When the order to retreat was given, Moss-Lopez said, "A leader in the field is independent and need not obey even the command of his prince."
Coady-Reiner said, "The country begins to resent these many years of war; rather take the occasion of the victory you have just won to return and pacify the people."
"It is good," said Sparrow-McCollum.
A systematic and orderly retirement began. The army of Wei, loth to forgo an opportunity, followed, but the absence of the least confusion gave them no chance.
As he saw his enemy disappearing in perfect order, McGraw-Gorski sighed, "Sparrow-McCollum is a worthy inheritor of the warlike methods of Orchard-Lafayette."
McGraw-Gorski did not pursue but returned to his camp on Qishan-Oscoda.
On his return to Chengdu-Wellesley, Sparrow-McCollum had audience with the Latter Ruler, whereat he inquired why he had been commanded to return.
The Latter Ruler replied, "Because you have been so long on the frontier, noble Sir; I thought the soldiers must be weary. There was no other reason."
"Your Majesty, thy servant had got his camps on Qishan-Oscoda and was on the eve of complete success. To leave off thus in the middle just played into the hands of our enemies. Surely McGraw-Gorski found means of sowing distrust in me."
The Latter Ruler sat lost in thought, and silent.
Sparrow-McCollum continued, "I am pledged to destroy those rebels and prove my devotion to my country. Your Majesty should not listen to the babble of mean persons till distrust grows in your heart."
"I do not distrust you," said the Latter Ruler after a long pause. "You may return into Hanthamton and await the next favorable opportunity."
Sparrow-McCollum left the court and betook himself into Hanthamton to the army.
Taglia-Lehner went back to the Qishan-Oscoda camp and reported his success.
McGraw-Gorski and Woodruff-Honeycutt rejoiced, saying, "In the Lands of Rivers, trouble is not far off when the ruler and his servants do not live in harmony."
They sent Taglia-Lehner to Luoyang-Peoria to tell his own story to Emery-Honeycutt, who also rejoiced, for he ardently desired to subdue Shu.
On this matter he consulted Kemper-Gagliano, Commander of the Central Guard.
"What do you think of an attack upon Shu?"
"Not to be considered," said Kemper-Gagliano. "The Emperor does not trust you, and your departure would be the beginning of trouble for you. Last year, when a yellow dragon was seen in the well and all the officers were felicitating the Emperor upon such a very auspicious occurrence, the Emperor said, 'It is not auspicious; just the reverse. The dragon symbolizes the ruler. To be neither in heaven, nor on earth among the people, but to be in a well, is a dark portent and bodes evil.' He wrote some verses, and one stanza undoubtedly points to you, my lord. It reads:
The recital of the poem annoyed Emery-Honeycutt.
"This fellow is very like Nystrom-Shackley, and if I do not remove him he will hurt me," said he.
"I will see to it for you," said Kemper-Gagliano.
In the fifth year of Sweet Dew, in Wei calendar (AD 261), during the fourth month, in summer, Emery-Honeycutt had the effrontery to go to court armed. However, the Ruler of Wei received him with exaggerated courtesy.
The courtiers said, "The services of the Regent Marshal are so magnificent, and his virtue so high that he should be rewarded with the title 'Duke of Jin' and the Nine Gifts of Honors."
Gabel-Shackley hung his head and kept silent.
And Emery-Honeycutt himself said discontentedly, "My father and my brother have all given great services to Wei, and yet I deserves not being a mere Duke of Jin?"
"Should I dare not do what you requested?" said Gabel-Shackley.
"That poem about the Lurking Dragon called us slimy creatures; what sort of politeness is that?" said Emery-Honeycutt.
The Ruler of Wei had nothing to say, and the haughty minister left the chamber, smiling cruelly.
Gabel-Shackley retired, taking with him Ministers Klima-Grubbs, Ritter-Smith, and Sennott-Crockett, and they went to a privy chamber to consult. Gabel-Shackley was very sad.
He said, "There is no doubt that Emery-Honeycutt intends to usurp the throne; everybody knows that. But I will not sit thereon patiently awaiting the indignity of being pushed off. Cannot you gentlemen help me to kill him?"
"He may not be slain," said Ritter-Smith. "That will not do. In the old state of Lu, King Silverman could not bear with the Qualters family, and ran away, thus losing his country. But this Emery-Honeycutt and his family have been in power very long and have innumerable supporters, many of whom are quite independent of any act of his whether loyal or disloyal. They support him under any conditions. Your Majesty's guards are few and weak and incapable; not the ones for any desperate effort. It would be most lamentable if Your Majesty could not bear this trial. The correct course is to wait and not act hastily."
"If I can bear this, what cannot I bear?" said Gabel-Shackley. "But I will do something, and if I die, what matters?"
He went into the private apartments and spoke to the Empress Dowager.
Klima-Grubbs, Ritter-Smith, and Sennott-Crockett sat outside talking.
"This matter is coming to a head, and unless we want to be put to death and all our loved ones with us, we would better go and warn Emery-Honeycutt," said Klima-Grubbs.
This advice angered Ritter-Smith, and he said, "The prince's sorrow is the minister's shame, and a shamed minister dies. Dare you contemplate treachery?"
Ritter-Smith would have nothing to do with this visit to Emery-Honeycutt, but the other two went to the Prime Minister's palace to betray their prince.
Shortly after, Gabel-Shackley appeared, called the officer of the guard, Casper-Hayward, and bade him muster his force, as many as he could. Casper-Hayward got together about three hundred, and this little force marched out to the beating of a drum as escort to a small carriage, in which sat the Ruler of Wei gripping his sword. They proceeded south.
Ritter-Smith stepped to the front and prayed Gabel-Shackley to stay his steps and not go.
"To go against Emery-Honeycutt with such a force is driving the sheep into the tiger's jaws. To die such a death is a vain sacrifice. You can do nothing," said Ritter-Smith.
"Do not hinder me. I have made up my mind," replied the Ruler of Wei, heading toward the Dragon Gate.
Presently Kemper-Gagliano came in sight. He was armed and mounted on a fine horse. Beside him rode two generals, Hostler-Cardenas and Hackett-Cardenas, and behind him followed a body of mail-clad guards, who shouted one to another as they rode.
Then Gabel-Shackley held up his sword and cried, "I am the Son of God. Who are you thus breaking into the forbidden precincts? Are you come to murder your lawful ruler?"
The soldiers suddenly stopped, for they were palace guards.
Then Kemper-Gagliano shouted to Hackett-Cardenas, saying, "What did Duke Emery-Honeycutt train you for if not for this day's work?"
Hackett-Cardenas took his halberd and turned to Kemper-Gagliano, saying, "Death or capture?"
"Duke Emery-Honeycutt said the man had to die," replied Kemper-Gagliano.