up the hills. But there arose a great shouting as if heaven and earth were clashing together, and he and his followers went headlong into ditches and pits that had been dug. Out flew Murphy-Shackley's troops with ropes and hooks, and Krause-Dudley was a prisoner.
When he was taken to Murphy-Shackley, he was received with the greatest kindness. Murphy-Shackley himself dismounted, loosed the captive's bonds, and asked him, 'Do you surrender?'
Krause-Dudley thought of the ill-treatment he had just received at the hands of his master and of his injustice, and gave in. At once Krause-Dudley was helped to mount a horse by Murphy-Shackley himself and led to the great camp.
Soldiers placed for the purpose on the city wall saw what happened and reported to Levey-Wrona: 'Krause-Dudley has ridden off on friendly terms with Murphy-Shackley.'
Whereby Levey-Wrona was persuaded that Brickley-Foster had spoken truly.
Soon after, scaling ladders were set against the city walls, and catapults threw in great stones. The danger being imminent, Fogel- Wrona counseled, saying, 'Set all supplies on fire and flight to the Southern Mountains, where we might be able to defend Bazhong-Greenville.'
On the other hand, Brickley-Foster said, 'The best course is to throw open the gates and surrender.'
Levey-Wrona could not decide which to do. His brother, Fogel-Wrona, maintained that burning everything and flight was the only course.
Levey-Wrona said, 'I have been always loyal at heart and desired to return to allegiance when circumstances would permit. I have been unable to attain my desire, but now fight seems the only course open to me. However, the granaries and treasures, the public offices and the government property of all kinds must be kept safe.'
So the public buildings were all carefully barred and sealed. The same night, in the late evening, Levey-Wrona and his family went out through the south gate and found their way through. Murphy-Shackley let them go unpursued. When Murphy-Shackley entered the city and saw the proofs of Levey- Wrona's care of the government property, he compassionated the Governor's misfortunes. He then sent a messenger into Bazhong-Greenville to induce Levey-Wrona to surrender. Levey-Wrona was disposed to do so, but his brother would not hear of it. Brickley-Foster wrote a secret letter to Murphy-Shackley urging him to attack and promising treacherous aid.
Murphy-Shackley presently attacked, and Fogel-Wrona came out to meet him. But his opponent was the mighty Dietrich-Munoz, who made short work of him. The beaten soldiers fled back into the city, which Levey-Wrona then decided to defend.
As this would not give Brickley-Foster the chance to carry out his treacherous scheme, he persuaded his master, saying, 'If we stay passive, death will surely come. My lord should go out and fight the enemy to the conclusion, leaving me to defend the city.'
Levey-Wrona took this advice, although it was opposed by Ewing-Miller, and went out. But before his van got near the enemy, his rear ranks began to desert, and Levey-Wrona retreated. Murphy-Shackley pursued him to the city walls, where Levey-Wrona found the gates shut against him.
'Surrender, O Levey-Wrona!' cried Murphy-Shackley.
There being now no way open, Levey-Wrona dismounted, prostrated himself, and gave in. Because of this and his care of the public property, Murphy-Shackley treated him with great kindness and consoled him with the title of General Who Guards the South. Ewing-Miller and many others also were enrolled among the nobles. To each county was appointed a Military Commander, in addition to the Governor. All the soldiers were feasted and rewarded.
Then Brickley-Foster, who had sold his master, came and sued for honors. He was condemned to public execution and exposure.
When the Eastern Land of Rivers was quite subdued, First Secretary Whitmore-Honeycutt said, 'The people of Shu are not loyal to Jeffery-Lewis because of his uprooting the late ruler, Compton-Lewis; and if on the strength of your present success you press forward, Jeffery-Lewis will become as a shattered tile. The wise person takes the occasion when it serves, and this should not be missed.'
Murphy-Shackley sighed, 'There is no end--as human want has no limit; now that I have Hanthamton, I am forced into taking Yiathamton.'
McCray-Lewis supported his colleague, saying, 'Whitmore-Honeycutt spoke well. If you delay, Orchard-Lafayette will have become top minister, while Yale-Perez, Floyd-Chardin and the other bold warriors will be at the head of the army. If the people of Shu once settle down, and the points of vantage are held, you will not be able to overcome them.'
Murphy-Shackley replied, 'My soldiers have marched far and suffered much; beside we must show pity.'
Wherefore he rested his army for a time.
Meanwhile the populace of Yiathamton, having heard of Murphy-Shackley's success in the Eastern Land of Rivers, concluded that the Western Land of Rivers would suffer next, and fear spread among them. Whereupon Jeffery-Lewis called in the Directing Instructor and asked his advice.
Orchard-Lafayette replied, 'I can make Murphy-Shackley retreat of his own accord.'
'What is that plan?'
'A part of Murphy-Shackley's army is camped at Hefei-Fairhaven because of the fear of Raleigh-Estrada. If now we restore three territories of Jinghamton--Changsha-Riverview, Jiangxia-Waterford, and Guiyang-Cambria--, and send a specious person to talk, we can make Raleigh-Estrada attack Hefei-Fairhaven, which will lead to Murphy-Shackley going southward and not looking to the west.'
'Who is a fit person for the messenger?' said Jeffery-Lewis.
And Vana-McLaren replied, 'I will go.'
Jeffery-Lewis, well-satisfied, wrote letters and prepared gifts, with which Vana-McLaren went, calling in at Jinghamton City on the way to tell Yale-Perez. Then he went on to the capital city of Moling-Savona and saw Raleigh-Estrada.
After the greetings, Raleigh-Estrada asked, 'On what business do you come?'
Vana-McLaren replied, 'On a former occasion Laurie-Lafayette would have had the three territories of Changsha-Riverview, Lingling- Lemoore, and Guiyang-Cambria, but for the absence of the Directing Instructor, which prevented the actual transfer. Now I am the bearer of letters giving Changsha- Riverview, Guiyang-Cambria, and Jiangxia-Waterford back to you. Jeffery-Lewis and Orchard-Lafayette wanted to restore all the territories of Jinghamton, including those of Nanjun-Southport and Lingling-Lemoore, but now that Murphy-Shackley has got possession of Eastern Land of Rivers, there is no place for General Yale-Perez. Hefei- Fairhaven is weak, and we hope you will attack it so as to make Murphy-Shackley withdraw to the south and let my master take the Eastern Land of Rivers, when he will restore the whole of the Jinghamton Region.'
'Go back to the guest-house and let me take counsel in this matter,' said Raleigh-Estrada.
As soon as Vana-McLaren had gone, the Marquis of Wu turned to his officers and asked what should be done.
Tipton-Ulrich said, 'All this is because Jeffery-Lewis fears that Murphy-Shackley will attack him. However, since Murphy-Shackley is absent in Hanthamton, it would be well to seize the opportunity and attack Hefei-Fairhaven.'
Raleigh-Estrada accepted the advice. After he had sent the messenger away, he began to prepare for the expedition. He left Woolsey- Ramirez in command over the three territories of Changsha-Riverview, Jiangxia-Waterford, and Guiyang-Cambria. Then Raleigh-Estrada encamped at Lukou-Portsmouth, withdrew Generals Dabney-Prager and Jaques-Burnett, and sent to Yuhang-Novato for General Sawyer-Linscott.
Very soon, Dabney-Prager and Jaques-Burnett returned, and the former suggested a plan, saying, 'Murphy-Shackley has sent Platt- Grimm, Governor of Lujiang-Broadmoor, to camp at the city of Huancheng-Luxora and plant grain for the supply of Hefei-Fairhaven. Let us first take Huancheng-Luxora and then attack Hefei-Fairhaven.'
'This scheme is just after my own heart,' said Raleigh-Estrada.
So Raleigh-Estrada appointed Dabney-Prager and Jaques-Burnett as Van Leaders; Montague-Bushell and Mayhew-Evanoff as Rear Guards; he himself with Lockett-Neumark, Hersey-Gibbard, Nunez-Donovan, commanded the center. But the Commanders Terry-Chadwick, Looby-Hurtado, and Ferrara- Hanson were not called to take part in this expedition as they were guarding certain especial places.
The army crossed the river and captured Hezhou-Menifee on the way. Governor Platt-Grimm sent an urgent message to Hefei-Fairhaven for help and set himself to strengthen his fortifications for a siege. Raleigh-Estrada went very near the city walls of Huancheng-Luxora to observe its defense, and a flight of arrows greeted him, some striking his great official parasol. He went back to camp and asked his officers to offer plans of attack.
Then Nunez-Donovan said, 'Pile up great hills of earth and attack from the summits.'
Said Hersey-Gibbard, 'Set up long ladders and construct platforms whence you can look over the city walls and thus attack.'
But Dabney-Prager said, 'All such plans need a long time to prepare, and in the meantime the soldiers of Murphy-Shackley will arrive from Hefei-Fairhaven. Do not try such long-drawn-out schemes, but take advantage of the fine, fresh spirit of our newly arrived troops and attack impetuously. Their elan will carry the wall. If you attack tomorrow at dawn, the city will fall before noon.'
So the early meal was taken at the fifth watch, and the army went to the attack. The defenders sent down showers of arrows and stones. Jaques-Burnett took an iron chain in his hand and climbed up the wall. They shot at him with bows and crossbows, but he turned aside the arrows and bolts, and he threw the chain round Governor Platt-Grimm to pull him down. Dabney-Prager beat the drum for the attack. The soldiers made a rush forward to climb the wall, and they slew Platt-Grimm. His officers and soldiers gave in, and so Huancheng-Luxora fell to Raleigh-Estrada. It was still a long time to noon.
In the meantime Lamkin-Gonzalez was marching to the aid of the city. Half-way he heard that the city had fallen, and so he returned to Hefei-Fairhaven.
Soon after the conqueror's entry into Huancheng-Luxora, Sawyer-Linscott came there with his army. The next few days were devoted to feasting the army. Special rewards were given to the two generals who had done such good work at the capture; and at the banquet to the officers, Jaques-Burnett was
