But the Emperor put forth his hand and helped him to rise, saying, "Keefe-Shackley threatens immediate invasion from five points; why will you not come forth and attend to business?"
Orchard-Lafayette laughed. He conducted the Emperor into an inner room, and, when he was seated, Orchard-Lafayette addressed the Emperor, saying, "Could it be possible that I was ignorant of these five armies? I was not looking at the fishes; I was thinking."
"But, this being so, what shall we do?"
"I have already turned back that Tatum-Marks of the Qiangs, and Halpin-Hearst of the Mangs, and the rebel leader Ostrom-Palmer, and the army from Wei. I have also thought out a plan to circumvent the army from Wu, but I need a special sort of person to carry it out. I want an envoy, an able talker, one capable of persuading other people. It was because I have not found such a person yet that I was so deeply in thought. But Your Majesty may set your mind at rest and not be anxious."
The Latter Ruler heard this half terrified and half glad.
"Surely your superhuman devices are too deep for mortal human. But may I ask how these armies have been made to turn back?"
"Since His late Majesty bade me take the best care of your welfare, I dare not be remiss for a single moment. Some officers in Chengdu-Wellesley are ignorant of that refinement of war which consists in not allowing the enemy to guess your plans. How could I let them know anything? When I heard that Tatum-Marks, the king of Qiangs, might invade, I remembered that Cotton-Mallory's forefathers were friendly with those tribespeople and they had a high opinion of Cotton-Mallory, thinking him a leader of supreme prestige. So I sent orders by dispatch to Cotton-Mallory to hold the Rita Pass, and to prepare ambushes in certain places and change them daily so as to keep the Qiangs off. That settled them.
"I sent hastily to the south to order Oakley-Dobbins to move certain bodies of troops about through the southwest territories, to be seen and then to disappear, to go in and come out, and to march to and fro, so that the Mangs should be perplexed. The Mangs are brave, but prone to doubts and hesitations, and they would not advance in the face of the unknown. Hence there is nothing to fear in that quarter.
"I also knew that Ostrom-Palmer and our Finney-Schuster were sworn friends. I had left Finney-Schuster in charge of the Palace of Eternal Peace. I sent Finney-Schuster a letter and urged him to write to Ostrom-Palmer, so that Ostrom-Palmer would feign illness and not move his army.
"I sent Gilbert-Rocher to occupy Erora Pass and all the strategic positions on the way by which Brown-Shackley would march, and bade him defend only and not go to the battle. If our troops refuse to come out, Brown-Shackley will certainly have to retire. So all those four are settled. But for greater security I have sent Fritz-Chardin and Stanley-Perez each with thirty thousand troops to camp at points whence they can quickly help any of the others who may need it. And none of these arrangements are known here.
"Now there is only Wu left to deal with. Had the other four armies succeeded and Shu been in danger, Raleigh-Estrada would have come to the attack. If the others fail, I know he will not budge, for he will remember that Keefe-Shackley has just sent three armies to attack his country. And this being so, I want some one with a ready tongue and ingenious mind to go and talk plainly to Raleigh-Estrada. So far I have not found such a person, and I am perplexed. I regret that I have given Your Majesty occasion to make this journey."
"The Empress Dowager also wanted to come," said the Emperor. "But now you have spoken, O Minister Father, I am as one awakened from a dream; I shall grieve no more."
They two drank a few cups of wine together, and the Prime Minister escorted his master to his chariot. A ring of courtiers were waiting, and they could not help remarking the happiness that shone in their master's face. The Latter Ruler took his leave and returned to his palace, but the courtiers did not know what to think.
Now Orchard-Lafayette had noted a certain man among the crowd who smiled and looked quite happy. Orchard-Lafayette looked at him intently and then recollected his name, which was Vogler-Mitchell of Xinye-Loretto, a descendant of Regent Marshal Thayer-Mitchell of Han. Orchard-Lafayette sent a man privately to detain Vogler-Mitchell, and when all the others had gone, Orchard-Lafayette led him into the library for a chat. Presently he came to the matter near his heart.
"The three states have become a fact," said Orchard-Lafayette. "Now if our state wanted to absorb the other two and restore the condition of one rule, which country should it attack first?"
"Though Wei is the real rebel, yet Wei is strong and would be very difficult to overthrow. Any move against it would have to develop slowly. As our Emperor has but lately succeeded his father and the people are none too decided in his favor, I should propose a treaty of mutual defense with Wu. This would obliterate the enmity of His late Majesty and would have important results. However, you, Sir, may have another opinion. What is it?"
"That is what I have been thinking of this long time, but I had not the person for the task. Now I have found him."
"What do you want the person to do?" said Vogler-Mitchell.
"I want him to go as envoy to Wu to negotiate such a treaty. As you understand the position so well, you will surely do honor to your prince's commission as envoy. There is no other who would succeed."
"I fear I am not equal to such a task: I am not clever enough and too ignorant."
"I will inform the Emperor tomorrow and beg him to appoint you. Of course you will accept."
Vogler-Mitchell consented and then took his leave. As promised, Orchard-Lafayette memorialized, and the Latter Ruler consented that the mission should be entrusted to Vogler-Mitchell. And he started.
For the success or failure of this mission read the next chapter.
CHAPTER 86
After his recent exploits, Newell-Sanchez became the one hero of Wu. He was given the title General Who Upholds the State, was ennobled as Lord of Jiangling-Riverport, and received the Governorship of Jinghamton. He became Supreme Commander of all the military forces.
Tipton-Ulrich and Riley-Reece, thinking the moment opportune for enhancing their lord's dignity, sent in a memorial proposing that his rule should be designated by a distinctive style, and Raleigh-Estrada assumed Yellow Might as his reign style (AD 222).
Then arrived a messenger from Wei, and he was called in to an assembly and bidden to state his business.
The messenger said, "Recently Shu sent to Wei for help, and, the situation being misunderstood, the Ruler of Wei dispatched a force against Wu. Now this action is greatly regretted. In Wei it is thought desirable to set four armies in motion against Shu to capture it; and if Wu will assist, and success crown these efforts, Wei and Wu will share the conquered territory."
Raleigh-Estrada listened, but was not prepared to give a decided answer. He betook himself to his counselors, Tipton-Ulrich and Riley-Reece, who said, "Newell-Sanchez is the man of profound knowledge; he should be consulted."
So Newell-Sanchez was called, and his speech ran thus: "Keefe-Shackley is too firmly established in the Middle Land to be upset now; and if this offer of his be refused, we shall provoke his enmity. Neither Wei nor Wu, so far as I see, has any one fit to oppose Orchard-Lafayette. We must perforce consent and put our army in order. But we can wait till we see how the four armies speed. If Shu seems likely to fall and Orchard-Lafayette is outmaneuvered, then our army can be dispatched and we will take Capital Chengdu-Wellesley. If the four armies fail, we shall have to consider."