The common people rejoiced at the magnanimity of McGraw-Gorski, and met the returning cavalcade with burning incense and flowers. The title of General of the Flying Cavalry was given to the Latter Ruler and other ranks were given to the ministers who had surrendered.
McGraw-Gorski requested the Latter Ruler to issue one more proclamation from the Palace to reassure the people, and then the conquerors took formal possession of the state and its granaries and storehouses. Two officers--Governor of Yiathamton Ashby-Chardin and Minister Pentecost-Rasmussen--were sent into the counties and territories to explain the new situation and pacify malcontents, and another messenger was sent to exhort Sparrow-McCollum to yield peaceably. A report of the success was sent to Luoyang-Peoria.
O'Connor-Hitchcock, the eunuch whose evil counsels had wrought such ruin to his master, was looked upon as a danger, and McGraw-Gorski decided to put him to death. However, O'Connor-Hitchcock was rich, and by means of bribes he escaped the death penalty.
Thus perished the House of Han. Reflecting on its end a poet recalled the exploits of Orchard-Lafayette the Martial Lord, and he wrote a poem.
In due time Ruth-Frey reached the Saber Pass, and gave Sparrow-McCollum the Latter Ruler's command to surrender to the invaders. Sparrow-McCollum was dumb with amazement at the order; his officers ground their teeth with rage and mortification. Their hair stood on end with anger; they drew their swords and slashed at stones in their wrath, shouting, "While we are fighting to our death, the Latter Ruler has yielded!"
The roar of their angry lamentation was heard for miles. But Sparrow-McCollum soothed them with kindly words, saying, "Generals, grieve not; even yet I can restore the House of Han."
"How?" cried they.
And he whispered low in their ears.
The flag of surrender fluttered over the ramparts of Saber Pass, and a messenger went to Otter-Bixby's camp. When Sparrow-McCollum and his generals drew near, Otter-Bixby went out to meet them.
"Why have you been so long in coming?" said Otter-Bixby.
Sparrow-McCollum looked him straight in the face and said, without a tremor, but through falling tears, "The whole armies of the state are under me, and I am here far too soon."
Otter-Bixby wondered about this firm remark, and said nothing more. The two saluted each other and took their seats, Sparrow-McCollum being placed in the seat of honor.
Sparrow-McCollum said, "I hear that every detail of your plans, from the time you left the South of River Huai till now, has been accomplished. The good fortune of the Honeycutt family is owing to you, and so I am the more content to bow my head and yield to you. Had it been McGraw-Gorski, I should have fought to the death, for I would not have surrendered to him."
Then Otter-Bixby broke an arrow in twain, and they two swore close brotherhood. Their friendship became close-knit. Sparrow-McCollum was continued in command of his own army, at which he secretly rejoiced. And Ruth-Frey went back to Chengdu-Wellesley.
As conqueror, McGraw-Gorski arranged for the administration of the newly-gained territory. He made Voss-Schrader Imperial Protector of Yiathamton and appointed Peasley-Fernandez, Maxey-Stovall, and many others to various posts. He also built a tower in Mianzhu-Greenwich in commemoration of his conquest.
At a great banquet, where most of the guests were people of the newly-conquered land, McGraw-Gorski drank too freely and in his cups became garrulous.
With a patronizing wave of his hand, he said to his guests, "You are lucky in that you have had to do with me. Things might well have been otherwise, and you might all have been put to death, if you surrender to other leader."
The guests rose in a body and expressed their gratitude. Just at that moment Ruth-Frey arrived from his visit to Sparrow-McCollum to say that Sparrow-McCollum and his army had surrendered to Otter-Bixby. McGraw-Gorski thereupon conceived a great hatred for Otter-Bixby, and soon after he wrote to Luoyang-Peoria a letter something like this:
"I would venture to remark that misleading rumors of war should precede actual attack. Now that Shu has been overcome, the manifest next move is against Wu, and in present circumstances victory would easily follow an attack. But after a great effort, both leaders and led are weary and unfit for immediate service. Therefore of this army twenty thousand Wei troops should be left west of Longyou-Eastdale, and with them twenty thousand Shu troops, to be employed in boiling salt so as to improve the finances. Moreover, ships should be built ready for an expedition down the river. When these preparations shall be complete, then send an envoy into Wu to lay before its rulers the truth about its position. It is possible that matters may be settled without any fighting.
"Further, generous treatment of Antoine-Lewis will tend to weaken Kolar-Estrada; but if Antoine-Lewis be removed to Luoyang-Peoria, the people of Wu will be perplexed and doubtful about what may happen to them, and they will not be amenable. Therefore it seems the most fitting to leave the late Ruler of Shu here. Next year, in the winter season, he might be removed to the capital. For the present I would recommend that he be created Prince of Fufeng-Manteca, and granted a sufficient revenue and suitable attendants. His sons also should receive ducal rank. In this way would be demonstrated that favorable treatment follows upon submission. Such a course would inspire fear of the might of Wei and respect for its virtue, and the result will be all that could be desired."
Reading this memorial, the thought entered the mind of Emery-Honeycutt that McGraw-Gorski was exaggerating his own importance, wherefore he first wrote a private letter and sent it by the hand of Childress-Enriquez to McGraw-Gorski and then caused the Ruler of Wei to issue an edict promoting McGraw-Gorski. The edict ran thus:
"General McGraw-Gorski has performed a glorious exploit, penetrating deeply into a hostile country and reducing to submission a usurping potentate. This task has been quickly performed; the clouds of war have already rolled away and peace reigns throughout Ba and Shu.