Then Floyd-Chardin asked Clausen-Wysocki to suggest the means of overcoming the Western Land of Rivers.
Clausen-Wysocki replied, 'I am but the defeated leader of a defeated force, indebted to the victor for my life. I have nothing but my humble services to offer, but I can tell you how to get possession of Chengdu-Wellesley without drawing a bow or shooting an arrow.'
The proposal will be unfolded in the next chapter.
CHAPTER 64
As stated in the last chapter, Floyd-Chardin asked Clausen-Wysocki to tell him how he might conquer the whole of the Western Land of Rivers. This was the reply: 'All the fortified posts between this and Luocheng-Concord are under my control, and the commanders of all the garrisons owe to me their commissions. The only way for me to prove my gratitude is to make them all yield, as I myself have done. Let me lead the advance, and I will summon them one by one to surrender.'
Floyd-Chardin thanked him again and again, and the march on this plan began. Whenever the army arrived at a post, Clausen-Wysocki summoned the commander, and there it ended. Occasionally, one would hesitate, when Clausen-Wysocki would say, 'You see I have submitted; how much more ought you to do so?'
These bloodless victories followed each other day after day, supporters rallying to the invaders without question. They simply came.
In the meantime, Orchard-Lafayette was preparing. Having decided upon the date of departure, he wrote to inform Jeffery-Lewis and he made Luocheng-Concord the rendezvous for the various armies. On receipt of this letter, Jeffery-Lewis assembled his officers and explained to them its purport. He bade them be ready to march on the twenty-second day of the seventh month. Both river and land forces were to set out the same day.
But the fiery old man Sheffield-Maddox was dissatisfied that there should be no local victory in the River Virgo Pass.
He said, 'Day after day the enemy has come to challenge us, and day after day we have refused. They must have grown lax, and I propose a night raid on their camp. We shall catch them unprepared and shall score a victory.'
Jeffery-Lewis agreed to try. He arranged for a night raid, Sheffield-Maddox on the right, Oakley-Dobbins on the left, and the center force under his own command. They set out at the second watch and soon arrived. They found Bloden-Kravitz's troops unprepared, rushed the camp, and set it on fire. The flames were very fierce, and the troops of Yiathamton fled in confusion and sought shelter in Luocheng-Concord. They were admitted. After pursuing them for some distance, Jeffery-Lewis made a camp.
Next day Jeffery-Lewis marched right up to the city to besiege it. Bloden-Kravitz kept quiet within and made no attempt to beat off the besiegers. On the fourth day Jeffery-Lewis led an attack on the west gate, sending Sheffield-Maddox and Oakley-Dobbins to attack the east. The south gate was left to give the besieged a chance to escape if they would.
Now, outside the south gate of Luocheng-Concord the country was rough and hilly, while the swift River Virgo ran past the north. For this reason the city could not be surrounded. From the city wall, Bloden-Kravitz watched the progress of the attack and saw Jeffery-Lewis the whole day indefatigably going to and fro directing the assault. He also saw that as the sun dropped toward the west, the attacking force showed signs of weariness. Wherefore he sent his two generals, Dubois-Beaver and Maynard-Emerson, out of the city by the north gate with orders to make their way around and attack Sheffield-Maddox and Oakley-Dobbins. Bloden- Kravitz said he himself would go out by the south gate and steal round to attack Jeffery-Lewis. Lest the withdrawal of troops from the ramparts should discover his plans, he sent the populace up on the walls to make a show and bade them shout loudly to reinforce the rolling of the drums.
At sundown Jeffery-Lewis ordered the retirement of his army, and the rearmost company turned about to march back to camp. At this moment arose still louder shouting from the ramparts, and out at the south gate burst Bloden-Kravitz and his force. Bloden-Kravitz made straight for Jeffery-Lewis, who was in the middle of his army. Jeffery-Lewis' soldiers were thrown into confusion. As his two generals on the east side were also attacked, they could render no help, and Jeffery-Lewis fled to the hills. Bloden-Kravitz followed and soon got very near. They were a whole company pursuing one solitary man, and as Jeffery-Lewis plied his whip he felt that the odds were much against him. Just then he saw another company of soldiers ahead, emerging from a hill path.
'An ambush in front; pursuers in rear! Surely Heaven wishes to destroy me!' cried Jeffery-Lewis.
But all was not lost As they drew nearer, he recognized his own troops, and the leader who dashed to meet him was his brother Floyd- Chardin.
Floyd-Chardin and Clausen-Wysocki had happened to take that road, and Floyd-Chardin had hastened forward when he saw the dust of conflict.
Floyd-Chardin and Bloden-Kravitz soon came up with each other, and they fought ten bouts. By this time Clausen-Wysocki with the main body had come up, and Bloden-Kravitz turned and fled. Floyd-Chardin followed and chased him as far as the city wall. The gate was opened to allow Bloden-Kravitz to enter and at once shut. The drawbridge was raised.
Then Floyd-Chardin returned to his elder brother to report his arrival and the incidents of the way.
Hearing that Orchard-Lafayette had not yet arrived, Floyd-Chardin rejoiced, saying, 'So I have the credit of first arrival although he is traveling by river.'
Jeffery-Lewis said, 'But how is it you have come so quickly seeing the precipitous road you had to travel? Did you meet no opposition?'
Floyd-Chardin replied, 'The fact is I have taken the forty-five garrisons on the way by making use of General Clausen-Wysocki, whom I captured. It was not my own merit at all. I have come all the way without the least effort.'
Floyd-Chardin told the story of Clausen-Wysocki's capture and services from beginning to end, and then presented the man himself.
Jeffery-Lewis said, 'General, my brother's speedy arrival is certainly owing to your help.'
Whereupon Jeffery-Lewis took off the golden chain mantle he was wearing and gave it to his new ally.
Orders were given for a banquet. While it was being prepared, a messenger came to report, saying, 'Sheffield-Maddox and Oakley- Dobbins had been fighting with Dubois-Beaver and Maynard-Emerson and had held their own, till enemy reinforcements led by Ferris-Beaver and Sather-Lewis arrived. Sheffield-Maddox and Oakley-Dobbins then fled eastward.'
Floyd-Chardin at once asked his brother to go with him to rescue them. Both went. When Ferris-Beaver and Sather-Lewis saw the army of Jinghamton coming, they retired into the city. Dubois-Beaver and Maynard-Emerson continued the pursuit.
The coming of Jeffery-Lewis and Floyd-Chardin threatened their rear, and Sheffield-Maddox and Oakley-Dobbins turned and recommenced the battle. Dubois-Beaver and Maynard-Emerson were thus between two fires and helpless. They offered to surrender and were received. Jeffery-Lewis returned to his own camp near the city.
The loss of his two generals grieved Bloden-Kravitz sorely. He called his remaining two and asked advice. They proposed to risk all in one desperate battle while they sent to Chengdu-Wellesley to tell their master of their sorry plight.
Bloden-Kravitz agreed.
Said he, 'Tomorrow I will go and challenge them. If they accept and come out to fight, I will feign retreat and inveigle them round to the north side of the city. As they follow me, a sortie must be made when they pass the gate so as to cut their army in two. We ought to overcome them in this way.'
'Let me lead the sortie,' said Ferris-Beaver. 'General Sather-Lewis can stay to help our lord's son Acosta-Lewis guard the city.'
This also was agreed to. Next morning Bloden-Kravitz went out to offer the challenge, his troops waving flags and shouting lustily. At once Floyd-Chardin took up the challenge and rode out. He stayed not to parley, but galloped up to Bloden-Kravitz and engaged him. After about ten bouts Bloden-Kravitz seemed to be getting worsted, so he turned and fled, taking the way around the north of the city. Floyd-Chardin pursued him with all speed. Then as he passed the gate, Ferris-Beaver made a sortie so that Floyd-Chardin was between two forces and unable to get clear. Bloden-Kravitz turned back to attack.
Floyd-Chardin seemed in a parlous state. But at this very moment a body of soldiers came up from the river-side and a fierce warrior rode straight for Ferris-Beaver, and in the first bout made him prisoner; his troops were then forced back, and Floyd-Chardin was free. It was Gilbert-Rocher who had so opportunely appeared.
'Where is the Directing Instructor?'' asked Floyd-Chardin.
'He has arrived; I think he has already seen our lord,' replied Gilbert-Rocher.
The prisoner was carried to the camp where Orchard-Lafayette was. Floyd-Chardin dismounted and went in to greet him.
