Chao Tong Wants To Marry Danma's Daughter

In the third year after the great Lion King Gesar had subdued the demons of the four directions, Zala, the young son of the great hero Gyatsa, had grown into a youthful warrior. Chief Steward Rongtsa Chagen and King Chao Tong were by then both old men in their seventies.

One midsummer day, just past noon, the Darong official Chao Tong sat comfortably on his sandalwood throne, drinking wine and eating meat while his mind churned with schemes. My wife Dansa is already old, he thought. The other two, though beautiful, do not please me—like a toothless man trying to chew roasted barley. I hear Danma's daughter has grown up, both lovely and gentle. If I could marry her, nothing could be finer. But I wonder if Danma would agree? And whether my two young and beautiful wives would approve. Their disapproval matters little—if only Danma would give me his daughter.

The mere thought of the beautiful girl made Chao Tong's heart reel. He crammed another large piece of meat into his mouth, rolling his eyes as he schemed how to make Danma willingly hand over his daughter.

After a bowl of wine, an idea struck him: Danma is the minister most beloved by Gesar and Zala. If the King were to act as matchmaker, Danma would never refuse. But how can I make the King and Prince happy? He pondered for a long while. Suddenly, inspiration struck. Prince Zala's mount had died during the battle against the Southern Demon King, and he had yet to find a worthy steed. Though Chao Tong owned a thousand fine horses, none was fit to offer as a gift to the Prince. He had heard that in the Tagzig Kingdom of Tagzig there was a marvelous horse called the "Blue Windchaser," a thousand-li treasure steed hatched from a Garuda's egg. It had tufts of fluff on its ears and hooves, and could circle the entire southern continent in an instant. If I could obtain this horse and present it to Prince Zala, he would be overjoyed, and King Gesar would be pleased as well. Then I could ask my dear nephew, King Gesar, to speak with Danma on my behalf, and this marriage would be... Hahaha! The more Chao Tong thought, the happier he became, slurping his wine noisily, as if he already held the pretty Danma girl in his arms.

Turning restlessly, he could hardly sleep all night. When morning finally came, Chao Tong impatiently summoned three of his retainers—Jiakaxiegemi Wutuozun, Dongtong Tujimi Guijiemai, and Jialie Baibu Yichami—and gave them secret orders to travel to the Tagzig Kingdom and steal the "Blue Windchaser." The three men, not daring to delay, prepared dried provisions and defensive equipment, then spurred their horses straight toward Tagzig Kingdom.

The Chase Across Kingdoms

They rode without rest for ten days, finally arriving within the borders of the Tagzig Kingdom. It happened that the Tagzig King was out touring the mountains that day, accompanied by one hundred and twenty inner ministers, one hundred and twenty outer ministers, and one hundred and twenty knights—a magnificent and imposing procession. As they traveled, they raced horses and shot arrows, displaying great martial vigor. The green treasure horse beneath the Tagzig King was truly dazzling: its hooves barely touched the ground as it flew along, with tufts of fur on both ears and hooves. Clearly, this was the "Blue Windchaser" they had come to find! This delighted the three horse thieves from the Darong tribe immensely. They thought to themselves, We didn't even need to ask around or search—it came to us without any effort. They patiently waited until nightfall, then crept to where the horses were tethered. But to their surprise, there were seven identical stallions lined up. At this sight, Jiakaxiegemi Wutuozun and the others exchanged bewildered glances, their hearts suddenly racing with anxiety—three men couldn't ride seven horses, and if they stole the wrong one, they'd have no way to answer to King Chao Tong. By moonlight, they examined the horses carefully for a long while, until they spotted one that was slightly shorter than the others, with thicker fur at the tips of its ears. Jiakaxiegemi Wutuozun decided this was the thousand-li treasure steed "Blue Windchaser." To be safe, he took this horse himself and had his two companions each choose another. Only then, satisfied, did they return home via Jhana.

But was the Tagzig Kingdom treasure horse truly left unguarded for anyone to steal? Nothing in this world comes so cheaply. It turned out that Chao Tong, in order to steal the horse, had cast a spell over the Tagzig Kingdom horse-guardian minister, placing upon him a hat of confusion. So it was only on the afternoon of the second day after the theft that the horse-guardian minister Dongchi Laguo woke from his daze. By then, the "Blue Windchaser" and the other two fine steeds were long gone. The remaining four horses whinnied ceaselessly, stamping their hooves and pacing restlessly—as if their very spirits had flown away with the "Blue Windchaser."

Dongchi Laguo rushed about frantically, like a headless fly, shouting, "The horses are gone! The horses are gone!" Did they escape into the mountains? Or were they stolen? I have always been diligent and careful, never making the slightest mistake. How could I lose the treasure horses today? Dongchi Laguo could not understand it no matter how he tried. But no matter how confused he was, the horses were gone—he had to find them quickly. They searched every corner of the city and climbed the surrounding mountains, finally discovering horse tracks on the road toward Jhana. Dongchi Laguo was overjoyed, and he led three hundred warriors in pursuit. When they reached the Langchibama region, they encountered a merchant caravan. Dongchi Laguo rode forward and questioned them closely: "Hey, you merchants! Where are you from, and where are you going? Have you seen any bandits driving horses? Three horses of the same color, one of which is our Tagzig King's own mount, called the 'Blue Windchaser.' If you speak honestly, gold and silver will be your reward. But if you hide the truth..." He gestured at the three hundred warriors behind him, "I'll have your sinews pulled out and your skin flayed on the spot!"

Seeing Dongchi Laguo's fury, the leader of the merchants quickly dismounted and offered the horse-guardian minister gifts of seven colors, replying, "I am the King of Ladakh, named Yunchang Lajia. I have come to seek an audience with the great Tagzig King of Wealth. None of us have seen any bandits driving horses. As the old saying goes: 'Work must be done slowly for wishes to be fulfilled; words must be spoken slowly to be made clear; horses must run slowly to win the banner.' My lord, your hasty words and rash actions suggest an unprovoked challenge. Though I have not seen the horse thieves, I can divine for you by the finest transformative method in the world—you need only untie your right boot strap and give it to me."

The Diviner's Deception and the Search for the Stolen Horse

Dongchi Laguo was skeptical, but despite his wariness of this merchant who claimed to be the King of Ladakh, he agreed to let him cast a divination. Yunchang Lajia took Dongchi Laguo's bootlace, retrieved a sheep's shoulder blade for divination from his robe, bound it three times with the lace, and placed it in the fire to scorch. He then examined it closely. After a long moment, Yunchang Lajia spoke: "Alas, your horse has been driven toward the rising sun by three men who wear hats invisible to others, boots unseen by others, and possess the supernatural powers of birds."

Upon hearing this divination result from the so-called King of Ladakh, Dongchi Laguo and his three hundred warriors exchanged glances, uncertain how to proceed. They wanted to pursue the horse thieves, yet feared falling for this stranger's trick. So Dongchi Laguo said to Yunchang Lajia, "Didn’t you wish to seek an audience with our king? You may now return with us, and your wish shall be fulfilled."

The Ladakhi King Yunchang Lajia hesitated for a moment. He did not reveal the full extent of his divination's results—for the Tagzig Kingdom, it would prove to be no small calamity. He wished only to remain a peaceful merchant, uninvolved in any disputes. If he could simply deliver his gifts to the Tagzig Kingdom, his mission would be complete. He replied, "It appears your kingdom has important matters to attend to, so we shall not presume to intrude further. As the saying goes, 'Though the flower is small, it is still an offering.' Please, Commander, deliver our kingdom's tributes to the King of Tagzig. Our journey shall then be considered complete."

Dongchi Laguo and his company found no words to argue with the merchant. They had no choice but to let them pass. The party returned to the Tagzig Kingdom's palace bearing the Ladakhi king's gifts, and reported the results of Yunchang Lajia's divination to their sovereign. To exercise caution, the King and his ministers deliberated and decided they should consult the kingdom's own female diviner, Zha Serena, to cast another divination before reaching a final decision.

The Tagzig King's Wrath and the Minister's Counsel

The next morning, as the sun illuminated the mountain peaks, the King of the Tagzig Kingdom, along with his inner and outer ministers and regional chieftains, gathered in a pavilion prepared by the king's order. Each took their seat and enjoyed fine food and wine while awaiting the arrival of the female diviner.

When the diviner Zha Serena arrived, travel-worn and eager, the king asked impatiently: "Diviner Zha Serena, the wealth and fortune of my Tagzig Kingdom—three horses led by the prized steed 'Blue Windchaser'—have been stolen! Tell me, who are the thieves? Where are their traces? If you speak truthfully, the great king shall bestow upon you incomparably generous rewards. If not, you shall be punished according to the law!"

After hearing the King's words, the diviner Zha Serena waved her floral divination cord, set thirteen sacred arrows upon her bow, and placed forty-eight turquoise beads upon her divination dice. She burned incense and made offerings to the Buddha, closed her eyes slightly, and began murmuring incantations, shaking her head and trembling her entire body. The king and ministers held their breath, watching the diviner with rapt attention. After a considerable time, the diviner gradually calmed herself and spoke with solemnity: "Where two rivers converge in the east, beneath a red rocky cliff shaped like a jutting spear, stands a castle resembling a horn—there the horses are kept."

The Tagzig King, Serchi Nima, understood at once: it was the people of Ling who had stolen his precious horses. Anger surged within him, and resentment took root in his heart. He thought: Among the four great kings of the snowy land of Tibet, I, the King of the Tagzig Kingdom, am unmatched. Neither Western Jaga in the west nor Eastern Jhana in the east dares to violate my domain. I have remained peacefully within my own borders—so why has Gesar of Lingbu stolen my treasured steed? The "Blue Windchaser" horse is a hatchling of the Great Golden-Winged Garuda Bird, the fate-horse of my kingship, the symbol of my kingdom's wealth and fortune, with value beyond all measure. If I do not recover this horse, how am I any different from a corpse?

With these thoughts, Serchi Nima's angry eyes blazed as he addressed his assembled ministers in song:

"If you know not where this place is,

This is Nyanmo Yutang Plain of the Tagzig Kingdom,

The foremost land of Jambudvipa in the southern continent,

A place where flowers bloom,

A ground where wild horses roam,

The earth is blue as the sky,

Flowers numerous as stars.

Listen well, all who are seated here:

In ancient times, the Tibetan saying goes:

'Nets cannot capture the great eagle,

Lassos cannot catch wild horses,

Ropes cannot bind the fierce tiger.'

This King's army is undefeatable.

In that eastern land of Ling,

Those black-headed people of distant regions—

They say there is a Gesar among them.

That extremely swift chestnut steed,

They say it is called Jang Gapeibu.

Those eighty cunning ministers,

They are said to be the heroes of Ling.

Even should this be so,

The puppy in the small ditch

Cannot leap across the pebbles;

The pampered child torn from its mother's arms

Cannot act boldly before true warriors;

Those savage men of the borderlands

Cannot prevail before this king.

This king remains peacefully in his own land—

Why has he come to steal my horse without cause?

This time I shall not relent—

How can I not give chase?

That 'Blue Windchaser' thousand-mile steed

Is unlike all other horses—

It is the hatchling of the Garuda bird,

The fate-horse of this king's life,

The symbol of the Tagzig Kingdom's wealth,

The beloved horse of nine hundred thousand tribesmen,

Its value beyond all estimation.

A hundred brave men with a hundred horses,

Send them east to the land of Ling—

Kill every one of their people,

Destroy all their cities,

And seize back all their accumulated wealth.

All you ministers assembled here today—

If you agree, then obey;

Who among you will volunteer?

If you disagree, then vengeance cannot be claimed!

This king's command shall not be defied—

The boulders rolling down steep mountains cannot be stopped.

If a heroic army does not crush Ling beneath its feet,

This king is no different from a corpse.

All of you assembled here, consider this well!"

When the song ended, the Tagzig King shook his braided hair and gnashed his teeth, fury bursting from every orifice.

The ministers exchanged fearful glances and sat in silence. However, the minister Xie Sai Raorang, seated beside the king, thought differently. He rose slowly and addressed the king in the gentlest tones: "As the saying goes: 'The virtuous master is slandered by monks, the official's bootstraps are pulled by servants, and the sandalwood tree is often entangled with thorns.' Whether it is truly the people of Ling who have stolen our precious horse—let us first send someone to investigate the land of Ling. If it proves true, then there will still be time to dispatch the army."

He then sang his song:

"If you know not where this place is,

This is Nyanmo Yutang Plain of the Tagzig Kingdom.

You, our sole sovereign lord,

Whose power and authority rival sun and moon—

The words of this insignificant one,

Will they bring calamity to another land?

The ancients had this saying:

'The meadow flowers are struck by hail,

The six grains of the paddy are killed by frost.'

The treasure-horse 'Blue Windchaser'

Has been seized by Gesar—

Though we must march to eastern Ling,

But the situation is thus:

When applying the healing art of the six sacred medicines,

If one does not first carefully diagnose,

And blindly administers the drugs,

Not only will it not help, but it may cause harm.

When deploying the warfare of ten thousand troops,

If one does not well prevent escalation,

And blindly provokes conflict,

It will ignite needless hatred.

I, Xie Sai Raorang, though humble,

Consider whether we should do this:

The master's revelation and the diviner's signs

Point the finger at Ling Gabu—

Let Xie Ga Danba and Dongchi Laguo

Go and investigate the situation in Ling.

The ruler of the Darong tribe, King Chao Tong,

Must surely be the thief's lord.

Before the two return,

Let us, the assembled lords and ministers,

Prepare our mighty forces.

This is my humble proposal—

All those present, please consider!”

All the ministers agreed this was prudent, and King Serchi Nima nodded in approval.

Disguised Spies and the Wedding Feast Revelation

The following day, the inner minister Xie Ga Danba and the horse-guard commander Dongchi Laguo donned tattered clothes and worn-out boots, disguising themselves as pitiful beggars. They set off eastward to investigate the situation in Ling.

At noon on the eleventh day, the two arrived at the heart of the Ling region. Upon a small grassy hill, they encountered two herders—one old and one young—sitting on the meadow drinking tea. The young herder played a flute while carefully observing the pair. Nearby, five thousand sheep grazed under Xie Ga Danba's watch. The two approached the herders to beg for food. The herders invited them to share tea and asked where they were from and where they were headed. Dongchi Laguo replied: "Our homeland was originally in the Dayu region, but we now live in the Jiang region. We have come to Ling in hopes of paying respects to that venerable one—the incarnation of the Three Protectors, the Lion King Gesar of Ling. Once we have done so, we shall return home content."

The old herder said: "The Lion King has been in closed meditation for three years and only emerged from retreat on the second day of this month. It seems fate has not granted you the fortune of an audience with the King. However, for begging, there is a better place. In the valley across the way lives a great official named Darong Chao Tong. This man gazes at rainbows when the sun sets, patrols the city when the cuckoo flies away, and takes a wife when he is old and near death. Because he presented a horse never seen before in Ling to Prince Zhale, the Prince betrothed Danma's daughter to him. Today, a grand wedding feast is being held, and all the people of Ling are gathered there. If you two go, you are sure to get fine food."

Dongchi Laguo and his companion had inadvertently learned of Chao Tong's horse offering—a surge of excitement ran through them. Dongchi Laguo quickly shot Xie Ga a meaningful glance. Xie Ga produced five gold coins and asked the old shepherd to recount the origin of the horse Chao Tong had presented. Sure enough, Dongchi Laguo concluded that the horse was none other than their Tagzig Kingdom's "Blue Windchaser"! Their mission had been accomplished with such unexpected ease. The two thanked the herders and resolved to observe the Darong tribe's situation more closely.

They proceeded toward the wedding feast to beg for food, climbing over mountains and crossing valleys until they reached Dalong Natang Gongma. There, crowds gathered like stars in the sky. Rather than approaching the places where nobles and officials congregated amid noisy crowds, they seated themselves among the beggars. At that very moment, representative Michong Kade of the Muba tribe and his four attendants arrived at the tent entrance. They were welcomed inside and seated at the head of the right row.

Everyone took their places and enjoyed the abundant tea, wine, and refreshments. Only Michong Kade rose from his seat. He placed upon the shoulders of his four attendants nine bolts of different patterned brocade, three gold coins, ten silver flower-engraved bowls, nine beautiful fox furs, and covered the Danma girl's gift with a ceremonial Khata of fine Ningmao DeLe silk. He then sang a song of auspicious blessing:

"If you know not where this place is,

This is Lari Lalong Gongma in the Ma region—

The valley to the right is called Dalong Chamou,

The pasture of the Darong clan.

The valley to the left is Sou Long Chamou,

The pasture of the Sourang clan.

Eternal and unchanging Ling—

It is like the celestial palace of the gods.

The Lion King is the divine leader,

The heir of the Ling Mukpo Dong clan.

On this auspicious day,

I, Michong, shall offer a song.

The stars in the sky are auspicious today—

Venus and the Pleiades have converged,

An auspicious omen for marriage on this day!

The maiden comes to her blessed new home,

Uncles and brothers surround her—

An omen of prosperity, both people and wealth.

Her maternal family is noble as the heavens,

Danma is of the royal lineage of Sa Hor,

The elite of Ling Ga's heroes—

Imposing toward enemies,

Merciful in protecting kin.

The noble princess Midoji

Is born beautiful as a flower—

Her hair black as a crow's crest,

Her neck elegantly long as a silver vase,

Her cheeks fair as silver pearls,

Her teeth white as strings of conch,

Her waist sways like a slender vine,

Her voice melodious as the cuckoo,

Her eyes luminous as bright stars.

They say her thick braid behind

Symbolizes the strength of her father and brothers.

Her long hair bun at the crown

Symbolizes a life longer than water.

The beautiful agate ornaments

Symbolize the opening of precious treasures.

The turquoise beads adorning her golden earrings

Symbolize a lineage blooming like flowers.

The silver bells chiming at her waist

Symbolize the harmony of all desires.

Her shoes with three layers of rainbow-patterned silk

Symbolize the people's support gathering around her

.

Ahead stands sacred Mapang Yutso,

With the mighty Darong tribe—

The tribal chieftain, Uncle King Chao Tong,

Is the uncle of the invincible King,

The commander of the Darong tribe.

Before, it surges like the great ocean;

Behind, it stands like towering mountains;

In the middle, it shines like sun and moon;

The people gather like a host of stars.

I, Michong, am called 'the Resolver of Disputes,'

And all songs I sing bring good fortune.

My arms may be strong, but not comparable to gold,

Yet wherever my hands touch, fortune surely follows.

This length of long-necked white silk—

It is the longevity silk of the virtuous master,

The reward silk of the great official,

The hero's silk of brave youth,

The dowry silk of noble sisters,

Silk drawn from the belly of the golden fish,

The gift of the invincible King.

Outside are woven the unchanging Eight Auspicious Symbols,

Within are the unchanging Seven Treasures of the Universal Monarch,

In the middle is the unchanging Wish-Fulfilling pattern,

There is the Vajra knot of unchanging life,

The pattern of abundant yogurt of unchanging fortune—

Today it drapes upon the maiden's neck.

The fivefold blessings of heaven and earth, in all four directions—

May you, maiden, possess them all!

These nine different bolts of patterned brocade

Are treasures of the Maxie Zhouxiumao collection,

Symbolizing the vanquishing of nine kinds of enemies—

I offer them to our beloved Prince Zhale.

The Muba chief and Darong chief,

With hearts as pure as white silk,

May good fortune and happiness follow from this day forth.

Three brilliant gold coins,

Ten shining silver engraved bowls—

Are the king's gifts of celebration,

Today I offer them to King Chao Tong.

Three bolts of crimson silk, bright as the setting sun—

Are my Michong's precious treasures,

Today I present them to the honored Prince.

Three bolts of azure silk, blue as the sky—

Extremely tough and strong, fit for helmet and armor—

Are my Michong's rare treasures,

Today I present them to you, maiden.

The signs of a blessed life are most evident—

May ten thousand blessings fill the sky,

May a thousand wishes spread across the earth."

After Michong Kade finished his auspicious blessing song, all the heroes, sisters, women, monks and laypeople, noble and humble alike of Ling offered their Khatas and made their own words of blessing and praise according to their rank and status. When this concluded, everyone returned to their seats and contentedly partook of the meat, wine, butter, and other delicacies.

A Hidden Grudge Amid Festive Cheer

Who in Ling did not know that Chao Tong and Michong Kade were like two hemp ropes that could never be twisted together? Michong's lavish praises grated on Chao Tong's ears. Here it was his own great celebration, yet Michong had only lavished praise upon the Danma family. Unfortunately, that little dwarf had delivered his flattery flawlessly, and considering the occasion, Chao Tong could only swallow his irritation like a minor loss, resolving silently to settle scores with Michong another day.