Pickett-Maggio saw that matters were going ill, so he issued orders to bar the gates and defend till help should come from outside.
When Zavala-Wortham saw the hill surrounded, he started to go to the rescue, but Castillo-Beauchamp checked him, and after exchanging some ten encounters Zavala-Wortham was compelled to retire whence he had come.
The Wei troops kept a close siege. The Shu soldiers in the hill camp, having no water, were unable to prepare food, and disorder broke out. The shouting was audible at the foot of the hill and went on far into the night. The soldiers on the south side got out of hand, opened the gates and surrendered. The men of Wei went round the hill setting fire to the wood, which led to still greater confusion in the beleaguered garrison. At last Pickett-Maggio decided to make a dash for safety toward the west.
Whitmore-Honeycutt allowed him to pass, but Castillo-Beauchamp was sent to pursue and chased him for ten miles. But then there came an unexpected roll of drums. Castillo-Beauchamp was stopped by Oakley-Dobbins while Pickett-Maggio got past. Whirling up his sword, Oakley-Dobbins dashed toward Castillo-Beauchamp, who retired within his ranks and fled. Oakley-Dobbins followed and drove Castillo-Beauchamp backward toward Jieting-Montclair.
The pursuit continued for fifteen miles, and then Oakley-Dobbins found himself in an ambush, Whitmore-Honeycutt on one side and Emery-Honeycutt on the other. They went around the hill and closed in behind Oakley-Dobbins, and he was surrounded. Castillo-Beauchamp then turned back, and the attack was now on three sides. Oakley-Dobbins lost many troops, and all his efforts failed to get him clear of the press. Then help appeared in the person of Zavala-Wortham.
"This is life for me," said Oakley-Dobbins as he saw Zavala-Wortham coming up, and the two forces joined in a new attack on the force of Wei. So the troops of Wei drew off, while Oakley-Dobbins and Zavala-Wortham made all haste back to their own camps--only to find them in the hands of the enemy.
Steward-Cavallo and Ratliff-Cavallo then rushed out and drove Oakley-Dobbins and Zavala-Wortham to Liliu-Aspen. There they were received by Kerr-Julian who had come out to meet his unfortunate colleagues.
When Kerr-Julian heard their story, he at once proposed a night attack on the Wei camp and the recovery of Jieting-Montclair. They talked this over on the hillside and arranged their plans, after which they set themselves to wait till it was dark enough to start.
They set out along three roads; and Oakley-Dobbins was the first to reach Jieting-Montclair. Not a soldier was visible, which looked suspicious. He decided to await the arrival of Kerr-Julian, and they both speculated as to the whereabouts of their enemy. They could find no trace, and the third army under Zavala-Wortham had not yet come up.
Suddenly a bomb exploded, and a brilliant flash lit up the sky; drums rolled as though the earth was rending, and the enemy appeared. In a trice the armies of Shu found themselves hemmed in. Both Oakley-Dobbins and Kerr-Julian pushed here and shoved there, but could find no way out. Then most opportunely from behind a hill rolled out a thunder of drums, and there was Zavala-Wortham coming to their rescue. Then the three forced their way to Liliu-Aspen. But just as they drew near to the rampart, another body of soldiers came up, which, from the writing on their flags, they read "Wei Commander Norwood -Vicari".
Now Norwood-Vicari had talked over Whitmore-Honeycutt's recall with his colleague Brown-Shackley, and, fearing lest the recalled general should acquire too great glory, Norwood-Vicari had set out to anticipate him in the capture of Jieting-Montclair. Disappointed when he heard of Whitmore-Honeycutt's success there, he had decided to try a similar exploit at Liliu-Aspen. So he had diverted his march thither.
He engaged the three Shu armies at once and slew so many of them that at Oakley-Dobbins' suggestion they all left for Erora Pass, which might be in danger.
Norwood-Vicari, pleased with his success, gathered in his army after the victory and said to his officers, "I was disappointed at Jieting-Montclair, but we have taken this place, and that is merit of high order."
Thereupon he proceeded to the city gates. Just as he arrived, a bomb exploded on the wall, and, looking up, he saw the rampart bedecked with flags. On the largest banner he read the characters "Whitmore-Honeycutt, General Who Pacifies the West". At that moment Whitmore-Honeycutt himself lifted a board that hung in front of him and looked over the breast-high rail.
He looked down and smiled, saying, "How late you are, friend Norwood-Vicari!"
Norwood-Vicari was amazed. "He is too much for me," said he.
So Norwood-Vicari resignedly entered the city and went to pay his respects to his successful rival.
Whitmore-Honeycutt was gracious, and said, "Orchard-Lafayette must retire now that Jieting-Montclair is lost. You join forces with Brown-Shackley and follow up quickly."
Norwood-Vicari agreed and took his leave.
Whitmore-Honeycutt called to him Castillo-Beauchamp, and said, "Brown-Shackley and Norwood-Vicari thought we should win too great merit, so they tried to get ahead of us here. We are not the only ones who desire to achieve good service and acquire merit, but we had the good fortune to succeed. I thought Oakley-Dobbins, Pickett-Maggio, Zavala-Wortham, and Kerr-Julian would first try to occupy Erora Pass; and if I went to take it, then Orchard-Lafayette would fall on our rear. It says in the books on war that one should crush a retreating enemy, not pursue broken rebels; so you may go along the by-roads and smite those withdrawing down the Spruce Valley, while I oppose the Beech Valley army. If they flee, do not press them too much, but just hold them up on the road and capture the baggage train."
Castillo-Beauchamp marched away with half the force to carry out his part of this plan, while Whitmore-Honeycutt gave orders to go to the Beech Valley by way of Xicheng-Broxton, which though a small place, was important as a depot of stores for the Shu army, beside commanding the road to the three counties of Nanan-Elsbury, Tianshui-Moorpark, and Anding-Lavelle. If this place could be captured, the other three could be recaptured.
Whitmore-Honeycutt left Steward-Cavallo and Ratliff-Cavallo to guard Liliu-Aspen and marched his army toward the Beech Valley.
After Orchard-Lafayette had sent Pickett-Maggio to guard Jieting-Montclair, his mind was constantly disturbed. Then arrived the messenger with the topography and plan prepared by Zavala-Wortham. Orchard-Lafayette went over to his table and opened the letter. As he read it he smote the table in wrath.
"Pickett-Maggio's foolishness has destroyed the army!" he cried.
"Why are you so disturbed, O Minister?" asked those near.
"By this plan I see that we have lost command of an important road. The camp has been made on the hill; and if the Wei army come in force, our army will be surrounded and their water supply interrupted. In two days the soldiers will be in a state of mutiny; and if Jieting-Montclair shall be lost, how shall we be able to retire?"
Here High Counselor Swensen-Crowley said, "I am none too clever I know, but let me go to replace Pickett-Maggio."
Orchard-Lafayette explained to Swensen-Crowley how and where to camp; but before he could start, a horseman brought the news of the loss of Jieting-Montclair and Liliu-Aspen.
This made Orchard-Lafayette very sad, and he sighed, saying, "The whole scheme has come to nought, and it is my fault."