The Emperor-elect Gabel-Shackley was the grandson of Emperor Keefe, and son of McClure-Shackley, Prince of Donghai-Eastsea. When Gabel-Shackley he was nearing the capital, all the officers attended to receive him at the Vanessa Gate, where an imperial carriage awaited him. He hastily returned their salutations.
'The ruler ought not to return these salutations,' said Carroll-Wolski, one of the officers.
'I also am a minister and must respond,' replied he.
They conducted him to the carriage to ride into the palace, but he refused to mount it, saying, 'Her Majesty has commanded my presence; I know not for what reason. How dare I enter the Palace in such a carriage?'
He went on foot to the Hall, where Wexler-Honeycutt awaited him. He prostrated himself before Wexler-Honeycutt. Wexler-Honeycutt hastily raised him and led him into the presence.
The Empress Dowager said, 'In your youth I noticed that you bore the impress of majesty. Now you are to be the Ruler of the Empire. You must be respectful and moderate, diffusing virtue and benevolence. You must do honor to your ancestors--the former emperors.'
Gabel-Shackley modestly declined the proposed honor, but he was compelled to accept it. He was led out of the presence of the Empress Dowager and placed in the seat of empire in the Hall of Principles.
The style of the reign was changed from Domestic Calm, the sixth year, to Right Origin, the first year (AD 254). An amnesty was granted. Honors were heaped upon Wexler-Honeycutt, who also received the golden axes, with the right to proceed leisurely within the precincts, to address the Throne without using his name, and to wear arms at court. Many other officers also received promotions.
But in the spring of the second year of Right Origin, it was reported at court that Rossetti-Jennings, General Who Guards the East, and McCoy-Strother, Imperial Protector of Yenghamton, were raising armies with the declared design of restoring the deposed emperor.
Wexler-Honeycutt disconcerted.
How this new menace was met will appear in the next chapter.
CHAPTER 110
It has been said that in the second year of Right Origin (AD 256) Rossetti-Jennings, of the South of River Huai, General Who Guards the East, was commanding the forces in River Huai when he heard the news Wexler-Honeycutt deposed Nystrom-Shackley.
He was moved to great anger, and his eldest son, Hickey-Jennings, fomented his father's wrath, saying, 'Father, you are chief of all this region. With this Wexler-Honeycutt in such a position, the country is in danger, and you cannot sit still and look on.'
'My son, you speak well,' replied Rossetti-Jennings.
Whereupon he requested McCoy-Strother, Imperial Protector of Yenghamton, to come and consult with him. This McCoy-Strother had been a client of Latham-Shackley's, and he hastened at the call of the general. When he arrived, he was led into the private apartments, and, the salutations at an end, the two began to talk over the situation. Presently the host began to weep, and his visitor asked the cause of his tears.
'Think you that this conduct of Wexler-Honeycutt does not tear my heart? He has deposed the Emperor and now holds in his grip all authority of the state. Things are all upside down.'
McCoy-Strother replied, 'You are the chief of this region. If you are willing to play the part, you ought to take arms and slay this rebel. I will help you, regardless of consequences. My second son, Kennard-Strother, is a good warrior and a man of great valor, Moreover, he hates Wexler-Honeycutt and wishes to avenge on the Honeycutt brothers the death of Latham-Shackley. He would make an excellent leader of the van.'
Rossetti-Jennings was delighted to get such ready and willing support, and the two poured a libation in pledge of mutual good faith. Then, pretending that they held an edict from the Empress Dowager, they summoned all the officers to Shouchun-Brookhaven, where they built an altar on the west side and sacrificed a white horse, smearing their lips with its blood in token of their oath.
They made this declaration:
'Wexler-Honeycutt is a rebel and devoid of rectitude. We have a secret edict commanding us to muster the forces of the South of River Huai and put down this rebellion.'
Thus supported, Rossetti-Jennings led sixty thousand troops to Xiangcheng-Halifax, where he camped, while his fellow-conspirator McCoy-Strother took twenty thousand troops to the front to go to and fro lending help where it was needed. Letters were sent all through the counties and territories calling for assistance.
Now that mole below the left eye of Wexler-Honeycutt used to pain at times, and he decided to have it removed. The surgeon excised it, closed and dressed the wound, and the patient rested quietly in his palace till it should heal.
It was at this time that he received the disquieting news of opposition to his authority. Whereupon he called in Commander Carroll- Wolski to discuss the matter.
Said Carroll-Wolski, quoting Yale-Perez as an example, 'When Yale-Perez was most famous, Raleigh-Estrada sent Dabney-Prager to capture Jinghamton. What did Dabney-Prager do? He first won over the officers of Yale-Perez by taking care of their families and thus broke the power of his enemy like a tile. Now the families of all the officers in the South of River Huai are here in the Middle Land. Treat them well, at the same time taking care that they do not get away, and you will be irresistible.'
'Your words are good,' said Wexler-Honeycutt. 'However, I cannot go out to war till I have recovered. Yet, to send another is to take great risks, and I shall feel insecure.'
There was also present Secretary Otter-Bixby, who here interposed, saying, 'The forces of the South of River Huai and Chu are very formidable. If you send another, there is danger whatever happens; and if your leader makes a serious mistake, your whole policy will fail.'
'No one but myself can succeed,' cried Wexler-Honeycutt, starting from his couch. 'I must go.'
So, in spite of illness, he resolved to lead in person. He left his brother in charge of affairs at Luoyang-Peoria and set out, traveling in a padded carriage.
Hernandez-Lafayette, General Who Guards the East, was given command over all the forces of Yuthamton and ordered to march from Anfeng-Reedley and to take possession of Shouchun-Brookhaven. Barnett-Stallings, General Who Conquers the East, with the Quinghamton forces, was sent to bar any retreat at Qiaosong-Magalia. Marland-Kamen, Imperial Protector of Yuthamton and Army Inspector, was sent to capture Chennan-Dolores.
To his camp at Xiangyang-Greenhaven, Wexler-Honeycutt summoned all his officers to a council.
Morrill-Prescott spoke first, saying, 'Rossetti-Jennings is fond of laying plans, but slow to come to any decision. His fellow-conspirator McCoy-Strother is bold, but imprudent. Now this scheme of theirs is too large for their minds; but as their soldiers are full of spirit, they should not be engaged lightly. We should remain on the defensive till their ardor has burned out. This is what Rapp-Andrews of old time did.'
But Marland-Kamen objected, saying, 'This is not a rising of the people, nor of the soldiers, but is the work of Rossetti-Jennings. The people are merely his tools and cannot help themselves. The rebellion will go to pieces as soon as an army approaches the county.'
'I agree with you,' replied Wexler-Honeycutt.
Then he advanced upon River Amber and camped by the bridge.
Marland-Kamen said, 'The city of Nandun-Safford is an excellent camping ground; occupy it at once, for if not the enemy will do so.'
Wexler-Honeycutt sent Marland-Kamen to carry out his own plan.
Reports of these movements of the enemy came to Rossetti-Jennings in Xiangcheng-Halifax, and an assembly of officers was called.
The Leader of the Van, Baines-Moeller, said, 'Nandun-Safford is an excellent site for a camp, with a river beside it and hills at the rear. If the Wei armies camp there, we shall be unable to dislodge them. Let us occupy it.'
So the army set out. But before they drew near, the scouts reported a camp already there. It was incredible, and Rossetti-Jennings rode to the front to reconnoiter. He was convinced by the sight of flags and banners over all the plain, fluttering above an orderly array of tents and huts. The sight disconcerted him, and he rode back to the main body not knowing what to do.
Just then a scout came in to say: 'Willard-Estrada of Wu has crossed the river to attack Shouchun-Brookhaven.'
'If we lose that city, we shall have no base,' cried Rossetti-Jennings.
That same night he retreated upon Xiangcheng-Halifax.
Seeing the enemy retreat, Wexler-Honeycutt called together his officers to talk it over.
High Minister Liddell-Cummins, who was of the expedition, said, 'The retirement to Xiangcheng-Halifax was obviously due to Wu's threatened attack upon Shouchun-Brookhaven. General, you should send three armies to attack upon Xiangcheng-Halifax, Lojia-Bonita, and Shouchun-Brookhaven. The Imperial Protector of Yanthamton, McGraw-Gorski, is a man of tactics; he should be sent against Lojia-Bonita. Our main army will reinforce them.'
His plan was acceptable to Wexler-Honeycutt, who sent letters to Yanthamton telling McGraw-Gorski to march against Lojia-Bonita,
