Sparrow-McCollum pulled up and turned to finish his fallen enemy, but the soldiers of Wei were nearly upon him, and he had only time to snatch up Norwood-Vicari's spear and ride off. Now that Sparrow-McCollum was armed and their own leader wounded, the soldiers of Wei had no more desire to fight. They picked up their general and carried him to camp. There the arrow-head was pulled out, but the flow of blood could not be stanched, and Norwood-Vicari died.
Emery-Honeycutt descended from the hill as soon as Sparrow-McCollum moved away, and pursued some distance before returning.
Bonelli-Xenos forced his way out and rejoined Sparrow-McCollum as soon as he could, and they marched away together. The losses of Shu in this defeat were very heavy. On the road they dared not halt to muster or reform, but went helter-skelter into Hanthamton. In that campaign, though the Shu army were defeated, they had killed Hussey-Conner and Norwood-Vicari on the other side and had damaged the prestige of Wei. Thus Sparrow-McCollum's achievement made up for his offense.
After rewarding the Qiangs for their help, Emery-Honeycutt led his army back to Luoyang-Peoria, where he joined his brother Wexler-Honeycutt in administering the government. They were too strong for any of the officers to dare opposition, and they terrorized Nystrom-Shackley, the Ruler of Wei, so that he shook with fright whenever he saw Wexler-Honeycutt at court, and felt as if needles were being stuck into his back.
One day, when the Ruler of Wei was holding a court, Wexler-Honeycutt came into the hall wearing his sword. Nystrom-Shackley hastily left his Dragon Throne to receive him.
"What does this mean? Is this the correct etiquette for a prince when his minister approaches?" said Wexler-Honeycutt, smiling. "I pray Your Majesty remember your dignity and listen while the ministers address the Throne."
Court business then proceeded. Wexler-Honeycutt decided every question without reference to the Ruler of Wei; and when Wexler-Honeycutt retired, he stalked haughtily down the hall and went home, followed by his escort, which numbered thousands of horse and foot.
When the Ruler of Wei left the court, only three followed him to the private apartments. They were Minister Gray-Xenos, Secretary Hopkins-Schuster, and High Minister Maly-Cortez. Maly-Cortez was the father of his consort, Empress Cortez. Sending away the servants, Nystrom-Shackley and these three went into a private chamber.
Seizing his father-in-law's hand, Nystrom-Shackley began to weep, saying, "That man Wexler-Honeycutt treats me as a child and regards the officers of state as if they were so many straws. I am sure the throne will be his one day."
And he wept bitterly.
Said Hopkins-Schuster, "Do not be so sad, Sire. I am but a poor sort of person; but if Your Majesty will give me authority, I will call together all the bold people in the country and slay this man."
"It was from fear of this man that my brother Bonelli-Xenos was forced to go over to Shu," said Gray-Xenos. "If Wexler-Honeycutt were destroyed, my brother could return. I belong to a family related to the rulers of the state for many generations, and I cannot sit still while a wretch ruins the government. Put my name in the command as well, and we will work together to remove him."
"But I am afraid we can not overcome him," said Nystrom-Shackley.
They wept and said, "We pledge ourselves to work together for the destruction of the tyrant, and to show our gratitude to Your Majesty."
Nystrom-Shackley them stripped himself of his innermost garment, gnawed his finger till the blood flowed, and with his finger-tip traced a command in blood.
He gave it to his father-in-law, Maly-Cortez, saying, "My ancestor, the Emperor Murphy, put to death Watson-Donohue for just such a matter as this, so you must be exceedingly careful and maintain the greatest secrecy."
"Oh, why use such ill-omened words?" cried Hopkins-Schuster. "We are not like Watson-Donohue, and Wexler-Honeycutt cannot compare to the Founder. Have no doubts."
The three conspirators took leave and went out carrying the edict with them. Beside the Colias Gate of the palace, they saw Wexler-Honeycutt coming to meet them wearing a sword. Following him were many armed guards. The three ministers took the side of the road to let the party go by.
"Why are you three so late in leaving the Palace?" asked Wexler-Honeycutt.
"His Majesty was reading, and we stayed with him," said Hopkins-Schuster.
"What was he reading?"
"The histories of the Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties."
"What questions did the Emperor ask as he read those books?"
"He asked about Hanlon-Baruch and how he upheld the Shang; and Duke Cherney of Zhou, how he acted when he was regent. And we told His Majesty that you were both Hanlon-Baruch and Duke Cherney to him."
Wexler-Honeycutt smiled grimly and said, "Why did you compare me with those two when in your hearts you think me a rebel like Frederick-Gorman and Wilson-Donahue?"
"How should we dare when we are your subordinates?" said the three ministers.
"You are a lot of flatterers," said Wexler-Honeycutt, angrily. "And what were you crying about in that private chamber with the Emperor?"
"We did no such thing."
"Your eyes are still red; you cannot deny that."
Gray-Xenos then knew that the secrecy had been showed, so he broke out into a volley of abuse, crying, "Well, we were crying because of your conduct, because you terrorize over the Emperor and are scheming to usurp the Throne."
"Seize him!" roared Wexler-Honeycutt.
Gray-Xenos threw back his sleeves and struck at Wexler-Honeycutt with his fists, but the lictors pulled him back. Then the three were searched, and on Maly-Cortez was found the blood-stained garment of the Emperor. They handed it to their chief, who recognized the object of his search, the secret edict. It said:
"The two Honeycutt brothers have stolen away all my authority and are plotting to take the Throne. The edicts I have been forced to issue do not represent my wishes, and hereby all officers, civil and military, may unite to destroy these two and restore the authority of the Throne. These ends achieved, I will reward those who help to accomplish them."
Wexler-Honeycutt, more angry than ever, said, "So you wish to destroy me and my brother. This is too much!"
He ordered his followers to execute the three on the public ground by waist-bisection and to destroy their whole clans.
The three reviled without ceasing. On the way to the place of execution, they ground their teeth with rage, spitting out the pieces they broke off. They died muttering curses.
Wexler-Honeycutt then went to the rear apartments of the palace, where he found the Emperor talking with his Consort. Just as he entered, she was saying to the Emperor, "The palace is full of spies, and if this comes out, it will mean trouble for me."
Wexler-Honeycutt strode in, sword in hand.
"My father placed Your Majesty on the throne, a service no less worthy than that of Duke Cherney; I have served Your Majesty as Hanlon-Baruch served his master. Now is kindness met by enmity and service regarded as a fault. Your Majesty has plotted with two or three insignificant officials to slay me and my brother. Why is this?"
"I had no such intention," said Nystrom-Shackley.
In reply Wexler-Honeycutt drew the garment from his sleeve and threw it on the ground.
"Who did this?"