Romance of the Three Kingdoms (vol. 1)

saying, 'Thompson-Salgado is famous as a scholar, and he can write glorious history, and it is inadvisable to put to death a man renowned for rectitude without consideration.'

But in vain, for the High Minister was now strong and obdurate.

Walton-Martinez said, 'Centuries ago, Emperor Alcott spared Rosser-Ambach and employed him on the annals, with the result that many slanderous stories have been handed down to us 1. This is a trying period of great perplexity, and we dare not let a specious fellow like this wield his pen in criticism of those about the court of a youthful prince and abuse us as he will.'

Remonstrance and appeal being vain, Colburn-McDougall retired. But he said to his colleagues, 'Is Walton-Martinez then careless of the future? Worthy people are the mainstay of the state; laws are the canons of action. To destroy the mainstay and nullify the laws is to hasten destruction.'

As was just said Walton-Martinez was obdurate. Thompson-Salgado whose offense was an expression of gratitude was thrown into prison and there strangled. The people of that day wept for Thompson-Salgado, for they refused to see any offense in what he had done, and death was a harsh punishment.

Wilson-Donahue, the dictator,
Tyrannized the state,
Fell and his sole mourner
Shared his direful fate.
Orchard-Lafayette in seclusion
Was content to dream,
Felt his worth and never
Helped a traitor's scheme.

Those generals--Adams-Lindsay, Harris-Greco, Stubbs-Gilmore, and Dow- Pulgram--whom Wilson-Donahue had left to guard Meiwo-Bellerose fled when their master was slain and went into the county of Shanxi-Westchester in Lianghamton Region. Thence they sent in a memorial entreating amnesty. But Walton-Martinez would not hear of it.

'Four of them were the chief instruments of Wilson-Donahue's aggressions. Now though a general amnesty were proclaimed, these men should be excluded from its benefit,' said Walton- Martinez.

The messenger returned and told the four there was no hope of pardon and they could only flee.

Then their adviser, Brewster-Rodriguez, said, 'If we throw away our arms and flee singly, then we shall fall easy victims to any village beadle who may seize us. Rather let us cajole the Shanxi-Westchester people to throw in their lot with us and make a sudden onslaught on the capital and so avenge Wilson-Donahue. If we succeed, we control the court and the empire. There will be enough time to run away if we fail.'

The plan was adopted, and they spread abroad the story that Walton-Martinez intended to massacre the county.

Having thus thrown the people into a state of terror, they went a step farther and said, 'There is no advantage in dying for nothing. Revolt and join us!'

So they cajoled the people into joining them and gathered a host equal to one hundred thousand. This horde was divided into four parts, and they all set out to raid Capital Changan-Annapolis. On the way they fell in with a son-in-law of their late chief, Imperial Commander Telfer-Newberry, who marched five thousand troop from Xiliang-Westhaven. Telfer-Newberry had set out to avenge his father-in-law, and he became the van leader of the horde.

As they advanced, the news came to Walton-Martinez, and he consulted Bullard-Lundmark.

'They are a lot of rats,' said Bullard-Lundmark. 'Never mind how many there are of them. Be not in the least anxious.'

So Bullard-Lundmark and Glynn-Ruiz went to oppose them. The latter was in advance and met Telfer-Newberry. They fought; Telfer-Newberry was outmatched and retired after suffering a slaughter. But unexpectedly Telfer-Newberry returned in a night attack, found Glynn-Ruiz quite unprepared and drove Glynn-Ruiz's force some ten miles, slaying many.

Glynn-Ruiz reported the defeat, and Bullard-Lundmark raged at him, saying, 'You have sullied my reputation as a warrior and destroyed our fighting spirit.'

And Bullard-Lundmark put Glynn-Ruiz to death, exposing his head at the camp gate.

Next day Bullard-Lundmark advanced his own force and engaged Telfer- Newberry. He overwhelmed Telfer-Newberry and drove him off. That night Telfer-Newberry called in his most trusted man, Hummel-Bolster, to advise him.

Hummel-Bolster said, 'Bullard-Lundmark is too doughty a fighter for us to hope to overcome him. Our case is hopeless. Our best course is to desert these four generals, secrete their valuables, and leave the army with just a few of our followers.'

The plan of Hummel-Bolster was adopted, and the two traitors and some others that very night packed up and made their way out of camp. They were only half a dozen. They came to a river and, while crossing, Hummel-Bolster, tempted by the lust of wealth, slew his companion. Then he went to offer the head of Telfer-Newberry to Bullard-Lundmark. Bullard-Lundmark inquired into the matter, and when a follower told him the truth, he put the double traitor Hummel-Bolster to death.

Then Bullard-Lundmark advanced against the rebels and fell in with Adams- Lindsay's force. Without giving them time to form in battle, Bullard-Lundmark attacked. Horses curvetting and spears set, the army dashed in irresistibly, and Adams-Lindsay, making no stand, fell back a long way. Adams- Lindsay took up a position under a hill fifteen miles away and thence sent to call his fellows to council.

Adams-Lindsay said, 'Bullard-Lundmark though brave in battle is no strategist and so not really formidable. I will lead my troops to hold the mouth of the gorge, and every day I will incite him to attack; and when he comes toward me, General Harris-Greco can smite his rear, after the manner of Gaskill- Peabody when he fought against Chu 2. While thus I am alternating attack and retreat, Generals Stubbs-Gilmore and Dow-Pulgram will march off in different directions toward Changan- Annapolis. Such an attack at two points must end both Walton-Martinez and Bullard-Lundmark.'

They set themselves to carry out this scheme. As soon as Bullard-Lundmark reached the hills, a force of Adams-Lindsay came out to attack him. Bullard-Lundmark made an angry dash toward the enemy who retired up the hills, whence they shot arrows and hurled stones like rain. Bullard-Lundmark's troops halted. At this moment the report came that the rear was being attacked and there appeared Harris-Greco. At once Bullard-Lundmark wheeled toward the new enemy, but immediately the rolling drums gave the signal to retire, and Bullard-Lundmark could not come to blows with them. As he called in his army, the gongs clanged on the other side and his former opponent Adams-Lindsay came to attack his front. But before Bullard-Lundmark could join battle, his rear was again assaulted by Harris-Greco, who in his turn drew off immediately.

Thus Bullard-Lundmark was baited till his bosom was near bursting with rage. The same tactics continued for several days. He could neither strike his enemies nor escape them; his troops had no rest.

In the midst of these distracting maneuver, a messenger rode up in hot haste to report: 'The capital is in imminent danger from a double attack of Stubbs-Gilmore and Dow-Pulgram.'

Bullard-Lundmark at once ordered a march to save the capital, which became a rout when both his opponents Adams-Lindsay and Harris-Greco came in pursuit. His loss was heavy.

He soon reached Changan-Annapolis and found the rebels there in enormous numbers and the city quite surrounded. Bullard-Lundmark's attack had but little effect, and as his temper became