Peaceful Days and White Brahma King’s Summons

Ever since the subjugation of the Yellow Hor, King Gesar had refurbished the city of Dazi, making the royal palace even more magnificent, grand, and resplendent. The Great Lion King resided in the palace with his consorts, governing the kingdom and performing great acts of benevolence. The people of the Ling Kingdom had left their past lives of hardship behind; they once again had their own pastures and lands, living in happiness and peace. The people lived and worked in contentment, and the world was at peace.

On this day, before the sun had risen over the mountains, the Great Lion King was already awake. He strolled onto the platform atop the palace tower, looked up at the sky, and suddenly noticed a patch of colorful clouds appearing in the deep blue heavens. Upon the clouds rested a white conch-shell-like steed, on which sat a figure shaded by a yellow silk parasol, surrounded by countless celestial beings and goddesses. A rain of five-colored flowers fell with the clouds, and a fragrance never before smelled in the mortal world wafted to his nose. Gesar recognized him—this was the ruler of the Heaven of the Thirty-Three, the White Brahma King. Gesar bowed his head in reverence. Amidst the gentle sounds of lutes and the tinkling of bronze bells, the White Brahma King sang a song to the divine child:

Divine child Tuibagawa,

Lift your head and look upon this Heavenly King,

Listen carefully as I explain in detail.

"My good child, you are the white lion with the green mane, you are the striped tiger in the sandalwood forest, you are the good sovereign of the people. You have already subdued the Black Demon Lutsan and exterminated the three Hor Kings. The people are joyful, and this Heavenly King and the host of gods are also delighted. Child, for good days to last long, must be defended with a blade and spear. To the south of the Ling Kingdom is King Sadan, whose domain of the Jiang Kingdom spans all directions. Not only does he harm living beings and the people, but now he also intends to send troops to seize the Ling Kingdom's Salt Sea, to bring Along Gongzhu under the rule of Purple Jiang."

Upon hearing that the Jiang Kingdom intended to seize the Salt Sea, Gesar immediately drew his blade: "The Brahma King's prophecy is like timely rain, warm, sweet, and refreshing. Your child will set out at once to campaign against King Sadan, defend the Along Gongzhu Salt Sea, and live up to your high expectations."

"Child, do not rush. For this campaign against Purple Jiang, you must send Sinba King. Meruze is a surrendered general; now is the time for him to contribute his strength, a test of his loyalty. Quickly send someone to summon Sinba, have him go immediately to the side of the Salt Sea, specifically to capture Prince Yula, and on no account harm his life."

Having said this, the White Brahma King drifted away.

Gesar did not dare delay. He immediately called the clever-tongued dwarf Michong Kade to convey the order to Sinba Meruze.

The Summons and Sinba's Dilemma

Upon learning that an envoy had been sent from the Ling Kingdom, Sinba Meruze immediately issued orders: the twelve tribes of Hor and the one million two hundred thousand households were to send people on horseback to greet him. He also selected many beautiful maidens, dressed them up like flowers and jade, to serve tea and wine, dance, and sing. Sinba Meruze also carefully adorned himself: he wore a red fox-fur hat, a black lambskin satin robe, a belt of seven-colored satin ribbon, and carried the gold and silver bowl with the sun and moon motif on his person. Mounting his Flame Steed, he rode out of the city to welcome Michong Kade. Upon meeting the envoy, Meruze first presented a white khata three arm-spans long, then sang:

The sinner Sinba Meruze,

Prays for the eternal health and happiness of the Great King.

He eliminates calamities for the country and the people,

He is the great hero of the world.

After inquiring after the Great King, Meruze inquired one by one after Queen Zumu and the other consorts, and all the heroes of Ling, wishing them eternal health and longevity. After these greetings, Meruze said joyfully to the envoy: "The Hor Kingdom now is different from before. By the grace of King Gesar, the poor have become rich, the elderly have become long-lived, the children are happier, and the maidens are more beautiful. Yaks, dairy cows, and dzo are more numerous than the stars in the sky; goats, sheep, and lambs cover the hillsides like fallen snow. Ownerless mules outnumber the saksaul grass, ownerless horses are more plentiful than wild horses, ownerless foodstuffs are piled mountain-high, and ownerless wild grains bloom in profusion. Milk flows like the sea, wine like lakes; no one worries about food and drink anymore. Officials dance the Cham at night, the common folk sing virtuous songs by day; everyone is joyful, everyone is happy. All this is due to the high merit of King Gesar. We must again wish the Great King eternal health and happiness!"

Michong Kade listened, greatly pleased. Then he sang:

In our rich and divine land of Ling Gabu,

Sadan is mobilizing a great army to invade.

Relying on his ferocity, he comes to seize the Salt Sea,

Wanting to take away the prized seasoning.

Now the bandits who come to plunder are pressing at the border,

Ling Gabu prepares for the entire people to resist.

When the Ling army counterattacked Hor in the past,

The Brahma King gave a prophecy as instruction:

After the Ling army conquers Hor,

You, Sinba, were not executed.

Your life was spared,

For the day when a hero would have a use.

This time, to resist the demon soldiers of Sadan,

The heavy burden falls upon you, Sinba, to shoulder.

Conquering a powerful enemy will spread your fame across the seas,

Overcoming the foe and achieving merit is your heavenly duty.

The Great Lion King Gesar has commanded:

Only you are familiar with the terrain of the Jiang Kingdom;

Without you, Sinba, this battle cannot be won.

Transporting goods requires good horses,

Making arrow shafts requires good bamboo,

Resisting a strong enemy requires good warriors.

Do not delay, go quickly to Ling Gabu,

And also notify the six ridges of the Hor lands,

To bring all their troops and horses with you.

Warhorse saddles must be prepared swiftly,

When the order comes, wield your blade to slay the foe;

The king's command is like a snow-capped mountain collapsing,

On no account disobey and miss the crucial moment.

The great army of Ling Gabu is concentrating and awaiting orders,

Camped densely at Madiya Datang.

You are commanded to lead your troops to assemble there.

If there is any failure, you cannot escape the blame.

After hearing this, Sinba Meruze thought to himself: The king's command is truly difficult to handle. If I do not lead my subordinate troops there, it would be disloyal to the king. If I obey the order and lead the troops, it will surely provoke resentment from other ministers and chiefs. Although King Gesar has forgiven my role in killing Gyatsa, the other heroes and chiefs of Ling have never been able to forgive me. If I go to Ling, won't those people still throw their weight around, speak ill of me, and wound my pride? Michong, seeing his hesitation, then said: "Ah! Red Sinba, you are an intelligent and brave man. You absolutely must not disobey the king's command this time, but there is no need for any misgivings in your heart. The heroes of Ling have hearts broader than the grasslands; no one will reproach you. It would be best for you to come with me to see King Gesar. Please think it over three times."

After Michong finished, Sinba thought: If I do not go to receive orders as Michong suggests, who knows what King Gesar might think? The king's command is like a master's teaching; if he becomes angry, it could ruin matters both internally and externally. So he said to Michong: "Kind envoy Michong, your words are like sweet dew after a long drought for seedlings, moistening my heart. The heavy door of my heart has been knocked open by the hammer of your sincere words. Tonight, let us stay temporarily in Yaze City, and tomorrow at dawn we will go together to see the Great Lion King!"

That night, Michong stayed with Sinba in Yaze Castle. The next day, Sinba rose early and ordered the guards and soldiers to blow conch shells loudly and beat Dharma drums, immediately assembling the troops of the six Hor divisions. After announcing to his subordinates the decision to go to the Ling Kingdom to participate in the war against the Jiang army, the Baturus of the Hor vassal states each roused their spirits and prepared to set out.

Sinba Meruze, wearing a golden helmet and red armor, mounted his thousand-mile chestnut steed and went to the highest mountain of Hor to burn juniper and offer prayers to the gods. As the blue smoke curled upwards, Meruze turned three times to the left, then three times to the right, and said:

Protective deities of Hor, listen truly,

I set out offerings of eleven, twelve, thirteen kinds,

These offerings are for the demon gods of Hor.

Above, the white tent is like white clouds,

The gate is made of pure white crystal,

Upon the majestic white lion seat,

Sits the White Demon God of Hor.

In the middle, the yellow tent is like yellow clouds,

The gate is made of gleaming gold,

Upon the majestic tiger skin seat,

Sits the Yellow Demon God of Hor.

Below, the black tent is like black clouds,

The gate is made of black iron,

Upon the majestic nine-headed boar skin seat,

Sits the Black Demon God of Hor.

I have made offerings with these presents,

Offered to the protective deities of Hor.

May the demon gods protect and aid me,

I shall fear no array, wherever I go.

The sun in the blue sky has power,

Snow white as felt is no match.

I can melt the snow away,

Tame the lion to be my slave.

Thunder and lightning in the sky have power,

Great and small stone mountains are no match.

I can smash the cliffs to pieces,

Tame the great Garuda to be my slave.

The red tongues of flame have power,

Soft thatch grass is no match.

Watch me burn it all away,

Tame the wild horse to be my slave.

The hero Sinba Meruze,

How could I regard Yula as worthy?

I will kill King Sadan,

Tame the demons to be my slave.

Assembly at Ling and the Spark of Conflict

The next day, as the snow-capped peaks donned their golden crowns, the sound of conches could be heard in the ranks, and red banners fluttered in the wind. At Sinba Meruze's command of "Set out!" the officers and men immediately mounted their warhorses, left the palace city of Yaze Kamar, and, led by Michong, galloped majestically towards the land of Ling Gabu.

On the great assembly ground of Datang Chamao in front of the Senge Dazi Palace in Ling Kingdom, troops from the major tribes had already gathered and were awaiting orders: the Seba tribe of Upper Ling, the six Wenbu tribes of Middle Ling, the four Mujang tribes of Lower Ling, as well as the Zhu, Dawu, Darong, Danma, He Yin, He Yang, and other major tribes. The troops of the Senior lineage of Upper Ling Seba were like fierce tigers emerging from the mountains; the troops of the Middle lineage of Middle Ling Wenbu were like strings of pearls; the troops of the Junior lineage of Lower Ling Mujang were like great Garudas spreading their wings; the troops of the other tribes were all heroic and spirited. The officers and men were all waiting for the Great Lion King's command.

At this time, the Red Tassel troops led by Sinba had already crossed the Yarlasawu Mountain at the border between Hor and Ling, and were speeding like arrows released from a bow along the Agaer Jalan Muya Road, heading straight for the Ling royal palace.

The great general Chaxiang Danma, seeing Michong and Sinba leading the Red Tassel troops galloping from afar in the assembly ground, felt a surge of disgust in his heart. He thought: Sinba, this surrendered minister, a few years ago in the Hor-Ling war, turned his spearhead against the Ling hero Gyatsa, causing this great hero to sacrifice his life on the battlefield. Sinba is a criminal. I cannot ride side by side with this enemy who cooks human flesh for food, nor go to the same battlefield with him. As he thought this, his face showed anger, and he sat there very displeased.

Sinba's party entered the assembly ground, first presenting an auspicious khata to King Gesar and kowtowing to pay respects. After the various heroes took their seats, Chief Steward Rongtsa Chagen used a song to inform everyone of the situation regarding King Sadan of Jiang's troops invading the Ling Kingdom's Salt Sea:

Descendants of the divine clan of Ling Gabu, all heroes,

Those living in the valleys, please listen from the grasslands,

Those living in the mountains, please listen from the heights,

Those living by the water, please listen from the lowlands.

The troops of Sadan from Jiang are invading,

The enemy's banners obscure the entire sky,

Their long spears are like the rising dawn,

They intend to seize the salt lake of Ling Gabu.

Prince Yula of Jiang personally leads the vanguard,

Chief Qu La commands the Red Tassel troops,

Caima Keji commands the Flower Tassel troops,

Acting as the vanguard for the invasion, fighting desperately.

What are King Sadan's capabilities like?

Are the castles of the Jiang Kingdom impregnably strong?

What are the martial skills of Jiang's fierce warriors like?

Are the fierce warriors' bows and arrows exceedingly sharp?

What is their external power and reputation like?

What skills do they have for internal rule and command?

All ministers and generals of Ling Gabu,

Must have an understanding in your hearts before the battle.

Uncle Chief Steward has come here today,

Wishing to help my nephew exert strength.

I am old Chagen, without descendants,

Yet still wish to offer more strategies for the country and people.

How to advance and retreat in the war,

This old man has clever plans for directing operations.

Although Uncle's body is aged and frail,

His mind holds ideas for overcoming the enemy.

You must be familiar with the situation of Jiang's Sadan,

Arrogant and looking down on others,

His arrows are like blades of grass touching skin.

Prince Yula Toju of Jiang,

His arrows are like thunderbolts falling from the sky,

Drawing his bow is like a strongman pulling a rock,

He can only be subdued softly, not by force.

The great Hor general Sinba Meruze,

This time, defending the Salt Sea against a strong enemy,

The Great King appoints you, Sinba, as vanguard,

To deal with Yula, only cunning can be used.

You first go scouting alone on your steed,

The great army follows you, traveling day and night.

The vanguard must not be timid but steady,

Capture Yula with wisdom, do not be hasty.

When you and the enemy meet,

Consider how you should deal with them.

Know that in war, deception is no stranger,

Turning the enemy's plot against him is how to overcome a strong foe.

Remember my song well in your heart,

I wish the vanguard victory from the first encounter.

After everyone finished listening to the old Chief Steward's song, they all showed pleased expressions, and the atmosphere in the assembly ground became very lively. At this time, Sinba Meruze, sitting in the seat of the Yellow Hor chief, after hearing the Chief Steward's song, was thoughtful and reported what he knew of the Jiang Kingdom's situation to everyone: "The Great Lion King above, please listen to my words, Sinba. In earlier years, Hor and the Jiang Kingdom had some dealings, so I am very clear about the situation in Jiang. Their king is also a deity descended to earth, but his moods are unpredictable, and he is fiercely brave and matchless. In terms of direct confrontation, apart from the Great Lion King, we are no match for him at all. Furthermore, Jiang has many heroic and fierce warriors—some skilled in using curses to harm people, others adept at administering poison. Prince Yula Toju is the hero among heroes, the good man among good men in Jiang. My opinion is no different from the Chief Steward's; we can only use cunning to capture him cleverly. Thanks to King Gesar for not holding past grievances against me, appointing me, Sinba, as the vanguard for Ling Gabu, I will certainly exhaust all my abilities to achieve merit for the Great King's cause!"

The Quarrel Erupts

As soon as Sinba Meruze's words fell, Chaxiang Danma Jangcha suddenly flared up with inexplicable anger. He shouted: "What use is all this talk from Sinba? Going to war against an enemy is not like playing at home; a man alone on his steed, success or failure is hard to predict. Who truly has skill can only be proven before the enemy; there's no need for self-praise now! Do you think the Great King appointed you as vanguard because Ling has no heroes? My name, Chaxiang Danma, is known to everyone in Ling. In the past, when Gyatsa was alive, he made decisions on any matter, and I carried them out. Today, I, Danma, have not even spoken yet; how can a lowly prisoner like you presume to state your position? You praise the people of Jiang as so formidable, but I think it's just to elevate your own status. In the army of our Ling Kingdom, there are plenty of brave and wise heroes. I ask the Great King to retract the command, let me, Danma, be the vanguard. This lowly surrendered minister should go back to wherever he came from!"

The earlier worry had indeed become reality. Sinba Meruze carefully hid his wounded pride, pretending to be humble, yet with a touch of stubbornness in his reply: "Since Hor lost its sovereignty, I, Sinba, have also become a shameful prisoner. Today, speaking before the hero Danma was indeed my mistake, but every word Sinba spoke came from the heart. Why must you bully me relying on your strength! Now the great army of Jiang presses at the border. Thanks to the Great King not abandoning me, I, Sinba, am willing to exert all my strength to defeat the enemy. This is to wash away the humiliating reputation of this prisoner who surrendered, and also to prove that my heroic abilities are no less than those of Lingga.

King Gesar and the other ministers remained silent, but Sinba's words only served to further enrage Danma. Remembering Gyatsa, who was dearer to him than a brother, he thought that if he did not challenge this prisoner today, his anger would never subside. Thus, he spoke again: "You are a yellow Hor prisoner, a red-bearded one, who claims to be always in the right. Regarding all matters great and small of the past, some have forgotten, others have not. In those days of bloodshed and storm, when the yellow Hor's hundred-thousand-strong army invaded the land of Ling, how many innocent commoners were slaughtered? Queen Zumu was even abducted. Poor Queen Sangjang Zumu, subjected to humiliation and indignation, and you, Sinba, were part of this! The heroic warrior Gyatsa was slain, and the executioner was you, butcher Sinba! You seized his snow-white helmet, you took his head back to Hor! The evil deeds committed by the wicked Sinba, who among the great army did not witness them? Who among the people of Ling does not gnash their teeth and stamp their feet at the sight of Hor's red-bearded Sinba? Don't accuse me of bullying the weak with my power. Today, let us have a contest outside this tent. I'll show you what kind of man truly deserves to be called a hero!"

"Cease your arrogant talk! Today, we shall test our strength right outside this tent. Let us see what manner of man is truly worthy of the name 'hero and warrior'!"