The Capture and Public Humiliation of White Tent King

Zhale and Danma each took an arm and lifted White Tent King. Just as they were about to draw their swords, Gesar said, "Don't let him off easily. He must be made to taste some hardship." They stripped him of his weapons and bound him with ropes. The two Baturu who had been following him had no path of escape and no courage to rescue him; like dogs, they were escorted along with White Tent King into the city. Seeing their king captured, the Baturu inside and outside the city surrendered their weapons one by one, begging for their lives. Some wailed in agony, some said White Tent King deserved this fate; others knelt before King Gesar, pleading for White Tent King's life and offering gifts.

When Zhale and Danma brought White Tent King to the eastern gate square, White Tent King fell to his knees. Gesar sang in a high, resonant tone:

"I hate, I hate, my wrath is hard to quell,

I have never bullied the weak,

Nor ever provoked acts of aggression.

Against those who rely on strength to run amok and stir up trouble,

I have never let them go unpunished.

Between our Lingga and the Hor regions,

There was no unclear border over grazing mountains,

No dispute over castle territories,

Not even a quarrel as thin as a single horsehair.

Yet now, conflict towers like Mount Meru!

Our Lingga lived peacefully, content with our lot,

Protecting our borders and people, never encroaching an inch on others' land.

You, the twelve tribes of Hor Achin,

Relying on your strength, invaded our region,

Plunging Ling's black-haired common folk

Into the suffering and misery of war's calamity!

All the evil deeds you have committed,

Today is the time to settle each one.

That eastern city of Jaka Renmao,

Even Ling's own people cannot visit at will—

How could we allow you Hor to reduce it to ashes!

That sacred land where all who see it offer blessings,

Even Ling's divine descendants dare not pluck its flowers—

How could we allow your Hor armies to camp there!

That Datang Chamou plain of Matiyada,

Where brothers dare not gather to shoot arrows—

How could we allow your Hor troops to run wild there!

That turbulent, boundless ford of the Yellow River,

Where Ling people dare not casually draw water—

How could we allow your Hor soldiers to pollute it!

For the hero Gyatsa Xiega,

There has never been one who did not praise and extol him—

How could we allow your Hor Sinba to slaughter him!

Those thirty heroic brothers,

Words of mockery or scorn were never heard—

How could we allow you Hor to treat them as enemies!

First, for destroying our Ling's sacred images and scriptures,

Second, for obstructing us, the great heroes,

Third, to avenge the blood debt of my martyred Gyatsa,

Fourth, to repay the hatred of our Ling heroes,

Fifth, to cleanse the shame suffered by Ling's people,

And moreover, for the common folk of Jambudvipa,

That they may no longer suffer your harm and oppression!

All the evil vows you have uttered,

Today, each one returns upon yourself."

After singing, he placed a golden saddle upon White Tent King's neck, put a golden bridle in his mouth, and brandished his sword like a whip, driving him to run three circuits each to the east, west, south, and north. When King Gesar mounted the golden saddle on White Tent King's back, White Tent King lost even a sesame seed's worth of courage, like bees scattered by a gale, or an old ox chased by a leather whip. White Tent King knelt on the ground and sang a plea for mercy to King Gesar, offering all the gold, silver, and treasures of the Hor Kingdom as compensation, hoping to exchange them for his life. Hearing this coward speak thus, Gesar's fury only intensified. He immediately cleaved White Tent King in two.

The Sparrowhawk's Vengeance and Gyatsa’s Final Release

A sparrowhawk that had been secluded in the city tower flew down and landed on White Tent King's corpse, cawing with a huge sound in exultation. It examined the scene from head to toe, witnessed White Tent King's final fate, and thus fulfilled its vow from a past life. Shaking its wings and clacking its beak, it was now utterly satisfied.

Gesar said, "I still must punish Meruze and take him to Ling to be dealt with. Please rest assured, elder brother."

The sparrowhawk, however, said, "This Sinba fled in fear the moment he saw me. Because I pursued him relentlessly, he broke the vow we two made in our previous lives, bringing misfortune. The responsibility lies not with him, but with me. At the start of the Hor-Ling war, he repeatedly tried to stop the fighting from the beginning. Moreover, you two were brothers in a past life, so you must not harm his life. My wish is now fulfilled, and I should cast off this sparrowhawk's body to go to another realm." After speaking, it beat its wings a few times and soared into the boundless sky.

Tangze Yuzhou's Surrender and the Fall of Hor

In the city of Zhangqing Kema Baizong, Tangze Yuzhou thought, "The Ling army has been in Hor for several days. What was expected has happened. I must hasten to pay respects to the Great Lion King." He then donned his full armor, equipped his three weapons, mounted his swift horse, and galloped toward Yaze City. As he neared Yaze City, he saw the Ling army gathered at the eastern square. Tangze hurriedly dismounted, holding a pure white Khata scarf, and went among the Ling troops, saying, "I am Tangze Yuzhou, come to surrender to King Gesar of Ling and the great Ling army."

He then proceeded to the center of the Ling army, kowtowed before King Gesar, and presented his helmet, armor, warhorse, and weapons before the king's presence. Offering the white Khata as a token of introduction, he prostrated himself and knelt on the ground. The king, knowing his character, naturally accepted him with great pleasure. From that day on, Tangze Yuzhou retained his original name. The Great Lion King, with a compassionate heart, took him on as a minister, to Tangze's great joy and gratitude.

The Hor Kingdom's defeat was like a landslide. Some old Hor ministers who refused to surrender fled in all directions, only to be captured one by one by Ling's generals and soldiers. King Gesar personally sought out the despicable Duoqin and sent him to his doom. Gesar then instructed Zumu to quickly pack her belongings and prepare to return to Ling. Gesar and the Ling generals and soldiers, with one concerted effort, also annihilated Black Tent King.

The Heart-Wrenching Fate of Zumu's Child

When Gesar returned, he saw Zumu carrying a child on her back and immediately darkened his expression. "Where are you taking that demon king's bastard?"

"My king, I beg you to let me take him. Though he is White Tent King's flesh and blood, he is also my own child, a piece of my own body. He hasn't been weaned yet; without his mother, he cannot survive," Zumu pleaded. "The child is innocent."

"You still have such a compassionate heart! How many of our Ling children did the Hor King kill! How many heroes died under their blades! Quickly abandon this child and come with me!"

Zumu understood Gesar's feelings at this moment, yet she could not bear to leave her nursing child. Her heart felt as if it would break! Seeing the king already walking ahead, Zumu looked once more at her sleeping son, kissed his face, placed him in a storeroom, and prayed in her heart that someone might raise him and not let him starve. Zumu wiped the tears from her face, gritted her teeth, and left the storeroom, looking back every few steps.

Seeing Zumu come out alone to follow him, the Lion King's heart still could not let go of the child. He thought, the child is of enemy blood; when grown, he would still harbor hostility. One should uproot the grass to prevent future trouble. Therefore, he turned back, killed the child, and only then led Zumu out of Dungga Sangju City to find Gijum Yixi.