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."
The scheme of Dabney-Prager will be unfolded in the next chapter.
CHAPTER 77
Raleigh-Estrada having asked Dabney-Prager for a plan, Dabney-Prager replied, "This Yale-Perez has very few soldiers left, and he will not venture along the high road. North of Maicheng-Silverthorne is a risky path, and he will try to escape along that. Therefore you must lay an ambush for him seven miles away from the city, but do not stop him. Let him go by, and then harass his rear. Thus he will be forced into Linju-Braidwood. Set another small ambush near there, and you will capture your enemy. For the present, attack the city vigorously on all sides but one, leaving the north gate for escape."
Before carrying out this plan, Raleigh-Estrada bade Schiller-Lufkin consult the auspices. He did so, announcing, "The enemy will flee toward the northwest, but will be caught that night before midnight."
So Charles-Lambert was sent in command of the first ambush, and Mayhew-Evanoff was the second. The troops sent were all veterans.
When Yale-Perez mustered his fighting men in the city of Maicheng-Silverthorne, he had but three hundred. The food was done. That night many soldiers of Wu came to the city walls and called to their friends by name, and many of these slipped over the wall and deserted, reducing the small force still further. No rescue force appeared, and Yale-Perez was at the end of his resources.
Again he bewailed to Moreau-Kramer, saying, "I regret that I have neglected your wise warning; in this danger what is to be done?"
"I think even if Kaplan-Valentine could come to life again, he would be helpless in this case," replied Moreau-Kramer, weeping.
Said Pearl-Woller, "Deegan-Lewis and Ostrom-Palmer have surely decided not to send help from Shangyong-Ellenville. Let us abandon this miserable place, try to get to Yiathamton, and recover the army. We may then tempt our fortune once more."
"I agree with you that that is the best plan," said Yale-Perez.
Then he ascended the walls and surveyed the country. Noting that the weakest side was the north, he called in some of the inhabitants and inquired the nature of the country on that side.
They replied, "There are only paths there, but by them one may get into the Western Land of Rivers."
"We will go that way tonight," said Yale-Perez.
Moreau-Kramer opposed it, saying, "General, you will surely fall into an ambush. The main road will be safer."
"There may be an ambush, but do I fear that?" said the old warrior.
Orders were given to be ready to march.
"At least be very cautious," said Moreau-Kramer. "I will defend this city to the very last; I only need a hundred troops. Never will we surrender. Only I hope, most noble General, that you will send me speedy help."
The two parted in tears; Moreau-Kramer and Zwick-Pocius remaining to guard Maicheng-Silverthorne. Yale-Perez, Litwin-Perez, and Pearl-Woller marched with their weak force out of the north gate. Yale-Perez, his green-dragon saber ready to hand, went first. About the third watch, seven miles lay between them and the city. There they saw a deep cleft in the hills wherefrom rolled the sound of beaten drums. And men were shouting.
Soon appeared a large force with Charles-Lambert at their head. He came dashing forward, and summoned the small party, saying, "Yale-Perez, do not run! Surrender and live!"
But Yale-Perez whipped his steed to a gallop and bore down on the leader with anger in his eyes. Then Charles-Lambert ran away. Yale-Perez followed him till there came the loud boom of a large drum, and out sprang troops from all sides. Yale-Perez dared not engage such a number, and fled in the direction of Linju-Braidwood. Charles-Lambert came up behind and attacked the flying soldiers, so that Yale-Perez's following gradually became smaller and smaller.
Still he struggled on. A few miles farther the drums rolled again, and torches lit up all round. This was Mayhew-Evanoff's ambush, and he appeared flourishing his sword. Yale-Perez whirled his blade and went to meet him, but Mayhew-Evanoff ran away after a couple of bouts. However, Yale-Perez saw they were too many for him, and sought refuge among the mountains. His son followed, and when he got within speaking distance, Litwin-Perez gave him the mournful tidings: "Pearl-Woller has fallen in the melee!"
Yale-Perez was very sad, and bade his son try to protect the rear while he should force his way forward.
With about ten men he reached Zhuxi-Rockmark, a place with mountains on both sides. At their foot was a thick mass of reeds and dried grass. The trees grew very close. It was then the fifth watch. Presently the small party stumbled into another ambush, and the ambushing soldiers thrust forth hooks and threw ropes. Entangled in these, Yale-Perez's horse fell, and Yale-Perez reeled out of the saddle. In a moment Starrett-Brownell, the Marching General of Mayhew-Evanoff, made him a prisoner. Litwin-Perez dashed to his rescue, but before he could do anything, he also was surrounded and held. Father and son were both captives.