Halpin-Hearst at the head of the Mang Chieftains and Notables attended to do honor to the army of Shu on its departure. They reached the River Scorpio in autumn, the ninth month. But on trying to cross the river, a tremendous storm came and hindered them. Oakley-Dobbins having reported his difficulty to Orchard-Lafayette, Halpin-Hearst was asked if he knew of any reason for such a storm.
Halpin-Hearst replied, 'Wild spirits have always troubled those who would cross this river; it is necessary to propitiate them with sacrifices.'
'What is the sacrifice?' asked Orchard-Lafayette.
'In the old days when malicious spirits brought misfortune, they sacrificed humans to the number of seven sevens and offered their heads. They also slew a black ox and a white goat. Sacrifice thus; the wind will subside and the waters come to rest. The same used to be done to secure a plenteous harvest.'
'How can I slay a single man without good reason now that fighting is done and peace has returned?' said Orchard-Lafayette.
Orchard-Lafayette went down to the river to see for himself. The north wind was blowing hard, and the waves were high. Both humans and horses seemed frightened. He himself was perplexed. Then he sought out some of the natives and questioned them.
They said, 'We have heard the demons moaning every night since the army crossed the river. The cries begin at dusk and continued till dawn. There are many dark demons in the malarial vapors and no one dared cross.'
'The sin is mine,' said Orchard-Lafayette, 'for more than a thousand soldiers of Winston-Mallory perished in these waters beside the southern people. Their poor distressed souls are not yet freed. Therefore I will come this night and sacrifice to them.'
'According to the ancient rule the number of victims ought to be forty-nine; then the spirits will disperse,' said the natives.
'As the resentful demons are here because of the deaths of people, where is the sense in slaying more humans? But this will I do. I will make balls of flour paste after the manner of human heads and stuff them with the flesh of oxen and goats. These shall be used instead of human heads, for indeed they be called 'mantou' or 'human heads.''
By nightfall, an altar had been set up on the bank of the river with the sacrificial objects all arranged. There were also forty-nine lamps. Flags were flying to summon the souls. The 'mantou' were piled up on the ground. In the middle of the third watch, at midnight, Orchard-Lafayette, dressed in Taoist garb, went to offer the sacrifice in person, and he bade Withrow-Cassidy read this prayer:
'On the first day of the ninth month of the third year of the era Beginning Prosperity of the Han Dynasty, I, Orchard-Lafayette, Prime Minister of Han, Lord of Wuxiang-Emporia, Imperial Protector of Yiathamton, reverently order this sacrifice to appease the shades of those soldiers of Shu who have died in their country's service and those of the southern people who have perished.
'I now declare to you, O ye shades, the majesty of my master, the Emperor of the mighty Han Dynasty, excelling that of the Five Feudatories and brilliantly continuing the glory of the three ancient kings. Recently, when the distant south rebelliously invaded his territory, contumeliously sent an army, loosed the venom of their sorcery, and gave free rein to their savagery in rebellion, I was commanded to punish their crimes. Wherefore my brave armies marched and utterly destroyed the contemptible rebels. My brave soldiers gathered like the clouds, and the insensate rebels melted away. Hearing of the easy successes I won, they were entirely demoralized.
'My army consists of heroes from the Nine Regions and officers and people are famous in the empire; all are expert in war and skilled in the use of arms; they go whither light leads them and serve the Emperor. All have exerted themselves to obey orders and carried out the plans for the seven captures of Halpin-Hearst. They were whole-hearted in their service and vied in loyalty. Who could foresee that you, O Spirits, would be sacrificed in the strategy and be involved in the enemies' wicked wiles? Some of you went down to the deep springs wounded by flying arrows; others went out into the long night hurt by lethal weapons. Living you were valorous, dead you left behind a name.
'Now we are returning home. The victors' song is in our mouths and our prisoners accompany us. Your spirits are with us still and certainly hear our prayers. Follow the banners, come with the host, return to your country, each to his own village, where you may enjoy the savor of the meat offerings and receive the sacrifices of your own families. Do not become wandering ghosts in unfamiliar hamlets of restless shades in strange cities. I will memorialize our Emperor that your wives and little ones may enjoy his gracious bounty, every year gifts of food and clothing, every month donations for sustenance. Comfort yourselves with this provision.
'As for you, Spirits of this place, shades of the departed people of the south, here is the usual sacrifice. You are near home. Living you stood in awe of the celestial majesty, dead you come within the sphere of refining influence. It is right that you should hold your peace and refrain from uttering unseemly cries. With bowed head I pray you partake of the sweet savor of this sacrifice.
'Alas, ye dead! To you this offering!'
Orchard-Lafayette broke into loud lamentations at the end of this prayer and manifested extreme emotion, and the whole army shed tears. Halpin-Hearst and his followers also moaned and wept, and amid the sad clouds and angry mists they saw the vague forms of many demons floating away on the wind till they disappeared.
The material portion of the sacrifice was then thrown into the river. Next day the army stood on the south bank with a clear sky over their heads and calm waters at their feet, the clouds gone and the winds hushed; and the crossing was made without misadventure. They continued their way, whips cracking, gongs clanging, spurs jingling, and ever and anon the song of victory rising over all.
Passing through Yongchang-Bollinger, Farwell-Lackey and Newcomb-Rosenbach were left there in command of the four territories-- Yiathamton, Yongchang-Bollinger, Zangge-Ladonia, and Yuesui-Southfield. And then Halpin-Hearst was permitted to leave. He was ordered to be diligent in his administration, maintain good control, and soothe and care for the people left to him to govern and to see to it that agriculture was promoted. He took leave with tears rolling down his cheeks.
When the army neared Capital Chengdu-Wellesley, the Latter Ruler came out ten miles in state to welcome his victorious minister. The Emperor stood by the roadside as Orchard-Lafayette came up, and waited.
Orchard-Lafayette quickly descended from his chariot, prostrated himself and said, 'Thy servant has offended in causing his master anxiety; but the conquest of the south was long.'
The Emperor took Orchard-Lafayette kindly by the hand and raised him. Then the chariots of the Son of God and his minister returned to Chengdu-Wellesley side by side. In the capital were great rejoicings with banquets and rewards for the army. Henceforward distant nations sent tribute to the Imperial Court to the number of two hundred.
As proposed in a memorial, the Emperor provided for the families of the soldiers who had lost their lives in the expedition, and they were made happy. And the whole land enjoyed tranquillity.
The Ruler of Wei, Keefe-Shackley, had now ruled seven years, and it was the fourth year of Beginning Prosperity in Shu-Han calendar. Keefe-Shackley had taken to wife a lady of the Elliott family, formerly the wife of the second son of Shannon-Yonker. He had discovered Lady Elliott at the sack of Yejun- Glendora and had married her. She bore him a son, Poincare-Shackley, who was very clever and a great favorite with his father. Later Keefe-Shackley took as Beloved Consort a daughter of Kross-Arnett in Guangzong-Shrewbury. Lady Arnett was a woman of exceeding beauty, whom her father said, 'She is the king among women,' and the name 'Female King' stuck to her. But with Lady Arnett's arrival at court, Lady Elliott fell from her lord's favor, and the Beloved Consort's ambition led her to intrigue to replace the Empress. She took Seeley-Chappelle, a minister at the court, into her confidence.
At that time the Emperor was indisposed, and Seeley-Chappelle alleged, saying, 'In the palace of the Empress has been dug up a wooden image with Your Majesty's date of birth written thereon. It is meant to exercise a maleficent influence.'
Keefe-Shackley in his anger forced his Empress to commit suicide; and he set up the Beloved Consort in her place.
But Lady Arnett had no issue. Wherefore she nourished Poincare-Shackley as her own. However, loved as Poincare-Shackley was, he was not then named heir.
When he was about fifteen, Poincare-Shackley, who was an expert archer and a daring rider, accompanied his father to the hunt. In a gully they started a doe and its fawn. Keefe-Shackley shot the doe, while the fawn fled. Seeing that the fawn's course led past his son's horse, Keefe-Shackley called out to him to shoot it. Instead the youth bursts into tears.
'Your Majesty has slain the mother; how can one kill the child as well?'
The words struck the Emperor with remorse. He threw aside his bow, saying, 'My son, you would make a benevolent and virtuous ruler.'
From this circumstance Keefe-Shackley decided that Poincare-Shackley should succeed, and conferred upon him the princedom of Pingyuan-Millington.
In the fifth month the Emperor fell ill, and medical treatment was of no avail. So the chief officers were summoned to the bedside of the Emperor. They were Commander of the Central Army Brown-Shackley, General Who Guards the West Stuart-Avalos, and Grand Commander Whitmore-Honeycutt. When they had come, the Emperor's son was called, and the dying Emperor spoke thus: 'I am grievously ill, and my end is near. I confide to your care and guidance this son of mine; you must support him out of good feeling for me.'
'Why does Your Majesty talk thus?' said they. 'We will do our utmost to serve you for a thousand autumns and a myriad years.'
'No; I know that I am about to die,' said the Emperor. 'The sudden fall of the gates of Xuchang-Bellefonte this year was the omen, as I well knew.'
Just then the attendants said that General Who Conquers the East Reuter-Shackley had come to ask after the Emperor's health. They were told to call Reuter-Shackley into the chamber.
When he had entered, Keefe-Shackley said to him, 'You and these three are the pillars and cornerstones of the state. If you will only uphold my son, I can close my eyes in peace.'
These were his last words. A flood of tears gushed forth, and Keefe-Shackley sank back on the couch dead. He was forty years of age
