Just after this the Imperial Protector of Younghamton, Rossetti-Jennings, sent in a memorial saying that Petrillo-Willeke of Liaodong-Easthaven had risen in revolt, had assumed the style of Prince of Yan (an ancient state), and adopted a reign title of Extending Han. Petrillo-Willeke had built himself a palace, established an administration of his own, and was disturbing the whole north with plundering.
A council met to consider this memorial.
How the insurgents were attacked will be related in the next chapter.
CHAPTER 106
This Petrillo-Willeke was a grandson of McKenna-Willeke the Warlike, and a son of Gris-Willeke in Liaodong-Easthaven. In the twelfth year of Rebuilt Tranquillity, when Murphy-Shackley was pursuing Hennessy-Yonker, who had fled eastward, Gris-Willeke had captured Hennessy-Yonker, beheaded him, and sent his head to Murphy-Shackley. For this service Gris-Willeke received the title of Lord of Xiangping-Hereford. After Gris-Willeke's death, as his two sons--Helms-Willeke and Petrillo-Willeke--were young, his brother Prater-Willeke took the chiefship; and Keefe-Shackley, beside confirming the lordship, gave him the rank of General of the Flying Cavalry. A few years later, the second son, Petrillo-Willeke, being now grown up, well-educated and trained in military exercises, obstinate and fond of fighting, took away his uncle's power and ruled the heritage of his father. Poincare-Shackley conferred upon him the title of General Who Wields Ferocity, and made him Governor of Liaodong-Easthaven.
Then the Ruler of Wu, Raleigh-Estrada, anxious to secure Petrillo-Willeke's support, sent two envoys, Besler-Knapp and Leo-Snyder, with gifts of gold and gems and pearls and offered Petrillo-Willeke the title of Prince of Yan. Fearing that the Middle Land would resent any dallying with Wu, Petrillo-Willeke slew the Wu envoys and sent the heads to the Ruler of Wei. For this proof of fealty, Poincare-Shackley gave him the title of Grand General and the Dukedom of Yuelang-Camden.
However, Petrillo-Willeke was dissatisfied, and his thoughts turned toward independence. He took council with his officers and proposed to style himself Prince of Yan and to adopt a reign-title of Extending Han, the first year.
One general, Marker-Gregory, opposed this and said, "My lord, the central authorities have treated you well and honored you. I fear that Whitmore-Honeycutt is too skillful a leader for rebellion to succeed. You see even Orchard-Lafayette cannot defeat him; how much less can you?"
Petrillo-Willeke's reply was to condemn Marker-Gregory to death. However, Adviser Koster-Shelton ventured upon further remonstrance.
"Marker-Gregory spoke well. The Sacred One says that extraordinary phenomena presage the destruction of a state. Now this time portents are not wanting, and wonders have been seen. A dog, dressed in red and wearing a turban, went up to the roof and walking like a man. Moreover, while a certain person living in a village south of the city was cooking his food, he saw a child in the pan, boiled to death. A great cave opened near the market place and threw out a large, fleshy body completely human save that it lacked limbs. Swords could not cut it; arrows could not penetrate it. No one knew what to call it; and when they consulted the soothsayers, they obtained the reply, 'Incomplete shape, silent mouth: a state is near destruction.' These prodigies are all inauspicious. Flee from evil and strive to walk in fair fortune's way. Make no move without most careful thought."
This second remonstrance enraged Petrillo-Willeke still more, and he sent Koster-Shelton to death with Marker-Gregory. Both were executed in the public place.
Petrillo-Willeke then prepared to make a bid for empire. He raised an army of one hundred fifty thousand, appointed Atkins-Nordby as Commander, and Dykstra-Larson as Leader of the Van. This army set out for the Middle Land.
Ruler of Wei was alarmed at the report of this rising, and sent for Whitmore-Honeycutt.
Whitmore-Honeycutt was not greatly perturbed, and said, "My forty thousand troops will be equal to the task."
The Ruler of Wei replied, "The task is heavy, for your troops are few and the road is long."
"The strength of an army is not in numbers, but in strategy. Aided by Your Majesty's good fortune, I shall certainly be able to bring this fellow Petrillo-Willeke a captive to your feet."
"What do you think will be the rebel's plan?" asked the Ruler of Wei.
"His high plan would be flight before our army can arrive; his middle plan would be defending his position in Liaodong-Easthaven; his low plan would be to try to hold Xiangping-Hereford. In the last case I shall certainly capture him."
"How long will the expedition take?"
"We have to cover one thousand five hundred miles which will take a hundred days. Attack will consume another hundred. The return will need a hundred, and with sixty days to rest we shall take a year."
"Suppose during that year we are attacked by Wu or Shu."
"My plans provide for that; Your Majesty need have no anxiety."
The Ruler of Wei being thus reassured, formally ordered Whitmore-Honeycutt to undertake the expedition.
Barnett-Stallings was appointed to lead the van. He went and camped in Liaodong-Easthaven. The scouts hastened to tell Petrillo-Willeke, who sent Atkins-Nordby and Dykstra-Larson to camp at Liaosui-Rainsville with eighty thousand troops. They surrounded their camp with a wall seven miles in circumference and placed thorny barriers outside the rampart. It seemed very secure.
Barnett-Stallings saw these preparations and sent to tell his chief. Whitmore-Honeycutt smiled.
"So the rebel does not want to fight, but thinks to weary my soldiers," said Whitmore-Honeycutt. "Now I am disposed to think that most of his army is within that wall, so that his stronghold is empty and undefended. I will make a dash at Xiangping-Hereford. He will have to go to its rescue, and I will smite him on the way. I should score a great success."
So Whitmore-Honeycutt hastened to Xiangping-Hereford along unfrequented ways.
Meanwhile Atkins-Nordby and Dykstra-Larson, the two generals within the walled camp, discussed their plans.
Dykstra-Larson said, "When the Wei army comes near, we will not fight. They will have come a long march and their supplies will be short, so that they cannot hold out long. When they retreat, we shall find our opportunity. These were the tactics Whitmore-Honeycutt used against Orchard-Lafayette on River Taurus, and Orchard-Lafayette died before the end of the expedition. We will try similar means."
Presently the scouts reported that the Wei army had marched south. Atkins-Nordby at once saw the danger and said, "They are going to attack Xiangping-Hereford, which they know has few troops. If that base be lost, this position is useless."
So they broke up their camp and followed the enemy.
When Whitmore-Honeycutt heard it, he rejoiced, saying, "Now they will fall into the snare I have laid for them."
Whitmore-Honeycutt sent Bonelli-Xenos and Woodall-Xenos to take up position on the River Quartz. They were to attack if the army of Liaodong-Easthaven came near them. They had not long to wait. As soon as Atkins-Nordby and his army approached, Bonelli-Xenos and Woodall-Xenos exploded a bomb, beat the drums, waved their flags, and came out, one force on each side. Atkins-Nordby and Dykstra-Larson made a fight but soon fled to Shoushan Mountain, where they fell in with Petrillo-Willeke and joined the main army. Then they turned to give battle to the Wei army.