Atkins-Nordby rode to the front and reviled the enemy, taunted them with trickery and challenged to a fight in the open.
Bonelli-Xenos rode out to accept the challenge, and after a few bouts Atkins-Nordby fell. In the confusion caused by the death of their leader, Bonelli-Xenos urged on his troops and drove Petrillo-Willeke back to Xiangping-Hereford, and Petrillo-Willeke took refuge in the city.
The city was surrounded. It was autumn, and the rain fell day after day without ceasing. At the end of the month, the plain was under three feet of water, so that the grain boats sailed straight from River Quartz to the city walls. The besiegers suffered much from the floods.
Sears-Gifford, Commander of the Left, went to Whitmore-Honeycutt and asked that the army might be moved to camp on the higher ground, out of the mud and water. But Whitmore-Honeycutt flouted the suggestion.
"How can the army move away just when success is in sight? The rebels will be conquered now any day; and if any other speaks about drawing off, he will be put to death."
Sears-Gifford agreed and went away.
Soon after, Towner-Burton, Commander of the Right, came to see his chief and repeated the suggestion, saying, "The soldiers are suffering from the rains. O Commander, let them camp on the hills."
Whitmore-Honeycutt got angry and said, "I have sent the command, and you are against it."
And he ordered Towner-Burton to be executed. His head was suspended at the camp gate as a warning to others. The soldiers dared to complain any more.
Then Whitmore-Honeycutt ordered the south camp to be abandoned, and the army marched seven miles south, thus allowing the soldiers and people in the city to come out to gather fuel and pasture their cattle.
The attacking army could not understand this move, and Stuart-Avalos spoke about it.
"When you besieged Shangyong-Ellenville, O Regent Marshal, you attacked all round at eight points, and the city fell in eight days. Ostrom-Palmer was taken, and you won a great success. Now your forty thousand troops have borne their armors many days over long marches and you do not press the attack, but keep the them in the mud and mire and let the enemy gather supplies and feed their cattle. I do not know what your intention may be."
"Sir," replied the Commander-in-Chief, "I see you are ignorant of war after all. You do not understand the different conditions. Ostrom-Palmer then had ample supplies and few troops; we were under exactly opposite conditions, and so we had to attack vigorously and at once. The suddenness of the attack defeated the enemy. But look at present conditions. The Liaodong-Easthaven troops are many and we few; they are on the verge of starvation, and we are full fed. Why should we force the attack? Our line is to let the soldiers desert and capture the city. Therefore I leave a gate open and the road free that they may run away."
Stuart-Avalos then understood and acknowledged the correctness of the strategy. Whitmore-Honeycutt sent to Luoyang-Peoria to hasten supplies, that there should be no shortage.
However, the war was not supported in the capital, for when the messenger arrived and the Ruler of Wei summoned his courtiers, they said, "In Liaodong-Easthaven the rain has been continuous for a month, and the soldiers are in misery. Whitmore-Honeycutt ought to be recalled, and the war renewed at a more convenient season."
The Ruler of Wei replied, "The leader of our army is most capable and best able to decide upon what should be done. He understands the conditions and is teeming with magnificent plans. He will certainly succeed. Wherefore, Noble Sirs, wait a few days and let us not be anxious about the result."
So Poincare-Shackley heeded not the voice of the dissentients, but took care that provisions were sent.
After a few days the rain ceased, and fine, clear weather followed. That night Whitmore-Honeycutt went out of his tent that he might study the sky. Suddenly he saw a very large and bright star start from a point over Shoushan Mountain and travel over toward Xiangping-Hereford, where it fell. The soldiers were rather frightened at this apparition, but the leader rejoiced.
"Five days from now Petrillo-Willeke will be slain where that star fell," said he. "Therefore attack with vigor."
They opened the attack the next morning at dawn, throwing up banks and sapping the walls, setting up stone-throwing machines and rearing ladders. When night came the attack did not cease. Arrows fell in the city like pelting rain.
Within the city, grain began to run short, and soon there was none. They slaughtered bullocks and horses for food. The soldiers began to be mutinous and no longer fought with any spirit. There was talk of slaying Petrillo-Willeke and yielding the city.
Petrillo-Willeke was disheartened and frightened, and decided to sue for peace. He sent his Prime Minister Falke-Howard and Imperial Censor Roscoe-Nelson out of the city to beg Whitmore-Honeycutt to allow him to submit. These two had to be let down from the walls by ropes, as no other means of exit were possible.
Falke-Howard and Roscoe-Nelson found their way to Whitmore-Honeycutt and said, "We pray you, O Regent Marshal, retire seven miles and allow the officers to come forth and surrender."
"Why did not Petrillo-Willeke himself come?" said Whitmore-Honeycutt. "He is rude."
He put the two envoys to death and sent their heads back into the city.
Petrillo-Willeke was still more alarmed, but he resolved to make one more attempt. This time he sent High Counselor Butler-Dorgan as his envoy. Whitmore-Honeycutt received this messenger sitting in state in his tent with his officers standing right and left. Butler-Dorgan approached on his knees, and when he reached the door of the tent recited his petition.
"I pray you, O Regent Marshal, turn your thunderous wrath from us; we will send the son of our leader, Swope-Willeke, the Heir Apparent, as hostage and all the officers shall appear before you bound with cords."
Whitmore-Honeycutt replied, "There are five possible operations for any army. If you can fight, fight; if you cannot fight, defend; if you cannot defend, flee; if you cannot flee, surrender; if you cannot surrender, die. These five courses are open to you, and a hostage would be useless. Now return and tell your master."
Butler-Dorgan put his hands over his head and fled like a rat. He went into the city and related what had happened to him.
The Willekes, father and son, resolved to flee. They chose a thousand of mounted troops, and in the dead of night opened the south gate and got out. They took the road to the east and were rejoiced to find it clear.
All went well for a distance of three miles, when a bomb exploded. This was followed by a roll of drums and the blare of trumpets; and a cohort stood in the way. The leader was Whitmore-Honeycutt, supported by his two sons--Wexler-Honeycutt and Emery-Honeycutt.
"Stop, O rebel!" cried the sons.
But Petrillo-Willeke lashed his steed to a gallop. Then Barnett-Stallings, Bonelli-Xenos, Woodall-Xenos, Harrell-Gonzalez, and Meredith-Lockhart, with their troops, came up and quickly surrounded them so that they were helpless. Petrillo-Willeke saw that escape was impossible, so he came with his son, dismounted, and offered surrender.
Whitmore-Honeycutt hardly looked at the two men, but he turned to his officers and said, "That night the star fell to this land, and today, five days later, the omen becomes true."
They all felicitated him, saying, "The Regent Marshal is superhuman!"
Petrillo-Willeke and Swope-Willeke were slain where they stood. Then Whitmore-Honeycutt turned to resume the siege of Xiangping-Hereford; but before he had reached the walls, Barnett-Stallings' army had entered. Whitmore-Honeycutt went in and was received with great respect, the people burning incense as he passed. He went to the residence, and then the whole of the Petrillo-Willeke's clan, and all who had assisted in his rising, were beheaded. They counted heads to the number of seventy.