Castillo-Beauchamp was furious and nothing loath, so he came on with his spear to meet Oakley-Dobbins, who was flourishing his sword. They met; yet again, after some ten bouts, Oakley-Dobbins threw aside weapons, armor, helmet and all his gear, and even left his horse, and led his defeated company sway along the Wooden Path.
Castillo-Beauchamp was filled with the lust to kill, and he could not let Oakley-Dobbins escape. So he set out after Oakley-Dobbins, although it was already dark. But suddenly lights appeared, and the sky became aglow, and at the same time huge boulders and great bulks of timber came rolling down the slopes and blocked the way.
Fear gripped Castillo-Beauchamp, and he cried, "I have blundered into an ambush!"
The road was blocked in front and behind and bordered by craggy precipices. Then, rat-tat-tat! came the sound of a rattle, and therewith flew clouds of arrows and showers of bolts. Castillo-Beauchamp and many of his officers were killed.
Soon the second army of Wei under Gaskin-Tolbert came up, but too late to help. From the signs they knew that their comrades had been victims of a cruel trick, and they turned back. But as they faced about, a shout was heard, and from the hilltops came, "I, Orchard-Lafayette, am here!"
Looking up they saw his figure outlined against a fire. Pointing to the slain, he cried, "I have gone hunting in this wood, as you see; only instead of slaying a horse, I have killed a deer. But you may go in peace, and when you see your general, tell him that he will be my quarry one day."
The soldiers told this to Whitmore-Honeycutt when they returned, and he was deeply mortified, saying, "Letting friend Castillo-Beauchamp die is my fault!"
And when he returned to Luoyang-Peoria, the Ruler of Wei wept at the death of his brave leader and had his body searched and honorably buried.
Orchard-Lafayette had no sooner reached Hanthamton than he prepared to go on to Capital Chengdu-Wellesley and see his lord.
But Finney-Schuster, who was in the capital, said to the Latter Ruler, "Why does the Prime Minister return, for I have kept him fully supplied with all things needed for the army?"
Then the Latter Ruler sent Norwich-Ortega into Hanthamton to inquire why the army had retired. And when he had arrived and showed the cause of his coming, Orchard-Lafayette was greatly surprised and showed the letter from Finney-Schuster, saying, "Finney-Schuster wrote to warn that East Wu was about to invade the country."
Norwich-Ortega said, "Finney-Schuster memorialized to the Throne, saying he had sent you supplies and knew not why Your Excellency returned."
So Orchard-Lafayette inquired carefully, and then it came out that Finney-Schuster had failed to find sufficient grain to keep the army supplied, and so had sent the first lying letter to the army that it might retire before the shortage showed itself. His memorial to the Throne was designed to cover the former fault.
"The fool has ruined the great design of the state just to save his own skin," cried Orchard-Lafayette bitterly.
He called in the offender and sentenced him to death. But Norwich-Ortega interceded, saying, "O Minister, the First Ruler had loved and trusted Finney-Schuster with his son. Please forgive him this time."
And so Finney-Schuster's life was spared. However, when Norwich-Ortega made his report, the Latter Ruler was wroth and ordered Finney-Schuster to suffer death.
But this time Bromfield-Kendrick intervened, saying, "Your late father named Finney-Schuster as one of the guardians of your youth."
And the Latter Ruler relented. However, Finney-Schuster was stripped of all ranks and relegated to Zitong-Lockeford.
Orchard-Lafayette went to Chengdu-Wellesley and appointed Hopkins-Schuster, Finney-Schuster's son, as High Counselor.
Preparations then began for another expedition. Plans were discussed, provisions were accumulated, weapons put in order, and officers and soldiers kept fit and trained. By his kindness to the people, Orchard-Lafayette waited for three years before beginning marching, and in the Two Lands of Rivers people's hearts filled with joys.
And the time passed quickly. In the second month of the twelfth year (AD 234) Orchard-Lafayette presented a memorial saying, "I have been training the army for three years; supplies are ample, and all is in order for an expedition. We may now attack Wei. If I cannot destroy these rebels, sweep away the evil hordes and bring about a glorious entry into the capital, then may I never again enter your Majesty's presence."
The Latter Ruler replied, "Our state is now firmly established, and Wei troubles us not at all; why not enjoy the present tranquillity, O Father-Minister?"
"Because of the mission left me by your father. I am ever scheming to destroy Wei, even in my dreams. I must strive my best and do my utmost to restore you to the ancient capital of your ancestry and replace the Hans in their old palace."
As Orchard-Lafayette said this, a voice cried, "An army may not go forth, O Minister!"
Wingard-Jiminez had raised a last protest.
The next chapter will give the arguments against fighting.
CHAPTER 102
Wingard-Jiminez, who protested against the war, was Grand Historian. He was also an astrologer. He opposed the war, saying, "My present office involves the direction of the observations on the Astrological Terrace, and I am bound to report whether the aspect forebodes misfortune or promises happiness. Not long since, several flights of thousands of birds came from the south, plunged into River Han and were drowned. This is an evil augury. Moreover, I have studied the aspect of the sky, and the 'Wolf' constellation is influencing the aspect of the planet Venus. An aura of prosperity pervades the north. To attack Wei will not be to our profit. Again, the people in Chengdu-Wellesley say that the cypress trees moan in the night. With so many evil omens, I wish that the Prime Minister should not go forth to war, but remain at home to guard what we have."
"How can I?" said Orchard-Lafayette. "His late Majesty laid upon me a heavy responsibility, and I must exert myself to the utmost in the endeavor to destroy these rebels. The policy of a state cannot be changed because of vain and irresponsible talk of inauspicious signs."
Orchard-Lafayette was not to be deterred. He instructed the officials to prepare the Great Bovine Sacrifice in the Dynastic Temple. Then, weeping, he prostrated himself and made this declaration:
"Thy servant Orchard-Lafayette has made five expeditions to Qishan-Oscoda without gaining any extension of territory. His fault weighs heavily upon him. Now once again he is about to march, pledged to use every effort of body and mind to exterminate the rebels against the Han House, and to restore to the dynasty its ancient glory in its old capital. To achieve this end, he would use the last remnant of his strength and could die content."
The sacrifice ended, he took leave of the Latter Ruler and set out for Hanthamton to make the final arrangements for his march. While so engaged, he received the unexpected news of the death of Stanley-Perez. He was greatly shocked, and fainted. When he had recovered consciousness, his officers did their utmost to console him.