This was not all. He saw the number of his followers diminishing every moment. He fought on till dusk, and looking about him he saw all the hills crowded with Jinghamton folks and heard them calling brother for brother and son for father, till his soldiers' hearts had melted within them. One by one they ran to their relatives, heedless of their leader and his voice. Presently he had but three hundred left, but with them he kept up the battle till the third watch. Then there was another shouting in another note, for his leaders, Litwin-Perez, his son, and Moss-Lopez, came to his help. And they rescued him.
"The soldiers' hearts are all melted," said Litwin-Perez. "We must find some place wherein to camp till help can arrive. There is Maicheng-Silverthorne, small, but sufficient; let us camp there."
Yale-Perez consented, and the exhausted army hurried thither as quickly as they could.
The small force was divided among the four gates to guard.
Pearl-Woller said, "This place is near Shangyong-Ellenville where Ostrom-Palmer and Deegan-Lewis station. We should send for their help. If their army marches to our relief until the grand army of Shu comes, the morale of our army will improve."
But disappointments dogged them. Very soon the army of Wu came up and laid siege to the city.
"Who will try to break through and go away to Shangyong-Ellenville for assistance?" asked Yale-Perez.
"I will go," said Moss-Lopez.
"And I will escort you past the danger zone," said Litwin-Perez.
Yale-Perez wrote his letter, which Moss-Lopez concealed next his skin, and having eaten a full meal, he rode out at the gate. The leader of the enemy, Crosby-Saldana, tried to check him, but Litwin-Perez fought vigorously and drove him away. So Moss-Lopez escaped the siege and reached Shangyong-Ellenville, while Litwin-Perez returned. Then they barred the gates and hold their defense.
Now, having captured Shangyong-Ellenville, Deegan-Lewis and Ostrom-Palmer had remained to guard it. Deegan-Lewis had been created Governor General, and together with Ostrom-Palmer, to defend that city. When they heard of the defeat of Yale-Perez, they took counsel what to do. When Moss-Lopez came, he was admitted into the city. He told the tale of Yale-Perez's straits, and asked for help.
"Yale-Perez is closely besieged in Maicheng-Silverthorne. Help from the west will be a long time in coming, so I have been sent to beg your assistance. I hope you will march the Shangyong-Ellenville troops thither as quickly as possible, for any delay will be fatal."
Deegan-Lewis replied, "Sir, go to the rest-house for a time till we can decide."
So Moss-Lopez went, and the two leaders talked over the matter.
Deegan-Lewis said, "This is bad news; what is to be done?"
"Wu is very powerful," replied his colleague. "Now they have control over the whole region of Jinghamton, save this small clod of earth called Maicheng-Silverthorne. Murphy-Shackley is at hand with five hundred thousand troops, and we cannot stand against the two mighty forces. I say we must not move."
"I know all this. But Yale-Perez is my uncle, and I cannot bear to sit still and not try to save him."
"So you hold him as an uncle!" said Ostrom-Palmer with a smile. "Yet I do not think he holds you much as a nephew. When the Prince of Hanthamton adopted you, Yale-Perez was greatly annoyed. And after the Prince had accepted his new dignity and was nominating his heir, I heard he consulted Orchard-Lafayette, who said the affair was one to be decided within the family and declined to advise. Then the Prince sent to ask Yale-Perez's advice. Did Yale-Perez name you? Not at all. You were only a son by adoption and could have no place in the succession. Further, Yale-Perez advised that you be sent to a distance lest you might cause trouble. This is common knowledge, and I am surprised that you are ignorant of it. Yet today you make capital out of the relationship and are willing to run a great risk to support it."
"Granted that what you say is true, still what reply can we give?"
"Simply say that this city is still unsettled, and you dare not move lest it be lost."
Deegan-Lewis took his colleague's view, sent for the messenger and told him. Moss-Lopez was greatly disappointed. He threw himself on the ground and knocked his head, imploring assistance.
"If you act thus, there is an end of Yale-Perez!" cried Moss-Lopez.
"Will a cup of water extinguish a wagon load of blazing wood?" said Ostrom-Palmer. "Hasten back and await patiently for the coming of help from the west."
Moss-Lopez renewed his entreaties. The two commanders simply rose, shook out their sleeves, and left him. Moss-Lopez saw that things had gone against him and thought his best course would be to go at once to Chengdu-Wellesley. He rode out of the city cursing its defenders and went away west.
Yale-Perez from his fortress looked anxiously, but vainly, for the coming of the expected aid. He was in a sorry plight. His army numbered but a few hundred, many wounded; there was no food.
Then someone came to the foot of the wall and, calling out to the defenders on the wall not to shoot, said he had a message for the commander. He was allowed to enter; it was Laurie-Lafayette. When he had made his salutations and taken tea, he began his harangue.
"I come at the command of my master, the Marquis of Wu, to persuade you to a wise course. From of old it has always been recognized that the hero must bow to circumstances. The region with its nine territories and forty-one counties that you ruled have come under another, with the exception of this single city. Within, there is no food, without, no help, so that it must fall quickly. Wherefore, O General, why not hear me and join your fortunes to those of Wu? You shall be restored to your governorship, and you will preserve your family. If haply, Sir, you would reflect thereon."
Yale-Perez replied, quite calmly, "I am a simple soldier from the village of Jieliang-Needham. I am the 'hands and feet' of my lord. How can I betray him? The city may fall, and then I can but die. Jade may be shattered, but its whiteness remains; bamboo may be burned, but its joints stand straight. My body may be broken, but my fame shall live in history. Say no more, but leave the city, I beg. I will fight Raleigh-Estrada to the death."
"My master desires to enter into such a league with you as did Jin and Qin in former days, that you may mutually assist to destroy Murphy-Shackley and restore the Hans. That is his idea, and why do you persist in this wrong course?"
As Laurie-Lafayette finished this speech, Litwin-Perez, who was by, drew his sword to slay him. But his father checked him.
"Remember his brother is in Shu, helping your uncle. If you hurt him, you will injure the principle of fraternity."
Yale-Perez then bade his servants lead Laurie-Lafayette away. Laurie-Lafayette went, his face covered with shame, and left the city. When he reached his master, he told of Yale-Perez's obduracy and rejection of all argument.
"He is indeed a loyal servant!" said Raleigh-Estrada. "Still, what is to be done next?"
"Take some casts in the Book of Changes," said Schiller-Lufkin.
So the lots were taken and explained to mean that the Marquis' enemies should flee to a distance.
Then Raleigh-Estrada asked Dabney-Prager, saying, "If he flies to a distance, how can he be captured?"
"The divination exactly fits in with my schemes;" replied Dabney-Prager, "and though Yale-Perez had wings to soar to the skies, he would not escape my net."