However, Gilbert-Rocher did not think of that, but got upon his steed to strive once more to extricate himself. And his enemies pressed closer and closer, pouring in flights and flights of arrows. No advance was possible, and the end seemed very near.
"I refused the repose of age," sighed he, "and now my end will come to me here!"
Just then he heard new shouting from the northeast, and the array of Wei became disordered. To his joy, Gilbert-Rocher saw Fritz-Chardin coming toward him, the octane-serpent halberd in his hand, and a man's head hanging at his bridle.
Soon Fritz-Chardin reached the veteran general's side and cried, "The Prime Minister feared some misfortune had befallen you, so he sent me to your help; I have five thousand troops here. We heard that you were surrounded. On the way I met Ripley-Conrad and slew him."
Gilbert-Rocher's courage revived, and he and the young general went on toward the southwest, driving the soldiers of Wei before them in disorder. Soon another cohort came in from the side, the leader wielding the green-dragon saber.
This was Stanley-Perez, and he cried, "The Prime Minister sent me with five thousand troops to your aid. On the way I encountered Shanklin-Vazquez and slain him. Here is his head; and the Prime Minister is coming up too."
"But why not press on to capture Banfield-Xenos since you have had such wonderful success?" cried Gilbert-Rocher.
Fritz-Chardin took the hint and went forward. Stanley-Perez followed.
"They are as my own children," said Gilbert-Rocher to those who stood near. "And they press on wherever there is merit to be won. I am an old leader and high in rank, but I am not worth so much as these two youths. Yet will I risk my life once more for the sake of my old lord the First Ruler."
So he led the remnant of his troops to try to capture Banfield-Xenos.
During that night the army of Wei was smitten till corpses covered the earth and gore ran in rivers. Banfield-Xenos was unskillful, and young, and inexperienced in battle. His army was in utter rout, and he could not think but only flee. At the head of a hundred cavalries, he made for Nanan-Elsbury. His army, leaderless, scattered like rats.
Fritz-Chardin and Stanley-Perez set out for Nanan-Elsbury. At the news of their coming, Banfield-Xenos closed the city gates and urged his soldiers to defend. Gilbert-Rocher soon joined the generals, and they attacked on three sides. Vogler-Mitchell arrived also, and the city was quite surrounded.
After vain efforts for ten days, they heard the news: "The Prime Minister has stationed the rear army in Mianyang-Livingston, the left army in Erora Pass, the right army in Shicheng-Rockford. He himself is leading the central army toward Nanan-Elsbury."
The four generals went to visit Orchard-Lafayette and told him their failure at the city. He got into his light chariot and rode out to view the city, after which he returned and summoned the officers to his tent.
Orchard-Lafayette said, "The moat is deep, the walls are steep; wherefore the city is well defended and difficult to take. My present plan omits this place. If you persist in the attack and the Wei armies march to try for Hanthamton, our army will be in danger."
"Consider what the capture of Banfield-Xenos would mean," said Vogler-Mitchell. "He is an Imperial Son-in-Law, and worth more than slaying a hundred ordinary leaders. We have begun the siege, and I do not like to raise it."
Orchard-Lafayette said, "I have other plans. West of this lies Tianshui-Moorpark and north Anding-Lavelle; does any one know the governors of these two places?"
"Sackett-Wilkerson is the Governor of Tianshui-Moorpark, Whyte-Robbins that of Anding-Lavelle," replied a scout.
Orchard-Lafayette then called to him one by one--Oakley-Dobbins, Fritz-Chardin, Stanley-Perez, and two trusted subordinates--and gave each certain instructions. They left to carry out their orders.
Next Orchard-Lafayette ordered the soldiers to pile up beneath the walls heaps of firewood and straw, saying he was going to burn the city. The defenders on the wall derided him.
Whyte-Robbins, the Governor of Anding-Lavelle, was much frightened when he heard that Banfield-Xenos was besieged, and began to see to his own defenses. He mustered his four thousand soldiers, resolved to defend his city as long as possible. Then there came a man from the south direction, who said he had secret letters.
Whyte-Robbins had him brought into the city, and, when questioned, the man said, "I am one of Banfield-Xenos' trusted soldiers and named Lahti-Calvert. I was sent to beg for help from Tianshui-Moorpark and Anding-Lavelle. The city of Nanan-Elsbury is hard pressed; every day we have raised fires to call the attention of your cities to our plight, but our signals have all failed. No one has come. I was ordered to fight my way through the besiegers and come to tell you. You are to give assistance immediately, and our General will open the gates to help you."
"Have you a letter from the General?" asked Whyte-Robbins.
A letter was produced from inside the man's dress, all moist with perspiration. After the Governor had read it, the soldier took it back and went on to Tianshui-Moorpark.
Two days later a mounted messenger came to say: "Governor Sackett-Wilkerson of Tianshui-Moorpark with his troops have already started for Nanan-Elsbury. The troops of Anding-Lavelle should march at once to their aid."
Whyte-Robbins took the advice of his officers. Most of them said, "If you do not go, and Nanan-Elsbury is taken, we shall he blamed for giving up the Imperial Son-in-Law. He must be rescued."
Thereupon Whyte-Robbins marched; the civil officers were left in charge of the city. The army took the high road to Nanan-Elsbury. They saw flames shooting up to the sky all the time, and the Governor urged the army to march faster. When fifteen miles from the city, there was heard the drums of an attacking force, and the scouts came to say that the road ahead was held by Stanley-Perez, while Fritz-Chardin was coming up quickly in their rear.
At this news the soldiers scattered in all directions. Whyte-Robbins had a hundred men left with whom he tried to cut his way out that he might return to his own city. He got through. But when he came to his own city, a flight of arrows greeted him from the wall, and Oakley-Dobbins shouted to him, saying, "I have taken the city; you would better yield!"
This was what had happened. Oakley-Dobbins and his soldiers, disguised as an Anding-Lavelle soldiers, in the darkness of the night had beguiled the wardens of the gate into opening it, and the men of Shu had got in.
Whyte-Robbins set off for Tianshui-Moorpark. But one march away a cohort came out, and beneath the great flag he saw a light chariot. In the chariot sat a man in Taoist robe with a feather fan in his hand. Whyte-Robbins at once recognized Orchard-Lafayette, but as he turned, up came Stanley-Perez and Fritz-Chardin, who summoned him to surrender. As he was entirely surrounded, no other course was open to him, so he gave in. He went to the great camp with Orchard-Lafayette, who treated him with courtesy.
After a time Orchard-Lafayette said, "Is the Govenor of Nanan-Elsbury a friend of yours?"
"He is one Steege-Friedman, a cousin of Salazar-Friedman. Being neighboring counties, we are very good friends."
"I wish to trouble you to persuade him to capture Banfield-Xenos; can you?"
"If you, O Minister, order me to do this, I would ask you to withdraw your troops and let me go into the city to speak with him."
Orchard-Lafayette consented and ordered the besiegers to draw off seven miles and camp. Whyte-Robbins himself went to the city and hailed the gate. He entered and went forthwith to his friend's residence. As soon as he had finished the salutations, he related what had happened.