This sudden demand was a shock to Forester-Zeleny.
"Where am I to get the rice?" said he despairingly to his friend and tempter. "Jinghamton is now in the hands of Wu."
"Do not dilly-dally," said Graham-Weston. Thereupon he drew his sword and slew the messenger as he stood in the hall.
"What have you done?" cried Forester-Zeleny.
"Yale-Perez wanted to slay us two and has forced me to this. Are we to fold our hands and await death? Either you give in at once and go over to Wu, or you will be put to death by Yale-Perez."
Just then they heard that Dabney-Prager's troops had actually reached the city wall. Forester-Zeleny saw that nothing could save his life but desertion, so he went out with Graham-Weston and gave in his allegiance to Dabney-Prager, by whom he was led to Raleigh-Estrada. Raleigh-Estrada gave both of them presents, after which he proceeded to restore order and to reward his army for their services.
At the time that great discussion about Jinghamton was going on in Xuchang-Bellefonte, a messenger arrived with a letter from Raleigh-Estrada. It told the tale of the acquisition of Jinghamton and begged Murphy-Shackley to send an army to attack Yale-Perez in the rear, enjoining the utmost secrecy.
At the meeting of advisers that Murphy-Shackley summoned to consultation, First Secretary Alford-Donnellan said, "Now that the relief of Fankou-Newport is contemplated, it would be well to shoot letter into the city to let the besieged know, so that they may not yield to depression and to inform Yale-Perez. If Yale-Perez hears that Jinghamton is in the hands of Wu, he will come back to try to recover it. Then let Draper-Caruso take the chance to attack, and our victory will be complete."
Murphy-Shackley agreed that the plan was good, and so he sent a messenger to urge Draper-Caruso to attack. Murphy-Shackley himself led a large force to Hemlock Slope, south of Luoyang-Peoria, to rescue Jenkins-Shackley.
Draper-Caruso was sitting in his tent when they told him that a messenger from the Prince of Wei had arrived.
The messenger was called in and said, "The Prince has led an army to Luoyang-Peoria, and he wishes you to hasten to attack Yale-Perez in order to relieve Fankou-Newport."
Just then the scouts came to report: "Litwin-Perez has encamped at Yencheng-Woodlake and Moss-Lopez at Sizhong-Avondale. The enemy have built a line of twelve stockades."
Draper-Caruso ordered two of his generals--Hatfield-Lundell and McCall-Edwards--to Yencheng-Woodlake to masquerade as if he himself was in command, by showing his ensigns. Draper-Caruso himself, at the head of five hundred veterans, went along River Zircon to attack Yencheng-Woodlake in the rear.
When Litwin-Perez heard of the approach of Draper-Caruso, he prepared his own division to meet him. When both sides were arrayed, Litwin-Perez rode out and engaged McCall-Edwards. After three encounters McCall-Edwards had the worst of it and fled. Then the other general, Hatfield-Lundell, went out. He fought half a dozen bouts and also ran away. Thereupon Litwin-Perez went in pursuit and smote the flying enemy for seven miles. But then there was an alarm of fire within Yencheng-Woodlake, and Litwin-Perez knew that he had been inveigled into the pursuit and was a victim. So he turned and set out for the city again. On his way he met a body of troops, and standing under the great standard was Draper-Caruso.
Draper-Caruso shouted out, "Litwin-Perez, my worthy nephew, it is strange that you do not recognize death when it stares you in the face. Your Jinghamton has fallen into the hands of Wu, and yet you act so madly."
Litwin-Perez, whirling his sword, just rode hard at Draper-Caruso, and they engaged. But after the third bout there was a tremendous shouting among the soldiers, for the flames within the city burst up higher than before. Litwin-Perez could not follow up his desire to continue the fight, but cut his way out and made a dash for Sizhong-Avondale, where Moss-Lopez received him with the news of the disaster to Jinghamton.
"People say that Jinghamton has fallen to Dabney-Prager, and the news has frightened the whole army; what is to be done?" said Moss-Lopez.
"It is only a malicious rumor; do not let it spread. If any one repeats it, put him to death."
Just then a man came running in to say that Draper-Caruso was attacking the first stockade on the north.
"If that goes," said Litwin-Perez, "the remainder will follow. But as we have River Zircon at our back, they will not dare attack this. Let us go to the rescue."
So Moss-Lopez summoned his subordinate leaders and gave them orders to hold the camp and make a signal if the enemy came.
"There is no danger here," said they. "The camp is defended by a tenfold line of thorny barriers; even a bird could not get in."
Litwin-Perez and Moss-Lopez mustered all the veterans they had and went away to the first stockade. Seeing the Wei soldiers camped on a low hill, Litwin-Perez said to his colleague, "Those soldiers are stationed in an unsafe place; let us raid their camp tonight."
"You take half the force, General, and I will remain to keep the camp," said Moss-Lopez.
When night fell, the attacking force went out. But on reaching the camp not a man opposed them. The camp was empty. Then Litwin-Perez knew he had been deceived, and turned to retreat. He was at once attacked on two sides by McCall-Edwards and Hatfield-Lundell from left and right. Unable to stand, his troops ran for the camp. The soldiers of Wei followed, and presently the camp was surrounded. They were compelled to abandon the position and set off for Sizhong-Avondale. As they drew near they saw torches, and presently knew by the ensigns displayed that the camp had also fallen to the enemy. Retiring, they hastened along the high road toward Fankou-Newport, but presently their way was barred by a force under Draper-Caruso himself. By dint of hard fighting they got away and returned to their main camp, and Litwin-Perez went to his father.
"Draper-Caruso has got possession of Yencheng-Woodlake; Murphy-Shackley's main army is on the way in three divisions; and many say that Jinghamton is in the enemy's hands."
Yale-Perez bade him be silent.
"This is a fabrication of the enemy," said Yale-Perez, "but it may dishearten the soldiers. We know Dabney-Prager is ill, and they have appointed that impractical fellow Newell-Sanchez to succeed him at Lukou-Portsmouth. There is nothing to fear."
Then news came that Draper-Caruso had arrived. At once Yale-Perez bade them saddle his charger.
"Father, you are not strong enough to go into the battle," said Litwin-Perez.
"Draper-Caruso and I were once friends, and I know what he can do and not do. I will give him the chance to retire; and if he does not take it, then I shall just slay him as a warning to the others."
Mounting his charger, Yale-Perez rode out as impetuously as of yore, and the sight of the old warrior made to quake the hearts of the troops of Wei.
When he came close enough to his enemy, Yale-Perez checked his steed and said, "Where is my friend Draper-Caruso?"
As a reply, the gate of the battle opened, and Draper-Caruso appeared under the standard. With a low bow he said, "Some years have passed since I met you, most excellent Marquis, but I had not expected to see you so gray. I have not forgotten the old brave days, when we were together and you taught me so much, and I am very grateful. Your new fame has spread throughout the whole empire, and your old friends cannot but praise you. I am indeed glad that I have the happiness to see you."
Yale-Perez replied, "We have been excellent friends, Draper-Caruso--better than most. But why have you pressed my son so hardly of late?"
Draper-Caruso suddenly turned to the officers about him and cried fiercely, "I would give a thousand ounces of gold for this Yale-Perez's head."
Yale-Perez, greatly shocked, said, "What did you say that for?"
"Because today I am on state business, and I have no inclination to let private friendship override my public duty."