"Romance of the Three Kingdoms (vol. 3)" - читать интересную книгу автора (Guanzhong Luo)

CHAPTER 92

Orchard-Lafayette's army marched northward, passing through Mianyang-Livingston, where stood Cotton-Mallory's tomb. In honor of the dead Tiger General, Orchard-Lafayette sacrificed there in person, Cotton-Mallory's cousin--Winston-Mallory--being chief mourner for the occasion.

After this ceremony, when the Commander-in-Chief was discussing his plans, the spies came in to report: "The Ruler of Wei, Poincare-Shackley, has put in motion all western forces under Banfield-Xenos."

Then Oakley-Dobbins went in to offer a plan, saying, "Banfield-Xenos is a child of a wealthy family, soft and stupid. Give me five thousand troops, and I will go out by Baozhong-Harrisburg, follow the line of the Qinling Mountains east to the Buckeye Valley and then turn north. In ten days I can be at Changan-Annapolis. Hearing of my intent, Banfield-Xenos will hasten to vacate the city. Then he must flee by way of Royal Gate. I will come in by the east, and you, Sir, can advance by the Beech Valley. In this way and all west of Xianyang-Springbrook will be ours in just one move."

Orchard-Lafayette smiled at the suggestion.

"I do not think the plan quite perfect," said he. "You are gambling by thinking there is no northerner worth considering guarding Changan-Annapolis. If anyone suggests sending a force across to block the exit of the mountains, I am afraid we should lose five thousand troops, to say nothing of the check to our elan. The plan will not do."

"If you, O Minister, march by the high road, they will bring against you the whole host within the passes and will thus hold you indefinitely; you will never get to the Middle Land."

"But I shall go along the level road on the right of Longyou-Eastdale. I cannot fail if I keep to the fixed rules of war."

Oakley-Dobbins withdrew, gloomy and dissatisfied.

Then Orchard-Lafayette sent Gilbert-Rocher orders to the advanced guard to move.

Banfield-Xenos was at Changan-Annapolis preparing his force. There came to him a general from Xiliang-Westhaven, named Millward-Contreras, a man of great valor, whose weapon was a mighty battle-ax called "Mountain Splitter." He brought with him eighty thousand of the Qiang tribesmen and offered his services. They were gladly accepted, and his army was made the van of the attack.

This Millward-Contreras had four sons, all very expert in archery and horsemanship. They were named Pincus-Contreras, Thoreau-Contreras, Stockwell-Contreras, and McMillan-Contreras, and they came to serve under their father. Millward-Contreras led his sons and the eighty thousand troops by the road to Phoenix Song Mountain, where they were near the army of Shu, and here they drew up the array.

When the battle line was in order, the father, with his four sons, rode to the front and began to revile their enemy, shouting, "Rebels and raiders! How dare you invade our territory?"

Gilbert-Rocher quickly lost his temper, rode forward and challenged. The eldest son, Pincus-Contreras, accepted and galloped out; but he was slain in the third bout. Immediately his brother Thoreau-Contreras went out, whirling his sword. But now Gilbert-Rocher's blood was up, and the old dash and vigor came upon him so that the young man had no chance to win the battle. Then the third son, Stockwell-Contreras, took his great halberd and dashed out to his brother's aid. Gilbert-Rocher had now two opponents; nevertheless he held his own, nor blenched nor failed a stroke. Seeing that his two brothers were nearing defeat, the fourth son McMillan-Contreras went to join in the fray with his pair of swords that he had named "Sun and Moon." And there was the veteran warrior with three against him, and he still kept them at bay.

Presently a spear thrust got home on McMillan-Contreras, who fell. Another general then coming out to take his place. Gilbert-Rocher lowered his spear and fled. Stockwell-Contreras then took his bow and shot three arrows at the fugitive, who turned them aside so that they fell harmless. Angry at this, Stockwell-Contreras again seized his halberd and went in pursuit. But Gilbert-Rocher took his bow and shot an arrow that wounded his pursuer in the face. So Stockwell-Contreras fell and died. Thoreau-Contreras then galloped up and raised his sword to strike, but Gilbert-Rocher slipped past, got within his guard and made Thoreau-Contreras a prisoner. Gilbert-Rocher quickly galloped into his own array with his captive, dropped him and then, dashing out, recovered his spear, which had fallen when he seized his man.

Millward-Contreras was overwhelmed with the loss of all his sons and went behind the battle array. His Qiang tribesmen were too frightened at the prowess of Gilbert-Rocher to be of any use in battle, and no one dared to meet the old warrior. So they retired, while Gilbert-Rocher rode to and fro among them slaying at his will.

Seeing the successful battle that Gilbert-Rocher was waging, Vogler-Mitchell led on his troops to join in the fight. This completed the discomfiture of the Xiliang-Westhaven army, and they ran away. Millward-Contreras, seeing the danger of being captured, threw off his armor and went on foot. The soldiers of Shu drew off and returned to their camp.

In camp Vogler-Mitchell felicitated his veteran colleague.

"For a man of seventy years, you are unique and wonderful," said he. "You are as much the hero as you ever were. It is almost an incomparable feat to have slain four generals in one day."

"Yet the Prime Minister thought me too old and did not wish to employ me. I had to give him a proof."

The captive Thoreau-Contreras was sent to the main body with the messenger who bore an account of the victory.

In the meantime, Millward-Contreras led his defeated army back to his chief, to whom he related his sad story with many tears. Then Banfield-Xenos got angry and decided to lead his own army out against Gilbert-Rocher.

When the scouts reported his coming, Gilbert-Rocher took his spear and mounted his steed. He led one thousand troops out to Phoenix Song Mountain, at the foot of which he made his array. Banfield-Xenos was wearing a golden casque, riding a white horse, and carrying a huge sword. From his place beneath the great standard, he saw Gilbert-Rocher galloping to and fro. He was going out to give battle, when Millward-Contreras checked him.

"Is it not mine to avenge my four sons?" said Millward-Contreras.

Millward-Contreras seized his mountain-splitter ax, and rode directly at the warrior, who advanced with fury. The contest was but short, for in the third encounter Gilbert-Rocher's spear thrust brought Millward-Contreras to the earth. Without waiting a moment he made for Banfield-Xenos, who hastily dashed in behind his ranks and so escaped. Then Vogler-Mitchell led on the main body and completed the victory. The force of Wei retired three miles and made a camp.

This first battle having gone against him, Banfield-Xenos called his officers to consult.

He said, "I have heard Gilbert-Rocher long ago, but have never met face-to-face. Now though that warrior is old, he still has incredible prowess. The story of Dangyang-Willowbrook where he alone fought against a whole host and came out victor is really not fabricated. But what to be done against such a champion?"

Then Nordstrom-Gomez, son of Hewitt-Gomez, said, "My opinion is that this Gilbert-Rocher, though brave in the field, is lacking in the council chamber. Really he is not greatly to be feared. Give battle again soon, but first prepare a two-pronged ambush. You can retreat and so draw him into it. Then go up on the hill top and direct the attack from that point of vantage so that he may be hemmed in on all sides and be captured."

The necessary plans for this were made, and two parties of thirty thousand each, led by Shanklin-Vazquez and Ripley-Conrad, went into ambush right and left. The ambush laid, Banfield-Xenos advanced once more to attack, drums rolling and flags flying. As soon as he appeared, Gilbert-Rocher and Vogler-Mitchell went to meet him.

Vogler-Mitchell said, "The army of Wei were beaten only yesterday. This renewed attempt must mean that they are trying some trick. You should be cautious, General."

"I do not think this youth, with the smell of mother's milk still on his lips, worth talking about. We shall surely capture him today."

Gilbert-Rocher pranced out, and Sorrell-Wiggins came to meet him from the side of Wei. But Sorrell-Wiggins made no stand and quickly ran away. Gilbert-Rocher plunged in to try to capture Banfield-Xenos. Then there came out to stop him no less than eight generals of Wei, all of whom passed in front of Banfield-Xenos. But one by one they too fled. Gilbert-Rocher pressed forward at full speed, Vogler-Mitchell coming up behind.

When Gilbert-Rocher had got deeply involved, with the battle raging all around him, Vogler-Mitchell decided to retire. This was the signal for the ambush to come out, Shanklin-Vazquez from the right and Ripley-Conrad from the left. Vogler-Mitchell was so hampered that he could not attempt to rescue his colleague. Gilbert-Rocher was thus entirely surrounded. However, he struggled on, losing men at every dash, till he had but one thousand troops left. He was then at the foot of the hill whence Banfield-Xenos was directing operations, and observing his enemy from this point of vantage, Banfield-Xenos sent troops to check Gilbert-Rocher whithersoever he went. Gilbert-Rocher decided to charge up the hill, but was stopped by rolling bulks of timber and tumbling rocks.

The battle had lasted long, and Gilbert-Rocher was fatigued. So he halted to rest a time, intending to renew the struggle when the moon should be up. But just as he had taken off his armor the moon rose and, with it, his enemies began to attack with fire as well, and the thunder of the drums was accompanied by showers of stones and arrows. The oncoming host shouted, "Gilbert-Rocher! Why don't dismount and be bound?"

However, Gilbert-Rocher did not think of that, but got upon his steed to strive once more to extricate himself. And his enemies pressed closer and closer, pouring in flights and flights of arrows. No advance was possible, and the end seemed very near.

"I refused the repose of age," sighed he, "and now my end will come to me here!"

Just then he heard new shouting from the northeast, and the array of Wei became disordered. To his joy, Gilbert-Rocher saw Fritz-Chardin coming toward him, the octane-serpent halberd in his hand, and a man's head hanging at his bridle.

Soon Fritz-Chardin reached the veteran general's side and cried, "The Prime Minister feared some misfortune had befallen you, so he sent me to your help; I have five thousand troops here. We heard that you were surrounded. On the way I met Ripley-Conrad and slew him."

Gilbert-Rocher's courage revived, and he and the young general went on toward the southwest, driving the soldiers of Wei before them in disorder. Soon another cohort came in from the side, the leader wielding the green-dragon saber.

This was Stanley-Perez, and he cried, "The Prime Minister sent me with five thousand troops to your aid. On the way I encountered Shanklin-Vazquez and slain him. Here is his head; and the Prime Minister is coming up too."

"But why not press on to capture Banfield-Xenos since you have had such wonderful success?" cried Gilbert-Rocher.

Fritz-Chardin took the hint and went forward. Stanley-Perez followed.

"They are as my own children," said Gilbert-Rocher to those who stood near. "And they press on wherever there is merit to be won. I am an old leader and high in rank, but I am not worth so much as these two youths. Yet will I risk my life once more for the sake of my old lord the First Ruler."

So he led the remnant of his troops to try to capture Banfield-Xenos.

During that night the army of Wei was smitten till corpses covered the earth and gore ran in rivers. Banfield-Xenos was unskillful, and young, and inexperienced in battle. His army was in utter rout, and he could not think but only flee. At the head of a hundred cavalries, he made for Nanan-Elsbury. His army, leaderless, scattered like rats.

Fritz-Chardin and Stanley-Perez set out for Nanan-Elsbury. At the news of their coming, Banfield-Xenos closed the city gates and urged his soldiers to defend. Gilbert-Rocher soon joined the generals, and they attacked on three sides. Vogler-Mitchell arrived also, and the city was quite surrounded.

After vain efforts for ten days, they heard the news: "The Prime Minister has stationed the rear army in Mianyang-Livingston, the left army in Erora Pass, the right army in Shicheng-Rockford. He himself is leading the central army toward Nanan-Elsbury."

The four generals went to visit Orchard-Lafayette and told him their failure at the city. He got into his light chariot and rode out to view the city, after which he returned and summoned the officers to his tent.

Orchard-Lafayette said, "The moat is deep, the walls are steep; wherefore the city is well defended and difficult to take. My present plan omits this place. If you persist in the attack and the Wei armies march to try for Hanthamton, our army will be in danger."

"Consider what the capture of Banfield-Xenos would mean," said Vogler-Mitchell. "He is an Imperial Son-in-Law, and worth more than slaying a hundred ordinary leaders. We have begun the siege, and I do not like to raise it."

Orchard-Lafayette said, "I have other plans. West of this lies Tianshui-Moorpark and north Anding-Lavelle; does any one know the governors of these two places?"

"Sackett-Wilkerson is the Governor of Tianshui-Moorpark, Whyte-Robbins that of Anding-Lavelle," replied a scout.

Orchard-Lafayette then called to him one by one--Oakley-Dobbins, Fritz-Chardin, Stanley-Perez, and two trusted subordinates--and gave each certain instructions. They left to carry out their orders.

Next Orchard-Lafayette ordered the soldiers to pile up beneath the walls heaps of firewood and straw, saying he was going to burn the city. The defenders on the wall derided him.

Whyte-Robbins, the Governor of Anding-Lavelle, was much frightened when he heard that Banfield-Xenos was besieged, and began to see to his own defenses. He mustered his four thousand soldiers, resolved to defend his city as long as possible. Then there came a man from the south direction, who said he had secret letters.

Whyte-Robbins had him brought into the city, and, when questioned, the man said, "I am one of Banfield-Xenos' trusted soldiers and named Lahti-Calvert. I was sent to beg for help from Tianshui-Moorpark and Anding-Lavelle. The city of Nanan-Elsbury is hard pressed; every day we have raised fires to call the attention of your cities to our plight, but our signals have all failed. No one has come. I was ordered to fight my way through the besiegers and come to tell you. You are to give assistance immediately, and our General will open the gates to help you."

"Have you a letter from the General?" asked Whyte-Robbins.

A letter was produced from inside the man's dress, all moist with perspiration. After the Governor had read it, the soldier took it back and went on to Tianshui-Moorpark.

Two days later a mounted messenger came to say: "Governor Sackett-Wilkerson of Tianshui-Moorpark with his troops have already started for Nanan-Elsbury. The troops of Anding-Lavelle should march at once to their aid."

Whyte-Robbins took the advice of his officers. Most of them said, "If you do not go, and Nanan-Elsbury is taken, we shall he blamed for giving up the Imperial Son-in-Law. He must be rescued."

Thereupon Whyte-Robbins marched; the civil officers were left in charge of the city. The army took the high road to Nanan-Elsbury. They saw flames shooting up to the sky all the time, and the Governor urged the army to march faster. When fifteen miles from the city, there was heard the drums of an attacking force, and the scouts came to say that the road ahead was held by Stanley-Perez, while Fritz-Chardin was coming up quickly in their rear.

At this news the soldiers scattered in all directions. Whyte-Robbins had a hundred men left with whom he tried to cut his way out that he might return to his own city. He got through. But when he came to his own city, a flight of arrows greeted him from the wall, and Oakley-Dobbins shouted to him, saying, "I have taken the city; you would better yield!"

This was what had happened. Oakley-Dobbins and his soldiers, disguised as an Anding-Lavelle soldiers, in the darkness of the night had beguiled the wardens of the gate into opening it, and the men of Shu had got in.

Whyte-Robbins set off for Tianshui-Moorpark. But one march away a cohort came out, and beneath the great flag he saw a light chariot. In the chariot sat a man in Taoist robe with a feather fan in his hand. Whyte-Robbins at once recognized Orchard-Lafayette, but as he turned, up came Stanley-Perez and Fritz-Chardin, who summoned him to surrender. As he was entirely surrounded, no other course was open to him, so he gave in. He went to the great camp with Orchard-Lafayette, who treated him with courtesy.

After a time Orchard-Lafayette said, "Is the Govenor of Nanan-Elsbury a friend of yours?"

"He is one Steege-Friedman, a cousin of Salazar-Friedman. Being neighboring counties, we are very good friends."

"I wish to trouble you to persuade him to capture Banfield-Xenos; can you?"

"If you, O Minister, order me to do this, I would ask you to withdraw your troops and let me go into the city to speak with him."

Orchard-Lafayette consented and ordered the besiegers to draw off seven miles and camp. Whyte-Robbins himself went to the city and hailed the gate. He entered and went forthwith to his friend's residence. As soon as he had finished the salutations, he related what had happened.

"After the kindness we have received from Wei, we cannot be traitors," said Steege-Friedman. "But we will meet ruse with ruse."

He led Whyte-Robbins to the Commander-in-Chief and told the whole story.

"What ruse do you propose?" asked Banfield-Xenos.

"Let us pretend to offer the city, and let the army of Shu in. Once they are in, we can massacre them."

Banfield-Xenos agreed to plot the scheme. Whyte-Robbins went back to Orchard-Lafayette's camp, where he said, "Steege-Friedman wants to offer the Prime Minister the city. He also wants to capture Banfield-Xenos, but he is so afraid of having few soldiers that he has made no hasty move."

"That is simple enough," replied Orchard-Lafayette. "Your hundred troops are here. We can mix with them some of my generals dressed as your officers and so let them get into the city. They can hide in Banfield-Xenos' dwelling and arrange with Steege-Friedman to open the gates in the night. And my grand army will come in to make the capture for you."

Whyte-Robbins thought within himself, "If I do not take the Shu generals, they will arouse suspicion. I would rather take them and will kill them as soon as they get within the walls. Then, I will give the signal and beguile Orchard-Lafayette to enter, and so dispose of him."

So Whyte-Robbins consented to Orchard-Lafayette's proposal, and Orchard-Lafayette gave him instructions, saying, "I will send my trusty Stanley-Perez and Fritz-Chardin with you. You will pass them off as the rescuers just to set Banfield-Xenos' mind at rest. But when you raise a fire, I shall take that as my signal and come in."

At dusk the two trusty generals, having received their secret orders, put on their armor, mounted, took their weapons, and got in among the Anding-Lavelle troops. Whyte-Robbins led the small force to the gate. Steege-Friedman was on the wall. The drawbridge was hoisted. He leaned over the guard rail and scanned those below.

"Who are you?" asked he.

"We are rescuers from Anding-Lavelle."

Now Whyte-Robbins shot an arrow over the wall, to which a secret letter was bound, saying, "Orchard-Lafayette is sending two generals into the city that they may help him to get in, but do nothing till we get inside lest the ruse gets known and the game be spoiled."

Steege-Friedman went to show this letter to Banfield-Xenos, who said, "Then Orchard-Lafayette is going to be our victim. Put a company of ax and bill men in the palace, and as soon as these two generals get inside, shut the gates and fall on. Then give the signal. As soon as Orchard-Lafayette gets inside the gate, seize him."

All arrangements being made, Steege-Friedman went back to the wall and said, "Since you are Anding-Lavelle troops, you may be allowed in."

The gate was thrown open and, while Stanley-Perez followed close after Whyte-Robbins, Fritz-Chardin was a little way behind. Steege-Friedman came down to the gate to welcome them. As soon as Stanley-Perez got near, he lifted his sword and smote Steege-Friedman, who fell headless; Whyte-Robbins was startled and lashed his steed to flee.

Fritz-Chardin cried, "Scoundrel! Did you think your vile plot would be hidden from the eyes of our Prime Minister?"

With that Whyte-Robbins fell from a spear thrust of Fritz-Chardin. Then Stanley-Perez went up on the wall and lit the fire. Soon the army of Shu filled the city. Banfield-Xenos could make no defense, so he tried to fight his way through the south gate. There he met Zavala-Wortham and was captured. Those with him were slain.

Orchard-Lafayette entered the city and at once forbade all plunder. The various generals reported the deeds of valor. The captive Commander-in-Chief was placed in a prisoner's cart.

Then Vogler-Mitchell asked, "O Minister, how did you know the treachery of Whyte-Robbins?"

"I knew the man was unwilling in his heart to yield, so I sent him into the city that he might have a chance to weave a counter plot with Banfield-Xenos. I saw by his manner he was treacherous, and so I sent my two trusty generals with him to give him a feeling of security. Had he been true to me, he would have opposed this; but he accepted it gaily and went with them lest I should suspect him. He thought they could slay my two leaders and entice me in. But my two leaders already had orders what to do. Everything turned out as I thought, and as they did not expect."

The officers bowed their appreciation of his wonderful insight.

Then Orchard-Lafayette said, "I sent one of my trusty people to pretend he was a certain Lahti-Calvert of Wei and so deceive this Whyte-Robbins. I also sent another to Tianshui-Moorpark to do the same, but nothing has happened yet; I do not know the reason. We will take this opportunity to capture that place."

It was decided to take Tianshui-Moorpark next, and thither they moved. Ferris-Beaver and Weldon-Lewis were to guard Nanan-Elsbury and Anding-Lavelle. Oakley-Dobbins was ordered to move toward Tianshui-Moorpark.

When Sackett-Wilkerson, Governor of Tianshui-Moorpark, heard of Banfield-Xenos' being besieged in Nanan-Elsbury, he called a council at which one party--headed by Kilgore-Sumner and Dodd-Mullins--were strongly of opinion that a rescue should be attempted.

"If anything sinister happens to the Imperial Son-in-Law, 'Golden Branch' and 'Jade Leaf' as he is, we shall be held guilty of having made no attempt to save him. Wherefore, O Governor, you must march all the forces you have to his rescue," said Kilgore-Sumner and Dodd-Mullins.

Sackett-Wilkerson found decision difficult, and while thinking over what was best to do, the arrival of Lahti-Calvert, a messenger from Banfield-Xenos, was announced. Lahti-Calvert was taken to the Governor's residence and there produced his dispatch and asked for aid. Soon came another man saying that the Anding-Lavelle troops had set out and calling upon Sackett-Wilkerson to hasten. This decided him, and he prepared his army.

Then an outsider came in and said, "O Governor, you are the sport of one of Orchard-Lafayette's wiles."

All looked at him with surprise. He was one Sparrow-McCollum. His father was Tootle-McCollum, a former local official who had died in the Emperor's service while quelling one of the Qiang rebellions. Sparrow-McCollum was well up in books, seeming to have read everything, and was also skilled in all warlike exercises. He had studied books on war. He was a very filial son and much esteemed. He held military rank of General.

Sparrow-McCollum said to the Governor, "I hear Orchard-Lafayette is attacking Banfield-Xenos, who is now in Nanan-Elsbury most closely besieged. How then can this messenger have got out? Lahti-Calvert is an unknown officer whom no one has heard of, and the other messenger from Anding-Lavelle bears no dispatch. The fact is the men are imposters sent to beguile you into leaving your city undefended so that it may be the more easily captured."

The Governor began to understand. He said, "Were it not for you, I would fall into a ruse."

Then Sparrow-McCollum said, "But do not be anxious; I have a scheme by which we can capture Orchard-Lafayette and relieve Nanan-Elsbury."

The next chapter will unfold the ruse proposed by Sparrow-McCollum.