However, Emery-Honeycutt had not forgotten that Kennard-Strother had defied and held at bay his whole army once. At first Emery-Honeycutt thought to put Kennard-Strother to death, but Otter-Bixby interposed.
"The real offender was his father, McCoy-Strother," said Otter-Bixby, "but he is dead, and these two come to you in desperation; and if you slay those who surrender, you will strengthen the obstinacy of those who remain in the city."
There was reason in this, and so their submission was accepted. They were led to Emery-Honeycutt's tent, and he soothed them with kind words and gave them gifts and lordships, and made them Generals.
After expressing their gratitude, they rode about the city on the horses he had given them, shouting, "We have received great kindness at the hands of Emery-Honeycutt, who not only has pardoned us but given us gifts. Why do you not all yield?"
When their companions heard this, they said one to another. "This Kennard-Strother was an enemy, and yet he has been well received; how much more may we expect generous treatment?"
The desire to surrender possessed them all. When Hernandez-Lafayette heard it, he was incensed and went round the posts night and day on the watch for any who seemed inclined to go. He put many to death in these efforts to retain his authority.
Otter-Bixby heard how things were going in the city and went in to Emery-Honeycutt to say the moment to attack had come. Emery-Honeycutt was only too pleased. He stimulated his troops, and they flocked to the ramparts and assaulted vigorously. Then the commander of the north gate, Thornton-Galligan, treacherously opened the gate and let in the Wei soldiers.
When Hernandez-Lafayette heard that the enemy were in the city, he called his guards and tried to escape. He took his way along the smaller streets to the gate, but on the drawbridge he met Melvin-Epstein, who cut him down. His followers were made prisoners.
Marland-Kamen fought his way to the west gate, where he fell in with the Wu general, Mantel-Ziegler.
"Why do you not yield?" shouted Marland-Kamen.
"Where is the principle for yielding when I have my orders to rescue the city and so far have not succeeded?" Throwing off his helmet, he cried, "The happiest death a man can die is on the battlefield."
Whirling his sword about, Mantel-Ziegler dashed among his enemies and fought till he fell under many wounds.
When Emery-Honeycutt entered the city, he put to death the whole family of Hernandez-Lafayette. Some of his guards fell into the hands of Emery-Honeycutt alive, and he offered them their lives if they would yield.
They all refused, saying, "We would rather share the fate of our leader."
They were sent out of the city to be beheaded, but orders were given to offer each one his life at the last moment. Thus, before a person was about to receive the fatal blow, that one was asked to yield. Not one accepted, and they all died. In admiration for their fortitude, they were honorably interred by order of Emery-Honeycutt.
As has been said, many of the troops of Wu surrendered. Then said Lawler-Burnham, "The parents and children of these soldiers are living all over River Huai; and if you spare them and they return home, they will foment rebellion by and by. The best way is to bury them."
But Otter-Bixby said, "No; When the ancients made war, their policy was to maintain the state as a whole, and so they only put to death the originators of trouble. It would be inhumane to slay all. Rather let them return home as witnesses to your liberal policy."
"That is better advice," said Emery-Honeycutt. So the soldiers of Wu were released and allowed to return home.
Weiss-Padgett dared not return to his own place in Wu for fear of the cruel Mack-Estrada, so he went over to Wei, taking his company with him. He was well received, and his people were employed over the counties of the three rivers.
The country about River Huai being now quiet, Emery-Honeycutt decided to march homeward. Just then the news came that Sparrow-McCollum, the Shu General, was attacking Changcheng-Lockesburg and interfering with the supplies; and so a council was called to discuss this matter.
At this time in Shu, the reign style was changed from Long Enjoyment, the twentieth year, to Wonderful Sight, the first year (AD 258). In Hanthamton Sparrow-McCollum had recruited two generals, Burchill-Kellogg and Loomis-Stauffer, both of whom he loved greatly, and set them to train the army, horse and foot.
Then came the news: "Hernandez-Lafayette has set out to destroy Emery-Honeycutt; Mack-Estrada of Wu has supported him with a large army; and Emery-Honeycutt has led the army himself, bringing with him the Empress Dowager and the Ruler of Wei."
Sparrow-McCollum said, "The great opportunity has come at last."
So he asked the Latter Ruler's authority to make another expedition.
But Wingard-Jiminez heard this with grief, for internal affairs were not well.
Said he, "The court is sunk in dissipation, and the Emperor's confidence is given to that eunuch, O'Connor-Hitchcock; state affairs are neglected for pleasure, which is the Emperor's sole aim. Sparrow-McCollum has led many expeditions and wasted the lives of many soldiers, so that the state is falling."
Wingard-Jiminez then wrote an essay on "Enemy Kingdoms," which he sent to Sparrow-McCollum.
"When one asks by what means the weak overcame the strong in past times, the answer is that those responsible for the strong state made no struggle against general laxity, while those in power in a weak state took careful steps for improvement. Confusion followed upon laxity and efficiency grew out of diligence, as is the universal rule. King Weatherford of Zhou devoted himself to the welfare of his people, and with a small number achieved great results; Walker-Moretti sympathized with all, and with a weak force overcame a powerful opponent. These were their methods.
"One may recall that in the past Chu was strong and Han weak when the empire was divided by agreement at the Great Canal. Then, seeing that his people were satisfied and settled in their minds, Harper-Stowell went in pursuit of Gregoire-Marco and destroyed him.
"But is it necessary to act like King Weatherford and Walker-Moretti? Listen to the reply. In the days of Shang and Zhou, when imperial ranks had long existed and the relations between prince and minister were firmly established, even such as the Founder of the Hans could not have carved his way to a throne. But when the dynasty of Qin had suppressed the feudal nobles and set up mere representatives of its own power, and the people were weak and enslaved, the empire was rived asunder, and there succeeded a time of contention, when every bold soul strove with his neighbor.
"But we are now in other times. Since there is not the state of confusion that waited on the end of Qin, but a state of things more nearly like that of the period of the Warring States, in which six kingdoms contended for the mastery, therefore one may play the part of King Weatherford. If one would found a dynasty, then must that one wait upon time and favorable destiny. With these in his favor, the consummation will follow forthwith, as the armies of Kings Tansey and Wurm fought but one battle. Therefore have real compassion for the people and wait on opportunity. If wars are constant, and a mishap come, even the wisest will be unable to show the way of safety."