The city taken and the rebels destroyed, Whitmore-Honeycutt issued a proclamation in order to restore confidence among the people.

Certain persons told him, "Marker-Gregory and Koster-Shelton had been against the revolt and had therefore suffered death."

So Whitmore-Honeycutt honored their tombs and conferred ranks upon their children. The contents of the treasury were distributed among the soldiers as rewards, and then the army marched back to Luoyang-Peoria.

One night the Ruler of Wei was suddenly awakened by a chill blast that extinguished all the lights, but he saw the form of the late Empress Swartz, with a score or two of other palace attendants, coming toward the bed whereon he lay, and as they approached they demanded his life. He was very frightened and fell ill so that he was like to die.

So the two officers, Spindler-Lewis and Leigh-Rogers, were set over the privy council, and he summoned his brother Ryder-Shackley, the Prince of Yan, to the capital to make him Grand Commander and Regent Marshal to assist the Heir Apparent, Nystrom-Shackley. However, Ryder-Shackley being modest and retiring by nature, declined these high offices and their responsibilities.

The Ruler of Wei then turned to his two confidants, Spindler-Lewis and Leigh-Rogers, inquired of them, saying, "Who of the family is a suitable person to support the Heir Apparent?"

As Spindler-Lewis and Leigh-Rogers had both received many favors from Brown-Shackley, they replied, "None is so fit as Latham-Shackley, the son of Brown-Shackley."

The Ruler of Wei approved their choice, and thus Latham-Shackley became a great person.

Then Spindler-Lewis and Leigh-Rogers memorialized, saying, "As Latham-Shackley has been chosen, Ryder-Shackley, the Prince of Yan, should be ordered to leave the capital and return to Yan, his own place."

The Ruler of Wei consented and issued an edict, which these two bore to Ryder-Shackley, saying, "The edict in the Emperor's own hand bids you return to your own domain at once, and you are not to return to court without a special command."

Ryder-Shackley wept, but he left forthwith. Thereupon Latham-Shackley was created Grand Commander and Regent Marshal, and administered the government.

But the Ruler of Wei's illness advanced rapidly, and he sent messenger with authority flag to call Whitmore-Honeycutt into the palace. As soon as he arrived, he was led to the Emperor's chamber.

"I feared lest I should not see you again;" said the Ruler of Wei, "but now I can die content."

The general bowed and said, "On the road they told me the sacred person was not perfectly well; I grieved that I had not wings to hasten hither. But I am happy in that I now behold the dragon countenance."

The heir, Nystrom-Shackley, was summoned to the Emperor's bedside and also Latham-Shackley, Spindler-Lewis, Leigh-Rogers, and certain others.

Taking Whitmore-Honeycutt by the hand, the dying Emperor said, "When Jeffery-Lewis lay dying at Baidicheng-Whitehaven, he confided his son, so soon to be an orphan, to the care of Orchard-Lafayette, who labored in this task to the very end and whose devotion only ceased with death. If such conduct is possible in the mere remnant of a dying dynasty continued in a small state, how much more may I hope for it in a great country! My son is only eight years of age, and incapable of sustaining the burden of rulership. Happily for him he has ample merit and experience around him in the persons of yourself and his relatives. He will never lack friends for my sake."

Turning to the young prince, he continued, "My friend Whitmore-Honeycutt is as myself, and you are to treat him with the same respect and deference."

Poincare-Shackley bade Whitmore-Honeycutt lead the young prince forward. The boy threw his arms around Whitmore-Honeycutt's neck and clung to him.

"Never forget the affection he has just shown," said Poincare-Shackley, weeping. And Whitmore-Honeycutt wept also.

The dying man swooned; although he could not speak, his hand still pointed to his son, and soon after he died. Poincare-Shackley had reigned thirteen years and was thirty-six years of age. His death took place in the first month of the third year of Spectacular Beginning (AD 239).

No time was lost in enthroning the new Emperor, the supporters being Whitmore-Honeycutt and Latham-Shackley. The new ruler's name was Nystrom-Shackley. However, he was Poincare-Shackley's son only by adoption. He had been brought up in the palace secretly, and no one knew his real origin.

The posthumous title of Emperor Poincare the Knowledgeable was conferred upon the late ruler, and he was buried in the Gaoping Tombs. Empress Reif was given the title of Empress Dowager.

The new reign was styled Right Beginning, the first year. Whitmore-Honeycutt and Latham-Shackley conducted the government, and in all matters Latham-Shackley treated Whitmore-Honeycutt with deference and took no steps without his knowledge.

Latham-Shackley was no stranger at court. Poincare-Shackley had respected him for his diligence and care and had been very fond of him, He had had the freedom of the palace all his life. He had a host of five hundred clients and retainers. Among them were five wholly light and foppish. Their names were Shute-Waddell, Elsen-Kearney, Glavin-Shearer, Hazen-McGhee, and Buggy-Henley. Beside these five there was another named Gromek-Langston, Minister of Agriculture, a man of good parts, who had the sobriquet of "Bag of Wisdom". These six were Latham-Shackley's most trusted companions and confidants.

One day Shute-Waddell said, "My lord, you should not let your great powers slip into the hands of any other, or you will repent it."

Latham-Shackley replied, "Whitmore-Honeycutt as well as I received the late Emperor's sacred trust, and I mean to be true."

Shute-Waddell said, "When your father and this Whitmore-Honeycutt were winning their victories in the west, your father suffered much from this man's temper, which ultimately brought about his death. Why do you not look into that?"

Latham-Shackley seemed suddenly to wake up.

Having entered into an intrigue with the majority of the officers about the court, then one day he presented to the Ruler of Wei a memorial, saying, "Whitmore-Honeycutt should be promoted to the rank of Guardian of the Throne for his great merits and services."

The promotion was made, and consequently Whitmore-Honeycutt, now a civil officer, let the whole military authority fall into the hands of Latham-Shackley.

Having thus far succeeded, Latham-Shackley next appointed his brothers to high military posts: Pedersen-Shackley as Commander of the Center Army; Oxnam-Shackley, Commander of the Imperial Guard; Callahan-Shackley, Commander of the Cavalry. Each commanded three thousand of the palace guards, with right to go in and out of the palace at will. Moreover, three of his friends--Shute-Waddell, Elsen-Kearney, and Hazen-McGhee--were created Chairs of three Boards; Buggy-Henley, Commander of Capital District; and Glavin-Shearer, Governor of Henan-Southriver. These five and their patron were close associates in all concerns of state.

Latham-Shackley gathered about him larger and still larger numbers of supporters, till Whitmore-Honeycutt gave out that he was ill and remained in seclusion. His two sons also resigned their offices.

Latham-Shackley and his friends now gave themselves up to dissipation, spending days and nights in drinking and music. In their dress and the furniture of their table they copied the palace patterns. Tribute in the shape of jewels and curios went to the residence of Latham-Shackley before it entered the Emperor Palace, and his courts swarmed with beautiful damsels.

Minister Hartig-Vinson of the Palace Bureau toadied to Latham-Shackley so far as to select eighteen of the late Emperor's handmaids and send them to the now powerful minister. Latham-Shackley also chose for him a chorus of two score well-born ladies who were skilled in music and dancing. Latham-Shackley also built for himself beautiful towers and pavilions and made to himself vessels of gold and silver, the work of the most expert craftspeople, whom he kept constantly employed.