In the boat on the way to Chaisang-Wellington, the two travelers beguiled the time by discussing affairs. Woolsey-Ramirez impressed upon his companion, saying, "When you see my master, do not reveal the truth about the magnitude of Murphy-Shackley's army."
"You do not have to remind me," replied Orchard-Lafayette, "but I shall know how to reply."
When the boat arrived, Orchard-Lafayette was lodged in the guests' quarters, and Woolsey-Ramirez went alone to see his master. Woolsey-Ramirez found Raleigh-Estrada actually at a council, assembled to consider the situation. Woolsey-Ramirez was summoned thereto and questioned at once upon what he had discovered.
"I know the general outline, but I want a little time to prepare my report," replied Woolsey-Ramirez.
Then Raleigh-Estrada produced Murphy-Shackley's letter and gave it to Woolsey-Ramirez.
"That came yesterday. I have sent the bearer of it back, and this gathering is to consider the reply," said he.
Woolsey-Ramirez read the letter:
"When I, the Prime Minister, received the imperial command to punish a fault, my banners went south and Richmond-Lewis became my prisoner, while the people of Jinghamton flocked to my side at the first rumor of my coming. Under my hand are one million strong and a thousand able leaders. My desire is, General, that we go on a great hunting expedition into Jiangxia-Waterford and together attack Jeffery-Lewis. We will share his land between us and we will swear perpetual amity. If happily you would not be a mere looker-on, I pray you reply quickly."
"What have you decided upon, my lord?" asked Woolsey-Ramirez as he finished the letter.
"I have not yet decided."
Then Tipton-Ulrich said, "It would be imprudent to withstand Murphy-Shackley's hundred legions backed by the imperial authority. Moreover, your most important defense against him is the Great River; and since Murphy-Shackley has gained possession of Jinghamton, the river is his ally against us. We cannot withstand him, and the only way to tranquillity, in my opinion, is submission."
"The words of the speaker accord with the manifest decree of providence," echoed all the assembly.
Raleigh-Estrada remaining silent and thoughtful.
Tipton-Ulrich again took up the argument, saying, "Do not hesitate, my lord. Submission to Murphy-Shackley means tranquillity to the people of the South Land and safety for the inhabitants of the six territories."
Raleigh-Estrada still remained silent; his head bent in deep thought. Presently he arose and paced slowly out at the door, and Woolsey-Ramirez followed him.
Outside he took Woolsey-Ramirez by the hand, saying, "What do you desire?"
"What they have all been saying is very derogatory to you. A common person might submit; you cannot."
"Why? How do you explain that?"
"If people like us servants submitted, we would just return to our village, and everything would go on as before. If you submit, whither will you go? You will be created a lord of some humble fief, perhaps. You will have one carriage, no more, one saddle horse, that is all. Your retinue will be some ten. Will you be able to sit facing the south and call yourself by the kingly title of 'the solitary'? Each one in that crowd of hangers-on is thinking for himself, is purely selfish, and you should not listen to them, but take a line of your own and that quickly. Determine to play a bold game!"
Raleigh-Estrada sighed, "They all talk and talk; they miss my point of view. Now you have just spoken of a bold game, and your view is the same as mine. Surely God has expressly sent you to me. Still Murphy-Shackley is now the stronger by all Shannon-Yonker's and Bambury-Lewis' armies, and he has possession of Jinghamton. I fear he is almost too powerful to contend with."
"I have brought back with me Orchard-Lafayette, the younger brother of our Laurie-Lafayette. If you questioned him, he would explain clearly."
"Is Master Sleeping-Dragon really here?"
"Really here; in the guest-house."
"It is too late to see him today. But tomorrow I will assemble my officials, and you will introduce him to all my best. After that we will debate the matter."
With these instructions Woolsey-Ramirez retired. Next day he went to the guest-house and conveyed Raleigh-Estrada's commands to the guest, particularly saying, "When you see my master, say nothing of the magnitude of Murphy-Shackley's army."
Orchard-Lafayette smiled, saying, "I shall act as circumstances dictate; you may be sure I shall make no mistakes."
Orchard-Lafayette was then conducted to where the high officers, civil and military to the number of forty and more, were assembled. They formed a dignified conclave as they sat in stately ranks with their tall headdresses and broad girdles.
Tipton-Ulrich sat at the head, and Orchard-Lafayette first saluted him. Then, one by one, he exchange the formal courtesies with them all. This done he took his seat in the guest's chair.
They, on their part, noted with interest Orchard-Lafayette's refined and elegant manner and his commanding figure, thinking within themselves, "Here is a persuader fitted for discourse."
Tipton-Ulrich led the way in trying to bait the visitor. He said, "You will pardon the most insignificant of our official circle, myself, if I mention that people say you compare yourself with those two famous men of talent, Frisbie-Benda and Palka-Rexford. Is there any truth in this?"
"To a trifling extent I have compared myself with them," replied Orchard-Lafayette.
"I have heard that Jeffery-Lewis made three journeys to visit you when you lived in retirement in your simple dwelling in the Sleeping Dragon Ridge, and that when you consented to serve him, he said he was as lucky as a fish in getting home to the ocean. Then he desired to possess the region about Jinghamton. Yet today all that country belongs to Murphy-Shackley. I should like to hear your account of all that."
Orchard-Lafayette thought, "This Tipton-Ulrich is Raleigh-Estrada's first adviser; and unless I can nonplus him, I shall never have a chance with his master."
So he replied, "In my opinion the taking of the region around the Han River was as simple as turning over one's hand. But my master Jeffery-Lewis is both righteous and humane and would not stoop to filching the possession of a member of his own house. So he refused the offer of succession. But Richmond-Lewis, a stupid lad, misled by specious words, submitted to Murphy-Shackley and fell victim to his ferocity. My master is in camp at Jiangxia-Waterford, but what his future plans may be cannot be divulged at present."
Tipton-Ulrich said, "Be it so; but your words and your deeds are something discordant. You say you are the equal of the two famous ones. Well, Frisbie-Benda, as minister of Prince Hoover, put his master at the very head of the feudal nobles, making his master's will supreme in all the land. Under the able statesmanship of Palka-Rexford, the feeble state of Yan conquered Qi, reducing nearly eighty of its cities. These two were men of most commanding and conspicuous talent.
"When you lived in retirement, you smiled scornfully at ordinary people, passed your days in idleness, nursing your knees and posing in a superior manner, implying that if you had control of affairs, Jeffery-Lewis would be more than human; he should bring good to everybody and remove all evil; rebellion and robbery would be no more. Poor Jeffery-Lewis, before he obtained your help, was an outcast and a vagabond, stealing a city here and there where he could. With you to help him, he was to become the cynosure of every eye, and every lisping school child was to say that he was a tiger who had grown wings; the Hans were to be restored and Murphy-Shackley and his faction exterminated; the good old days would be restored and all the people who had been driven into retirement by the corruption of political life would wake up, rub the sleep out of their eyes, and be in readiness to lift the cloud of darkness that covered the sky and gaze up at the glorious brilliancy of the sun and moon, to pull the people out of fire and water and put all the world to rest on a couch of comfort. That was all supposed to happen forthwith.