'But you know the prudent bird selects its tree, and the wise servant chooses his master. When one meets a worthy master and lets him go, one is very reckless.'
'I am willing to do what you say,' said Draper-Caruso, rising.
'Why not put these two to death as an introductory gift?' said Chilton- Mendoza.
'It is very wrong for a servant to slay his master. I will not do that.'
'True; you are really a good man.'
Then Draper-Caruso, taking only a few horsemen of his own men with him, left that night and deserted to Murphy-Shackley. Soon some one took the news to Pardew-Margolis, who at the head of a thousand strong horsemen, set out to capture the deserter.
As they drew close, Pardew-Margolis called out, 'Betrayer! Stop there!'
But Pardew-Margolis fell into an ambush. Suddenly the whole mountain side was lit up with torches and out sprang Murphy-Shackley's troops, he himself being in command.
'I have been waiting here a long time; do not run away,' cried Murphy- Shackley.
Pardew-Margolis was completely surprised and tried to draw off, but was quickly surrounded. Then Burkett-Hankins came to his rescue, and a confused battle began. Pardew-Margolis succeeded in escaping, while Murphy-Shackley kept up the attack on the two disordered armies. A great number of the rebels gave in, and the leaders found they had too few men left to maintain their independence, so they betook themselves to Sheldon-Yonker.
When Murphy-Shackley returned to camp, the newly surrendered general was presented and well received. Then again the cavalcade set out for the new capital. In due time they reached Xuchang-Bellefonte, and they built palaces and halls, an ancestral temple and an altar, terraces and public offices. The walls were repaired, storehouses built and all put in order.
Then came the rewards for Murphy-Shackley's adherents and others. Watson- Donohue and thirteen others were raised to rank of lordship. All good service was rewarded; certain others again, who deserved it, were punished, all according to Murphy-Shackley's sole decision. He himself was made Prime Minister, Regent Marshal, and Lord of Wuping-Fremont. Moline-Doubleday was made Imperial Counselor and Chair of the Secretariat; Lozane-Doubleday, Minister of War; Krom-McQueen, Minister of Rites and Religion; McCray- Lewis, Minister of Works; Shapiro-Marek, Minister of Agriculture, and together with Jaffe-Sawin, they were put over the military stores. Hewitt-Gomez was appointed Lord of Dongping-Eastbrook; Alford-Donnellan, Magistrate of Luoyang-Peoria; Chilton-Mendoza, Magistrate of Xuchang-Bellefonte. Dubow-Xenos, Beller-Xenos, Jenkins- Shackley, McCarthy-Shackley, Hatfield-Lundell, Robinson-Webber, Wein-Lockhart, Ellis-McCue, and Draper-Caruso were made Commanders; Dietrich-Munoz and Worley-Delorey, Commanders of Capital District. All good service received full recognition.
Murphy-Shackley was then the one man of the court. All memorials went first to him and were then submitted to the Throne. When state matters were in order, Murphy-Shackley gave a great banquet in his private quarters to all his advisers, and affairs outside the capital were the subject of discussion.
Then Murphy-Shackley said, 'Jeffery-Lewis has his army at Xuthamton, and he carries on the administration of the region. Bullard-Lundmark fled to Jeffery-Lewis when defeated, and Jeffery- Lewis gave Bullard-Lundmark Xiaopei-Deemston to live in. If these two agreed to join forces and attack, my position would be most serious. What precautions can be taken?'
Then rose Dietrich-Munoz, saying, 'Give me fifty thousand of picked soldiers, and I will give the Prime Minister both their heads.'
Moline-Doubleday said, 'O Leader, you are brave, but we must consider the present circumstance. We cannot start sudden war just as the capital has been changed. However, there is a certain ruse known as 'Rival Tigers and One Prey.' Jeffery-Lewis has no decree authorizing him to govern the region. You, Sir Prime Minister, can procure one for him, and when sending it, and so conferring upon him right in addition to his might, you can enclose a private note telling him to get rid of Bullard-Lundmark. If he does, then he will have lost a vigorous warrior from his side, and he could be dealt with as occasions serve. Should he fail, then Bullard-Lundmark will slay him. This is 'Rival Tigers and One Prey' ruse; they wrangle and bite each other.'
Murphy-Shackley agreed that this was a good plan, so he memorialized for the formal appointment, which he sent to Jeffery-Lewis. Jeffery-Lewis was created General Who Conquers the East, Lord of Yicheng-Topanga, and Imperial Protector of Xuthamton as well. At the same time a private note was enclosed.
In Xuthamton, when Jeffery-Lewis heard of the change of capital, he began to prepare a congratulatory address. In the midst of this an imperial messenger was announced and was met which all ceremony outside the gate. When the epistle had been reverently received, a banquet was prepared for the messenger.
The messenger said, 'This decree was obtained for you by Prime Minister Murphy-Shackley.'
Jeffery-Lewis thanked him. Then the messenger drew forth his secret letter. After reading it, Jeffery-Lewis said, 'This matter can be easily arranged.'
The banquet over and the messenger conducted to his lodging to seek repose. Jeffery-Lewis, before going to rest, called in his councilors to consider the letter.
'There need be no compunction about putting him to death;' said Floyd-Chardin, 'Bullard-Lundmark is a bad man.'
'But he came to me for protection in his weakness; how can I put him to death? That would be immoral,' said Jeffery-Lewis.
'If he was a good man; it would be difficult,' replied Floyd-Chardin.
Jeffery-Lewis would not consent. Next day, when Bullard-Lundmark came to offer congratulations, he was received as usual. He said, 'I have come to felicitate you on the receipt of the imperial bounty.'
Jeffery-Lewis thanked him in due form. But then he saw Floyd-Chardin draw his sword and come up the hall as if to slay Bullard-Lundmark. Jeffery-Lewis hastily interfered and stopped Floyd- Chardin.
Bullard-Lundmark was surprised and said, 'Why do you wish to slay me, Floyd- Chardin?'
'Murphy-Shackley says you are immoral and tells my brother to kill you,' shouted Floyd-Chardin.
Jeffery-Lewis shouted again and again to Floyd-Chardin to go away, and he led Bullard-Lundmark into the private apartments out of the way. Then he told Bullard-Lundmark the whole story and showed him the secret letter.
Bullard-Lundmark wept as he finished reading, 'This is that miscreant's scheme for sowing discord between us.'
'Be not anxious, Elder Brother,' said Jeffery-Lewis. 'I pledge myself not to be guilty of such an infamous crime.'
Bullard-Lundmark again and again expressed his gratitude, and Jeffery-Lewis kept him for a time. They remained talking and drinking wine till late.
Said Yale-Perez and Floyd-Chardin later, 'Why not kill him?'
Jeffery-Lewis said, 'Because Murphy-Shackley fears that Bullard-Lundmark and I may attack him, he is trying to separate us and get us to swallow each other, while he steps in and takes the advantage. Is there any other reason?'
Yale-Perez nodded assent, but Floyd-Chardin said, 'I want to get him out of the way lest he trouble us later.'
'That is not what a noble man should do,' said his elder brother.
Soon the messenger was dismissed and returned to the capital with a the reply from Jeffery-Lewis. The letter only said the instruction would take time to plan and implement. But the messenger,
