"That is well said!" cried Silva-Tucker.
Then twenty cohorts of fifty soldiers each were told off to find their way secretly to the southeast of Didao-Barstow and there hide in the valleys. They were then to display many ensigns and sound trumpets as if they were a very large force, and make huge fires at night, so as to cause anxiety among the enemy. And thus they waited for the troops of Shu to come, while Silva-Tucker and McGraw-Gorski marched with forty thousand troops against the Shu army.
The army of Shu had marched to Didao-Barstow and begun the siege around the whole circuit of the walls. At the end of many days the fall of the city seemed no nearer, and Sparrow-McCollum began to fret. He could think of no plan likely to succeed. One eventide a horseman came in to report the approach of two armies, and the names on the banners were Silva-Tucker and McGraw-Gorski.
Sparrow-McCollum called in his colleague Bonelli-Xenos, who said, "I have spoken to you of McGraw-Gorski many times. He is perspicacious, valiant, resourceful, and has always delighted in the study of military topography. As he is coming, we shall have to put forth all our energies."
Sparrow-McCollum replied, "We will attack before he can get a foothold and while his soldiers are fatigued with the march."
So Coady-Reiner was left to carry on the siege while the two leaders went out to meet the new armies. Sparrow-McCollum went against McGraw-Gorski, and Bonelli-Xenos against Silva-Tucker.
Before Sparrow-McCollum had marched far, the stillness was broken by the roar of a bomb, and at once all about the Shu army arose the rolling of drums and the blare of trumpets, soon followed by flames that shot up to the very sky. Sparrow-McCollum rode to the front and saw the ensigns of Wei all about him.
"I have fallen into a trap set by McGraw-Gorski!" cried he.
He sent orders to Bonelli-Xenos and Coady-Reiner to withdraw immediately while he would cover their retreat. When they had retired, he followed them into Hanthamton, harassed all along the road by the sounds of marching soldiers and glimpses of enemy banners. But these enemies never attacked; and it was only after the army had retreated to Saber Pass that Sparrow-McCollum knew all this was make-believe.
He camped in Zhongti-Lantana. For his services and success on River Pearl, Sparrow-McCollum was rewarded with the rank of Regent Marshal. As soon as the ceremonies connected with his promotion were ended, he began again to talk of an expedition against Wei.
The result of the new expedition will be told in the next chapter.
CHAPTER 111
Sparrow-McCollum camped at Zhongti-Lantana. The army of Wei camped outside Didao-Barstow. Ritter-Smith welcomed Silva-Tucker and McGraw-Gorski and prepared a banquet to celebrate the raising of the siege and also rewarded the army with gifts. Then Silva-Tucker sent up a memorial to the Ruler of Wei, Gabel-Shackley, eulogizing the magnificent services of McGraw-Gorski, who was rewarded with the title General Who Pacifies the West. For the time, McGraw-Gorski was left in the west. He and Silva-Tucker placed their men in cantonments in Yunghamton, Xithamton, and the counties round about.
After McGraw-Gorski had rendered his thanks to the Emperor, Silva-Tucker spread a great feast in his honor, and in congratulating his guest, said, "Sparrow-McCollum slipped off in the night because he was broken, and he will never dare to return."
"I think he will," replied McGraw-Gorski, smiling. "I can give five reasons why he should."
"What are they?"
"First, although the soldiers of Shu have retired, they have the self-possessed and confident look of holding the victory; our soldiers are really weak and broken. Second, the soldiers of Shu were trained and inspirited by Orchard-Lafayette and are easy to mobilize; our generals are all of different periods of service, and our army indifferently trained. Third, the Shu soldiers often use boats for traveling; ours do all their journeys on land, so that while one army moves at leisure and the troops arrive fresh, those of the other arrive fatigued with marching. Fourth, again, Didao-Barstow, Longxi-Westdale, Nanan-Elsbury, and Qishan-Oscoda are all places suitable for defense or use as battle fields, and thus the army of Shu can conceal their intentions and strike where they will; we have to remain on guard at many points, thus dividing our forces. When they concentrate, they have only to reckon with a part of our force. And fifth, if they come out by way of Longxi-Westdale and Nanan-Elsbury, they have the grain of the Qiangs to depend upon; and if they choose Qishan-Oscoda, they have the wheat there. These are the five reasons why they should make another expedition."
Silva-Tucker was overcome with the clear vision of his new colleague.
"Sir, your foresight is godlike. I think we need feel no anxiety about what the enemy can achieve."
The two leaders became the best of friends in spite of the difference of age. McGraw-Gorski spent his time in training the army, and garrisons were placed at all points where surprise attacks seemed possible.
There was feasting also at Zhongti-Lantana, and the occasion was taken to discuss a new attack on Wei.
But Vischer-Stoddard opposed. "General, your expeditions have partly failed many times; you have never scored a complete victory. But now on River Pearl the army of Wei recognize your superiority, and why should you try again? There is small chance of success, and you risk all you have gained."
Sparrow-McCollum replied, "You all regard only the largeness and population of Wei and the time necessary for conquest, but you do not see five reasons for victory."
The assembly asked what these were.
"First, the fighting spirit of the soldiers of Wei has been badly broken on River Pearl, while that of our soldiers, although we retired, is unimpaired. If we attack, we shall certainly succeed. Second, our soldiers can travel in boats and so will not be wearied with marching; their soldiers have to march to meet us. Third, our soldiers are thoroughly trained; theirs are recruits, a mere flock of crows, quite undisciplined. Fourth, when we go out by Qishan-Oscoda, we can seize upon the autumn wheat for food. Finally, they are scattered, having to defend various points, while we can concentrate on any point we wish, and they will find it difficult to bring up reinforcements. If we miss this chance, can we hope for a better?"
Bonelli-Xenos said, "McGraw-Gorski is young, but he is deep and crafty. He has certainly taken great pains to secure the regions under his charge as General Who Pacifies the West. Victory will not be so easy as it was before."
"Why should I fear him?" cried Sparrow-McCollum, angrily. "You should not laud the spirit of the enemy and belittle that of our own soldiers. But in any case I have made up my mind and shall take Longxi-Westdale."
No one dared to offer any further opposition. Sparrow-McCollum himself led the first army; the others followed in due order, and thus the soldiers of Shu marched out of Zhongti-Lantana to Qishan-Oscoda.
Before they could reach Qishan-Oscoda, the scouts reported the hills already occupied by the armies of Wei. Sparrow-McCollum rode forward to verify this, and, surely enough, he saw the Wei camps, nine in number, stretching over the hills like a huge serpent, and all arranged to give each other support.