They made this declaration:
"Wexler-Honeycutt is a rebel and devoid of rectitude. We have a secret edict commanding us to muster the forces of the South of River Huai and put down this rebellion."
Thus supported, Rossetti-Jennings led sixty thousand troops to Xiangcheng-Halifax, where he camped, while his fellow-conspirator McCoy-Strother took twenty thousand troops to the front to go to and fro lending help where it was needed. Letters were sent all through the counties and territories calling for assistance.
Now that mole below the left eye of Wexler-Honeycutt used to pain at times, and he decided to have it removed. The surgeon excised it, closed and dressed the wound, and the patient rested quietly in his palace till it should heal.
It was at this time that he received the disquieting news of opposition to his authority. Whereupon he called in Commander Carroll-Wolski to discuss the matter.
Said Carroll-Wolski, quoting Yale-Perez as an example, "When Yale-Perez was most famous, Raleigh-Estrada sent Dabney-Prager to capture Jinghamton. What did Dabney-Prager do? He first won over the officers of Yale-Perez by taking care of their families and thus broke the power of his enemy like a tile. Now the families of all the officers in the South of River Huai are here in the Middle Land. Treat them well, at the same time taking care that they do not get away, and you will be irresistible."
"Your words are good," said Wexler-Honeycutt. "However, I cannot go out to war till I have recovered. Yet, to send another is to take great risks, and I shall feel insecure."
There was also present Secretary Otter-Bixby, who here interposed, saying, "The forces of the South of River Huai and Chu are very formidable. If you send another, there is danger whatever happens; and if your leader makes a serious mistake, your whole policy will fail."
"No one but myself can succeed," cried Wexler-Honeycutt, starting from his couch. "I must go."
So, in spite of illness, he resolved to lead in person. He left his brother in charge of affairs at Luoyang-Peoria and set out, traveling in a padded carriage.
Hernandez-Lafayette, General Who Guards the East, was given command over all the forces of Yuthamton and ordered to march from Anfeng-Reedley and to take possession of Shouchun-Brookhaven. Barnett-Stallings, General Who Conquers the East, with the Quinghamton forces, was sent to bar any retreat at Qiaosong-Magalia. Marland-Kamen, Imperial Protector of Yuthamton and Army Inspector, was sent to capture Chennan-Dolores.
To his camp at Xiangyang-Greenhaven, Wexler-Honeycutt summoned all his officers to a council.
Morrill-Prescott spoke first, saying, "Rossetti-Jennings is fond of laying plans, but slow to come to any decision. His fellow-conspirator McCoy-Strother is bold, but imprudent. Now this scheme of theirs is too large for their minds; but as their soldiers are full of spirit, they should not be engaged lightly. We should remain on the defensive till their ardor has burned out. This is what Rapp-Andrews of old time did."
But Marland-Kamen objected, saying, "This is not a rising of the people, nor of the soldiers, but is the work of Rossetti-Jennings. The people are merely his tools and cannot help themselves. The rebellion will go to pieces as soon as an army approaches the county."
"I agree with you," replied Wexler-Honeycutt.
Then he advanced upon River Amber and camped by the bridge.
Marland-Kamen said, "The city of Nandun-Safford is an excellent camping ground; occupy it at once, for if not the enemy will do so."
Wexler-Honeycutt sent Marland-Kamen to carry out his own plan.
Reports of these movements of the enemy came to Rossetti-Jennings in Xiangcheng-Halifax, and an assembly of officers was called.
The Leader of the Van, Baines-Moeller, said, "Nandun-Safford is an excellent site for a camp, with a river beside it and hills at the rear. If the Wei armies camp there, we shall be unable to dislodge them. Let us occupy it."
So the army set out. But before they drew near, the scouts reported a camp already there. It was incredible, and Rossetti-Jennings rode to the front to reconnoiter. He was convinced by the sight of flags and banners over all the plain, fluttering above an orderly array of tents and huts. The sight disconcerted him, and he rode back to the main body not knowing what to do.
Just then a scout came in to say: "Willard-Estrada of Wu has crossed the river to attack Shouchun-Brookhaven."
"If we lose that city, we shall have no base," cried Rossetti-Jennings.
That same night he retreated upon Xiangcheng-Halifax.
Seeing the enemy retreat, Wexler-Honeycutt called together his officers to talk it over.
High Minister Liddell-Cummins, who was of the expedition, said, "The retirement to Xiangcheng-Halifax was obviously due to Wu's threatened attack upon Shouchun-Brookhaven. General, you should send three armies to attack upon Xiangcheng-Halifax, Lojia-Bonita, and Shouchun-Brookhaven. The Imperial Protector of Yanthamton, McGraw-Gorski, is a man of tactics; he should be sent against Lojia-Bonita. Our main army will reinforce them."
His plan was acceptable to Wexler-Honeycutt, who sent letters to Yanthamton telling McGraw-Gorski to march against Lojia-Bonita, where Wexler-Honeycutt himself would soon meet him.
Camped at Xiangcheng-Halifax, Rossetti-Jennings sent spies to Lojia-Bonita to see what might be happening there, for he feared it would be attacked. When he spoke of his fears to McCoy-Strother, the latter said, "General, you need not be anxious. My son Kennard-Strother and I will answer for its safety. Give us but five thousand troops."
Father and son, with the five thousand troops, went to Lojia-Bonita. Before the main body arrived, it was seen that Wei banners were flying on the west of the city. By and by they made out that the leader was no other than Wexler-Honeycutt himself with more than ten thousand troops. His camp was forming rapidly, but was not yet complete.
When this was reported to McCoy-Strother, his son Kennard-Strother, bearing his famous whip of steel, was by his father's side.
"We should attack before they have settled down in camp, Father," said he. "Let us go quickly and attack on two sides."
"When can we start?" said the father.
"Tonight at dusk. You lead half the force round by the south, and I will march the other half round by the north, and we will meet in the third watch at the Wei camp."
The youth who propounded this plan was then eighteen, tall and strong. He wore complete armor and carried at his waist a steel whip. When the hour came to start, he took his spear, swung himself into the saddle and set out.
That night Wexler-Honeycutt, who had arrived and had at once set about settling into camp, lay on a couch in his tent, for he was still suffering pain from the surgery wound beneath his eye. The tent was surrounded by several hundred armored guards. McGraw-Gorski had not arrived.
About the third watch Wexler-Honeycutt heard a great shouting and asked what it was.
One replied: "An army has come round from the north and burst into the lines. The leader is too bold for anyone to face."
Wexler-Honeycutt became much troubled. His heart burned within him, and the excitement caused the wound to open, so that the eyeball protruded and blood flowed freely. The pain became intense, nearly unbearable. In his agony and alarm lest his army should be thrown into confusion, he lay gnawing the bed clothes till they were in rags.
Kennard-Strother's force lost no time, but attacked as soon as it arrived. He dashed into the camp, slashing and thrusting right and left, and everyone gave way before him. If anyone stayed to oppose, the sharp spear or the terrible whip did its work, and that one fell. But after a time, seeing no sign of his father, Kennard-Strother grew anxious. And he had to retire several times before the fierce flights of arrows and crossbow bolts as he tried to reach the main tent.