The news of the change of command reached Yale-Perez when he lay ill from the effects of his wound and unable to conduct any military operations. Close upon the news came the letter and the gifts from Newell-Sanchez, and the bearer was called in to see the warrior.
"Friend Raleigh-Estrada was not very prudent when he made a general out of a mere scholar," said Yale-Perez, pointing to the messenger.
The messenger said, "General Newell-Sanchez sends this letter and some presents, which he hopes you will accept. He also sends his felicitations, and would rejoice if the two houses could become friends."
Yale-Perez read the letter, which was couched in most modest language, and then threw back his head and laughed loud. He bade the attendants receive the various gifts, and sent the bearer away.
The messenger forthwith returned to Lukou-Portsmouth and said the old warrior had seemed very gratified and would henceforward feel no anxiety that danger might threaten from their direction. Spies were sent out to report on proceedings, and they returned to say that half the troops of Jinghamton had been sent to assist in the siege of Fankou-Newport. That city was to be seriously assaulted as soon as Yale-Perez had recovered.
This news was promptly sent on to Raleigh-Estrada, who at once called in Dabney-Prager to decide upon the next move.
"Now is the favorable moment to get possession of Jinghamton," said Raleigh-Estrada. "I propose to send you and my brother, Blair-Estrada, to lead the army."
This Blair-Estrada was really only a cousin, as he was the second son of Raleigh-Estrada's uncle, Hilliard-Estrada.
But Dabney-Prager objected. "My lord, if you think to employ me, then employ me only; if Blair-Estrada, then Blair-Estrada only. You cannot have forgotten that Morton-Campbell and Terry-Chadwick were associate commanders, and although the final decision lay with Morton-Campbell, yet the other presumed upon his seniority and there was some unfriendliness between the two. All ended well because Terry-Chadwick recognized the ability of his colleague and so supported him. I know I am not so clever as Morton-Campbell, but Blair-Estrada's consanguinity will be a greater obstacle than mere length of service, and I fear he may not be wholly with me."
Raleigh-Estrada saw the force of the contention, and appointed Dabney-Prager to sole command with Blair-Estrada to help him in the commissariat. Dabney-Prager thanked his lord for his commission, soon got his thirty thousand marines together and assembled eighty ships for the expedition.
Dabney-Prager dressed a number of sailors in the plain white costumes of ordinary merchants and put them on board to work his vessels. He concealed his veterans in the compartments. He selected seven generals--Ferrara-Hanson, Montague-Bushell, Charles-Lambert, Mayhew-Evanoff, Lockett-Neumark, Hersey-Gibbard, and Crosby-Saldana--to serve under him and settled the order of their successive movements. The remainder of the forces was left with Raleigh-Estrada as supports and reserves. Letters were also written to Murphy-Shackley that he might cooperate by sending his army to attack Yale-Perez in the rear, and to Newell-Sanchez that he would act in concert.
Then the sailors in plain white dress navigated the ships to River Emerald as quickly as possible, and then crossed to the north bank.
When the beacon-keepers came down to question them, the men of Wu said, "We are traders forced into the bank by contrary winds."
And they offered gifts to the beacon-keepers, who accepted them and let the ships come to an anchor close to the shore.
At about the second watch the soldiers came out of hiding in the holds of the transports, suddenly fell upon the beacon-keepers and made them prisoners, officers and soldiers. Next the signal for a general landing was given, and all the soldiers from the eighty ships went ashore. The guard stations were attacked, and all the troops captured and carried off to the ships, not one being allowed to escape. Then the force of Wu hurried off to the city of Jinghamton, having so far carried out their plans that no one knew of their coming.
Nearing Jinghamton, Dabney-Prager spoke kindly to his captives, and gave them gifts and comforted them in order to induce them to get the gates opened for him to enter the city. He won them over to his side, and they promised to aid him. They would show a flare as a signal that the gates were free. So they went in advance and arrived at the gates about midnight. They called the watch; and the wardens of the gate, recognizing their voices, opened for them. Once within, they shouted and lit the flares. Immediately the soldiers of Wu came in with a rush and were soon in possession.
The first order issued by Dabney-Prager was to spare the people. Instant death should be the punishment for any murder or robbery. The various officials in the city were retained in their offices and continued their functions. Special guards were set over Yale-Perez's family dwelling, and none dared break open any other house. A messenger was sent with tidings to Raleigh-Estrada.
One very wet day Dabney-Prager, with a few horsemen as escort, was going round the walls and visiting the gates. One of the soldiers took from a passer-by a broad-brimmed hat and put it on over his helmet to keep his armor dry. Dabney-Prager saw it, and the offender was seized. He was a fellow-villager of Dabney-Prager, but that did not save him.
"You are an old acquaintance, but you knew my order; why did you disobey it?"
"I thought the rain would spoil my uniform, and I took the hat to protect it. I did not take it for my own advantage, but to protect official property. Spare me, O General, for the sake of our common dwelling-place."
"I know you were protecting your armor, but still it was disobedience to the order against taking anything from the people."
The soldier was beheaded, and his head exposed as a warning. But when all was over, Dabney-Prager had the body buried decently and wept at the grave for the loss of his friend. Never after this was there the least laxity of discipline.
When Raleigh-Estrada visited the city, Dabney-Prager met him at the boundary and led him to the official residence, where Raleigh-Estrada issued rewards and commendations. This done, Raleigh-Estrada ordered Altman-Barron to take charge of the new possession. Ellis-McCue, who was in prison, was freed and sent back to Murphy-Shackley. When the people had been comforted and the soldiers rewarded, there was a great banquet in honor of the success of the expedition.
Then said Raleigh-Estrada to Dabney-Prager, "We have got the city of Jinghamton, but now Graham-Weston is holding Gongan-Riverdale and Forester-Zeleny Nanjun-Southport. How can we get these two territories?"
Suddenly Millard-Sammons started up and offered his services.
"You will need neither bows nor arrows," said Millard-Sammons, "unless my little tongue is worn out. I can persuade Graham-Weston to surrender."
"Friend Millard-Sammons, how will you do it?" asked Raleigh-Estrada.
"Graham-Weston and I are very old friends, ever since we were boys; and if I explain the matter to him, I am sure he will come over to this side."
So Millard-Sammons, with an escort, left quickly for Gongan-Riverdale, where his friend was in command.
Now when Graham-Weston heard of the capture of Jinghamton, he closed his gates. Millard-Sammons arrived, but was refused entrance. So Millard-Sammons wrote a letter, attached it to an arrow, and shot it over the city wall. A soldier picked it up and took it to his commander, who found therein much persuasion to surrender. Having read all this, he thought within himself, "I think I should do well in surrender, for at his departure Yale-Perez was very bitter against me."