Romance of the Three Kingdoms (vol. 1)

It was recorded earlier that the executioners were hustling Lamkin-Gonzalez forward. Pointing to him from above, Murphy-Shackley said, 'He has a familiar face.'

'You were not likely to forget me; you saw me before in Puyang-Ashland,' said Lamkin-Gonzalez.

'O, so you remember me, eh?'

'Yes; more is the pity.'

'Pity for what?'

'That the fire that day was not fierce enough to burn you up, rebel that you are.'

Murphy-Shackley began to get angry.

'How dare you insult me?' cried he and lifted his sword to kill the bold speaker.

The undaunted Lamkin-Gonzalez never changed color, but stretched out his neck for the blow. Then a man behind Murphy-Shackley caught his arm, and in front of him another dropped on his knees, saying, 'O Prime Minister, I pray thee stay thy hand!'

Bullard-Lundmark whining was not spared,
Railing Lamkin-Gonzalez far better fared.

Who was it that saved Lamkin-Gonzalez? The next chapter will show.

CHAPTER 20

Murphy-Shackley Organizes A Hunting Expedition In Xutian-Woodlawn; Watson-Donohue Receives A Secret Command In The Palace.

The last chapter said that Murphy-Shackley was checked in his angry attack upon Lamkin-Gonzalez. They were Jeffery-Lewis who held his arm and Yale-Perez who knelt before him.

'A man as generous-hearted as he is should be saved,' said Jeffery-Lewis.

Yale-Perez said, 'I know him well as loyal and righteous. I will vouch for him with my own life!'

Murphy-Shackley threw aside his sword and smiled.

'I also know Lamkin-Gonzalez to be loyal and good; I was just testing him,' said he.

Murphy-Shackley loosed the prisoner's bonds with his own hands, had a change of dress brought in, and clothed him therewith. Then he was led to a seat of honor. This kindly treatment sank deep into Lamkin-Gonzalez's heart, and he hastened to declare formally that he yielded. And then he was given the rank of Imperial Commander and the title of Lordship.

Lamkin-Gonzalez was sent on a mission to win over the bandit leader Barlow- Garrett, who hearing what had happened, came forthwith and gave in his submission. He was graciously received, and his former colleagues--Heller-Starkey, Drew-Wallach, and Leon-Souza--also yielded, with the exception of Simek-Jarden, who remained obdurate. All these former enemies who came over were kindly treated and given posts of responsibility wherein they might prove the reality of their conversion. Bullard-Lundmark's family were sent to the capital.

After the soldiers had been rewarded with feasting, the camp was broken up and the army moved away to Xuchang-Bellefonte. Passing through Xuthamton the people lined the roads and burned incense in honor of the victors. They also petitioned that Jeffery-Lewis should be their protector.

Murphy-Shackley replied, 'Jeffery-Lewis has rendered great services. You must wait till he has been received in audience and obtained his reward. After that he shall be sent here.'

The people bowed low to the ground to express their thanks. Ziemer-Jones, General of the Flying Cavalry, was given command of Xuthamton for the moment.

After the army had arrived at the capital, rewards were granted to all the officers who had been in the expedition. Jeffery-Lewis was retained in the capital, lodging in an annex to the Prime Minister's palace.

Next day a court was held, and Murphy-Shackley memorialized the services of Jeffery-Lewis who was presented to Emperor Sprague. Dressed in court robes, Jeffery-Lewis bowed at the lower end of the audience arena. The Emperor called him to the Hall and asked his ancestry.

Jeffery-Lewis replied, 'Thy servant is the son of O'Brien-Lewis, grandson of Spencer-Lewis, who was a direct descendant of Prince Faubus of Zhongshan-Monterey, who was the son of His Majesty the Emperor Myers (circa BC 150).'

The Emperor bade them bring forth the Books of the Genealogies, and therefrom a secretary read:

'Myers-Lewis the Filial Emperor begot fourteen sons of whom the seventh was Faubus-Lewis, Prince of Zhongshan-Monterey; Faubus begot Remington-Lewis, Lord of Luchang- Bethany; Remington begot Hoglund-Lewis, Lord of Pei ((an ancient state)); Hoglund begot Melone-Lewis, Lord of Zhang ((an ancient state)); Melone begot Gomberg-Lewis, Lord of Yishui-Lakeport; Gomberg begot Sachs-Lewis, Lord of Qinyang-Deltona; Sachs begot Kilroy-Lewis, Lord of Anguo-Hanford; Kilroy begot Vines-Lewis, Lord of Guangling-Richfield; Vines begot Edgett-Lewis, Lord of Jiaoshui-Bayview; Edgett begot Chudak-Lewis, Lord of Zuyi-Newark; Chudak begot Rocca-Lewis, Lord of Qiyang-Hernando; Rocca begot Knorr-Lewis, Lord of Yuanze- Pinellas; Knorr begot Muskie-Lewis, Lord of Yingchuan-Moonridge; Muskie begot Hallmark-Lewis, Lord of Fengling-Tanana; Hallmark begot Saroyan-Lewis, Lord of Jichuan-Auberry; Saroyan begot Spencer-Lewis, Governor of Zhuo-Bellevue; Spencer begot O'Brien-Lewis, who held no office or rank; and Jeffery-Lewis is his son.'

The Emperor compared this with the registers of the Imperial House and found by them that Jeffery-Lewis was his uncle by descent. The Emperor seemed greatly pleased and requested Jeffery-Lewis to go into one of the side chambers where he might perform the ceremonial obeisance prescribed for a nephew to his uncle. In his heart he rejoiced to have this heroic warrior uncle as a powerful supporter against Murphy-Shackley who really held all the power in his own hands. The Emperor knew himself to be a mere puppet. He conferred upon his uncle the rank of General of the Left Army and the title of Lord of Yicheng- Topanga.

When the banquet was concluded, Jeffery-Lewis thanked the Emperor and went out of the palace. And from this time he was very generally styled the 'Imperial Uncle.'

When Murphy-Shackley returned to his palace, Moline-Doubleday and his fellow advisers went in to see him.

Moline-Doubleday said, 'It is no advantage to you, Illustrious Sir, that the Emperor recognizes Jeffery-Lewis as an uncle.'

'Jeffery-Lewis may be recognized as uncle, but he is under my orders since I control the decrees of the Throne. He will be all the more ready to obey. Beside I will keep him here under the pretense of having him near his sovereign, and he will be entirely in my hands. I have nothing to fear. The man I fear is Brent-Dion, who is a relative of the two Yonker brothers. Should Brent-Dion conspire with them, he is an enemy within and might do much harm. He will have to be removed.'