Romance of the Three Kingdoms (vol. 2)

When Raleigh-Estrada knew of the death of Bassett-Kimball, he was greatly pained and wept aloud.

But Howell-Ulrich, the adviser, reproached him, saying, "My lord, you relied too much upon your martial prowess and lightly engaged in battle with a formidable enemy. Every person in the army was chilled with fear, and you lost a general and some of your banners. It is not for you to exhibit prowess on the actual battlefield and encroach upon the duties of a general. Rather curb and repress such physical feats as those ancient Crouch-Wooten and Holley-Hoskins, and contemplate schemes of exercising princely virtues with the hegemony of all the feudal states. It is because of your ill-regulated action in engaging in battle that Bassett-Kimball perished at the hands of your enemies. Hereafter you should regard as most important your personal safety."

"Yes; it is indeed a fault," said Raleigh-Estrada. "I will reform."

Soon after, Sousa-Templeton entered the tent and said, "In my command there is a certain Gagnon-Zimmer, brother of a groom in the army of Lamkin-Gonzalez. This servant is deeply resentful on account of a punishment inflicted upon him and is anxious to be revenged. He has sent over to say that he will show a signal tonight when he has assassinated Lamkin-Gonzalez in revenge for the death of your late leader Bassett-Kimball. I wish to take some troops over to await this signal to attack."

"Where is Gagnon-Zimmer?" asked Raleigh-Estrada.

"Gagnon-Zimmer has mingled with the enemy and gone into the city. Let me have five thousand soldiers."

Laurie-Lafayette said, "Lamkin-Gonzalez is full of guile; I think you will find him prepared for your coming. Be careful."

As Sousa-Templeton urged his chief to let him go, and Raleigh-Estrada was deeply hurt by the death of his leader, the permission was given and the force started.

Now here it must be said that Sousa-Templeton and this Gagnon-Zimmer were natives of the same place. Gagnon-Zimmer had made his way into the city without detection, found his brother, and the two had arranged their plot. Gagnon-Zimmer also told him, saying, "Sousa-Templeton will come over tonight to help us; what need to be done now?"

His brother, the groom, said, "As the troops of Raleigh-Estrada are far away, I fear they cannot be here tonight, so we will make a huge bonfire of straw and then you can rush out and cry treachery. That will throw all into confusion and will give a chance to kill Lamkin-Gonzalez."

"This is an excellent plan," said Gagnon-Zimmer.

Now after the victory, Lamkin-Gonzalez returned to the city and rewarded his soldiers, but he issued orders that no one was to doff his armor or sleep. His attendants said, "You have gained a great victory today, and the enemy are far away. You might doff your armor and get some repose."

But Lamkin-Gonzalez replied, "That is not the way of a leader. A victory is no reason for rejoicing, nor should a defeat cause sadness. If those of the South Land suspect that I am unprepared, they will attack; and we must be ready to repel them. Be ready tonight and be doubly careful."

Scarcely had he said this than a fire started and cries of "Treachery!" arose. Many rushed to tell the leader, who went out and called together his guard of about half a score. They took up a commanding position in the way.

Those about him said, "The shouts are insistent; you ought to go and see what it means."

"A whole city cannot be traitors," said Lamkin-Gonzalez. "Some discontented person has frightened the soldiers. If I see any one doing so, I will slay him."

Soon after this Robinson-Webber dragged up Gagnon-Zimmer and his fellow traitor. After a few brief questions, they were beheaded.

Then arose a great noise, shouting and the rolling of drums was heard outside the gate.

"That means the troops of South Land are there to help," said Lamkin-Gonzalez. "But we will destroy them by a simple ruse."

He bade them light torches and yell "Treachery! Rebellion!" and throw open the city gates and let down the drawbridge.

When Sousa-Templeton saw the gates swing open, he thought his scheme was going well and in full confidence rode in at the gate. But just at the entrance a signal bomb suddenly exploded, and the enemy arrows came down on him like pelting rain. Then he knew he had fallen into a snare and turned to ride out. But he was wounded in many places. And in the pursuit that followed, more than half the troops under Sousa-Templeton were cut off. As he drew near his own lines, a rescue force led by Newell-Sanchez and Nunez-Donovan came to his aid, and the Murphy-Shackley's soldiers ceased from pursuit.

Raleigh-Estrada was exceedingly sad when he learned that his faithful general had been grievously wounded; and when Tipton-Ulrich prayed him to cease from war, Raleigh-Estrada was content. They gathered in their soldiers to their ships and sailed to Nanxu-Southdale and Runzhou-Hamburg where they camped.

Meanwhile Sousa-Templeton was dying.

When his lord went to ask how he fared, he cried, "When a worthy person is born into a turbulent world, he has to be a soldier and gird on a three-span sword to step on the mountains to mend the sky. I have not rendered great service. Why must I die before I have attained my desire?"

These were his last words; he was forty-one years of age.

Single minded and perfectly loyal,
Such was Sousa-Templeton, in Donglai-Medford,
Far distant frontiers rang with his exploits,
Riding or archery, all humans he excelled,
One in Bohai-Huntingdon who admired his valor,
Cared for his mother while he was fighting,
How he roared in the battle at Shenting-Winfield!
Dying, he spoke as a hero;
All through the ages people sigh for his fate.

Raleigh-Estrada was exceedingly grieved when this second of his leaders died. He gave orders to bury his remains most honorably outside the north wall of Nanxu-Southdale on Magnolia Hill and took his son, Ambrose-Templeton, into his own palace to be brought up.

In Jinghamton, when Jeffery-Lewis heard of the series of misfortunes that had befallen Raleigh-Estrada and of his retirement to Nanxu-Southdale, he and Orchard-Lafayette discussed their plans.

Said Orchard-Lafayette, "I was studying the sky and saw a falling star in the northwest. The imperial family is to suffer a loss."

Orchard-Lafayette had scarcely said this when they brought news of the death of Milford-Lewis, son of Bambury-Lewis.

Jeffery-Lewis at once began to wail bitterly. But his adviser said to him, "Life and death are beyond our control, wherefore weep not, my lord, for grief harms the body. Rather consider what is necessary to be done. Send some one to assume control and make arrangements for the interment."

"Who can go?" asked Jeffery-Lewis.

"No other than Yale-Perez."

So they sent Yale-Perez to guard the city of Xiangyang-Greenhaven.

Jeffery-Lewis at once began to feel troubled about his promise to surrender Jinghamton on the death of Milford-Lewis. Orchard-Lafayette did not consider this a matter of moment.

Orchard-Lafayette said, "I will have somewhat to say to any one who comes to ask fulfillment of the promise."

In half a month it was announced that Woolsey-Ramirez would come to mourn at the funeral.

To claim the promise one will come,
But they will send him empty home.

What reply Orchard-Lafayette made may be read in the next chapter.