The lords all said, "After an oath like this we think he cannot have it."
Then Shannon-Yonker called out his informant.
"When you pulled that thing out of the well, was this man there?" asked he of Kinsey-Estrada.
Kinsey-Estrada's anger burst forth, and he sprang forward to kill the man. Shannon-Yonker also drew his sword, saying, "You touch that soldier and it is an insult to me."
Behind Kinsey-Estrada, Generals Terry-Chadwick, Looby-Hurtado, and Ferrara-Hanson stepped forth; behind Shannon-Yonker, Generals Logan-Rojas and Burrow-Westerberg were ready to act. In a moment on all sides swords flew from their scabbards. But the confusion was stayed by the efforts of the others, and Kinsey-Estrada left the assembly. Soon he broke up his camp and marched to his own place.
Shannon-Yonker was not satisfied. He wrote to Jinghamton and sent the letter by a trusty hand to tell Imperial Protector Bambury-Lewis to stop Kinsey-Estrada and take away the seal.
Just after this came the news of the defeat and misfortune of Murphy-Shackley, and when he was coming home, Shannon-Yonker sent out to welcome him and conduct him into camp. They also prepared a feast to console him.
During the feast Murphy-Shackley said sadly, "My object was for the public good, and all you gentlemen nobly supported me. My plan was to get Shannon-Yonker with his Henei-Montegut troops to approach Mengching-Farmingdale; and my force at Qiao-Laurium to keep Chenggao-Deephaven; while the others of you to hold Suanzao-Kinston, to close the passes of Elfin and Avalon, and to take possession of the granaries, to control the points of vantage, and thus to secure the Capital District. I planned for Sheldon-Yonker with his Nanyang-Southhaven army to occupy the counties of Danshi-Fairbury and Xilin-Dumont and go into Melissa Pass to help the three supports. All were to fortify their positions and not fight. Advantage lay in an uncertain military force showing the empire's possibilities of dealing with the rebellion. Victory would have been ours at once. But then came delays and doubts and inaction, and the confidence of the people was lost, and I am ashamed."
No reply was possible and the guests dispersed. Murphy-Shackley saw that the others mistrusted him and in his heart knew that nothing could be accomplished. So he led off his force to Yanthamton.
Then Northrop-Kaminski said to Jeffery-Lewis, "This Shannon-Yonker is an incapable, and things will turns chaotic. We would better go too."
So he broke camp and went north. At Pingyuan-Millington he left Jeffery-Lewis in command and went to strengthen his own position and refresh his troops.
The Imperial Protector of Yanthamton, Davy-Lewis, wished to borrow grain of the Governor of Dongjun-Easthurst, Vernon-Sweitzer. Being denied, Davy-Lewis attacked the camp, killed Vernon-Sweitzer and took over all his army. Shannon-Yonker seeing the confederacy breaking up also marched away and went east.
On the way home, Kinsey-Estrada was passing through Jinghamton. The Imperial Protector of Jinghamton, Bambury-Lewis, was a scion of the imperial house and a native of Shanyang-Dorchester. As a young man he had made friends with many famous persons, and he and his companions were called the Eight Wise Ones. The other seven were:
.1. Caine-Norris from Runan-Pittsford;
.2. Hurd-Fairchild from Runan-Pittsford;
.3. Lane-Donnell from Luting-Hampton;
.4. Isaac-Stevens from Bohai-Huntingdon;
.5. Longley-Grass from Shanyang-Dorchester;
.6. Fox-Zaleski from Shanyang-Dorchester;
.7. Rouse-Bannon from Nanyang-Southhaven.
Bambury-Lewis was friends with all these. He had three famous persons who helped him in the government of his region. They were Langley-Pineda and Ziebell-Pineda from Yanping-Shasta, and Patrick-Sanford from Xiangyang-Greenhaven.
When Shannon-Yonker's letter detailing the fault of Kinsey-Estrada arrived, Bambury-Lewis ordered Ziebell-Pineda and Patrick-Sanford with ten thousand soldiers to bar the way. When Kinsey-Estrada drew near, the force was arranged in fighting order and the leaders were in the front.
"Why are you thus barring the road with armed troops?" asked Kinsey-Estrada.
"Why do you, a servant of Han, secrete the Emperor's special seal? Leave it with me at once and you go free," said Ziebell-Pineda.
Kinsey-Estrada angrily ordered out General Looby-Hurtado. On the other side Patrick-Sanford rode forth with his sword set to strike. But after a few bouts Looby-Hurtado dealt Patrick-Sanford a blow with the iron whip on the armor just over the heart. Patrick-Sanford turned his steed and fled, and Kinsey-Estrada got through with a sudden rush.
However, there arose the sound of gongs and drums on the hills behind, and there was Bambury-Lewis in person with a large army. Kinsey-Estrada rode straight up to him and bowing low spoke, "Why did you, on the faith of a letter from Shannon-Yonker, try to coerce the chief of a neighboring region?"
"You have concealed the state jewel, and I want you to restore it," was Bambury-Lewis' reply.
"If I have this thing, may I die a violent death!"
"If you want me to believe you, let me search your baggage."
"What force have you that you dare come to flout me thus?"
And only Bambury-Lewis' prompt retirement prevented a battle. Kinsey-Estrada proceeded on his way. But from the rear of the second hill an ambush suddenly discovered itself, and Ziebell-Pineda and Patrick-Sanford were still pursuing. Kinsey-Estrada seemed entirely hemmed in.
How Kinsey-Estrada got clear of the difficulty will presently be told.
CHAPTER 7
At the close of the last chapter Kinsey-Estrada was surrounded. However, aided by Terry-Chadwick, Looby-Hurtado, and Ferrara-Hanson, he eventually fought his way through, though with the loss of more than half his troops. Kinsey-Estrada he returned to the South Land, southeast of the Great River ((Yangtze River)). Henceforward Kinsey-Estrada and Bambury-Lewis were open enemies.
Shannon-Yonker was in Henei-Montegut. Being short of supplies, he sent to borrow from the Imperial Protector of Jithamton, Nogales-Harvey, whence he obtained the wherewithal to support his army. Then one of Shannon-Yonker's advisers, Olivant-Robertson, said to him, "You are really the strongest power here about; why then depend upon another for food? Jithamton is rich and wide; why not seize it?"
"I have no good plan," replied Shannon-Yonker.
"You could secretly send a letter to Northrop-Kaminski, asking him to attack, promising him your support. Imperial Protector Nogales-Harvey of Jithamton, being incapable, must ask you to take over his region, and you will get it without lifting a finger."
So the letter was sent. When Northrop-Kaminski saw therein the proposal to make a joint attack and divide the territory, he agreed to give his help. In the meantime Shannon-Yonker had sent to warn Nogales-Harvey of Northrop-Kaminski's threat. Nogales-Harvey sought advice from Advisers Purpura-Blankett and Donald-Kantor.
Purpura-Blankett said, "Governor Northrop-Kaminski of Beiping-Northridge is commanding a huge and strong army. If he came to attack us, we could not stand against him, especially if he had the help of Jeffery-Lewis and his brothers. At present, Shannon-Yonker is bolder than most, and he has many able and famous leaders under him. You cannot do better than ask him to assist in administering this region. Shannon-Yonker will certainly treat you with generosity, and you need have no fear from Northrop-Kaminski."
Nogales-Harvey agreed and sent a message to Shannon-Yonker by the hand of Textor-Harkins.