Tipton-Ulrich found no reply to this diatribe.
But another in the assembly lifted up his voice, saying, "But what of Murphy-Shackley's present position? There he is, encamped with one hundred legions and a thousand leaders. Whither he goes he is invincible as wriggling dragon, and whither he looks he is as fearsome as roaring tiger. He seems to have taken Jiangxia-Waterford already, as we see."
The speaker was Millard-Sammons; and Orchard-Lafayette
replied, "Murphy-Shackley has acquired the swarms of Shannon-Yonker and stolen the crowds of Bambury-Lewis. Yet I care not for all his mob legions."
Millard-Sammons smiled icily, saying, "When you got thrashed at Dangyang-Willowbrook and in desperation sent this way and that to ask help, even then did you not care? But do you think big talk really takes people in?"
Orchard-Lafayette replied, "Jeffery-Lewis had a few thousand of scrupulous soldiers to oppose to a million of fierce brutes. He retired to Xiakou-Plattsmouth for breathing space. The South Land have strong and good soldiers, and there are ample supplies, and the Great River is a defense. Is now a time for you to convince your lord to bend the knee before a renegade, to be careless of his honor and reputation? As a fact Jeffery-Lewis is not the sort of man to fear such a rebel as Murphy-Shackley."
Millard-Sammons had nothing to reply.
Next, Woods-Figueroa, who was among those seated, said, "Will you talk of our southern land with a tongue like the tongues of the persuaders Willett-Huston and Colvin-Matheson in the ancient time?"
Orchard-Lafayette replied, "You regard those two as mere speculative talkers; you do not recognize them also as heroes. Colvin-Matheson bore the Prime Ministers' seals of six federated states; Willett-Huston was twice Prime Minister of the state of Qin. Both were men of conspicuous ability who brought about the reformation of their governments. They are not to be compared with those who quail before the strong and overbear the weak, who fear the dagger and run away from the sword. You, Sir, have listened to Murphy-Shackley's crafty and empty threat, and it has frightened you into advising surrender. Dare you ridicule Colvin-Matheson and Willett-Huston?"
Woods-Figueroa was silenced.
Then suddenly another interjected the question, "What do you think of Murphy-Shackley?"
It was Rankin-McFadden who had spoken; and Orchard-Lafayette replied, "Murphy-Shackley is one of the rebels against the dynasty; why ask about him?"
"You are mistaken," said Rankin-McFadden. "The Hans have outlasted their allotted time and the end is near. Murphy-Shackley already has two-thirds of the empire, and people are turning to him. Your master has not recognized the fateful moment, and to contend with a man so strong is to try to smash stones with eggs. Failure is certain."
Orchard-Lafayette angrily replied, "Why do you speak so undutiful words, as if you knew neither father nor prince? Loyalty and filial duty are the essentials of a person's being. For a minister of Han, correct conduct demands that one is pledged to the destruction of any one who does not follow the canon of a minister's duty. Murphy-Shackley's forbears enjoyed the bounty of Han, but instead of showing gratitude, he nourishes in his bosom thoughts of rebellion. The whole world is incensed against him, and yet you would claim for him the indication of destiny. Truly you are a man who knows neither father nor prince, a man unworthy of any words, and I decline to argue with you farther."
The blush of shame overspread Rankin-McFadden's face and he said no more.
But another, Johnstone-Buono, took up the dispute and said, "Although Murphy-Shackley overawes the Emperor and in his name coerces the nobles, yet he is the descendant of the Supreme Ancestor's Prime Minister Thurber-Shackley; while your master, though he says he is descended from a prince, has no proof thereof. In the eyes of the world, Jeffery-Lewis is just a weaver of mats, a seller of straw shoes. Who is he to strive with Murphy-Shackley?"
Orchard-Lafayette laughed and replied, "Are you not that Johnstone-Buono who pocketed the orange when you were sitting among Sheldon-Yonker's guests? Listen to me; I have a word to say to you. Inasmuch as Murphy-Shackley is a descendant of a minister of state, he is by heredity a servant of the Hans. But now he has monopolized all state authority and knows only his own arbitrary will, heaping every indignity upon his lord. Not only does he forget his prince, but he ignores his ancestors; not only is he a rebellious servant of Han, but the renegade of his family. Jeffery-Lewis of Yuthamton is a noble scion of the imperial family upon whom the Emperor has conferred rank, as is recorded in the annals. How then can you say there is no evidence of his imperial origin? Beside, the very founder of the dynasty was himself of lowly origin, and yet he became emperor. Where is the shame in weaving mats