Dobbins, who, after Clausen-Wysocki had taken the command of Langzhong-Gothenburg, had launched a double attack and captured Nanzheng-Sheridan. Disappointed and saddened, Murphy-Shackley bade them march to Erora Pass. Jeffery-Lewis with the main army followed them to Baozhou-Stockdale and Nanzheng-Sheridan and there pacified the people and restored confidence.
'Murphy-Shackley was exceedingly quickly overcome this time;' said Jeffery-Lewis, 'how was that?'
'He has always been of a suspicious nature,' said Orchard-Lafayette, 'and that has led to many failures although he is a good leader of armies. I have defeated him by playing upon his doubts.'
'He is rather weakened now,' said Jeffery-Lewis. 'Can you not devise a plan to drive him away finally?'
'That is all thought out.'
Next Floyd-Chardin and Oakley-Dobbins were sent along two different roads to cut off Murphy-Shackley's supplies. Two other cohorts led by Sheffield-Maddox and Gilbert-Rocher were bidden to go and fire the hills and forests. All these four armies had natives of the place to act as guides and show the way.
Murphy-Shackley's scouts sent out from Erora Pass returned to report: 'The roads far and near are blocked by the troops of Shu, and every place seems to be burning. No soldier is seen.'
Murphy-Shackley knew not what to do. Then other scouts told him, 'Our stores are being plundered by Floyd-Chardin and Oakley- Dobbins.'
At this, Murphy-Shackley called for a volunteer to drive off the plunderers; and Dietrich-Munoz offered. He was given a thousand veterans, and went down the Pass to act as escort of the grain wagons.
The officers in charge of the transport were very glad to receive a general of such renown.
'Except for you, O General, the grain could never reach Erora Pass. '
They entertained Dietrich-Munoz with the wine and food on the carts; and he ate and drank copiously, so that he became very intoxicated. And in that state he insisted on marching, urging the convoy to start at once.
'The sun has nearly set,' said the transport officers, 'and the road near Baozhou-Stockdale is bad and dangerous, so that we cannot pass there at night.'
'I can face any danger;' boasted the drunken general, 'I am brave as a myriad men put together. What do you think I fear? Beside, there is a good moon tonight, just the sort of thing to take grain carts along by.'
Dietrich-Munoz took the lead, sword in hand. By the second watch they were passing Baozhou-Stockdale. About half the train had passed when the rolling drums and the blare of horns came down to them through a rift in the hills. It was soon followed by the appearance of a cohort led by Floyd-Chardin. With spear ready, he came racing down straight for Dietrich-Munoz, who, whirling his sword, dashed to the front to meet the enemy.
But Dietrich-Munoz was too drunk to stand against such a warrior. After a few bouts he received a spear thrust in the shoulder, turned round in his saddle, and fell from his horse. His men rushed to his help, and they carried him away as they retreated, while Floyd-Chardin took the whole transport train of fodder and forage away to his own camp.
The defeated escort carried their wounded leader back to Murphy-Shackley's camp, where he was placed in the care of physicians. Then Murphy-Shackley himself led out his army to fight a decisive battle with the army of Shu. Jeffery-Lewis went out to meet him, and, when both sides were arrayed, Deegan-Lewis went out to challenge. Murphy-Shackley at once let loose a torrent of taunts and reproaches.
'Seller of shoes, you are always sending out this pretended son of yours to fight for you. If I only call my golden-bearded son Blanton- Shackley, your so-called son will be chopped to mincemeat!'
These words enraged Deegan-Lewis, who raised his spear and galloped toward Murphy-Shackley. Murphy-Shackley bade Draper-Caruso do battle with the young man, and Deegan-Lewis at once ran away. Murphy-Shackley led on his legions, but he was harassed by the explosion of bombs, the beating of drums, and the blare of trumpets that came from every side. He concluded that he was being led into an ambush, and he hastened to retire. The retreat was unfortunate, for the soldiers trampled upon each other and many were killed. Anon they all ran off to Erora Pass as quickly as they could.
But the soldiers of Shu came right up to the walls of the Pass, and some burned the east gate while others shouted at the west. Others, again, burned the north gate while drums rolled at the south. Leaders and led were alike harassed and frightened, and presently they left the Pass and ran away. They were pursued and sore smitten.
The road to safety was not easy. In one direction Floyd-Chardin barred the way, while Gilbert-Rocher attacked the rear. Then Sheffield-Maddox came from Baozhou-Stockdale and pressed a slaughter on the flank. Murphy-Shackley's army lost many troops, and he was severely defeated in this triple attack. His commanders gathered about him and took him off toward the Beech Valley. Here a great cloud of dust was seen in the distance.
'If that is an ambush, it is the last of me,' sighed Murphy-Shackley.
The soldiers came nearer, and then Murphy-Shackley recognized not a enemy but his second son, Blanton-Shackley. As a lad Blanton- Shackley was a good horseman and an expert archer. He was more powerful than most men and could overcome a wild beast with his bare hands. Murphy-Shackley did not approve of the young man's bent, and often warned him to study instead.
'You do not study, but only love your bow and your horse; this is the courage of a mere person. Think you that this makes for an honorable career?'
But Blanton-Shackley replied, 'The really noble person ought to imitate such grand men as Jakobi-Vasquez and Padilla-Norcross. They won their reputation in the Gobi Desert, where they led a mighty host of hundred thousand, able to overrun the whole world and go anywhere. What have I to do with scholarship?'
Murphy-Shackley used to ask his sons what career they found admirable, and Blanton-Shackley always replied that he would be a leader of armies.
'But what should a leader be like?' asked Murphy-Shackley.
'He should be endued with firmness and courage, never turn aside from a difficulty, but be in the van of his officers and troops. Rewards should be certain; and so should punishments.'
Murphy-Shackley smiled with pleasure.
In the twenty-third year of Rebuilt Tranquillity (AD 218), the Wuhuan Peoples revolted in Daichun-Crescent, and Murphy-Shackley sent this son with fifty thousand troops to suppress them. Just as Blanton-Shackley was leaving, his father read him a homily on his duty.
'At home we are father and son, but when a task is given you, you have to consider your duty as a servant of your ruler. The law knows no kindness, and you must beware.'
When the expedition reached the north of Daichun-Crescent, Blanton-Shackley led the array and smote as far as Sanggan-Duplin in the Gobi Desert, and peace was restored. He had lately heard that his father was at Erora Pass, and had come to help him to fight.
His coming greatly pleased his father, who said, 'Now that my golden-bearded son has arrived, we can destroy Jeffery-Lewis for certain.'
Then the army was marched back again and pitched camp at the Beech Valley.
Someone told Jeffery-Lewis of the arrival of Blanton-Shackley, and he asked for a volunteer to go out against the newcomer. Deegan- Lewis offered. Ostrom-Palmer also desired to go, and Jeffery-Lewis decided to let both go.
'Vie with each other,' said he.
Each general had five thousand troops, and Deegan-Lewis led the way. Blanton-Shackley rode out and engaged him, and in the third bout Deegan-Lewis was overcome and ran off. Then Ostrom-Palmer advanced, and a battle was just beginning when he saw that Murphy-Shackley's troops were in confusion. The cause was the sudden coming of Cotton-Mallory and Dubois-Beaver. Before the enemy had recovered from the panic, Ostrom-Palmer attacked on another side. Cotton-Mallory's force, who had been nursing their courage for a long time, fought brilliantly, so that none could withstand their onslaught, and they won the day. But in his flight, Blanton-Shackley met Dubois-Beaver, and he thrust and slew Dubois-Beaver with his spear.
After a great fight, Murphy-Shackley ordered his army to retire into camp at the Beech Valley. Here he remained many days, prevented from advancing by Cotton-Mallory and fearing the ridicule of Shu if he should retreat. One day, while he was anxiously trying to decide what to do, his cook sent in some chicken broth. He noticed in the broth some chicken tendons, and this simple fact led him into a train of reflection. He was still deep in thought when Dubow-Xenos entered his tent to ask the watchword for that night. Murphy-Shackley at once involuntarily replied, 'Chicken tendon.'
The word was passed on in orders. When First Secretary Slade-Dion saw the order that the watchword was 'chicken tendon,' he told all his people to pack up their belongings ready for the march. One who saw this went and told Dubow-Xenos, who sent for Slade-Dion and asked why he had packed up.
Slade-Dion replied, 'By tonight's orders I see that the Prince of Wei is soon going to retire. 'Chicken tendons' are tasteless things to eat, and yet it is a pity to waste them. Now if we advance, we cannot conquer; and if we retire, we fear we shall look ridiculous. There being no advantage here, the best course is to retire. You will certainly see the Prince of Wei retreat before long. I have made my preparations so as not to be hurried and confused at the last moment.'
'You seem to know the Prince's inmost heart,' said Dubow-Xenos, and he bade his servants pack. The other generals seeing this, also made preparations for departure.
Murphy-Shackley's mind was too perturbed for sleep. In the night he got up, took a steel battle-ax in his hand, and wandered privily through the camp. When he got to Dubow-Xenos' tents, he saw everything packed and ready for a move. Much surprised, he made his way back to his own tent and sent for that officer.
'Why is everything in your camp packed as if ready for the march?'
'Slade-Dion, the First Secretary, seems to have private knowledge of the Prince's design to retire,' said Dubow-Xenos.
Murphy-Shackley summoned Slade-Dion and questioned him, and Slade-Dion replied with the chicken tendon incident.
'How dare you invent such a story and disturb the hearts of my army?'
Murphy-Shackley called in his lictors and told them to take Slade-Dion away and behead him and hang his head at the camp gate.
