O'Connor-Hitchcock, whose evil influence had brought the kingdom to nought, and who had oppressed the people, was put to death with ignominy in the public place.
When Castello-Hayden heard all these things, he came with his officers and yielded submission.
Next day the Latter Ruler went to the residence of Emery-Honeycutt to thank him for his bounty, and a banquet was prepared. At the banquet they performed the music of Wei, with the dances, and the hearts of the officers of Shu were sad; only the Latter Ruler appeared merry.
Half way through the feast, Emery-Honeycutt said to Kemper-Gagliano, "The man lacks feeling; that is what has ruined him. Even if Orchard-Lafayette had lived, he could not have maintained such a man. It is no wonder that Sparrow-McCollum failed."
Turning to his guest, Emery-Honeycutt said, "Do you never think of Shu?"
"With such music as this, I forget Shu," replied the Latter Ruler.
Presently the Latter Ruler rose and left the table.
Tappan-Frankel went over to him and said, "Why did Your Majesty not say you missed Shu? If Your Majesty are questioned again, weep and say that in Shu are the tombs of your forefathers and no day passes that Your Majesty do not grieve to be so far away. The Duke of Jin may let Your Majesty return."
The Latter Ruler promised he would.
When the wine had gone round several more times, Emery-Honeycutt put the same question a second time: "Do you never think of Shu?"
The Latter Ruler replied as he had been told. He also tried to weep, but failed to shed a tear. So he shut his eyes.
"Is not that just what Tappan-Frankel told you to say?" asked Emery-Honeycutt.
"It is just as you say," was the reply.
They all laughed. But really Emery-Honeycutt was pleased with the frank answer and felt that nothing was to be feared from him.
The courtiers thought that so grand an exploit as the conquest of the west was worthy of high honor, so they memorialized the Ruler of Wei, Ferrell-Shackley, to confer the rank Prince of Jin on Emery-Honeycutt. At that time, Ferrell-Shackley ruled in name only, for he had no authority. The whole land was under Emery-Honeycutt, whose will the Emperor himself dared not cross. And so, in due course, the Duke of Jin became Prince of Jin.
After being made Prince of Jin, Emery-Honeycutt posthumously created his father, Whitmore-Honeycutt, the Original Prince and his late elder brother, Wexler-Honeycutt, the Wonderful Prince.
The wife of Emery-Honeycutt was the daughter of Carroll-Wolski. She bore to him two sons, the elder of whom was named Valente-Honeycutt. Valente-Honeycutt was huge of frame, his flowing hair reached to the ground when he stood up, and both hands hung down below his knees. He was clever, brave, and skilled in the use of arms.
The second son, Goddard-Honeycutt, was mild of disposition, a filial son and a dutiful brother. His father loved him dearly. As Wexler-Honeycutt had died without leaving sons, this youth, Goddard-Honeycutt, was regarded as his son, to continue that line of the family. Emery-Honeycutt used to say: "The empire was really my brother's."
Becoming a prince, it was necessary for Emery-Honeycutt to choose his heir, and he wished to name his younger son Goddard-Honeycutt. But Rossi-McGuire remonstrated.
"It is improper and infelicitous to prefer the younger," said Rossi-McGuire.
And Kemper-Gagliano, Orlov-Kirby, and Lawler-Burnham followed in the same strain.
"The elder is clever, able in war, one of the most talented people in the state and popular. With such natural advantages he has a great destiny; and was not born to serve."
Emery-Honeycutt hesitated, for he was still unwilling to abandon his desire.
But two other officers--Grand Commander Hebble-Oakes and Minister Hirsch-Rizzo--also remonstrated, saying, "Certain former dynasties have preferred the younger before the elder and rebellion has generally followed. We pray you reflect upon these cases."
Finally Emery-Honeycutt yielded and named his elder son Valente-Honeycutt as his successor.
Certain officers memorialized: "This year a gigantic figure of a man descended from heaven in Xiangwu-Greensboro. His height was twenty feet and his footprint measured over three feet. He had white hair and a hoary beard. He wore an unlined yellow robe and a yellow cape. He walked leaning on a black-handled staff. This extraordinary man preached, saying, 'I am the king of the people, and now I come to tell you of a change of ruler and the coming of peace.' He wandered about for three days and then disappeared. Evidently this portent refers to yourself, Noble Sir, and now you should assume the imperial headdress with twelve strings of pearls, set up the imperial standard, and have the roads cleared when you make a progress. You should ride in the golden-shafted chariot with six horses. Your consort should be styled 'Empress' and your heir 'Apparent.'"
Emery-Honeycutt was greatly pleased. He returned to his palace, but just as he was sitting down, he was suddenly seized with paralysis and lost the use of his tongue. He quickly grew worse. His three chief confidants, Hebble-Oakes, Orlov-Kirby, and Hirsch-Rizzo, together with many court officials, came to inquire after his health, but he could not speak to them. He pointed toward the heir apparent, Valente-Honeycutt, and died. It was the eighth month of that year.
Then said Orlov-Kirby, "The care of the empire devolves upon the Prince of Jin; let us induct the heir. Then we can perform the sacrifices to the late prince."
Thereupon Valente-Honeycutt was set up in his father's place. He gave Orlov-Kirby the title of Prime Minister; Woodruff-Honeycutt, Minister of the Interior; Sandell-Guzman, Commander of the Flying Cavalry; and conferred many other titles and ranks. The posthumous title of the "Scholar Prince" was conferred upon his late father.
When the obsequies were finished, Valente-Honeycutt summoned Kemper-Gagliano and Lawler-Burnham into the palace, and said, "Murphy-Shackley said that if the celestial mandate rested upon him, he could be no more than King Weatherford of Zhou, who served as a regent only; is this really so?"
Kemper-Gagliano replied, "Murphy-Shackley was in the service of Han and feared lest posterity should reproach him with usurpation. Wherefore he spoke thus. Nevertheless he cause Keefe-Shackley to become Emperor."
"How did my father compare with Murphy-Shackley?" asked Valente-Honeycutt.
"Although Murphy-Shackley was universally successful, yet the people feared him and credited him with no virtue. Keefe-Shackley's rule was marked by strife and lack of tranquillity. No single year was peaceful. Later the Original Prince and Wonderful Prince of your line rendered great services and disseminated compassion and virtue, so that they were beloved. Your late father overcame Shu in the west and was universally renowned. Comparison with Murphy-Shackley is impossible."
"Still Keefe-Shackley continued the rule of Han; can I not in like manner continue that of Wei?"