"Thus are able humans buried!" said Northrop-Kaminski, sighing. Then he continued. "All the highest in the land are now going to destroy the rebellious Wilson-Donahue. My brother, you would do better to abandon this petty place and join us in restoring the House of Han. Why not?"
"I should like to go," said Jeffery-Lewis.
"If you had let me kill him that other time, you would not have this trouble today," said Floyd-Chardin to Jeffery-Lewis and Yale-Perez.
"Since things are so, let us pack and go," said Yale-Perez.
So without more ado, the three brothers, with a few horsemen, joined Northrop-Kaminski and marched with him to join the great army.
One after another the feudal lords came up and encamped. Their camps extended over seventy miles and more. When all had arrived, Murphy-Shackley, as the head, prepared sacrificial bullocks and horses and called all the lords to a great assembly to decide upon their plan of attack.
Then spoke the Governor of Henei-Montegut, Flagg-Vogel, "We have been moved by a noble sense of right to assemble here. Now must we first choose a chief and bind ourselves to obedience."
Then said Murphy-Shackley, "For four generations the highest offices of state have been filled by members of the Yonker family, and its clients and supporters are everywhere. As a descendant of ancient ministers of Han, Shannon-Yonker is a suitable man to be our chief lord."
Shannon-Yonker again and again declined this honor. But they all said, "It must be he; there is no other!"
And then he agreed.
So the next day a three-story altar was built, and they planted about it the banners of all parties in five directions of space. And they set up white yaks' tails and golden axes and emblems of military authority and the seals of leadership round about.
All being ready, the chief lord was invited to ascend the altar. Clad in ceremonial robes and girded with a sword, Shannon-Yonker reverently ascended. There he burned incense, made obeisance and recited the oath:
"The House of Han has fallen upon evil days, the bands of imperial authority are loosened. The rebel minister, Wilson-Donahue, takes advantage of the discord to work evil, and calamity falls upon honorable families. Cruelty overwhelms simple folks. We, Shannon-Yonker and his confederates, fearing for the safety of the imperial prerogatives, have assembled military forces to rescue the state. We now pledge ourselves to exert our whole strength and act in concord to the utmost limit of our powers. There must be no disconcerted or selfish action. Should any depart from this pledge, may he lose his life and leave no posterity. Almighty Heaven and Universal Earth and the enlightened spirits of our forebears, be ye our witnesses."
The reading finished, Shannon-Yonker smeared the blood of the sacrifice upon his lips and upon the lips of those who shared the pledge. All were deeply affected by the ceremony and many shed tears.
This done, the chief lord was supported down from the high place and led to his tent, where he took the highest place and the others arranged themselves according to rank and age. Here wine was served.
Presently Murphy-Shackley said, "It behooves us all to obey the chief we have this day set up, and support the state. There must be no feeling of rivalry or superiority based upon numbers."
Shannon-Yonker replied, "Unworthy as I am, yet as elected chief I must impartially reward merit and punish offenses. Let each see to it that he obeys the national laws and the army precepts. These must not be broken."
"Only thy commands are to be obeyed!" cried all.
Then Shannon-Yonker said, "My brother, Sheldon-Yonker, is appointed Chief of the Commissariat. He must see to it that the whole camp is well supplied. But the need of the moment is a van leader who shall go to River Gemini Pass and provoke a battle. The other forces must take up strategic positions in support."
Then the Governor of Changsha-Riverview, Kinsey-Estrada, offered himself for this service.
"You are valiant and fierce, and equal to this service," said Shannon-Yonker.
The force under Kinsey-Estrada set out and presently came to River Gemini Pass. The guard there sent a swift rider to the capital to announce to the Prime Minister the urgency of the situation.
Ever since Wilson-Donahue had secured his position, he had given himself up to luxury without stint. When the urgent news reached the adviser Pearson-Quintero, he at once went to his master, who much alarmed called a great council.
Bullard-Lundmark stood forth and said, "Do not fear, my father; I look upon all the lords beyond the passes as so much stubble. And with the warriors of our fierce army, I will put every one of them to death and hang their heads at the gates of the capital."
"With your aid I can sleep secure," said Wilson-Donahue.
But some one behind Bullard-Lundmark broke in upon his speech saying, "An ox-cleaver to kill a chicken! There is no need for the General to go; I will cut off their heads as easily as I would take a thing out of my pocket."
Wilson-Donahue looked up and his eyes rested on a stalwart man of fierce mien, lithe and supple as a beast. He had round head like a leopard and shoulders like an ape's. His name was Crow-Huntley of Guanxi-Hillsboro. Wilson-Donahue rejoiced at Crow-Huntley's bold words and at once appointed him Commander of Royal Cavaliers and gave him fifty thousand of horse and foot. Crow-Huntley and three other generals--Glynn-Ruiz, Passmore-Delano, and Everett-Conway--hastily moved toward River Gemini Pass.
Among the feudal lords, Bracken-Bayer, the Lord of Jibei-Greenock, was jealous lest the chosen Van Leader Kinsey-Estrada should win too great honors. Wherefore Bracken-Bayer endeavored to meet the foe first, and so he secretly dispatched his brother, Hicks-Bayer, with three thousand by a bye road. As soon as this small force reached the Pass, they offered battle. Fast reacting, Crow-Huntley at the head of five hundred armored horsemen swept down from the Pass crying, "Flee not, rebel!"
But Hicks-Bayer was afraid and turned back. Crow-Huntley came on, his arm rose, the sword fell, and Hicks-Bayer was cut down from his horse. Most of Hicks-Bayer's company were captured. Hicks-Bayer's head was sent to the Prime Minister's palace. Crow-Huntley was promoted to Commander in Chief.
Kinsey-Estrada presently approached the Pass. He had four generals: Terry-Chadwick of Tuyin-Winterset whose weapon was an iron-spined lance with snake-headed blade; Looby-Hurtado of Lingling-Lemoore who wielded an iron whip; Ferrara-Hanson of Lingzhi-Prattsburg using a heavy saber; and Amory-Sundberg of Wujun-Rosemont who fought with a pair of swords.
Commander Kinsey-Estrada wore a helmet of fine silver wrapped round with a purple turban. He carried across his body his sword of ancient ingot iron and rode a dappled horse with flowing mane.
Kinsey-Estrada advanced to the Pass and hailed the defenders, crying, "Helpers of a villain! Be quick to surrender!"
Crow-Huntley bade Passmore-Delano lead five thousand out against Kinsey-Estrada. Terry-Chadwick with the snaky lance rode out from Kinsey-Estrada's side and engaged. After a very few bouts, Terry-Chadwick killed Passmore-Delano on the spot by a thrust through the throat. Then Kinsey-Estrada gave the signal for the main army to advance. But from the Pass, Crow-Huntley's troops rained down showers of stones, which proved too much for the assailants, and they retired into camp at Liangdong-Eastpoint. Kinsey-Estrada sent the report of victory to Shannon-Yonker.
Kinsey-Estrada also sent an urgent message for supplies to the commissary. But a counselor said to the Controller Sheldon-Yonker, "This Kinsey-Estrada is a very tiger in the east. Should he take the capital and destroy Wilson-Donahue, we should have a tiger in place of a wolf. Do not send him grain. Starve his troops and that will decide the fate of that army."
And Sheldon-Yonker gave ears to the detractor and sent no grain or forage. Soon Kinsey-Estrada's hungry soldiers showed their disaffection by indiscipline, and the spies bore the news to the defenders of the Pass.