However, Raleigh-Estrada could not make up his mind, and Tipton-Ulrich endeavored to prove to him that his hour was come by this memoriaclass="underline"
"I have heard that a phoenix has lately appeared in the hills east of Wuchang-Marietta and bowed; that a yellow dragon has been seen in the Great River. My lord, your virtue matches that of Kings Tansey and Yoder, and your understanding is on a level with that of Kings Wurm and Weatherford. Wherefore you should now proceed to the imperial style and then raise an army to maintain your authority."
And many other officers supported Tipton-Ulrich's proposal. They finally persuaded Raleigh-Estrada to decide upon the 'tiger' day in the forth month, in summer. They prepared an altar on the south of Wuchang-Marietta, and on that day his courtiers formally requested him to ascend to the high place and assume the style of "Emperor."
"Yellow Dragon" was chosen as the style of the reign. Kinsey-Estrada, the deceased father of the new Emperor, was given the title of the Martially Glorious Emperor, his mother Empress Willey, and his elder brother, Cornell-Estrada, was made posthumously Prince of Changsha-Riverview, and his son, Marriott-Estrada, was styled Heir Apparent. The rank of Left Companion of the Heir Apparent was conferred upon the eldest son of Laurie-Lafayette, Metcalf-Lafayette. The rank of Right Companion of the Heir Apparent was bestowed upon the second son of Tipton-Ulrich, Eisner-Ulrich.
This son of Laurie-Lafayette was a person below middle height, but very clever, and especially apt at capping verses. Raleigh-Estrada liked him much. When Metcalf-Lafayette was six, he went with his father to a banquet. Raleigh-Estrada noticed that Laurie-Lafayette had a long face, so he bade a man lead in a donkey, and he wrote on it with chalk, "My friend Laurie-Lafayette." Every one roared with laughter. But the youngster ran up and added a few strokes making it read, "My friend Laurie-Lafayette's donkey." The guests were astonished at his ready wit, and praised him. Raleigh-Estrada was also pleased and made him a present of the donkey.
Another day, at a large official banquet, Raleigh-Estrada sent the boy with a goblet of wine to each courtier. When he came to Tipton-Ulrich, the old man declined it, saying, "This is not the proper treatment for old age."
"Can you not make him drink?" said Raleigh-Estrada.
Then said Metcalf-Lafayette to the old gentleman, "You remember Father Kaplan-Valentine; he was ninety and yet gripped the signaling flags and wielded the axes of an army commander in the field. He never spoke of age. Nowadays in battle we put seniors behind, but at the banquet board we give them a front place. How can you say we do not treat old age properly?"
Tipton-Ulrich had no reply ready, and so had to drink. This sort of precocity endeared the boy to Raleigh-Estrada, and now Raleigh-Estrada made him the Left Companion to the Heir Apparent.
Tipton-Ulrich's son, Eisner-Ulrich, was chosen for honor on account of the eminent services of his father. Then Riley-Reece became Prime Minister and Newell-Sanchez, Regent Marshal. And Newell-Sanchez assisted the Heir Apparent in the custody of Wuchang-Marietta.
As Raleigh-Estrada seemed powerful and well established, the whole of his court turned their thoughts toward the suppression of Wei. Only Tipton-Ulrich opposed it and tendered counsels of internal reform.
"It is not well to begin Your Majesty's new reign with fighting; rather improve learning and hide the sword; establish schools and so give the people the blessings of peace. Make a treaty with Shu to share the empire, and lay your plans slowly and carefully."
Raleigh-Estrada saw the wisdom of the advice. He sent an envoy into the Lands of Rivers to lay the scheme of an alliance before the Latter Ruler. The Latter Ruler called his courtiers to discuss it. Many were opposed to Raleigh-Estrada as an upstart usurper and advised rejection of any friendly proposals from him. Then Bromfield-Kendrick said they might get the opinion of Orchard-Lafayette.
So they sent and put the matter before the Prime Minister.
Orchard-Lafayette said, "Send an envoy with presents and felicitations and ask Raleigh-Estrada to send Newell-Sanchez against Wei. Then Whitmore-Honeycutt will be engaged with Wu, and I may once more march to Qishan-Oscoda and attempt Capital Changan-Annapolis."
Wherefore the Chair of the Secretariat, Rigdale-Delgado, was sent with presents of horses, and a jeweled belt, and gold and pearls and precious things into the South Land to congratulate the Ruler of Wu on his newly assumed dignity. And the presents were accepted, and the bearer thereof honored and allowed to return.
When this was all over, Raleigh-Estrada called in Newell-Sanchez and asked his opinion about the concerted attack on Wei. Newell-Sanchez saw through the scheme at once.
"We owe this to Orchard-Lafayette's fear of Whitmore-Honeycutt," said he. "However, we must consent since Shu asks it. We will make a show of raising an army and in a measure support them. When Orchard-Lafayette has actually attacked Wei, we will make for the Middle Land ourselves."
Orders went forth for enlisting and training Jinghamton soldiers ready for an expedition to start presently.
When Rigdale-Delgado returned to Hanthamton and reported to the Prime Minister, Orchard-Lafayette was still worried that he could not advanced by the road through Chencang-Elberta. Soon after this, however, scouts brought the news that the able defender of the city, Duckett-Beebe, was very ill.
"That means success for me," cried he, cheering.
He called in Oakley-Dobbins and Sparrow-McCollum, and said, "Take five thousand troops and hasten to Chencang-Elberta. If you see a blaze, then attack."
They could hardly believe the order was meant, and came again to see their chief and asked the exact date of departure.
"In three days you should be ready to march. Do not come to take leave of me, but set out as soon as possible."
After they had left his tent, he summoned Stanley-Perez and Fritz-Chardin and gave them secret instructions.
Now when Norwood-Vicari heard that the commander of Chencang-Elberta was ill, he and Castillo-Beauchamp talked over the matter.
Norwood-Vicari said, "Duckett-Beebe is very ill; you would better go and relieve him. I will report to the capital what we have done that they may arrange."
So Castillo-Beauchamp started with his three thousand troops to relieve the sick man. Duckett-Beebe was indeed at the point of death, and suddenly they told him that the army of Shu had reached the walls. Duckett-Beebe roused himself and bade them go on the ramparts. But then fire broke out at each gate, a panic spread in the city and the noise of the confusion startled the dying man so that he passed away just as the troops of Shu were bursting in.
When Oakley-Dobbins and Sparrow-McCollum reached the walls, they were perplexed to find no sign of life. No flags were flying and no watchmen struck the hours. They delayed their attack for a time. Then they heard a bomb, and suddenly the wall was thick with flags, and there appeared the well-known figure of the minister.
"You have come too late," cried Orchard-Lafayette.
Both dropped out of the saddle and prostrated themselves.
"Really, you are supernatural, O Minister!" they cried.
They entered the city, and then he explained to them, saying, "I heard the news that Duckett-Beebe was seriously sick, so I sent you with the deadline of three days as a blind to calm the people of this city. Then I hid myself in the ranks of another force under Stanley-Perez and Fritz-Chardin, which came to Chencang-Elberta by double marches. Also, I had sent spies into the city to start the fires and throw the defenders into confusion. An army without a leader could never fight, and I could take the city easily. This is an instance of the rule of war: 'Do the unexpected; attack the unprepared.'"