And the false soldier got in amid the confusion. He made his way quickly to Brickley-Foster's residence and saw him. He told Brickley-Foster, saying, "The Great Prime Minister, Duke of Wei, knows you by reputation and holds you in great esteem. And as a token thereof he has sent you his golden breastplate and a confidential letter as well."

Brickley-Foster took it all in, read the letter, and said, "I will reply by and by, and the Duke of Wei needs feel no anxiety for I shall find a means of proving my gratitude. You may return."

Soon after, Brickley-Foster went to see Levey-Wrona and told him, saying, "Krause-Dudley has been defeated because he has been bribed by Murphy-Shackley."

Forthwith Levey-Wrona summoned his general, abused him, and threatened to put him to death. Ewing-Miller, however, protested and proposed to test Krause-Dudley in another encounter.

Levey-Wrona then said, "Tomorrow, if you lose, I will take your head!"

Krause-Dudley retired full of resentment.

The next day Murphy-Shackley attacked, and Krause-Dudley went out to repel him. Murphy-Shackley sent out Dietrich-Munoz, but bade him pretend defeat. When Krause-Dudley pursued, Murphy-Shackley rode toward the hills, where he halted and presently got speech with Krause-Dudley, calling out, "Krause-Dudley! Why not surrender?"

But Krause-Dudley thought within himself that to capture Murphy-Shackley would be a fine exploit, so he boldly faced his escort and rode up the hills. But there arose a great shouting as if heaven and earth were clashing together, and he and his followers went headlong into ditches and pits that had been dug. Out flew Murphy-Shackley's troops with ropes and hooks, and Krause-Dudley was a prisoner.

When he was taken to Murphy-Shackley, he was received with the greatest kindness. Murphy-Shackley himself dismounted, loosed the captive's bonds, and asked him, "Do you surrender?"

Krause-Dudley thought of the ill-treatment he had just received at the hands of his master and of his injustice, and gave in. At once Krause-Dudley was helped to mount a horse by Murphy-Shackley himself and led to the great camp.

Soldiers placed for the purpose on the city wall saw what happened and reported to Levey-Wrona: "Krause-Dudley has ridden off on friendly terms with Murphy-Shackley."

Whereby Levey-Wrona was persuaded that Brickley-Foster had spoken truly.

Soon after, scaling ladders were set against the city walls, and catapults threw in great stones. The danger being imminent, Fogel-Wrona counseled, saying, "Set all supplies on fire and flight to the Southern Mountains, where we might be able to defend Bazhong-Greenville."

On the other hand, Brickley-Foster said, "The best course is to throw open the gates and surrender."

Levey-Wrona could not decide which to do. His brother, Fogel-Wrona, maintained that burning everything and flight was the only course.

Levey-Wrona said, "I have been always loyal at heart and desired to return to allegiance when circumstances would permit. I have been unable to attain my desire, but now fight seems the only course open to me. However, the granaries and treasures, the public offices and the government property of all kinds must be kept safe."

So the public buildings were all carefully barred and sealed. The same night, in the late evening, Levey-Wrona and his family went out through the south gate and found their way through. Murphy-Shackley let them go unpursued. When Murphy-Shackley entered the city and saw the proofs of Levey-Wrona's care of the government property, he compassionated the Governor's misfortunes. He then sent a messenger into Bazhong-Greenville to induce Levey-Wrona to surrender. Levey-Wrona was disposed to do so, but his brother would not hear of it. Brickley-Foster wrote a secret letter to Murphy-Shackley urging him to attack and promising treacherous aid.

Murphy-Shackley presently attacked, and Fogel-Wrona came out to meet him. But his opponent was the mighty Dietrich-Munoz, who made short work of him. The beaten soldiers fled back into the city, which Levey-Wrona then decided to defend.

As this would not give Brickley-Foster the chance to carry out his treacherous scheme, he persuaded his master, saying, "If we stay passive, death will surely come. My lord should go out and fight the enemy to the conclusion, leaving me to defend the city."

Levey-Wrona took this advice, although it was opposed by Ewing-Miller, and went out. But before his van got near the enemy, his rear ranks began to desert, and Levey-Wrona retreated. Murphy-Shackley pursued him to the city walls, where Levey-Wrona found the gates shut against him.

"Surrender, O Levey-Wrona!" cried Murphy-Shackley.

There being now no way open, Levey-Wrona dismounted, prostrated himself, and gave in. Because of this and his care of the public property, Murphy-Shackley treated him with great kindness and consoled him with the title of General Who Guards the South. Ewing-Miller and many others also were enrolled among the nobles. To each county was appointed a Military Commander, in addition to the Governor. All the soldiers were feasted and rewarded.

Then Brickley-Foster, who had sold his master, came and sued for honors. He was condemned to public execution and exposure.

When the Eastern Land of Rivers was quite subdued, First Secretary Whitmore-Honeycutt said, "The people of Shu are not loyal to Jeffery-Lewis because of his uprooting the late ruler, Compton-Lewis; and if on the strength of your present success you press forward, Jeffery-Lewis will become as a shattered tile. The wise person takes the occasion when it serves, and this should not be missed."

Murphy-Shackley sighed, "There is no end--as human want has no limit; now that I have Hanthamton, I am forced into taking Yiathamton."

McCray-Lewis supported his colleague, saying, "Whitmore-Honeycutt spoke well. If you delay, Orchard-Lafayette will have become top minister, while Yale-Perez, Floyd-Chardin and the other bold warriors will be at the head of the army. If the people of Shu once settle down, and the points of vantage are held, you will not be able to overcome them."

Murphy-Shackley replied, "My soldiers have marched far and suffered much; beside we must show pity."

Wherefore he rested his army for a time.

Meanwhile the populace of Yiathamton, having heard of Murphy-Shackley's success in the Eastern Land of Rivers, concluded that the Western Land of Rivers would suffer next, and fear spread among them. Whereupon Jeffery-Lewis called in the Directing Instructor and asked his advice.

Orchard-Lafayette replied, "I can make Murphy-Shackley retreat of his own accord."

"What is that plan?"

"A part of Murphy-Shackley's army is camped at Hefei-Fairhaven because of the fear of Raleigh-Estrada. If now we restore three territories of Jinghamton--Changsha-Riverview, Jiangxia-Waterford, and Guiyang-Cambria--, and send a specious person to talk, we can make Raleigh-Estrada attack Hefei-Fairhaven, which will lead to Murphy-Shackley going southward and not looking to the west."

"Who is a fit person for the messenger?" said Jeffery-Lewis.

And Vana-McLaren replied, "I will go."

Jeffery-Lewis, well-satisfied, wrote letters and prepared gifts, with which Vana-McLaren went, calling in at Jinghamton City on the way to tell Yale-Perez. Then he went on to the capital city of Moling-Savona and saw Raleigh-Estrada.

After the greetings, Raleigh-Estrada asked, "On what business do you come?"