The Mighty King of Jiang and His Ambition

To the south of Ling Gabu lay a kingdom known as the "Purple Land of Jiang." Its territory was vast and boundless, with continuous mountain ranges. Snow-capped peaks stretched across the sky like jade dragons, encircling lush pastures—a place scarcely different from a celestial realm. In the capital's Yuzhu Saiqin Palace resided the leader of countless Jiang people: the peerless King Sadan.

On the day of King Sadan's birth, he was bathed with five kinds of nectar and anointed with pure water from a precious vase. The demon gods, dragon kings, and fierce deities of Jiang prayed for him; the Four Heavenly Kings summoned blessings for him at the four gates in the east, south, west, and north. Upon reaching adulthood, the power of celestial and dragon gods converged within him. His stature became as towering as Mount Meru; his speech was as mighty as a jade dragon's roar, his temper more violent than a fierce tiger's. His strength was immense, capable of lifting mountains with his hands; his piercing eyes shone like the sun and moon. His disheveled hair framed his face like a veil of black mist. At times, clusters of sparks shot from his nostrils, radiating red light. A flick of his long tongue was like thunder in the sky; when he spoke, his voice could be heard from the three layers of heaven above to the three layers of the underworld below. King Sadan's subjects and households were as numerous as the stars in the sky; his councilors surrounded him like stars encircling the moon. The kingdom's handsome and robust youths stood straight and strong like arrows of bamboo in the mountains. Furthermore, countless enviable rare treasures filled his storehouses, and fat herds of cattle, sheep, and horses covered the grasslands. Needless to say, the surrounding small states and tribes bowed to him, offering tribute year after year.

Yet, why did such a majestic man, who enjoyed all worldly glory, often wear a deep frown these days? His attending ministers and servants were constantly on edge, serving him with utmost care, fearing the king's sudden wrath at any moment.

The Demon God Urged King Sadan To Seize The Salt Sea

One night, the demon god guarding the Jiang Kingdom rode a three-legged purple mule, descending like lightning from the sky into the Yuzhu Saiqin Palace. It whispered into King Sadan's ear: "Great King, I know your distress. Jiang lacks neither gold nor silver, neither cattle, sheep, nor provisions. It lacks only the finest seasoning—salt. That is why your meals taste bland and your tea lacks fragrance. The neighboring Ling Kingdom has the Along Gongzhu Salt Sea. You should seize it for Jiang's use!" Hearing the demon god's words, King Sadan was deeply stirred. But then he thought of the nearby Ling Kingdom, the domain of the lion-like king, and his bright face clouded over.

Seeing King Sadan's hesitation, the demon god knew he feared Ling's Lion King, Gesar, and immediately added: "Do not fear, our King Sadan. Fear not for your head, I have made a golden helmet to protect you; fear not for your body, I have made silver armor to encase you; fear not for your feet, I have made the great earth to carry you."

King Sadan had always considered himself extraordinary. Now, emboldened and encouraged by the demon god, the very next morning he urgently summoned his generals and ministers to court. Without consulting his councilors, he directly began arranging the deployment of various armies to immediately set out and seize the Along Gongzhu Salt Sea. He sang:

Last night in the third watch of my sleep,

A precious prophecy came suddenly,

Like floodwaters rushing into the mountains.

Listen, the prophecy's content is unusual,

Hear me tell you the truth:

Last night as I, King Sadan, had just fallen asleep,

A three-legged divine mule carried the Dharma Protector,

From a tent woven of colored clouds,

Descending through mist and clouds.

Clad in white armor gleaming silver!

In hand holding a three-pronged sword,

An angry voice was truly terrifying.

Told me not to sleep idly but rise quickly,

To go seize the finest seasoning for food and drink.

Though the enemy's army has not come,

The thunderbolt sword in hand must be grasped tightly.

This beautiful land of Purple Jiang,

With densely clustered villages and thriving people,

Birds and beasts covering the hills,

The scoundrel Joru wants to plunder.

Said our iron army of the hilly kingdom,

Would be wiped out like wind scattering clouds,

Said the gold sand buried in the mountains,

Would be dug to forge little golden horses.

Also said the free-swimming golden-eyed fish in the water,

Would soon be caught in nets,

Said I, King Sadan, living on my own land,

Would be bullied by Ling's Joru coming to harass.

From tomorrow morning onward,

Until the great plan is fully accomplished,

Armies and warhorses must be prepared,

White war helmets must be worn neatly,

White armor must not leave the body.

These instructions must be remembered,

I cannot sit and wait for the enemy to attack,

I must seize the essence of food by force.

Heroes must show prowess before the enemy,

Foxes tuck their tails to survive.

Capable people act when they decide,

Hesitation only makes one an old ox.

This is also how one should conduct affairs,

I hope all ministers ponder carefully!

Until the day the finest seasoning is won,

Warhorses must not leave their golden saddles,

Warriors must not leave their armor.

Ministers, do not hesitate, act swiftly,

Quickly command the subjects and armies to mobilize.

Leaders of the Flower Tassel regiments,

There is red-faced commander Caima Keji,

Golden General Sela Yucha,

And Nychi Gaqing, three in total.

You must quickly assemble your troops.

Use the army to disrupt enemy formations,

Use iron hammers to strike the enemy painfully.

Commanders of the White Tassel regiments: Baidui,

Commanders of the Blue Tassel regiments: Datu,

Commanders of the Black Tassel regiments: Qindui,

You three quickly assemble your troops.

In the corner shrouded by the black mountain's shadow,

Where the waves of the black sea are churning.

The thunder-like fierce general Baideng Guibu,

The old demon Jiwu Tuoge,

And the poisonous man Lawu Sisi,

Are the leaders of the Dragon King regiments,

Quickly assemble the water demon troops.

Act upon hearing the call,

Great generals, heroes who can draw strong bows,

First, my son Yula Toju,

Second, Shengjiang Lawu Toju,

Third, Balin Bawo Toju,

Quickly assemble and obey commands.

Decisive as a tiger descending the mountain,

The Ever-Victorious Army whose arrows never miss,

First, Queji Gongga Jinmei,

Second, Kalin Kala Maiba,

Third, Chiben Jiaduo Ebu,

You three quickly assemble and obey orders.

Poison-arrow archers who can doom strong enemies,

First, the youth Dongtong Laren,

Second, the warrior Dama Laren,

Third, the divine son Angge Laren,

Quickly assemble and obey commands.

Those who dare to fight the enemy bare-chested,

The elder Peigeng Tulu,

The middle-ranking Zhaxi Toju,

The younger Taqiong Lugu, three in total.

Troops as numerous as blades of grass on the ground,

Arrows stockpiled beyond counting,

There are Busuo Lage Kawa,

Yuqing Zari Tuitui,

And Jiacha Xidui Rangqie.

Upon hearing the shout,

Lead all armies to advance together.

When tomorrow's sun radiates golden light,

Soldiers must fill the plains,

Warhorses must fill the valleys,

The Great King's command is like a collapsing snow mountain,

It cannot be disobeyed, remember clearly.

After singing, King Sadan gnashed his teeth until they crackled, his beard bristled wildly, and his eyes blazed with sparks. The Minister of Internal Affairs, Xieqin Baidui, thought to himself: "The king's wisdom was once like the sun rising in a cloudless sky—clear and bright, and he greatly respected others. He especially treasured my counsel. But since last year, the king's mind has been like a prayer flag blown by the wind, wavering and uncertain. He listens to no one else's words; reasoning spoken to him seems blown away by the wind beyond the clouds. He often angrily rebukes his ministers, subjects, even the queen and princes. Now, without reason, he is mobilizing a great army to provoke disaster. This is truly an ominous sign! The king is currently enraged; if I alone advise him against mobilizing troops, he will absolutely not listen. Better to wait for the right moment."

Baidui Opposing King Sardan's Seizure Of The Salt Sea

The next day, the Jiang people gathered as if from a single point, quickly assembling in the great square outside the royal city's "Jade Dragon Precious Dew City" gate. King Sadan arrived at the assembly and took his seat on the central tiger-skin throne. The three major officers of the Jiang army's vanguard, center, and rear guard, along with internal and external ministers, sat in rows on either side of the king's throne according to their rank. Once everyone was seated, Minister of Internal Affairs Baidui faithfully recounted the king's plans and deployments to the assembled crowd. Then, facing the king, he said: "Your Majesty has always shown me great favor, granting me the highest seat when seated, bestowing upon me the swift Windchaser steed when I travel, and giving me various accolades daily. I hold your great kindness in my heart. Therefore, for any counsel beneficial to the king and the state, whether the king wishes to hear it or not, this old minister must still present it."

He then sang:

Though the song I sing may not sound pleasant,

Unpleasant loyal advice benefits the state.

The golden sunlight upon the golden throne,

Is now shrouded by angry dark clouds.

Such terrifying words have actually been spoken;

Can the boundary walls of Jiang's territory,

Encircle the vast northern Salt Sea?

To mobilize troops to kill the enemy.

The king's words cannot be changed,

Who dares speak when the king rages in fury?

We can only summon the nation's soldiers and people.

Whether the king's command is suitable or not,

Let all officials and people consider it together.

If the king's command contains error,

Everyone should advise without fear.

Now the plan is to send troops to seize the Salt Sea,

This plan brings more peril than gain and should be abandoned.

When officials' power is great, if they do not restrain themselves,

Most will later be crushed by formidable enemies.

The Salt Sea of the Twelve Goddess Protectors,

It originally belongs to Ling Gabu.

Gesar is the master of the Salt Sea,

He is a celestial god descended to earth, why make an enemy of him?

His head touches the celestial realm,

He is the son of the gods of the Thirty-Three Heavens.

His waist touches the realm of space,

He is the nephew of the fierce deity Nianqing Gezuo.

His heels tread the dragon palace realm,

He is the grandson of Dragon King Zuna Rinchen.

Eighty great adepts are his comrades,

The prosperous sacred land of Lingga is his domain.

Great King, you are a伟人 skilled in planning,

You and I alike must experience the changes of the human world.

We, your assembled ministers and people,

Hope to hear your nectar-like words,

Hope your words accord with our hearts' desire.

May your face, like the full moon on the fifteenth,

Forever radiate bright light.

May your body, majestic as Mount Meru,

Forever sit firmly upon the golden throne.

To quench your thirst, you have delicious nectar,

To satisfy hunger, you have fine delicacies.

Your belly is already filled with a hundred flavors,

Why must you seize salt by force?

Golden plates hold a hundred kinds of fruit,

Why demand the fruit of sin?

After Minister Baidui finished singing, no one at the assembly uttered a word. Everyone looked at each other in silence. King Sadan was now very displeased; his face, once like the bright fifteenth moon, suddenly clouded over. Glaring at everyone, he roared uncontrollably: "Ministers, you have all heard! Minister Baidui says preserving one's own power is the best policy. It sounds reasonable, but I refuse to be a timid, cowering person. How can the Salt Sea of the Twelve Goddesses be called the land of that scoundrel Joru? Who granted it to him? I absolutely disagree with such talk! I, King Sadan, also descended from the divine realm. Though Joru is a formidable enemy, how can he compare to me? The world says Joru's abilities are strong, but I, Sadan, must compete with him! This time, if I do not seize the finest seasoning from the land of Ling, I will never rest. All ministers, say no more. You must act according to my command, unified in action!"

Upon hearing this, the ministers dared not speak. Just as silence prevailed, Prince Yula Toju rose from his seat, approached the king, knelt, and reported: "Minister Baidui is truly confused. The salt lands of northern Markang should originally be communal, only they were seized by the Ling Kingdom. The Jiang Kingdom rightly should send troops to take them. Father, you are the savior of the people, the god Indra descended to be lord of men. Celestial gods, fierce deities, and dragon gods are your backing. Your reputation shines like pure gold; your ideals can become reality. Your single-minded desire to seize the finest seasoning accords with the prophecy of the gods. I wish to be the pillar of the state, to dedicate my strength to fulfilling my father's wish. If I am chosen among the many, I will go without hesitation. If I cannot obtain the finest seasoning, I would be unworthy of being called your son!"

Meanwhile, the king's elderly mother, Queen Dowager Chijiang Jimu, also heard that the king intended to mobilize a great army against Ling. She believed this was the beginning of an ominous portent. Regardless of what prophecy any deity delivered, regardless of what divination any fortune-teller cast, it would ultimately yield no good result. Besides, though salt is a fine seasoning, didn't past generations manage without it? Why must we seize it from others now? The king's thinking is like demanding rabbits grow horns or forcing frogs to grow fur—it cannot be done. If the king's notion of invading others is not dispelled, it will bring endless calamity to Jiang. Thinking this, the Queen Dowager immediately left her chambers to speak to the king: "King, have you lost your senses? In this peaceful time, with no one contending for your throne, why must you stir up trouble in all directions, inviting disaster? Invading another country is absolutely not to be done. Remember the ancient teaching: 'A sheep seeking death goes before the wolf's den; a man seeking death takes up arms against others.' These words are utterly true. Please, King and ministers, think carefully, think thrice before acting!"

Queen Jiangsa Namu Dissuade The send troops

No matter how his mother admonished him, King Sadan's resolve to campaign against Ling was firm. Abandoning his usual deference to his mother, he sternly said: "This king's state affairs are this king's own concern. When is it your women's turn to point and comment?"

Seeing she could not persuade King Sadan, the Queen Dowager helplessly returned to her chambers. She then summoned the queen, Jiangsa Namu, to have her dissuade her husband; perhaps that would still work. Receiving the Queen Dowager's decree, Namu hurried to persuade the king: "Great King, loving war often leads to death in battle; loving victory often leads to many defeats. Others' lands cannot be occupied; unreasonable deeds cannot be done. Jiang's land is vast, its wealth abundant. There is plenty of grain, meat, and fruit. You and your ministers cannot finish it all. Do not invade other countries and provoke disaster."

Minister Baidui also strongly agreed with Queen Namu's words, advising the king to act cautiously to avoid provoking disaster and future regret.

However, the old general Qula Genbao did not care for the queen and minister's words. Stroking his white beard, he said in a lecturing tone: "Our Purple Jiang Kingdom is renowned throughout the world, with vast armies and many generals. King Sadan is wise and brave. That Salt Sea should rightfully belong to our Jiang Kingdom. Now, going to seize it—what disaster could there be? Great King, have no doubts, quickly dispatch the troops!"

Seeing she could not persuade King Sadan, Queen Namu turned to persuade Prince Yula. It must be known that Prince Yula was the darling of the palace's noblewomen, especially his birth mother, Queen Jiangsa, who regarded Prince Yula as more precious than her own eyeballs and heart. With tears in her eyes, she gently said to the prince: "Yula, my beloved son, how can you, so young, go to the battlefield? You are still small, your body not fully grown, a hero's tiger courage not yet fully formed. You cannot casually go to the front lines. If anything were to happen to you, how could your mother live on in this world?!"

The prince, eager to campaign and achieve, yet unwilling to anger his mother, deliberately said: "Mother, being the vanguard is Father King's appointment. You should first persuade Father King."

"My son, if you listen to your mother, go before your father the King and ask for leave. If your father does not permit it, offer gifts in exchange. Offer a herd of thousand-mile steeds, offer a herd of sika deer, offer a herd of yaks and sheep—your father is sure to be pleased. If your father still does not consent, then ask him for goods: ask for nine hundred treasuries of gold and silver, ask for nine hundred treasuries of silk and satin, ask also for nine masters of the law, and ask for three great heroes. If these requests are not granted, my son, you absolutely must not go to the battlefield."

Hearing his mother speak such words, Prince Yula was somewhat displeased. How could he casually reach out to his father the King and ask for things? Moreover, going to war was what he was most happy and willing to do! It seemed explaining things clearly to his mother was necessary. Yula thought for a moment and spoke to his mother thus: "Ah, Mother, I am not like ordinary children. When your child was three years old, I was already hailed as a hero; now at five years old, I am a great hero. My left hand can seize lightning, my right hand can topple stone mountains; one roar surpasses the cry of the blue dragon, one shout shakes louder than heavenly thunder."

Seeing tears in his mother's eyes, Yula's heart softened: "Ah, Mother, how could your child forget your nurturing grace? Your child fights enemies like a fierce tiger, yet before his parents, he is like a servant. Your son goes on campaign to seize the salt lake, and it is likewise an act of filial piety to his parents, defending the country and protecting our homeland. Only thus is one a true man. Mother, please do not be saddened; no matter what else is said, you cannot keep me."

Although Yula was clearly following his father the King's command to seize the Ling Kingdom's salt lake, he spoke of defending the country and homeland. Disregarding his mother's strenuous attempts to dissuade him, he donned his small red robe embroidered with coiling dragons, fastened his green waist sash, pulled on his black satin boots, tied his multi-colored boot straps, mounted his chestnut steed with the blue mane, and together with Qula and Tsa Makyi, each leading one hundred and twenty vanguard cavalry, rode off into the distance.

Consort Jiangsa Namu watched as the prince galloped away, unable to hold back her tears.