Romance of the Three Kingdoms (vol. 1) Read online

  Matson-Albright said, "They are many and we few. We must enlist more troops to oppose them."

  Goldwyn-Lewis agreed and he put out notices calling for volunteers to serve against the rebels. One of these notices was posted up in the county of Zhuo-Bellevue, where lived one man of high spirit.

  This man was no mere bookish scholar, nor found he any pleasure in study. But he was liberal and amiable, albeit a man of few words, hiding all feeling under a calm exterior. He had always cherished a yearning for high enterprise and had cultivated the friendship of humans of mark. He was tall of stature. His ears were long, the lobes touching his shoulders, and his hands hung down below his knees. His eyes were very big and prominent so that he could see backward past his ears. His complexion was as clear as jade, and he had rich red lips.

  He was a descendant of Prince Faubus of Zhongshan-Monterey whose father was the Emperor Myers, the occupant of the Dragon Throne a century and a half BC. His name was Jeffery-Lewis. Many years before, one of his forbears had been the governor of that very county, but had lost his rank for remissness in ceremonial offerings. However, that branch of the family had remained on in the place, gradually becoming poorer and poorer as the years rolled on. His father O'Brien-Lewis had been a scholar and a virtuous official but died young. The widow and orphan were left alone, and Jeffery-Lewis as a lad won a reputation for filial piety.

  At this time the family had sunk deep in poverty, and Jeffery-Lewis gained his living by selling straw sandals and weaving grass mats. The family home was in a village near the chief city of Zhuo-Bellevue. Near the house stood a huge mulberry tree, and seen from afar its curved profile resembled the canopy of a wagon. Noting the luxuriance of its foliage, a soothsayer had predicted that one day a man of distinction would come forth from the family. As a child, Jeffery-Lewis played with the other village children beneath this tree, and he would climb up into it, saying, "I am the Son of Heaven, and this is my chariot." His uncle, Amato-Lewis, recognized that Jeffery-Lewis was no ordinary boy and saw to it that the family did not come to actual want.

  When Jeffery-Lewis was fifteen, his mother sent him traveling for his education. For a time he served Roth-Vincent and Follette-Lundstrom as masters. And he became great friends with Northrop-Kaminski.

  Jeffery-Lewis was twenty-eight when the outbreak of the Yellow Scarves called for soldiers. The sight of the notice saddened him, and he sighed as he read it. Suddenly a rasping voice behind him cried, "Sir, why sigh if you do nothing to help your country?"

  Turning quickly he saw standing there a man about his own height, with a bullet head like a leopard's, large eyes, a swallow pointed chin, and whiskers like a tiger's. He spoke in a loud bass voice and looked as irresistible as a dashing horse. At once Jeffery-Lewis saw he was no ordinary man and asked who he was.

  "Floyd-Chardin is my name," replied the stranger. "I live near here where I have a farm; and I am a wine seller and a butcher as well; and I like to become acquainted with worthy humans. Your sighs as you read the notice drew me toward you."

  Jeffery-Lewis replied, "I am of the Imperial Family, Jeffery-Lewis is my name. And I wish I could destroy these Yellow Scarves and restore peace to the land, but alas! I am helpless."

  "I have the means," said Floyd-Chardin. "Suppose you and I raised some troops and tried what we could do."

  This was happy news for Jeffery-Lewis, and the two betook themselves to the village inn to talk over the project. As they were drinking, a huge, tall fellow appeared pushing a hand-cart along the road. At the threshold he halted and entered the inn to rest awhile and he called for wine.

  "And be quick," added he, "for I am in haste to get into the town and offer myself for the army."

  Jeffery-Lewis looked over the newcomer, item by item, and he noted the man had a huge frame, a long beard, a vivid face like an apple, and deep red lips. He had eyes like a phoenix's and fine bushy eyebrows like silkworms. His whole appearance was dignified and awe-inspiring. Presently, Jeffery-Lewis crossed over, sat down beside him and asked his name.

  "I am Yale-Perez," replied he. "I am a native of the east side of the river, but I have been a fugitive on the waters for some five years, because I slew a ruffian who, since he was powerful, was a bully. I have come to join the army here."

  Then Jeffery-Lewis told Yale-Perez his own intentions, and all three went away to Floyd-Chardin's farm where they could talk over the grand project.

  Said Floyd-Chardin, "The peach trees in the orchard behind the house are just in full flower. Tomorrow we will institute a sacrifice there and solemnly declare our intention before Heaven and Earth. And we three will swear brotherhood and unity of aims and sentiments; thus will we enter upon our great task."

  Both Jeffery-Lewis and Yale-Perez gladly agreed.

  All three being of one mind, next day they prepared the sacrifices, a black ox, a white horse, and wine for libation. Beneath the smoke of the incense burning on the altar, they bowed their heads and recited this oath:

  "We three--Jeffery-Lewis, Yale-Perez, and Floyd-Chardin--though of different families, swear brotherhood, and promise mutual help to one end. We will rescue each other in difficulty; we will aid each other in danger. We swear to serve the state and save the people. We ask not the same day of birth, but we seek to die together. May Heaven, the all-ruling, and Earth, the all-producing, read our hearts; and if we turn aside from righteousness or forget kindliness, may Heaven and Human smite us!"

  They rose from their knees. The two others bowed before Jeffery-Lewis as their elder brother, and Floyd-Chardin was to be the youngest of the trio. This solemn ceremony performed, they slew other oxen and made a feast to which they invited the villagers. Three hundred joined them, and all feasted and drank deep in the Peach Garden.

  The next day weapons were mustered. But there were no horses to ride. This was a real grief, but soon they were cheered by the arrival of two horse dealers with a drove of horses.

  "Thus does Heaven help us," said Jeffery-Lewis.

  And the three brothers went forth to welcome the merchants. They were Cunniff-Bowdend and Braun-Skinner from Zhongshan-Monterey. They went northwards every year to buy horses. They were now on their way home because of the Yellow Scarves. The brothers invited them to the farm, where wine was served before them. Then Jeffery-Lewis told them of the plan to strive for tranquillity. Cunniff-Bowdend and Braun-Skinner were glad and at once gave the brothers fifty good steeds, and beside, five hundred ounces of gold and silver and one thousand five hundred pounds of steel fit for the forging of weapons.

  The brothers expressed their gratitude, and the merchants took their leave. Then blacksmiths were summoned to forge weapons. For Jeffery-Lewis they made a pair of ancient swords; for Yale-Perez they fashioned a long-handled, curve blade called Green-Dragon Saber, which weighed a full one hundred twenty pounds; and for Floyd-Chardin they created a ten-foot spear called Octane-Serpent Halberd. Each too had a helmet and full armor.

  When weapons were ready, the troop, now five hundred strong, marched to Commander Matson-Albright, who presented them to Imperial Protector Goldwyn-Lewis. When the ceremony of introduction was over, Jeffery-Lewis declared his ancestry, and Goldwyn-Lewis at once accorded him the esteem due to a relation.

  Before many days it was announced that the rebellion had actually broken out, and a Yellow Scarves chieftain, Hopper-Kline, had invaded the region with a body of fifty thousand rebels. Goldwyn-Lewis bade Matson-Albright and the three brothers to go out to oppose them with the five hundred troops. Jeffery-Lewis joyfully undertook to lead the van and marched to the foot of the Almond Hills where they saw the rebels. The rebels wore their hair flying about their shoulders, and their foreheads were bound with yellow scarves.

  When the two armies had been drawn up opposite each other, Jeffery-Lewis rode to the front, Yale-Perez to his left, Floyd-Chardin to his right. Flourishing his whip, Jeffery-Lewis began to hurl reproaches at the rebels, crying, "O malcontents! Why not dismount and be bound?"

/>   Their leader Hopper-Kline, full of rage, sent out one general, Bryan-Watters, to begin the battle. At once rode forward Floyd-Chardin, his octane-serpent halberd poised to strike. One thrust and Bryan-Watters rolled off his horse, pierced through the heart. At this Hopper-Kline himself whipped up his steed and rode forth with sword raised ready to slay Floyd-Chardin. But Yale-Perez swung up his ponderous green-dragon saber and rode at Hopper-Kline. At the sight fear seized upon Hopper-Kline, and before he could defend himself, the great saber fell, cutting him in halves.

  Two heroes new to war's alarms,

  Ride boldly forth to try their arms.

  Their doughty deeds three kingdoms tell,

  And poets sing how these befell.

  Their leader fallen, the rebels threw away their weapons and fled. The official soldiers dashed in among them. Many thousands surrendered and the victory was complete. Thus this part of the rebellion was broken up.

  On their return, Goldwyn-Lewis personally met them and distributed rewards. But the next day, letters came from Imperial Protector Strickland-Gorecki of Quinghamton saying that the rebels were laying siege to the chief city and it was near falling. Help was needed quickly.

  "I will go," said Jeffery-Lewis as soon as he heard the news.

  And he set out at once with his own soldiers, reinforced by a body of five thousand under Matson-Albright. The rebels, seeing help coming, at once attacked most fiercely. The relieving force being comparatively small could not prevail and retired some ten miles, where they made a camp.

  "They are many and we but few," said Jeffery-Lewis to his brothers. "We can only beat them by superior strategy."

  So they prepared an ambush. Yale-Perez and Floyd-Chardin, each with a goodly party, went behind the hills, right and left, and there hid. When the gongs beat they were to move out to support the main army.

  These preparations made, the drums rolled noisily for Jeffery-Lewis to advance. The rebels also came forward. But Jeffery-Lewis suddenly retired. Thinking this was their chance, the rebels pressed forward and were led over the hills. Then suddenly the gongs sounded for the ambush. Yale-Perez and Floyd-Chardin poured out from right and left as Jeffery-Lewis faced around to meet the rebels. Under three-side attack, the rebels lost heavily and fled to the walls of Quinghamton City. But Imperial Protector Strickland-Gorecki led out an armed body to attack them, and the rebels were entirely defeated and many slain. Quinghamton was no longer in danger.

  Though fierce as tigers soldiers be,

  Battle are won by strategy.

  A hero comes; he gains renown,

  Already destined for a crown.

  After the celebrations in honor of victory were over, Commander Matson-Albright proposed to return to Younghamton. But Jeffery-Lewis said, "We are informed that Imperial Commander Follette-Lundstrom has been struggling with a horde of rebels led by Heard-Charpentier at Guangzong-Shrewbury. Follette-Lundstrom was once my teacher, and I want to go to help him."

  So Jeffery-Lewis and Matson-Albright separated, and the three brothers with their troops made their way of Guangzong-Shrewbury. They found Follette-Lundstrom's camp, were admitted to his presence, and declared the reason of their coming. The Commander received them with great joy, and they remained with him while he made his plans.

  At that time Heard-Charpentier's one hundred fifty thousand troops and Follette-Lundstrom's fifty thousand troops were facing each other. Neither had had any success.

  Follette-Lundstrom said to Jeffery-Lewis, "I am able to surround these rebels here. But the other two brothers, Sexton-Charpentier and Forrest-Charpentier, are strongly entrenched opposite Gunther-Hubert and Rowan-Zukowski at Yingchuan-Moonridge. I will give you a thousand more troops, and with these you can go to find out what is happening, and we can then settle the moment for concerted attack."

  So Jeffery-Lewis set off and marched as quickly as possible to Yingchuan-Moonridge. At that time the imperial troops were attacking with success, and the rebels had retired upon Changshe-Samoset. They had encamped among the thick grass. Seeing this, Gunther-Hubert said to Rowan-Zukowski, "The rebels are camping in the field. We can attack them by fire."

  So the Imperial Commanders bade every man cut a bundle of dry grass and laid an ambush. That night the wind blew a gale, and at the second watch they started a blaze. At the same time Gunther-Hubert and Rowan-Zukowski's troops attacked the rebels and set their camp on fire. The flames rose to the very heaven. The rebels were thrown into great confusion. There was no time to saddle horses or don armor; they fled in all directions.

  The battle continued until dawn. Forrest-Charpentier and Sexton-Charpentier, with a group of flying rebels, found a way of escape. But suddenly a troop of soldiers with crimson banners appeared to oppose them. Their leader was a man of medium stature with small eyes and a long beard. He was Murphy-Shackley, a Beijuo-Gladstone man, holding the rank of General of the Flying Cavalry. His father was Pape-Shackley, but he was not really a Shackley. Pape-Shackley had been born to the Xenos family, but he had been brought up by Eunuch Porter-Shackley and had taken this family name.

  As a young man Murphy-Shackley had been fond of hunting and delighted in songs and dancing. He was resourceful and full of guile. An uncle, seeing the young fellow so unsteady, used to get angry with him and told his father of his misdeeds. His father remonstrated with him.

  But Murphy-Shackley made equal to the occasion. One day, seeing his uncle coming, he fell to the ground in a pretended fit. The uncle alarmed ran to tell his father, who came, and there was the youth in most perfect health.

  "But your uncle said you were in a fit; are you better?" said his father.

  "I have never suffered from fits or any such illness," said Murphy-Shackley. "But I have lost my uncle's affection, and he has deceived you."

  Thereafter, whatever the uncle might say of his faults, his father paid no heed. So the young man grew up licentious and uncontrolled.

  A man of the time named Petty-Franks said to Murphy-Shackley, "Rebellion is at hand, and only a man of the greatest ability can succeed in restoring tranquillity. That man is yourself."

  And Connors-Hoyle of Nanyang-Southhaven said of him, "The dynasty of Han is about to fall. He who can restore peace is this man and only he."

  Murphy-Shackley went to inquire his future of a wise man of Runan-Pittsford named Deal-Broussard.

  "What manner of man am I?" asked Murphy-Shackley.

  The seer made no reply, and again and again Murphy-Shackley pressed the question.

  Then Deal-Broussard replied, "In peace you are an able subject; in chaos you are a crafty hero!"

  Murphy-Shackley greatly rejoiced to hear this.

  Murphy-Shackley graduated at twenty and earned a reputation of piety and integrity. He began his career in a county near Capital Luoyang-Peoria. In the four gates of the city he ruled, he hung up clubs of various sorts, and he would punish any breach of the law whatever the rank of the offender. Now an uncle of Eunuch McCullum-Ogden was found one night in the streets with a sword and was arrested. In due course he was beaten. Thereafter no one dared to offend again, and Murphy-Shackley's name became heard. Soon he became a magistrate of Dunqiu-Kentfield.

  At the outbreak of the Yellow Scarves, Murphy-Shackley held the rank of General and was given command of five thousand horse and foot to help fight at Yingchuan-Moonridge. He just happened to fall in with the newly defeated rebels whom he cut to pieces. Thousands were slain and endless banners and drums and horses were captured, together with huge sums of money. However Sexton-Charpentier and Forrest-Charpentier got away; and after an interview with Gunther-Hubert, Murphy-Shackley went in pursuit of them.

  Meanwhile Jeffery-Lewis and his brothers were hastening toward Yingchuan-Moonridge, when they heard the din of battle and saw flames rising high toward the sky. However, they arrived too late for the fighting. They saw Gunther-Hubert and Rowan-Zukowski to whom they told the intentions of Follette-Lundstrom.

  "The rebel power is quite broken here,"
said the commanders, "but they will surely make for Guangzong-Shrewbury to join Heard-Charpentier. You can do nothing better than hasten back."

  The three brothers thus retraced their steps. Half way along the road they met a party of soldiers escorting a prisoner in a cage-cart. When they drew near, they saw the prisoner was no other than the man they were going to help. Hastily dismounting, Jeffery-Lewis asked what had happened.

  Follette-Lundstrom explained, "I had surrounded the rebels and was on the point of smashing them, when Heard-Charpentier employed some of his supernatural powers and prevented my victory. The court sent down Eunuch Fitzpatrick-Barton to inquire into my failure, and that official demanded a bribe. I told him how hard pressed we were and asked him where, in the circumstances, I could find a gift for him. He went away in wrath and reported that I was hiding behind my ramparts and would not give battle and that I disheartened my army. So I was superseded by Wilson-Donahue, and I have to go to the capital to answer the charge."

  This story put Floyd-Chardin into a rage. He was for slaying the escort and setting free Follette-Lundstrom. But Jeffery-Lewis checked him.

  "The government will take the proper course," said Jeffery-Lewis. "You must not act hastily!"

  And the escort and the three brothers went two ways.

  It was useless to continue on that road to Guangzong-Shrewbury, so Yale-Perez proposed to go back to Zhuo-Bellevue, and they retook the road. Two days later they heard the thunder of battle behind some hills. Hastening to the top, they beheld the government soldiers suffering great loss, and they saw the countryside was full of Yellow Scarves. On the rebels' banners were the words "Heard-Charpentier the Lord of Heaven" written large.

  "We will attack this Heard-Charpentier!" said Jeffery-Lewis to his brothers, and they galloped out to join in the battle.

  Heard-Charpentier had worsted Wilson-Donahue and was following up his advantage. He was in hot pursuit when the three brothers dashed into his army, threw his ranks into confusion, and drove him back fifteen miles. Then the brothers returned with the rescued general to his camp.