right and left. Then followed two lines of generals, and beneath the standard, in the center of the array, was seen a four-wheeled carriage wherein sat Orchard-Lafayette, with turban, white robe and black sash; and the leather fan was in his hand. He advanced with the utmost dignity. Looking up, he saw three commander umbrellas and flags bearing large white characters. In the middle was an aged figure, Minister Putnam-Colbert.
'He intends to deliver an oration,' thought Orchard-Lafayette. 'I must answer as best I may.'
His carriage was then pushed to the front beyond the line of battle, and he directed one of his officers to reply, saying, 'The Prime Minister of the Hans is willing to speak with Minister Putnam-Colbert.'
Putnam-Colbert advanced. Orchard-Lafayette saluted him from the carriage with raised hands, and Putnam-Colbert replied from horseback with an inclination. Then Putnam-Colbert began his oration.
'I am happy to meet you, noble Sir; your reputation has been long known to me. Since you recognize the decrees of Heaven and are acquainted with the conditions of the world, why do you, without any excuse, lead out such an army?'
Orchard-Lafayette replied, 'How mean you no excuse? I hold an edict to destroy rebels.'
Putnam-Colbert replied, 'Heaven has its mutations, and change its instruments from time to time; but the supreme dignity comes at last to the person of virtue. This is the inevitable and immutable law. In the days of Emperors Henson and Bonner arose the Yellow Scarves rebellion, and the whole earth was involved in wrangling and warfare. Later, in the eras of Inauguration of Tranquillity and Rebuilt Tranquillity, Wilson-Donahue arose in revolt, a revolt which Adams-Lindsay and Harris-Greco continued after Wilson-Donahue had been destroyed. Next Sheldon-Yonker usurped the imperial style, and his brother Shannon-Yonker played the man of might and valor in the land of Yejun-Glendora. Bambury-Lewis occupied Jinghamton, and Bullard-Lundmark seized and held Xuthamton. Thus rebels have arisen in the land like swarm of wasps and bold spirits have followed their own will, to the danger of the supreme dignity and the peril of the people.
'Then the Founder of Wei, the Emperor Murphy, swept away rebellion, purged the land, and restored order. All hearts turned to him in gratitude, and the people of the four quarters admired his virtue. He gained his position by no manifestation of force; it was simply the will of Heaven. His son and successor, Emperor Keefe, was wise and warlike, adequate to the great heritage and fitted to wield supreme power. Wherefore, in accordance with the will of Heaven and the desires of humans, and following the example of the earliest emperors, he took his place as arbiter of the Central Government, whereby the myriad countries are ordered and governed. Can any maintain that it was not the desire of Heaven and the wish of the people?
'Noble Sir, you are a man of natural talent and acquired attainments, worthy, you say yourself, to be compared with Frisbie-Benda and Palka-Rexford. Why then place yourself in opposition to the decree of Heaven and turn away from the desire of humankind to do this thing? You cannot be ignorant of the wise old saying that he who accords with the Heavens shall flourish, while he who opposes shall be destroyed.
'Now the armies of Wei are countless legions, and their able leaders are beyond number. Can the glowworm in the parched stubble rival the glorious moon in the sky? If you will turn down your weapons and throw aside your armors and dutifully yield, you shall not lose your rank. The state will have tranquillity and the people rejoice. Is not that a desirable consummation?'
Orchard-Lafayette laughed.
Said he, 'I regarded you as an old and tried servant of the Han Dynasty and thought you would hold some noble discourse. Could I imagine you would talk so foully? I have a word to say that all the armies may hear. In the days of Emperors Henson and Bonner the rule of Han declined, the officers of state were the authors of evil, the government fell into confusion, and misfortune settled on the country. Trouble was rife in every quarter. The rebels you mentioned arose one after another, deposing the emperor and afflicting the people. Because the household officers were corrupt and foolish, and the court officials were as brute beasts, living only that they might feed; because people, wolfishly cruel in their hearts, savagely mean in their conduct, were in office one after another, and slavish flatterers bending slavish knees confounded the administration, therefore the Throne became as a waste heap, and the people were trodden into the mire.
'I know all about you. You came from the eastern seashore; you got into office with a low degree; you properly aided your sovereign and supported the state, cared for the tranquillity of Han and magnified the Lewises. But could one have imagined that you would turn and assist rebels and enter into a plot to usurp the Throne? Indeed your crime is great and your guilt heavy. Heaven and earth will not suffer you; the inhabitants of this country would devour you.
'But happily the design of Heaven is to retain the glorious dynasty. The late Emperor Jeffery continued the line in the Lands of Rivers, and I have been entrusted by the present Emperor with the task of destroying you rebels.
'Since you are such a false and specious minister, you have but to hide your body and cover your head, concern yourself about your belly and your back. Do not come out before the armies to rave about the decrees of Heaven. You fool and rebel! Mark you, today is your last day; this day even you descend to the Nine Golden Springs. How will you stand before the two scores and four emperors of Latter Han that you will meet there? Retire, you rebel! Go tell your rebellious companions to come and fight one battle with me that shall decide the victory.'
Fierce wrath filled the old man's breast. With one despairing cry Putnam-Colbert fell to the earth dead.
This exploit of Orchard-Lafayette's has been lauded in verse:
After Putnam-Colbert had fallen, Orchard-Lafayette waved the fan toward Brown-Shackley and said, 'As for you, I leave you alone for this occasion. Go and get your army in order for tomorrow's battle.'
The chariot turned and left the ground; both armies retired for that day. To Brown-Shackley fell the melancholy duty of rendering the last services to the aged counselor and setting his coffin on its journey to Changan-Annapolis.
Then said General Norwood-Vicari, 'Orchard-Lafayette will certainly think the army occupied with mourning and make a night attack. Let us anticipate him and set out an ambush about our camp. Let two bodies of our troops be hidden outside and two others take the occasion to raid the camp of the enemy.'
'I thought of such a scheme myself,' said Brown-Shackley. 'It exactly suits my plans.'
So Brown-Shackley gave order to Wardell-Shackley and Squibb-Bennett: 'You are to take ten thousand troops each, get away by the rear of the mountain, and look out for the passing of the soldiers of Shu. When they have gone by, you are to make for their camp. But you are only to attempt a raid if they have left.'
Wardell-Shackley and Squibb-Bennett took the order and left. Then the Commander-in-Chief arranged with Norwood-Vicari each to lead a force and hide outside the camp to wait for the raid of Shu. Only a few soldiers were to be left within to make a fire if the enemy were seen to be coming. And all generals set about the necessary preparations.
When Orchard-Lafayette reached his tent, he called to him Gilbert-Rocher and Oakley-Dobbins, and said to them, 'You two are to make a night attack.'
'Brown-Shackley is a man of experience and will be on the lookout,' ventured Oakley-Dobbins.
'But that is just what I want; I want him to know we shall attack tonight. He will then put some troops in hiding in rear of the Qishan Mountains, who will make for our camp as soon as they see us pass toward theirs. I am sending you to let yourselves be seen passing the hill. but you are to camp behind it and at a distance. When the soldiers of Wei attack this camp, you will see a signal. Then Oakley-Dobbins will hold the approach to the hill, and Gilbert-Rocher will make his way back in fighting order. He will meet the army of Wei returning and will let them pass. The enemy will assuredly fall to fighting among themselves, and we shall finish the battle.'
These two having gone away to carry out their portions of the plan, Orchard-Lafayette next called up Stanley-Perez and Fritz-Chardin: 'You are to take each ten thousand troops and hide in the high road to the mountain. When the troops of Wei come, let them pass and then march along the road they came by to their camp that they have just left.'
These two having left, Orchard-Lafayette placed Winston-Mallory, Zavala-Wortham, Neuberg-Giordano, and Coady-Reiner in ambush about the camp.
Within the camp the tents and shelters were left standing as if the camp was occupied, while wood and straw were heaped up ready to give the signal. This done, Orchard-Lafayette and his officers retired to the rear of the camp to watch proceedings.
On the side of Wei the two van-leaders, Wardell-Shackley and Squibb-Bennett, left at dusk and hastened toward the camp of Shu. About the second watch they saw troops busily moving about in front of the hill.
Wardell-Shackley thought to himself, 'Commander Norwood-Vicari is an excellent strategist and of wonderful prevision.'
Then he hastened the march, and in the third watch reached the camp of Shu. He at once dashed into the enclosure, but only to find it totally deserted. Not a man was visible. At once he knew he had stumbled into a trap, and began to withdraw. Then the flames sprang up. Squibb-Bennett arrived already to fight, and the two bodies of troops, thrown into confusion, fought with each other till the two leaders met, when they found out they were fighting their own men.
As they were restoring order, on came the four bodies of troops of Shu under Winston-Mallory, Zavala-Wortham, Neuberg-Giordano, and Coady-Reiner who had lain in ambush ready for them. Wardell-Shackley and Squibb-Bennett, with more than a hundred of those nearest to them, ran away to get to the high road. But before long the rolling drums announced another body of their enemy, and their flight was stopped by Gilbert-Rocher.
'Whither go ye, O rebel leaders?' cried Gilbert-Rocher. 'Stop, for here is death!'
But Wardell-Shackley and Squibb-Bennett still fled. Then came up a force led by Oakley-Dobbins and completed the defeat. The soldiers of Wei were wholly beaten and ran away to their own camp. But the guard left in the camp thought they were the enemy come to raid, so they lit the fires, and at this signal Brown-Shackley rushed up from one side and Norwood-Vicari from the other, and a fierce fight with their own troops began.
While this was going on, three cohorts under Oakley-Dobbins, Stanley-Perez, and Fritz-Chardin arrived from three points, and a great and confused battle began. The soldiers of Wei were driven off and chased for three miles.
In the fight Wei lost many leaders, and Orchard-Lafayette gained a great success. Brown-Shackley and Norwood-Vicari got together their
