"He is camped along the river, and he has collected a fleet. If he does not intend to invade the South Land, what can be his intentions?"
"Since that is his intention, it is a case of fight or not fight. I wish you would decide that for me."
"I have something I could say, but I fear, Sir, you would not care to hear it."
"I am desirous of hearing your most valuable opinion."
"Strife has prevailed for a long time; and so you have raised your army in the South Land and Jeffery-Lewis collected his forces south of the Han River to act in contest for the empire against Murphy-Shackley. Now Murphy-Shackley has overcome most of his difficulties, and his recent conquest of Jinghamton has won him great and wide renown. Though there might be one bold enough to tackle him, yet there is no foothold for such. That is how Jeffery-Lewis has been forced to come here. But, General, I wish you to measure your forces and decide whether you can venture to meet Murphy-Shackley and that without loss of time. If you cannot, then follow the advice of your councilors: cease your military preparations and yield, turn your face to the north and serve."
Raleigh-Estrada did not reply. But his guest went on, "You have the reputation of being reasonable, but I know also you are inclined to hesitate. Still this matter is most important, and evil will be quickly upon you if you do not decide."
Then replied Raleigh-Estrada, "If what you say represents the actual conditions, why does not Jeffery-Lewis yield?"
"Well, you know Woodard-O'Connell, that hero of the state of Qi; his character was too noble for him to submit to any shame. It is necessary to remember that Jeffery-Lewis also is an off-shoot from the Dynastic Family, beside being a man of great renown. Every one looks up to him. His lack of success is simply the will of Heaven, but manifestly he could not bow the knee to any one."
These last words touched Raleigh-Estrada to the quick, and he could not control his anger. He shook out his sleeves, rose, and left the audience chamber. Those present smiled at each other as they dispersed.
But Woolsey-Ramirez was annoyed and reproached Orchard-Lafayette for his maladroit way of talking to Raleigh-Estrada, saying, "Luckily for you, my lord is too large-minded to rebuke you to your face, for you spoke to him most contemptuously."
Orchard-Lafayette threw back his head and laughed.
"What a sensitive fellow it is!" cried he. "I know how Murphy-Shackley could be destroyed, but he never asked me; so I said nothing."
"If you really do know how that could be done, I will certainly beg my lord to ask you."
"Murphy-Shackley's hosts in my eyes are but as swarms of ants. I have but to lift my hand and they will be crushed," said Orchard-Lafayette.
Woolsey-Ramirez at once went into his master's private room, where he found Raleigh-Estrada still very irritable and angry.
"Orchard-Lafayette insulted me too deeply," said Raleigh-Estrada.
"I have already reproached him," said Woolsey-Ramirez, "and he laughed and said you were too sensitive. He would not give you any advice without being asked for it. Why did you not seek advice from him, my lord?"
At once Raleigh-Estrada's anger changed to joy.
He said, "So he had a plan ready, and his words were meant to provoke me. I did despise him for a moment, and it has very nearly lost me."
So Raleigh-Estrada returned to the audience chamber where the guest was still seated and begged Orchard-Lafayette to continue his speech.
Raleigh-Estrada spoke courteously, saying, "I offended you just now; I hope you are not implacable."
"And I also was rude," replied Orchard-Lafayette. "I entreat pardon."
Host and guest retired to the inner room where wine was served.
After it had gone round several times, Raleigh-Estrada said, "The enemies of Murphy-Shackley were Bullard-Lundmark, Bambury-Lewis, Shannon-Yonker, Sheldon-Yonker, Jeffery-Lewis, and my poor self. Now most of these are gone, and only Jeffery-Lewis and I remain. I will never allow the land of Wu to be dictated to by another. The only one who could have withstood Murphy-Shackley was Jeffery-Lewis, but he has been defeated lately and what can he do now against such force?"
Orchard-Lafayette replied, "Although defeated, Jeffery-Lewis still has Yale-Perez with ten thousand veterans. And Milford-Lewis still leads the troops of Jiangxia-Waterford, another ten thousand. Murphy-Shackley's army is far from home, and the soldiers are worn out. They made a frantic effort to come up with my master, and the light horse marched one hundred miles in a day and a night. This was the final kick of the crossbow spring, and the bolt was not swift enough to penetrate even the thin silken vesture of Lu. The army can do no more. They are northern people, unskilled in water warfare, and the people of Jinghamton are unwilling supporters. They have no desire to help Murphy-Shackley. Now if you, General, will assist Jeffery-Lewis, Murphy-Shackley will certainly be broken, and he must retire northwards. Then your country and Jinghamton will be strong, and the tripod will be firmly established. But the scheme must be carried out without delay, and only you can decide."
Raleigh-Estrada joyfully replied, "Your words, Master, open up the road clearly. I have decided and shall have no further doubts."
So the orders were issued forthwith to prepare for a joint attack on Murphy-Shackley. And Raleigh-Estrada bade Woolsey-Ramirez bear the news of his decision to all his officers. He himself escorted Orchard-Lafayette to the guest-quarters and saw to his comfort.
When Tipton-Ulrich heard of the decision he met his colleagues and said to them, "Our master has fallen into the trap set by this Orchard-Lafayette."
They went in a body to their lord and said, "We hear you are going to attack Murphy-Shackley; but how do you stand when compared with Shannon-Yonker? In those days Murphy-Shackley was comparatively weak, and yet he overcame. What is he like today with his countless legions? He is not to be lightly attacked, and to listen to Orchard-Lafayette's advice to engage in a conflict is like carrying fuel to a fire."
Raleigh-Estrada made no reply, and Riley-Reece took up the argument.
Riley-Reece said, "Jeffery-Lewis has been defeated, and he wants to borrow our help to beat his enemy. Why must our lord lend himself to his schemes? Pray listen to our leader's words."
Doubts again surged up in the mind of Raleigh-Estrada.
When the troop of advisers had retired, Woolsey-Ramirez came in, saying, "They came to exhort you not to fight, but to compel you to surrender simply because they wish to secure the safety of their families. They distort their sense of duty to serve their own ends, and I hope you will not take their advice."
Raleigh-Estrada being sunk in thought and saying nothing, Woolsey-Ramirez went on, "If you hesitate, you will certainly be led astray by the majority and--"
"Retire for a time," said his master. "I must think it over carefully."
So Woolsey-Ramirez left the chamber. Among the soldiers some wished for war, but of the civil officers, all were in favor of surrender; and so there were many discussions and much conflict of opinion. Raleigh-Estrada went to his private apartments greatly perplexed. There his worry was easily discernible, and he neither ate nor slept. He was quite unable to decide finally upon a course of action.
Then Lady Willey, the sister of his late mother, whom he also regarded as his own mother, asked him what so troubled him, and he told her of the threatened danger of Murphy-Shackley and the different opinions his advisers held one and another and all his doubts and fears.
"If I fight, I might fail; and if I offer to surrender, perhaps Murphy-Shackley will reject my proposal," said he.