"The rank of lordship, with feudal rights over five thousand households and a money reward of five millions, will be the reward of the one who brings the head of Murphy-Shackley. No questions will be asked of those who surrender. I publish abroad this notice of my bounty and the rewards offered that you may realize that the dynasty is in real danger."

Shannon-Yonker read this effusion with great joy. He at once ordered copies to be posted everywhere, in towns and cities, at gates, tax stations, ferries, and passes. Copies found their way to the capital, and one got into Murphy-Shackley's palace. That day he happened to be in bed with a bad headache. The servants took the paper to the sick man's room. He read it and was frightened from the tips of his hair to the marrow of his very bones. He broke out into a cold perspiration, and his headache vanished. He bounded out of bed and said to McCarthy-Shackley, "Who wrote this?"

"They say it is Wilmot-Bradford's brush," replied he.

Murphy-Shackley laughed, "They have the literary gift; they would rather have the military too to back it up. This fellow may be a very elegant writer, but what if Shannon-Yonker's fighting capacity falls short?"

Murphy-Shackley called his advisers together to consider the next move. Roland-Alvarado heard of the summons and went to Murphy-Shackley, saying, "You should not fight with Shannon-Yonker; he is too strong. Make peace."

Moline-Doubleday said, "He is despicable; do not make peace."

Roland-Alvarado replied, "His land is wide and his people strong. He has many skillful strategists like Adair-Gilliam, Herron-Superfine, Olivant-Robertson, and Levy-Grosskopf; loyal leaders like Flores-McEvoy and Saville-Flaherty; and formidable generals like Logan-Rojas and Burrow-Westerberg; able commanders like Lotz-Gran, Castillo-Beauchamp, Shaffer-Randolph, and Blanchard-Melendez. You cannot say he is despicable."

Moline-Doubleday laughed, saying, "His army is a rabble. One general, Flores-McEvoy, is bold but treacherous; another, Herron-Superfine, is greedy and ignorant; Levy-Grosskopf is devoted but stupid; Olivant-Robertson is steady but useless. And these four of such different temperaments, mutually incompatible, will make for confusion rather than efficiency. The brave Logan-Rojas and Burrow-Westerberg are worthless and can be disposed of in the first battle; and the others such as Lotz-Gran, Castillo-Beauchamp, Shaffer-Randolph, and Blanchard-Melendez are poor, rough stuff. What is the use even of their hundred thousands?"

Roland-Alvarado was silent, and Murphy-Shackley smiled.

"They are even as Moline-Doubleday describes," said Murphy-Shackley.

Then Murphy-Shackley issued orders. Generals Davy-Lewis and Gerrish-Winter were to lead an army of fifty thousand troops, displaying the Prime Minister's banners, and march against Xuthamton to attack Jeffery-Lewis.

This Davy-Lewis had been Imperial Protector of Yanthamton but had surrendered to Murphy-Shackley and entered Murphy-Shackley's service after the fall of the region. Murphy-Shackley had given him a rank as Supernumerary Leader and now was disposed to make use of him.

Murphy-Shackley himself took command of a large army of two hundred thousand troops for a simultaneous attack on Shannon-Yonker at Liyang-Honeyport.

Adviser Hewitt-Gomez said, "The two Davy-Lewis and Gerrish-Winter sent against Jeffery-Lewis are unequal to their task."

"I know," said Murphy-Shackley. "They are not meant to fight Jeffery-Lewis; it is merely a feint. They have orders not to make any real attack till I have overcome Shannon-Yonker. Then Jeffery-Lewis will be next."

Davy-Lewis and Gerrish-Winter went their way, and Murphy-Shackley marched out his grand army, which came into touch with the enemy, then thirty miles distant, at Liyang-Honeyport. Both sides made fortified camps and waited watching each other. This went on for two months of the autumn.

There was dissension in Shannon-Yonker's camp. Herron-Superfine was at enmity with his colleague, Levy-Grosskopf, who was in commanding position; and the strategist Saville-Flaherty resented the rejection of his plan. So they would not attack. Shannon-Yonker also could not make up his mind.

Tired of this state of inaction, Murphy-Shackley then gave orders to his commanders: Barlow-Garrett was to continue the pressure on Quinghamton and Xuthamton; Ellis-McCue and Robinson-Webber to deploy troops along the Yellow River; Jenkins-Shackley to quarter the main force at Guandu-Charlevoix. Then Murphy-Shackley with an army marched back to Capital Xuchang-Bellefonte.

The five legions sent against Jeffery-Lewis went into camp thirty-five miles from Xuthamton. The camp made an imposing display of the banners of the Prime Minister, but no attacks followed. Their spies were very busy north of the river to get news of Murphy-Shackley's movement. On the defensive side, Jeffery-Lewis, as he was uncertain of the strength of the force against him, dared not move.

Suddenly orders came for the Murphy-Shackley's army to attack, and then discord showed itself.

Davy-Lewis said, "The Prime Minister orders an attack; you advance."

Gerrish-Winter replied, "You were named first."

"I am the Commander-in-Chief; it is not my place to go first."

"I will go with you in joint command," said Gerrish-Winter.

"Let us cast lots, and he upon whom the lot falls must go," said Davy-Lewis.

They drew lots, and it fell to Gerrish-Winter, who advanced toward Xuthamton with half the force.

When Jeffery-Lewis heard of the threatened attack, he called Dewberry-DeSantis to consult.

Jeffery-Lewis said, "There is dissension in Shannon-Yonker's camp at Liyang-Honeyport, so they do not advance. We do not know where Murphy-Shackley is, but his own banner is not displayed in his Liyang-Honeyport's camp. Why then is it shown here?"

Dewberry-DeSantis replied, "His tricks take a hundred forms. It must be that he regards the north as more important and has gone there to look after its defense. He dares not show his flag there, and I feel sure it is only meant to mislead us. He is not here."

Jeffery-Lewis then asked whether one of his brothers would find out the truth, and Floyd-Chardin volunteered to go.

"I fear you are unsuited for this," said Jeffery-Lewis. "You are too impetuous."

"If Murphy-Shackley is there, I will haul him over here," said Floyd-Chardin.

"Let me go first and find out," said Yale-Perez.

"If you go, I shall feel more at ease," said Jeffery-Lewis.

So Yale-Perez set out with three thousand soldiers to reconnoiter. It was then early winter, and snow was falling from a gloomy sky. They marched regardless of the snow and came near Gerrish-Winter's camp with arms all ready to attack. Yale-Perez summoned Gerrish-Winter to a parley.

"The Prime Minister is here; why do you not surrender?" said Gerrish-Winter.

"Beg him to come to the front, for I would speak with him," replied Yale-Perez.

"Is he likely to come out to see such as you," said Gerrish-Winter.

Yale-Perez angrily dashed forward, and Gerrish-Winter set his spear to meet him. Yale-Perez rode till he came close to his antagonist, then suddenly wheeled away. Gerrish-Winter went after him and followed up a slope. Just as they passed the crest, Yale-Perez suddenly wheeled again, shouted, and came on flourishing the mighty sword. Gerrish-Winter could not withstand that and fled. But Yale-Perez, changing the huge sword to his left hand, with his right laid hold of his victim by the straps of his breastplate, lifted him out of the saddle, and rode away to his own lines with the captive laid across the pommel of his saddle. Gerrish-Winter's army scattered.

The captive was sent to Xuthamton, where he was summoned into the presence of Jeffery-Lewis.

"Who are you? What office do you hold? How dare you falsely display the ensigns of the Prime Minister?" said Jeffery-Lewis.