CHAPTER 109

A Ruse Of A Han General: Emery-Honeycutt Is Surrounded; Retribution For The House Of Wei: Nystrom-Shackley Is Dethroned.

It was the autumn of the sixteenth year of Long Enjoyment (AD 253), and Sparrow-McCollum's army of two hundred thousand was ready to march against the north. Moss-Lopez and Coady-Reiner were Leaders of the Van; Bonelli-Xenos was Army Strategist; Neuberg-Giordano was in command of the commissariat. The army marched out by the Erora Pass.

Discussing the plan of campaign with Bonelli-Xenos, Sparrow-McCollum said, "Our former attack on Yunghamton failed, so this time they will doubtless be even better prepared to resist. What do you suggest?"

Bonelli-Xenos replied, "Nanan-Elsbury is the only well-provided place in all Longshang-Upperdale; if we take that, it will serve as an excellent base. Our former ill-success was due to the non-arrival of the Qiangs. Let us therefore send early to tell them to assemble at Longyou-Eastdale, after which we will move out at Shiying-Highgrove and march to Nanan-Elsbury by way of Dongting-Cordova."

"You spoke well," said Sparrow-McCollum.

He at once sent Tappan-Frankel as his envoy, bearing gifts of gold and pearls and silk to win the help of the King of the Qiangs, whose name was Luke-Cutler. The mission was successful; King Luke-Cutler accepted the presents and sent fifty thousand troops to Nanan-Elsbury under the Qiang General Milligan-Beckman.

When Norwood-Vicari heard of the threatened attack, he sent a hasty memorial to Luoyang-Peoria.

Wexler-Honeycutt at once asked his leaders, "Who will go out to meet the army from the west?"

Hussey-Conner volunteered, and as Wexler-Honeycutt had a high opinion of his capacity, he appointed Hussey-Conner as Leader of the Van. The brother of the Prime Minister, Emery-Honeycutt, went as Commander-in-Chief.

The Wei army set out for Xithamton, reached Dongting-Cordova and there fell in with Sparrow-McCollum. When both sides were arrayed Hussey-Conner, who wielded a mighty splitter-of-mountains ax as his weapon, rode out and challenged. Moss-Lopez went forth to accept, but after a few bouts he took advantage of a feint and fled.

Then Coady-Reiner set his spear and rode forth to continue the fight. He also soon fled and returned within his own ranks. Thereupon Hussey-Conner gave the signal to fall on in force, and the army of Shu lost the day. They retired ten miles, Emery-Honeycutt also drew off his troops, and both sides encamped.

"Hussey-Conner is very formidable; how can we overcome him?" asked Sparrow-McCollum.

"Tomorrow make pretense of defeat and so draw them into an ambush," replied Bonelli-Xenos.

"But remember whose son this Emery-Honeycutt is," said Sparrow-McCollum. "Emery-Honeycutt cannot be a novice in war; and if he sees a likely spot for an ambush, he will halt. Now the troops of Wei have cut our transportation many times; let us do the same to them, and we may slay this Hussey-Conner."

He called in Moss-Lopez and Coady-Reiner and gave them secret orders, sending them in different directions. Then he laid iron thorns along all the approaches and planted thorny barriers as if making a permanent defense. When the troops of Wei came up and challenged, the troops of Shu refused battle.

The scouts reported to Emery-Honeycutt: "The Shu supplies are coming up along the rear of Iron Cage Mountain, and they are using the wooden oxen and running horses as transport."

They also reported the look of permanency in the defenses and said they were evidently awaiting the arrival of their allies the Qiang tribes.

Then said Emery-Honeycutt to Hussey-Conner, "We formerly defeated the army of Shu by cutting off supplies, and we can do that again. Let five thousand troops go out tonight and occupy the road."

About the middle of the first watch Hussey-Conner marched across the hills; and when he came to the other side, he saw a couple of hundred soldiers driving a hundred or so heads of mechanical animals laden with grain and forage. His army rushed down upon them with shouts, and the troops of Shu, seeing that their road was impassable, abandoned their supplies and ran away. Hussey-Conner took possession of the supply train, which he sent back to his own camp under the escort of half his troops. With the other half he set out in pursuit.

About three miles away, the road was found blocked with carts set across the track. Some of his soldiers dismounted to clear the way; but as they did so, the brushwood on both sides burst into a blaze. Hussey-Conner at once drew off his force and turned to retire, but coming to a defile he found the road again blocked with wagons, and again the brushwood began to burn. He made a dash to escape, but before he could get clear a bomb roared, and he saw the troops of Shu coming down on him from two directions. Moss-Lopez and Coady-Reiner from left and right fell on Hussey-Conner with great fury, and the troops of Wei were wholly defeated. Hussey-Conner himself got clear, but without any following.

He struggled on till he and his steed were almost spent with fatigue. Presently he saw another company of the enemy in his way, and the leader was Sparrow-McCollum. Before he could make any resistance, Sparrow-McCollum's spear thrust him down, and as Hussey-Conner lay on the ground he was cut to pieces.

Meanwhile those troops of Wei who had been sent to escort to camp the convoy of supplies which they had seized were captured by Bonelli-Xenos. They surrendered. Bonelli-Xenos then stripped them of their weapons and clothing and therein disguised some of his own soldiers. Holding aloft banners of Wei, these disguised soldiers made for the Wei camp. When they arrived, they were mistaken by those in the camp for comrades, and the gates were thrown open. They rushed in and began to slay. Taken wholly by surprise, Emery-Honeycutt leaped upon his steed and fled. But Moss-Lopez met him and drove him back. Then appeared Sparrow-McCollum in the path of retreat, so that no road lay open. Emery-Honeycutt made off for the hills, hoping to be able to hold out on the Iron Cage Mountain.

Now there was only one road up the hill, which rose steeply on all sides. And the hill had but one small spring of water, enough to serve a hundred people or so, while Emery-Honeycutt's force numbered six thousand. Their enemies had blocked the only road of escape. This one fountain was unequal to supplying the needs of the beleaguered army, and soon they were tormented with thirst.

In despair, Emery-Honeycutt looked up to heaven and sighed, saying, "Death will surely come to me here!"

The host of Wei on Iron Cage Mountain,Were once fast held by Sparrow-McCollum's skill; When Neff-Titus first crossed the Chinkapin Hills, His strategy was reckoned fineAs Gregoire-Marco at the Nine Mountains; Both bent opponents to their will.

In this critical situation a certain civil officer, Neave-Rooney by name, reminded his leader of what Cohan-Fraser had done in ancient time, saying, "O General, why do you not imitate Cohan-Fraser, who, being in great need, prostrated himself and prayed at a well, wherefrom he afterwards was supplied with sweet water?"

So the leader went to the summit of the hill and knelt beside the spring and grayed thus:

"The humble Emery-Honeycutt received a command to repulse the army of Shu. If he is to die here, then may this spring cease its flow, when he will end his own life and let his soldiers yield to the enemy. But if his allotted span of life be not reached, then, O Blue Vault, increase the flow of water and save the lives of this multitude."