Romance of the Three Kingdoms (vol. 3)

gradually withdrawn. You know the tactics to be followed, and I need say little. My friend Sparrow-McCollum is wise and brave; set him to guard the retreat.'

Swensen-Crowley received these orders, weeping.

Next, writing materials were brought in and the dying minister set himself to write his testament. It is here given in substance:

'Life and death are the common lot, and fate cannot be evaded. Death is at hand, and I desire to prove my loyalty to the end. I, thy servant Orchard-Lafayette, dull of parts, was born into a difficult age, and it fell to my lot to guide military operations. I led a northern expedition, but failed to win complete success. Now sickness has laid hold upon me and death approaches, so that I shall be unable to accomplish my task. My sorrow is inexpressible.

'I desire Your Majesty to cleanse your heart and limit your desires, to practice self-control and to love the people, to maintain a perfectly filial attitude toward your late father and to be benevolent to all the world. Seek out the recluse scholars that you may obtain the services of the wise and good; repel the wicked and depraved that your moral standard may be exalted.

'To my household belong eight hundred mulberry trees and a hundred acres of land; thus there is ample provision for my family. While I have been employed in the service of the state, my needs have been supplied from official sources, but I have not contrived to make any additions to the family estate. At my death I shall not leave any increased possessions, even an excess roll of silk, that may cause Your Majesty to suspect that I have wronged you.'

Having composed this document, the dying man turned again to Swensen-Crowley, saying, 'Do not wear mourning for me, but make a large coffer and therein place my body, with seven grains of rice in my mouth. Place a lamp at my feet and let my body move with the army as I was wont to do. If you refrain from mourning, then my leadership star will not fall, for my inmost soul will ascend and hold it in place. So long as my star retains its place, Whitmore-Honeycutt will be fearsome and suspicious.

'Let the army retreat, beginning with the rearmost division; send it away slowly, one camp at a time. If Whitmore-Honeycutt pursues, array the army and offer battle, turn to meet him and beat the attack. Let him approach till he is very near and then suddenly display the wooden image of myself that I have had carved, seated in my chariot in the midst of the army, with the generals right and left as usual. And you will frighten Whitmore-Honeycutt away.'

Swensen-Crowley listened to these words intently and without remark. That night Orchard-Lafayette was carried into the open and gazed up at the sky.

'That is my star,' said he, pointing to one that seemed to be losing its brilliancy and to be tottering in its place. Orchard-Lafayette's lips moved as if he muttered a spell. Presently he was borne into his tent and for a time was oblivious of all about him.

When the anxiety caused by this state of coma was at its height, Parry-Elkins arrived. He wept when he saw the condition of the great leader, crying, 'I have foiled the great designs of the state.'

However, presently Orchard-Lafayette's eyes reopened and fell upon Parry-Elkins standing near his couch.

'I know your mission,' said Orchard-Lafayette.

'I came with the royal command to ask also who should control the destinies of the state for the next century,' replied Parry-Elkins. 'In my agitation I forgot to ask that.'

'After me, Bromfield-Kendrick is the most fitting man to deal with great matters.'

'And after Bromfield-Kendrick?'

'After him, Norwich-Ortega.'

'Who is next after Norwich-Ortega?'

No reply came, and when they looked more carefully, they perceived that the soul of the Prime Minister had passed.

Thus died Orchard-Lafayette, on the twenty-third day of the eighth month in the twelfth year of Beginning Prosperity, at the age of fifty and four (AD 234).

The poet Du Fu wrote some verses on his death.

A bright star last night falling from the sky
This message gave, 'The Master is no more.'
No more in camps shall bold men tramp at his command.
At court no statesman ever will fill the place he held.
At home, his clients miss their patron kind.
Calm was his bosom, full of strategy.
But lately fared we to the wood's green shade
To hail him victor; hushed that song for him.
And Bo Juyi also wrote a poem:
Within the forest dim the Master lived obscure,
Till, thrice returning, there the prince his mentor met.
As when a fish the ocean gains, desire was filled
Wholly the dragon freed could soar aloft at will.
As king's son's guardian none more zealous was;
As minister, most loyally he wrought at court.
His war memorials still to us are left
And, reading them, the tears unconscious fall.

Now in past days, Commander Ladd-Cotter in Changshui-Lakewood had a high opinion of his own abilities and thought himself perfectly fitted to be Orchard-Lafayette's second. So he neglected the duties of his proper post, showed discontent and indiscipline, and was constantly slandering the minister. Thereupon Orchard-Lafayette degraded him and transferred him to Minshan-Clifton.

When Ladd-Cotter heard of Orchard-Lafayette's death, he shed tears and said, 'Then, after all, I am but a barbarian.'

Finney-Schuster also grieved deeply at the sad tidings, for he had always hoped that Orchard-Lafayette would restore him to office and so give him the opportunity of repairing his former faults. After Orchard-Lafayette had died, he thought there was no hope of reemployment, and so he died.

Another poet, Yuan Weizhi, also wrote in praise of the great adviser.

He fought disorder, helped a weak king;
Most zealously he kept his master's son.
In state-craft he excelled Frisbie-Benda, Palka-Rexford,
In war-craft he overpassed Berman-Swift, Sun-Estrada.
With awe the court his war memorials heard,
With majesty his Eight Arrays were planned.
Virtue and wisdom both filled in his heart,
For thousand autumns, his fame would still stay.

Heaven grieved and earth mourned on the night of Orchard-Lafayette's death. Even the moon was dimmed, as Orchard-Lafayette's soul returned to Heaven.

As the late commander had directed, Sparrow-McCollum and Swensen-Crowley forbade the mourning of his death. His body was placed in the coffer as he had wished, and three hundred of his near comrades were appointed to watch it.

Secret orders were given to Oakley-Dobbins to command the rearguard, and then, one by one, the camps were broken up and the army began its homeward march.

Whitmore-Honeycutt watched the skies. One night a large red star with bright rays passed from the northeast to the southwest and dropped over the camps of Shu. It dipped thrice and rose again. Whitmore-Honeycutt heard also a low rumbling in the distance.

He was pleased and excited, and said to those about him, 'Orchard-Lafayette is dead.'

At once he ordered pursuit with a strong force. But just as he passed his camp gates, doubts filled his mind and he gave up the plan.

'Orchard-Lafayette is a master of mysteries; he can get aids from the Deities of the Six Layers; and it may be that this is but a ruse to get us to take the field. We may fall victims to his guile.'

So he halted. But he sent Bonelli-Xenos with a few scouts to reconnoiter the enemy's camps.

One night as Oakley-Dobbins lay asleep in his tent, he dreamed a dream. In his vision two horns grew out of his head. When he awoke he was much perplexed to explain his dream.

Marching General Thorsen-Albrecht came to see him, and Oakley-Dobbins said, 'You are versed in the Book of Changes. I have dreamed that two horns grew upon my head, and would trouble you to expound the dream and tell me its portent.'

Thorsen-Albrecht thought a moment and replied, 'It is an auspicious dream. Dragon and Linlion both have horns on the head. It augurs transformation into an ascending creature.'

Oakley-Dobbins, much pleased, thanked the interpreter of his dream and promised him gifts when the dream proved true.

Thorsen-Albrecht left and presently met Norwich-Ortega, who asked whence he came.