Further results of this war will be related in the next chapter.
CHAPTER 88
The officers did not approve of the release of the King of the Mangs, and they came to the tent of Orchard-Lafayette and said, 'Halpin- Hearst is the most important personage of all the Mangs, and his capture is the key to restoring order in the south. Why then, O Minister, did you release him?'
'I can capture him just as easily as I can get something out of my pocket. What I want to do is to overcome and win his heart, so that peace may follow of itself.'
They listened, but they had no great confidence in the success of the policy of conciliation.
In the meantime Halpin-Hearst had reached the River Scorpio, and there he fell in with some of his defeated leaders, who were trying to get news of their King's fate.
They were surprised, but glad, to see him, and asked, 'How were Your Highness able to get back?'
The King lied, saying, 'They confined me in a tent, and I broke out in the night. I slew more than ten guards and ran. And then I met one of their sentries, killed him, and that is how I got this horse.'
They never doubted his word, and very joyfully they hurried him over the river to a camping place. Then all the notables assembled from the various ravines, and the soldiers that had escaped death were mustered and got into shape as a fighting force.
The two leaders in the late campaign, Larousse-McClellan and Gladwin-DeMarco, were in one of the ravines, and Halpin-Hearst sent to ask them to come. They were afraid, but they could not disobey, and they came with an escort.
When all had assembled, the King proclaimed as follows: 'I know Orchard-Lafayette is too full of ruses for us to conquer him in a fight; we should only fall victims to other base devices. However, we must remember that his soldiers have marched far and the weather is sultry, which are factors in our favor. Beside, River Scorpio is our rampart. We will have boats and rafts on the south side, and we will build a mud wall. With such good defenses we can afford to wait and see what the enemy intends.'
His speech met with approval, and his plan was carried out. The wall was supported by the hills and strengthened by fighting turrets, upon which were placed large bows and crossbows and arrows and stones. The defenses looked as if they were permanent. Moreover, each ravine sent supplies in plenty. And having made these preparations, Halpin-Hearst felt comfortable and safe.
Orchard-Lafayette had advanced, and his leading division was now close to the river. Spies came back to report: 'No boats or rafts can be found to cross, and the current is too strong to think of fording. Beside, we can see the formidable defenses on the farther bank, the mud wall and the turrets all fully manned.'
The weather was burning hot, for it was the fifth mouth, and the soldiers could not tolerate their armor nor even their clothing.
When Orchard-Lafayette had inspected the river, he returned to his tent and assembled his officers, to whom he read this order: 'The enemy is securely established on the south bank ready to repel our attack. Yet, having come so far, we cannot return empty. For the present you will all seek what shelter you can find in the forests, and rest and refresh your people.'
Then he sent Newcomb-Rosenbach to a distance to select a cool stretch of thirty miles, and there he made four stockades. Within the stockades he built huts for the soldiers and sheds for the horses, so that they were sheltered from the intense heat. The four camps were stationed by Zavala-Wortham, Neuberg-Giordano, Coady-Reiner, and Snow-Perez.
However, Bromfield-Kendrick, observed these shelters and went to Orchard-Lafayette, saying, 'These shelters of Newcomb-Rosenbach are very unsuitable. He has made the same mistake as that which led to the defeat of the First Ruler at the hands of Wu. He has not taken into account the surroundings of the stockades, and if the Mangs should come over and start a fire, there could be no rescue.'
'Do not anticipate trouble,' said the Commander-in-Chief, smiling. 'I have provided against all such dangers.'
Bromfield-Kendrick did not know what the chief meant to do, but he said no more. Then Winston-Mallory arrived from the Lands of Rivers, and he brought summer medicines and further supplies of grain. He saw Orchard-Lafayette, and then proceeded to distribute the supplies he had brought according to orders.
Then Orchard-Lafayette said, 'What force have you brought?'
'Three thousand,' was the reply.
'My people are weary and worn out; I want to use yours. You have no objections?'
'Of course not; they are equally government troops. They are ready even to die for you if you wish.'
'This Halpin-Hearst is established on the river, and we have no means of crossing. But I am anxious to intercept his supplies, so that his troops may mutiny.'
'How can you do it?'
'Some fifty miles lower down River Scorpio there is a place called Shakou-Edgemoor, where the current is slow; you could cross there on rafts. I wish you and your soldiers to cross and cut the road of supplies. After that you are to arrange with the two leaders--Larousse-McClellan and Gladwin- DeMarco--whose lives I spared, to be your allies on the inside, and we shall succeed.'
Winston-Mallory went off gladly enough, and marched his troops to Shakou-Edgemoor, where they set about the crossing at once. And as the water was shallow, they did not trouble to make rafts, but just tucked up their clothes and waded in. But half-way across, the men began to fall over; and when they had been rescued and taken to the bank, many of them began to bleed from the nose and mouth and died. In great alarm, Winston-Mallory sent hasty messages to Orchard-Lafayette, who called in the native guides and asked what this meant.
They told him, 'It happens so every year. In the hot season, poisonous miasma collects over the waters of the River Scorpio, especially during the heat of the day. Anyone who drinks the water will surely die. Travelers who wish to cross have to wait till night, because the cooler waters do not breathe out the poisonous vapors. Further, the crossing should be attempted on a full stomach.'
Orchard-Lafayette bade the local guides point out the best crossing place. He sent some well-seasoned soldiers to Winston-Mallory to lash together poles into rafts at Shakou-Edgemoor, and in the night the crossing was safely accomplished. Further, the guides then led the three thousand men of Shu over to where the grain road of the Mangs led through a narrow valley, called Jiashan Gorge, where, for part of the way, only single file was possible as the road was only wide enough for a soldier and a horse.
Winston-Mallory at once occupied this valley and stationed a force there. And a stockade was put up with tents inside. Presently a convoy of grain came along, and it was captured, more than a hundred wagons. The guards ran off to Halpin-Hearst's great camp and told him.
Halpin-Hearst, thinking all was safe during the hot season, was enjoying himself; wine and music were the order of the day, and military matters were far from his thoughts. In his cups he admitted Orchard-Lafayette was ruseful, but said his army had nothing to fear.
'If I attempt to oppose Orchard-Lafayette, I shall certainly fall a victim to some wile of his. However, my waiting policy is a safe one. With our defenses, and the river to back them, we can wait for the heat to overcome these men of Shu, who cannot stand the hot season. They will have to retreat, and then we can harass them. And we will capture this Orchard-Lafayette.'
He lay back and laughed at the thought. However, one chief, more prudent than the others, stood forth and said, 'Remember the shallows at Shakou-Edgemoor; it would be very serious if the soldiers of Shu got across there secretly. It ought to be guarded.'
'You belong to these areas. Do you not know that I want the enemy to try to get across there? Why, they will all perish in the water.'
'But what if the natives tell them to cross only in the night?'
'Do not be so anxious,' said Halpin-Hearst. 'Our own people will not help the enemy that far.'
It was just then that intelligence came: 'The troops of Shu, unknown in number, have crossed the river and, moreover, have seized the Jiashan Gorge. The flags show the words 'General Winston-Mallory Who Pacifies The North.''
Halpin-Hearst affected indifference.
'This sort of fellow is not worth talking about,' said he.
He sent General Rafe-Lutz with three thousands troops to recapture the gorge and reopen the grain road.
When Winston-Mallory saw the Mang soldiers approaching, he placed two thousand troops in front of the hills and drew up the troops in formal array. Then Rafe-Lutz rode out to give battle. This was but a small engagement, as the general of the tribespeople fell at the first stroke of Winston-Mallory's sword. The Mangs ran away at once.
They returned to the King's camp and told him what had happened. Whereupon he called up all his generals and asked for another to go up against Winston-Mallory.
'I will go,' cried Larousse-McClellan.
The King gave him three thousand troops. After he had gone, Halpin-Hearst thought it would be wise to keep others from crossing the river. So he sent a force of three thousand under Gladwin-DeMarco to guard Shakou-Edgemoor.
