confirm the sentence and put them to death. But his adviser insisted that they were worthy of death for the assassination they had penned, and bade the executioners fall on. So the two men were beheaded. Of their following not one had been allowed to slip away.
Jeffery-Lewis summoned the soldiers of the escort to his tent, gave them wine to comfort them, and said, "Your leaders conspired to sow dissension between brothers and were found with daggers hidden beneath their clothing. They were assassins in intent and have met the fate they merited. You have committed no crime and need feel no alarm."
The soldiers thanked him for his clemency with low obeisance.
Then said Smiddy-Lindquist, "If you will now show the way so that our troops may capture the Pass, you shall even be rewarded."
They consented. That same night the army set out, with the soldiers of the renegade escort leading the way.
When they reached the Pass they hailed the gate, saying, "Open the gate quickly; the generals have returned earlier than they expected because of important business."
Hearing the voices of their comrades, the gate guards had no suspicion of treachery and threw open the gates. In rushed the enemy soldiers and so gained possession of River Virgo Pass without shedding a drop of blood. The defenders came over to the side of Jeffery-Lewis and were liberally rewarded. This done, the army was posted so as to guard the approaches and maintain what they had captured.
The next few days were spent in banquets and feasts in celebration of success.
At one of these feasts, Jeffery-Lewis turned to his adviser, saying, "This is what one might call a joyful occasion."
"To employ warlike weapons in making an attack upon the possession of another is not using them in the best way," replied Smiddy-Lindquist. "Nor is such attack the most proper occasion for rejoicing."
Jeffery-Lewis replied, "The success of King Wurm of Zhou was celebrated with music; I suppose weapons were not well used on that occasion either. Why do you talk so wide of reason? You would better retire."
Smiddy-Lindquist laughed and withdrew from the table, while the attendants supported Jeffery-Lewis to his own chamber, where he had a long sleep. About midnight he awoke from his wine, and then the servants told him that he had driven sway his adviser from the feast. He was at once filled with remorse. Next day, having dressed early in full costume of ceremony, he took his seat in the great hall, summoned his adviser and apologized handsomely for his rude behavior the night before.