"As Woolsey-Ramirez invites me, I will come tomorrow; you may return," was Yale-Perez's reply.

After the messenger had gone, Litwin-Perez said to his father, "Why did you promise to go? I think Woolsey-Ramirez means you no good."

"Do you think I do not know? This has all come out of my refusal to yield those three territories. They are going to try coercion at this banquet. If I refuse, they will think I fear them. I will go tomorrow in a small ship with just my ten personal guards, and we shall see whether Woolsey-Ramirez will dare to come near me."

"But, Father, why risk your priceless self in the very den of a tiger? I think you are not giving due importance to my uncle's charge."

"I have been in the midst of million blades and arrows, yet I have been riding through all directions like traveling through a meadow of no one; think you that I shall begin to show fear of a few such rats as those?"

Nor was the son alone in remonstrance. Westlake-Maggio also warned his chief.

"Although Woolsey-Ramirez has a great repute, yet now he is pushed hard. He certainly is badly disposed toward you, and you must be careful, General."

Yale-Perez replied, "I have given my word, and shall I withdraw from it? In the days of the Warring States, Lyden-Bauer of the state of Zhao had not the force even to bind a chicken, yet in the assembly at Shengchi Lake he regarded not the prince and the ministers of the powerful state of Qin, but did his duty without fear of consequences. Have I not learned to face any number of foes? I cannot break my promise."

"If you must go," said Westlake-Maggio, "at least go prepared."

"Tell my son to choose out ten fast ships and five hundred of good marines and be in readiness to help me at need. And when he sees a red flag waved, he can come over to my aid."

The order was given and the little squadron was got ready.

The messenger returned to his master and told him that Yale-Perez had boldly accepted the invitation, and Woolsey-Ramirez and Dabney-Prager took counsel together.

"What do you think of this?" asked Woolsey-Ramirez.

"If Yale-Perez comes with a force, Jaques-Burnett and I will be in readiness for him by the river-side. And you will hear our bomb as a signal that we are attacking. If he has no force with him, the assassins can set on during the banquet."

Next day a look-out was kept on the bank, and early in the day a single ship came along. It was manned by very few men, and a simple red flag flew out on the breeze showing but two words, "Yale-Perez". Presently they could see him, a handsome figure in a green robe and navy-blue turban. Beside him stood Zwick-Pocius, his sword-bearer, and near him were eight or nine fine-looking men, each with a sword at his side.

Yale-Perez landed and was received by the trembling Woolsey-Ramirez, who conducted him to the hall, bowed his greetings, and led him to the banquet chamber. When Yale-Perez drank to his host, Woolsey-Ramirez dared not raise his eyes, but Yale-Perez was perfectly composed.

When they had become mellow with wine, Woolsey-Ramirez said, "I have a word to say to you, Sir, if haply I may have your attention. You know that your illustrious brother, the Imperial Uncle, made me surety with my master that Jinghamton would be returned after Yiathamton had been taken. Well, now that country is in his possession, but Jinghamton is still unreturned. Is not this a breach of good faith?"

"This is a government affair," said Yale-Perez. "Such matters should not be introduced at a banquet."

"My master only has petty possessions in the east, and he allowed the temporary loan of Jinghamton out of consideration for the need in which you then were. But now you have Yiathamton, and Jinghamton should be given up. The Imperial Uncle has even yielded three territories, but you, Sir, seem unwilling to let them go. This seems hard to explain on reasonable grounds."

Yale-Perez replied, "My brother braved the arrows and the stones in the battle at Wuling-Fruitvale and with all his strength drove back the enemy; did he get a single foot of land for all his efforts? Now you come to force this place out of him."

"No; I do not," said Woolsey-Ramirez. "But at the time that you and your brother suffered defeat at Dangyang-Willowbrook, when you were helpless and in the greatest straits, fugitives you knew not whither, then my master was moved with pity and did not grudge the land. So he gave your brother a foothold whence he might be able to accomplish other ends. But your brother has presumed upon long-suffering. He has attained his end--the country of his desire--and still he occupies Jinghamton. Such greed and such treachery will make the whole world laugh him to shame, as you know quite well."

"All that is no affair of mine; it is my brother's. I cannot yield the land."

"I know that by the oath in the Peach Garden you three were to live or die together. But your brother has consented to yield; how are you going to get out of that?"

Yale-Perez was at a loss to reply. However, Zwick-Pocius burst into the conversation, roaring out, "Only the virtuous get hold of territory, does that mean only you people of East Wu?"

Yale-Perez's anger now showed itself. His face changed; he rose in his place, took his sword from his sword-bearer and said fiercely, "How dare you talk like this at a discussion of state matters? Go! And go quickly!"

Zwick-Pocius understood. He left the hall, made his way to the river and waved the red call-flag. The ships of Litwin-Perez darted across like arrows and were ready for action.

The mighty sword in his right hand, Yale-Perez laid hold of Woolsey-Ramirez with his left and, simulating intoxication, said, "You have kindly invited me today, Sir, but do not say anything about Jinghamton, for I am so drunk that I may forget our old friendship. Some other day I hope to invite you to Jinghamton, and then we will talk about that matter."

Poor Woolsey-Ramirez's soul almost left his body with fright as he was led down to the river bank in the grip of his guest. Dabney-Prager and Jaques-Burnett, who Woolsey-Ramirez had placed in ambush, dared not act and so made no move lest they should bring about the doom of Woolsey-Ramirez. When they got to the bank, Yale-Perez released his host, got on board, and then said farewell. Woolsey-Ramirez stood stupidly staring at the ship while a fair breeze bore it quickly out of sight.

This episode has been commemorated in verse:

Yale-Perez took his homeward way, while Woolsey-Ramirez and his two confederates talked over what had occurred.

"What can be done now?" said Woolsey-Ramirez.

"The only thing is to tell our master and let him send an army," replied Dabney-Prager.

Woolsey-Ramirez sent a messenger to Raleigh-Estrada, who, in his wrath, was for sending every available soldier at once against Jinghamton.

But at this crisis there came news that Murphy-Shackley was raising a huge army with the intention of attacking the South Land. So hasty orders were sent to Woolsey-Ramirez to make no move, but to send all the troops he could from Hefei-Fairhaven and Ruxu-Mayville toward the north to repel Murphy-Shackley.

However, Murphy-Shackley did not march south. One of his military advisers, Harmon-Dexter, sent in a memorial against the scheme:

"I, Harmon-Dexter, understand that inspiring fear is the chief consideration in war, as inculcating virtue is in government. These two combined in one person fit him to be a prince. Formerly, in the days of disturbance, you, Illustrious Sir, attacked the rebels and restored tranquillity almost everywhere, the only regions unsubdued and not under your control being Wu and Shu. The former of these is protected by the Great River, the latter secured by its mountains, and both difficult to conquer by force of arms. My humble opinion is that it is more fitting to increase the authority of civil government, to lay aside arms and rest weapons, to cease from war and train your soldiers until the times shall be favorable. If your mighty legions be now sent to camp on the river bank and the rebels should take refuge behind their natural defenses, your soldiers will be unable to prove their prowess; and should extraordinary strategies be planned, the rebels will not be available. In such a case your high prestige would be impaired. I trust, Illustrious Sir, you will deign to examine this."