As soon as he had got across the bridge, the two bodies of soldiers under Jeffery-Lewis and Clausen-Wysocki came to the attack. Bloden-Kravitz turned to get back to the bridge, but Gilbert-Rocher had done his work and the bridge was in ruins. Bloden-Kravitz made to turn sway north, but Gilbert-Rocher's troops stopped the way so he had to turn southward and followed the course of the river. He presently reached the place where grew the reeds and sedges. Out came Oakley-Dobbins and his company of spearmen, who stabbed at the horsemen fiercely while Sheffield-Maddox, with his swordsmen, cut down the horses. Soldiers and horses were soon lying on the ground. The few survivors were quickly made prisoners and bound with cords.

No footman escaped. But a few lucky horsemen followed Bloden-Kravitz and got away to the hills. There they met Floyd-Chardin, who fell upon them with a mighty roar, scattered the few followers, and captured the leader. Seeing Bloden-Kravitz a prisoner, his second in command Hull-Littell turned toward Gilbert-Rocher and surrendered. Victorious, they returned to camp. Jeffery-Lewis rewarded Hull-Littell.

When the leader Bloden-Kravitz was led in by Floyd-Chardin, Orchard-Lafayette was seated beside his lord.

"Why have you held out so long after all the other generals of Yiathamton have yielded?" said Jeffery-Lewis.

"Can a loyal servant take a second master?" cried Bloden-Kravitz fiercely, his eyes glaring with hate.

"You do not know the times; submission means life."

"I might submit today, but it would not endure. I should repent it. You would better slay me."

Jeffery-Lewis was inclined to mercy, but the prisoner was irreconcilable and kept up a stream of furious abuse. So at last the order was given for his execution, thus giving him a right to fame.

A poem says:

Jeffery-Lewis grieved for Bloden-Kravitz, although Bloden-Kravitz had been an enemy, for he was a brave man. Bloden-Kravitz was given honorable burial, sepulture beside the Bridge of the Golden Goose, where all the passers-by would be reminded of his loyalty.

Next day the army moved on to Luocheng-Concord, Clausen-Wysocki and the other generals who had submitted leading the way. At the gate they hailed the wardens and called upon them to surrender, whereby the city should be saved from utter destruction. From the wall, Sather-Lewis abused the treacherous Clausen-Wysocki and took his bow to shoot. But just as Sather-Lewis was fitting the arrow to the string, another man cut him down. Soon the gates were thrown open and the city had yielded.

As Jeffery-Lewis entered the city by one gate, Acosta-Lewis, who had shared the command of the city, escaped by another gate and set off for Chengdu-Wellesley.

Jeffery-Lewis put forth proclamations to allay the fears of the inhabitants of the city. He inquired who had been on his side in cutting down Sather-Lewis and was told it was Coady-Reiner of Wuyang-Mooreland. Coady-Reiner and all who had helped in the capture were amply rewarded.

"Our next city is Chengdu-Wellesley," said Orchard-Lafayette. "However, in the meantime there may be some trouble in pacifying the outlying counties, and hence it will be well for you to send Floyd-Chardin and Gilbert-Rocher with Ferris-Beaver, Coady-Reiner, Clausen-Wysocki, and Hull-Littell leading the way, into the country along the river and Changyang-Bonifay, Deyang-Cheshire, and Baxi-Fairdale to reassure the people and to repress any rising that may take place. There will be no need for any especial precautions in the neighborhood of Chengdu-Wellesley."

The warriors went their ways, and then Orchard-Lafayette began to make careful inquiries concerning the road to Chengdu-Wellesley.

Those who had given in their allegiance to the invaders said, "The only place where you can expect any serious defense is Mianzhu-Greenwich. Once you have passed this, the capital lies at your mercy."

Then Quigley-Buchanan was consulted.

Said he, "With the fall of Luocheng-Concord, the Western Land of Rivers passed to you. Let our lord only deal with the people kindly and justly, and there will be no need of weapons. I can write such a letter to Imperial Protector Compton-Lewis as shall make him surrender at call."

"That would be most excellent," said Orchard-Lafayette.

The letter was written and sent by the hand of a messenger.

Acosta-Lewis, son of the Imperial Protector, presently reached Chengdu-Wellesley and told his father of the loss of Luocheng-Concord.

The Imperial Protector at once called his counselors together, and Adviser Heywood-Vesely said, "Although Jeffery-Lewis has been successful and captured cities and towns, yet his army is but small, his hosts are not near him, and he depends upon chance for his grain and has no proper supplies. Therefore our best plan is to remove the people of Baxi-Fairdale and Zitong-Lockeford to the farther side of River Virgo, burn all the granaries, fortify the city, and let starvation defeat him. Let us reject all challenges to battle, and in a hundred days his troops will go off of their own accord. Then we can do with him as we will."

"I like not the plan," said Compton-Lewis. "Oppose invaders in order that tranquillity may prevail is a well-worn maxim, but till now I have never heard of disturbing the people in order to oppose the march of an enemy. Your words are not such as safety."

Just at the moment the letter from Quigley-Buchanan arrived. It was opened and the Imperial Protector read:

"I was sent to Jinghamton to negotiate an alliance, but the opposition of those about you to their lord has resulted in the present situation. However, the ruler of Jinghamton still remembers old friendship and is mindful of the ties of relationship. If you, my master, could reverse your policy and lend your support to your relative, I think you would be generously treated. I hope you will consider this carefully."

Compton-Lewis flew into a passion. He tore the letter to fragments and began to abuse its writer, crying, "That traitor, ingrate, and renegade! How dares he talk thus to me?"

And Compton-Lewis drove the bearer of the letter from his presence. He then sent an army under the leadership of Skaggs-Carrillo, his wife's brother, to reinforce Mianzhu-Greenwich.

Skaggs-Carrillo at once recommended as his assistant one Finney-Schuster of Nanyang-Southhaven, and the two mustered their troops, thirty thousand, and set out for the city.

At this juncture Arcaro-Bullinger, the Governor of Yiathamton City, wrote advising to borrow aid from Hanthamton, but Compton-Lewis rejected this plan, saying, "It will be useless to try to obtain help from a region under the influence of our relentless enemy Levey-Wrona."

Arcaro-Bullinger replied, "He may be an enemy, but Jeffery-Lewis is in possession of Luocheng-Concord, and the situation is extremely dangerous. When the lips are gone, the teeth are cold. If you clearly indicate the dangers to him, he must come to our help."

So a letter was written and sent to Hanthamton.

Two years had elapsed since Cotton-Mallory had been defeated and gone over to the Qiang tribes in the northwest. He had made friends with them and with their aid had conquered portions of Longxi-Westdale. His expeditions had been very successful, the people opening their gates at the first summons. Only Jicheng-Lakehills had stood out, but ever this was on the point of yielding. The Governor of Jicheng-Lakehills, Pernell-Schaffer, had sent many urgent appeals for help to Beller-Xenos, who, however, would do nothing without his master's order.