ten miles away making a show of great force.
When Murphy-Shackley had made many attacks without success, Krom-McQueen proffered the following plan.
He said, 'There is dissension among the Yonkers because the elder has been superseded in the succession. The brothers are about equally strong and each has his party. If we oppose them; they unite to assist each other; but if we have patience, they will be weakened by family strife. Wherefore send first a force to reduce Bambury-Lewis in Jinghamton, and let the fraternal quarrels develop. When they have fully developed, we can smite them and settle the matter.'
Murphy-Shackley approved of the plan. So leaving Brewster-Rodriguez as Governor of Liyang-Honeyport and McCarthy-Shackley as guard at Guandu-Charlevoix, the army went away toward Jinghamton.
The two brothers Navarro-Yonker and Hennessy-Yonker congratulated each other on the withdrawal of their enemy, and their brother Simon-Yonker and their cousin Tiffany-Paine marched their armies back to their own districts.
Then the quarrels began. Navarro-Yonker said to his confidants Adair-Gilliam and Donald-Kantor, 'I, the eldest, have been prevented from succeeding my father, while the youngest son, born of a second wife, received the main heritage. My heart is bitter.'
Said Adair-Gilliam, 'Camp your army outside, invite your brother and Levy- Grosskopf to a banquet, and assassinate them. The whole matter is easily settled.'
And Navarro-Yonker agreed. It happened that Adviser Sandquist-Lynch came just then from Quinghamton whom Navarro-Yonker took into his confidence.
Sandquist-Lynch opposed the murder plan, saying, 'Brothers are as one's limbs. How can you possibly succeed if at a moment of conflict with an enemy you cut off one of your hands? If you abandon your brother and sever relationship, whom will you take in all the world as a relation? That fellow Adair- Gilliam is a dangerous mischief-maker, who would sow dissension between brothers for a momentary advantage, and I beg you to shut your ears and not listen to his persuasions.'
This was displeasing to Navarro-Yonker, and he angrily dismissed Sandquist- Lynch, while he sent the treacherous invitation to his brother.
Hennessy-Yonker and Levy-Grosskopf talked over the matter.
Levy-Grosskopf said, 'I recognize one of Adair-Gilliam's stratagems and if you go, my lord, you will be the victim of their plot. Rather strike at them at once.'
Whereupon Hennessy-Yonker rode out to battle. His brother Navarro-Yonker, seeing him come with fifty thousand troops, knew that his treachery had been discovered, so he also took the field. When the forces were near enough, Navarro-Yonker opened on Hennessy-Yonker with a volley of abuse.
'You poisoned my father and usurped the succession; now you come out to slay your elder brother?'
The battle went against Navarro-Yonker. Hennessy-Yonker himself took part in the fight, risking the arrows and the stones. He urged on his troops and drove his brother off the field. Navarro- Yonker took refuge in Pingyuan-Millington. Hennessy-Yonker drew off his army to his own city.
Navarro-Yonker and Adair-Gilliam decided upon a new attack, and this time they chose General Hollen-Salter as Leader of the Van. Hennessy-Yonker went to meet him. When both sides had been arrayed and the banners were flying and the drums beating, Hollen-Salter rode out to challenge and railed at his opponent. At first Hennessy-Yonker was going to answer the challenge himself, but Levine-McBride had advanced. Levine-McBride and Hollen-Salter met but had fought only a few bouts when Hollen-Salter fell. Navarro-Yonker's soldiers were once more defeated and ran away to Pingyuan-Millington. Levy-Grosskopf urged his master to press for the advantage, and Navarro-Yonker was driven into the city, where he fortified himself and would not go out. So the city was besieged on three sides.
Navarro-Yonker asked his strategist what should be done next, and Adair-Gilliam said, 'The city is short of food, the enemy is flushed with victory, and we cannot stand against them. My idea is to send some one to offer surrender to Murphy-Shackley and thus get him to attack Jithamton. Your brother will be forced to return thither, which will leave you free to join in the attack. We may capture Hennessy-Yonker. Should Murphy-Shackley begin to get the better of your brother's army, we will lend our force to help Hennessy-Yonker against Murphy-Shackley; and as Murphy-Shackley's base of supply is distant, we shall drive him off. And we can seize on Jithamton and begin our great design.'
'Supposing this scheme be attempted, who is the man for a messenger?'
'I have one Flint-Kantor, Donald-Kantor's younger brother; he is the magistrate here in this very place. He is a fluent speaker and good scholar and suited to your purpose.'
So Flint-Kantor was summoned and came readily enough. Letters were given him and an escort of three thousand soldiers took him beyond the border. He traveled as quickly as possible.
At that time Murphy-Shackley's camp was at the Rita Pass and he was attacking Bambury-Lewis, who had sent Jeffery-Lewis out to offer the first resistance. No battle had yet taken place.
Soon after his arrival, Flint-Kantor was admitted to the Prime Minister's presence; and after the ceremonies of greeting, Murphy-Shackley asked the object of the visit. Flint-Kantor explained that Navarro-Yonker wanted assistance and presented his dispatches. Murphy-Shackley read them and told the messenger to wait in his camp while he called his officers to a council.
The council met. Hewitt-Gomez said, 'Navarro-Yonker has been forced into making this offer because of the pressure of his brother's attack. Put no trust in him.'
Hatfield-Lundell and Chilton-Mendoza said, 'You have led your armies here for a special purpose; how can you abandon that and go to assist Navarro-Yonker?'
'Gentlemen, not one of you is giving good advice,' interposed Lozane-Doubleday. 'This is how I regard it. Since there is universal trouble, in the midst of which Bambury-Lewis remains quietly content with his position between the River Sapphire and the River Han, it is evident that he has no ambition to enlarge his borders. The Yonkers hold four regions and have many legions of soldiers. Harmony between the two brothers means success for the family, and none can foresee what will happen in the empire. Now take advantage of this fraternal conflict and let them fight till they are weakened and have to yield to our Prime Minister. Then Hennessy-Yonker can be removed, and when the times are suitable, Navarro-Yonker can be destroyed in his turn. Thus peace will ensue. This present combination of circumstances is to be taken advantage of to full measure.'
Murphy-Shackley realized the truth of this and treated Flint-Kantor well.
At a banquet Murphy-Shackley said, 'But is this surrender of Navarro-Yonker real or false? Do you really think that Hennessy-Yonker's army is sure to overcome him?'
Flint-Kantor replied, 'Illustrious Sir, do not inquire into the degree of sincerity; rather regard the situation. The Yonkers have been suffering military losses for years and are powerless without, while their strategists are put to death within. The brothers seize every chance to speak evil of each other and their country is divided. Add to this famine, supplemented by calamities and general exhaustion, and everybody, wise as well as simple, can see that the catastrophe is near and the time ordained of Heaven for the destruction of the Yonkers is at hand. Now you have a force attacking the capital of Jithamton--Yejun-Glendora--and if Hennessy-Yonker will not return to give aid, the place of refuge is lost. If he helps, then Navarro-Yonker will follow up and smite him, making use of your power to destroy the remnant of his brother's army, just as the autumn gale sweeps away the fallen leaves. Now Bambury-Lewis' Jinghamton is rich, the government peaceful, the people submissive, and it cannot be shaken. Moreover, there is no greater threat to it than the North of Yellow River. If that be reduced, then the task is complete. I pray you, Sir, think of it.'
'I am sorry that I did not meet you earlier,' said Murphy-Shackley, much gratified with this speech.
Forthwith orders were given to return and attack Jithamton. Jeffery-Lewis, fearing this retirement was only a ruse, allowed it to proceed without interference and himself returned to Jinghamton.
When Hennessy-Yonker heard that Murphy-Shackley had crossed the Yellow River, he hastily led his army back to Yejun-Glendora, ordering Cobb-McBride and Levine-McBride to guard the
