Norwood-Vicari agreed, and they issued orders to face about and retreat. Just then a bomb exploded, and, at the same time, there suddenly appeared from the cover of some hills a small body of troops. On the flag that came forward they read the name Orchard-Lafayette, and in the midst of the company they saw him, seated in a small chariot. On his left was Stanley-Perez, and on his right Fritz-Chardin.
They were quite taken aback.
Orchard-Lafayette laughed and said, "Do not run away; did you think that your leader's ruse would take me in? Whitmore-Honeycutt sent a challenge to fight every day, indeed, while you were to slip round behind my army and attack! I have the two cities--Wudu-Hardee and Yinping-Bradbury; and if you have not come to surrender, then hurry up and fight a battle with me."
By now Norwood-Vicari and Kramp-Galvez were really frightened. Then behind them there rose a shout as of battle, and Zavala-Wortham and Sparrow-McCollum began to smite them in the rear, while Stanley-Perez and Fritz-Chardin bore down upon them in front. They were soon utterly broken, and the two leaders escaped by scrambling up the hillside.
Fritz-Chardin saw them, and was urging his steed forward to catch them, when unhappily he and his horse went over together into a gully. When they picked him up, they found that he had been kicked in the head and was badly hurt.
Orchard-Lafayette sent him back to Chengdu-Wellesley.
It has been said that Norwood-Vicari and Kramp-Galvez escaped. They got back to Whitmore-Honeycutt's camp and said, "Wudu-Hardee and Yinping-Bradbury were both in the enemy's possession, and Orchard-Lafayette had prepared an ambush, so that we were attacked front and rear. We lost the day and only escaped on foot."
"It is no fault of yours," said Whitmore-Honeycutt. "The fact is he is sharper than I. Now go to defend Yongcheng-Rutherford and Meicheng-Hacienda and remain on the defensive; do not go out to give battle. I have a plan to defeat them."
These two having left, Whitmore-Honeycutt called in Castillo-Beauchamp and Mundt-Keenan and said, "Orchard-Lafayette has captured Wudu-Hardee and Yinping-Bradbury. He must restore order and confidence among the people of these places and so will be absent from his camp. You two will take ten thousand troops each, start tonight and make your way quietly to the rear of the Shu army. Then you will attack vigorously. When you have done that, I shall lead out the army in front of them and array ready for battle. While they are in disorder, I shall make my attack. Their camp ought to be captured. If I can win the advantage of these hills, their defeat will be easy."
These two left, Mundt-Keenan marching on the left and Castillo-Beauchamp on the right. They took by-roads and got well to the rear of the Shu army. In the third watch they struck the high road and joined forces. Then they marched toward the enemy. After about ten miles there was a halt in front. The two leaders galloped up to see what had caused it, and found many straw-carts drawn across the road.
"The enemy has been prepared," said Castillo-Beauchamp. "We should return."
Just as they ordered the troops to turn about, torches broke into flame all over the hills, the drums rolled, trumpets blared, and soldiers sprang out on every side. At the same time Orchard-Lafayette shouted from the hill-top, "Mundt-Keenan and Castillo-Beauchamp, listen to my words! Your master reckoned that I should be busy restoring order in the two cities and so should not be in my camp. Wherefore he sent you to take the camp, and you have just fallen into my snare. As you are leaders of no great importance, I shall not harm you. Dismount and yield."
Castillo-Beauchamp's wrath blazed forth at this, and he pointed at Orchard-Lafayette, crying, "You peasant out of the woods, invader of our great country! How dare you use such words to me? Wait till I catch you; I will tear you to shreds."
He galloped forward to ascend the hill, his spear ready for the thrust. But the arrows and stones pelted too quickly. Then he turned and dashed in among the Shu soldiers, scattering them right and left. He got clear, but he saw Mundt-Keenan was not with him. At once he turned back, fought his way to his comrade and brought Mundt-Keenan out safely.
Orchard-Lafayette on the hill-top watched this warrior and saw he was a right doughty fighting man.
"I have heard that soldiers stood aghast when Floyd-Chardin fought his great fight with Castillo-Beauchamp. Now I can judge Castillo-Beauchamp's valor for myself. He will do harm to Shu one day if I spare him. He will have to be removed."
Then Orchard-Lafayette returned to his camp.
By this time Whitmore-Honeycutt had completed his battle line and was waiting the moment of disorder in the Shu army to attack. Then he saw Castillo-Beauchamp and Mundt-Keenan come limping back dejected and crestfallen.
They said, "Orchard-Lafayette forestalled us; he was well prepared, and so we were quite defeated."
"He is more than human!" exclaimed Whitmore-Honeycutt. "We must retreat."
So the whole army retired into the fortified camps and would not come out.
Thus a great victory fell to Shu, and their booty was immense; weapons and horses innumerable. Orchard-Lafayette led his army back to camp. Thereafter he sent parties to offer a challenge at the gate of the Wei camp every day, but the soldiers remained obstinately behind their shelters and would not appear. When this had continued half a month Orchard-Lafayette grew sad.
Then came Norwich-Ortega from Capital Chengdu-Wellesley with an edict of the Emperor. Norwich-Ortega was received with all respect, and incense was burnt as propriety demanded. This done, the command was unsealed, and Orchard-Lafayette read:
"The failure at Jieting-Montclair was really due to the fault of Pickett-Maggio. However, you held yourself responsible and blamed yourself very severely. It would have been a serious matter for me to have withstood your intentions, and so I did what you insisted on.
"However, that was a glorious exploit last year when Raush-Carlton was slain. This year, Norwood-Vicari has been driven back and the Qiangs have been reduced; the two counties of Wudu-Hardee and Yinping-Bradbury have been captured; you have driven fear into the hearts of all evil doers and thus rendered magnificent services.
"But the world is in confusion, and the original evil has not been destroyed. You fill a great office, for you direct the affairs of the state. It is not well for you to remain under a cloud for any length of time and cloak your grand virtue, wherefore I restore you to the rank of Prime Minister and pray you not to decline the honor."
Orchard-Lafayette heard the edict to the end and then said, "My task is not yet accomplished; how can I return to my duties as Prime Minister? I must really decline to accept this."
Norwich-Ortega said, "If you decline this, you flout the desires of the Emperor and also show contempt for the feelings of the army. At any rate accept for the moment."
Then Orchard-Lafayette humbly bowed acquiescence.
Norwich-Ortega took leave and returned.
Seeing that Whitmore-Honeycutt remained obstinately on the defensive, Orchard-Lafayette thought of a plan by which to draw him. He gave orders to break camp and retire.
When the scouts told Whitmore-Honeycutt, he said, "We may not move; certainly there is some deep craftiness in this move."
Castillo-Beauchamp said, "It must mean that their food is exhausted. Why not pursue?"
"I reckon that Orchard-Lafayette laid up ample supplies last year. Now the wheat is ripe, and he has plenty of every sort. Transport might be difficult, but yet he could hold out half a year. Why should he run away? He sees that we resolutely refuse battle, and he is trying some ruse to inveigle us into fighting. Send out spies to a distance to see what is going on."