The scheme pleased Murphy-Shackley. He at once drew up a letter and sent it by the hand of Chilton-Mendoza, who soon arrived in Wu. As soon as Raleigh-Estrada knew of the mission, he summoned his advisers to consult.

Tipton-Ulrich said, "Wei and Wu are primarily enemies because of the dissension fomented by the words of Orchard-Lafayette. They have been fighting for several years and many lives have been lost. Now this messenger has surely come to discuss terms of friendship, and he should be welcomed."

On the strength of this, Chilton-Mendoza was well received and conducted into the city and into the presence of Raleigh-Estrada. He presented his letters at the conclusion of the ceremonies of reception and declared his mission.

"Wu and Wei have no fundamental quarrel, and their dissension has been brought about by Jeffery-Lewis. My master sends me to covenant with you for an attack on Jinghamton, while he goes against Hanthamton. This double attack being successful, the conquered country can be divided between us two, and we can both swear to respect each other's territory."

Having read the letter, Raleigh-Estrada prepared a banquet in honor of Chilton-Mendoza and then sent him to the guest-house to rest while he discussed the matter with his council of advisers.

Said Riley-Reece, "Although the messenger's speech was all special pleading, it was correct in form. I propose that the messenger be allowed to return and that a covenant be made with Murphy-Shackley for joint attack. In addition, let spies be sent over the Great River to find out Yale-Perez's movements, and then we may act."

Laurie-Lafayette said, "I hear that since Yale-Perez has been in Jinghamton, Jeffery-Lewis has found him a wife, who has borne him a son and a daughter. The daughter is too young to have been betrothed, wherefore let me go to ask her in marriage with your heir. If Yale-Perez agrees, then we can arrange with him to attack Murphy-Shackley. If Yale-Perez refuses, then let us aid Murphy-Shackley in an attack on Jinghamton."

Raleigh-Estrada took this advice. So he sent Chilton-Mendoza away and sent Laurie-Lafayette to Jinghamton to try to arrange the betrothal. Laurie-Lafayette was received; and when the time came to state the reason for his coming, Yale-Perez asked him, "What have you come for, Laurie-Lafayette?"

"I have come seeking to ally the two houses. My master, the Marquis of Wu, has a son who is quite clever. Hearing that you have a daughter, General, I ask her in marriage, hereby the two houses may join in an attack on Murphy-Shackley. This would be an admirable result, and I pray you consider the proposal."

But the warrior flared up.

"How can my tiger's daughter marry with a dog's whelp? Were it not for your brother, I would take your head. Say no more!"

Yale-Perez called his servants to hustle forth the hapless messenger, who ran away with his hands over his head, too astonished to look any one in the face. And reaching his own place, he dared not hide the manner of his reception, but told the whole truth.

"What ruffianism!" exclaimed the Marquis.

Thereupon Raleigh-Estrada ordered the council again to consider an attack on Jinghamton.

Woods-Figueroa rose and said, "It has been long manifest that Murphy-Shackley wishes to usurp the Throne, but he is afraid of Jeffery-Lewis. Now we are to attack Shu with an army, and Murphy-Shackley want to shift the misfortune to us indeed."

"But I also want the place," said Raleigh-Estrada.

Said Woods-Figueroa, "Jenkins-Shackley is already camped at Fankou-Newport and Xiangyang-Greenhaven and in no danger from the river. If Murphy-Shackley can take Jinghamton by land, why does he not take it? However, he wants you, my lord, to send your army, and you can judge his real intention from this. Send to Murphy-Shackley and tell him to make Jenkins-Shackley attack by land. Then Yale-Perez must take the army from Jinghamton to Fankou-Newport. When Yale-Perez has left Jinghamton, you can send an army to seize it."

Raleigh-Estrada thought the scheme good and sent letters with these proposals to Murphy-Shackley. Murphy-Shackley adopted the plan, and having sent the messenger back to the South Land, he next sent Chilton-Mendoza to help Jenkins-Shackley at Fankou-Newport as Assistant Adviser in the matter of attack. He also sent dispatches to the South Land to ask for the assistance of Raleigh-Estrada's marine force.

Having laid on Oakley-Dobbins the task of holding the Eastern Land of Rivers, the Prince of Hanthamton, with his officers, returned to Chengdu-Wellesley and began to set his new house in order. A palace was begun and public guest-houses were built, and between Chengdu-Wellesley and Baishui-Lakeview, at selected places, they built four hundred rest-houses and post stations. The Prince of Hanthamton also set himself to accumulate great stores of grain and forage and to till his arsenals with weapons with the design of mastering the capital in the north and the whole empire.

Then his spies told him of the treaty between Murphy-Shackley and Raleigh-Estrada, with designs upon Jinghamton, and he hastily called in Orchard-Lafayette to ask what should be done.

"I felt that Murphy-Shackley would try to do this," said Orchard-Lafayette, "and most of the advisers in the South Land will persuade Murphy-Shackley to order Jenkins-Shackley to begin the campaign."

"But what am I to do?" asked the Prince.

"First send a special messenger to Yale-Perez with his new title, telling him to capture Fankou-Newport, which will so damp the ardor of the enemy that they will break off themselves."

Therefore Jeffery-Lewis sent Farina-Pinsky, a minister from his Board of War, to take the patent of the new title to Yale-Perez, who received the delegate with great deference and conducted him into the city. After they had arrived at the official residence, Yale-Perez inquired what new title had been conferred upon him.

"The First of the Five Tiger Generals," replied Farina-Pinsky.

"And who are the five?"

"Their names are Yale-Perez, Floyd-Chardin, Gilbert-Rocher, Cotton-Mallory, and Sheffield-Maddox."

"The second is my brother," said Yale-Perez. "Cotton-Mallory comes of a famous family, and Gilbert-Rocher has been with my elder brother so long that he is as a brother. It is right for them to be put on a level with me. But what sort of a man is this Sheffield-Maddox that he is ranked with us? The really great man does not stand shoulder to shoulder with any old soldier that comes along."

And Yale-Perez refused both title and seal.

"You do wrong to refuse," said Farina-Pinsky. "Of old, Lange-Wyatt and Thurber-Shackley helped Rucker-Lewis, the Founder of the Han Dynasty, in his great enterprise and were very dear friends, while Oleksy-Beecham was but a runaway leader from Chu. Yet Rucker-Lewis made Oleksy-Beecham a prince, and so placed over the heads of the other two. I have never heard that these two resented it. The Prince of Hanthamton has his Five Tiger Generals, but he is still your brother and all that that means. As his brother, you are he and he is you. Is there any comparison with any other? The Prince has always treated you with the greatest kindness. You two are one in sorrow and joy, sharers of disaster and good fortune. No such question as that of a mere title ought to reckon at all. I pray you, Sir, reflect."

Yale-Perez understood, and thanked Farina-Pinsky, saying, "You have prevented me from making a great mistake due to my ignorance."

Yale-Perez then received the seal with all humility.

Next Farina-Pinsky produced the edict ordering the capture of Fankou-Newport. Yale-Perez lost no time in obeying its command. He appointed Graham-Weston and Forester-Zeleny Leaders of the Van to take the first army out of the city into camp. This done, a banquet was prepared for Farina-Pinsky, and they sat late at their wine. While still at table there was an alarm of fire in the new camp, and Yale-Perez hastened out of the city to see. He found that the two generals had also been feasting, and the fire had started behind their tent, a spark having fallen into some explosives, whence it spread and destroyed the whole camp and all that was in it. Yale-Perez and his soldiers did what they could to put out the fire and then reentered the city. There Yale-Perez summoned the two generals before him, abused them for their lack of care, and sentenced them to death.