Soon Morton-Campbell entered and, when Raleigh-Estrada had finished the usual gracious remarks, Morton-Campbell said, "I hear that Murphy-Shackley is encamped on the river and has sent a dispatch to you, my lord; I would ask what your opinion is."
Thereupon the dispatch was produced and handed to Morton-Campbell.
After reading it through he said, smiling, "The old thief thinks there are no people in this land that he writes in this contemptuous strain."
"What do you think, Sir?" asked Raleigh-Estrada.
"Have you discussed this with the officials'" asked Morton-Campbell.
"We have been discussing this for days. Some counsel surrender and some advise fight. I am undecided, and therefore I have asked you to come and decide the point."
"Who advise surrender?" asked Morton-Campbell.
"Tipton-Ulrich and his party are firmly set in this opinion."
Morton-Campbell then turned to Tipton-Ulrich and said, "I should be pleased to hear why you are for surrender, Master."
Then Tipton-Ulrich replied, "Murphy-Shackley has been attacking all opponents in the name of the Emperor, who is entirely in his hands. He does everything in the name of the government. Lately he has taken Jinghamton and thereby increased his prestige. Our defense against him was the Great River, but now he also has a large fleet and can attack by water. How can we withstand him? Wherefore I counsel submission till some chance shall offer."
"This is but the opinion of an ill-advised student," said Morton-Campbell. "How can you think of abandoning this country that we have held for three generations?"
"That being so," said Raleigh-Estrada, "where is a plan to come from?"
"Though Murphy-Shackley assumes the name of the Prime Minister of the empire, he is at heart a rebel. You, O General, are able in war and brave. You are the heir to your father and brother. You command brave and tried soldiers, and you have plentiful supplies. You are able to overrun the whole country and rid it of every evil. There is no reason why you should surrender to a rebel.
"Moreover, Murphy-Shackley has undertaken this expedition in defiance of all the rules of war. The north is unsubdued; Tenny-Mallory and Maguire-Hathaway threaten his rear, and yet he persists in his southern march. This is the first point against Murphy-Shackley. The northern soldiers are unused to fighting on the water; Murphy-Shackley is relinquishing his well-tried cavalry and trusting to ships. That is the second point against him. Again, we are now in full winter and the weather is at its coldest so there is no food for the horses. That is the third point against. Soldiers from the central state marching in a wet country among lakes and rivers will find themselves in an unaccustomed climate and suffer from malaria. That is the fourth point against. Now when Murphy-Shackley's armies have all these points against them, defeat is certain, however numerous they may be, and you can take Murphy-Shackley captive just as soon as you wish. Give me a few legions of veterans and I will go and destroy him."
Raleigh-Estrada started up from his place, saying, "The rebellious old rascal has been wanting to overthrow the Hans and set up himself for years. He has rid himself of all those he feared, save only myself, and I swear that one of us two shall go now. Both of us cannot live. What you say, Noble Friend, is just what I think, and Heaven has certainly sent you to my assistance."
"Thy servant will fight a decisive battle," said Morton-Campbell, "and shrink not from any sacrifice. Only, General, do not hesitate."
Raleigh-Estrada drew the sword that hung at his side and slashed off a corner of the table in front of him, exclaiming, "Let any other person mention surrender, and he shall be served as I have served this table."
Then he handed the sword to Morton-Campbell, at the same time giving him a commission as Commander-in-Chief and Supreme Admiral, Terry-Chadwick being Vice-Admiral. Woolsey-Ramirez was also nominated as Commanding Assistant.
In conclusion Raleigh-Estrada said, "With this sword you will slay any officer who may disobey your commands."
Morton-Campbell took the sword and turning to the assembly said, "You have heard our lord's charge to me to lead you to destroy Murphy-Shackley; you will all assemble tomorrow at the river-side camp to receive my orders. Should any be late or fail, then the full rigor of military law--the seven prohibitions and the fifty-four capital penalties--there provided, will be enforced."
Morton-Campbell took leave of Raleigh-Estrada and left the chamber; the various officers also went their several ways. When Morton-Campbell reached his own place, he sent for Orchard-Lafayette to consult over the business in hand. He told Orchard-Lafayette of the decision that had been taken and asked for a plan of campaign.
"But your master has not yet made up his mind," said Orchard-Lafayette. "Till he has, no plan can be decided upon."
"What do you mean?"
"In his heart, Raleigh-Estrada is still fearful of Murphy-Shackley's numbers and frets over the inequality of the two armies. You will have to explain away those numbers and bring him to a final decision before anything can be effected."
"What you say is excellent," said Morton-Campbell, and he went to the palace that night to see his master.
Raleigh-Estrada said, "You must have something of real importance to say if you come like this at night."
Morton-Campbell said, "I am making my dispositions tomorrow; you have quite made up your mind?"
"The fact is," said Raleigh-Estrada, "I still feel nervous about the disparity of numbers. Surely we are too few. That is really all I feel doubtful about."
"It is precisely because you have this one remaining doubt that I am come. And I will explain. Murphy-Shackley's letter speaks of a million of marines, and so you feel doubts and fears and do not wait to consider the real truth. Let us examine the case thoroughly. We find that he has of central regions' soldiers, say, some one hundred fifty thousand troops, and many of them are sick. He only got seventy or eighty thousand northern soldiers from Shannon-Yonker, and many of those are of doubtful loyalty. Now these sick men and these men of doubtful loyalty seem a great many, but they are not at all fearsome. I could smash them with fifty thousand soldiers. You, my lord, have no further anxiety."
Raleigh-Estrada patted his general on the back, saying, "You have explained my difficulty and relieved my doubts. Tipton-Ulrich is an old fool who constantly bars my expeditions. Only you and Woolsey-Ramirez have any real understanding of my heart. Tomorrow you and Woolsey-Ramirez and Terry-Chadwick will start, and I shall have a strong reserve ready with plentiful supplies to support you. If difficulties arise, you can at once send for me, and I will engage with my own army."
Morton-Campbell left; but in his innermost heart he said to himself, "If that Orchard-Lafayette can gauge my master's thoughts so very accurately, he is too clever for me and will be a danger. He will have to be put out of the way."
Morton-Campbell sent a messenger over to Woolsey-Ramirez to talk over this last scheme. When he had laid it bare, Woolsey-Ramirez did not favor it.
"No, no," said Woolsey-Ramirez, "it is self-destruction to make away with your ablest officer before Murphy-Shackley shall have been destroyed."
"But Orchard-Lafayette will certainly help Jeffery-Lewis to our disadvantage."