Sinba’s Accusations and Heartfelt Pleas

Danma arrived with fierce momentum, and with all the heroes standing by his side, Sinba could only sigh inwardly, filled with grievance. When he repeatedly mentioned the late Lord Gyatsa, Prince Zhale Zejie, seated above, could no longer contain his burning hatred for his father’s killer. He glared at Sinba with eyes like torches, wishing he could tear him apart! Then, turning to his uncle, King Gesar, with tears in his eyes, he sang sorrowfully:

I, Zhale Zejie of the Bumba family,

My fame in the army rivals the heavens.

My father gave his life for the country on the battlefield;

This fatherless orphan vows to prove his worth.

Do not think my voice is low when I speak,

Do not think my steps are slow when I walk.

Do not say I am a helpless orphan with no skill,

Do not say I am a mere breeze with nothing to rely on.

To whom can I speak my useful words?

Who will listen to my earnest counsel?

Some often speak malicious words,

Causing constant worry in Zhale’s heart.

I have pondered deeply and carefully:

Sharp weapons should not be turned on ourselves,

The plates of white armor should remain tightly linked,

Majestic mountains must not crumble,

Conflict must not arise among father and brothers,

This is truly what I believe.

The proverbs passed down by our ancestors hold truth,

I fear they may fall upon me, bringing sorrow:

"An orphaned nephew finds no love from his uncle,

A motherless nephew finds no pity from his aunt,

A penniless poor man finds no aid from others."

Such is often the way of the world.

I fear my uncle may not care for me,

Embracing my father’s killer as a confidant.

I fear the living may disregard the dead,

Shamelessly making friends with the enemy!

If uncle cannot distinguish friend from foe,

The pain in this nephew’s heart will never cease.

If you are not kind to your subordinates,

What use is your great power to me?

Today, regarding Hor’s red-bearded Sinba,

There is no need for mercy or courtesy.

Whoever releases this prisoner,

How can we forget the deep blood feud?

If I do not avenge my father’s murder,

I, his son, live in vain in this world.

Whenever the full moon rises on the fifteenth,

My father’s voice and face appear in my heart.

Whenever I remember my father’s visage,

A raging fire immediately ignites in my chest.

My father died by Sinba’s spear thrust;

For a son not to seek revenge is shameful.

Do not listen to the prisoner’s wild talk,

Do not fail to punish my father’s killer.

I, Zhale Zejie of the Bumba family,

Will regret it only when old age claims me in my castle.

After Zhale Zejie finished singing with angry words and tone, causing the assembled generals to ponder deeply, the heroine Adanam rose from her seat. Adjusting the hem of her armor slightly, she addressed everyone: "Listen, heroes of Ling Gabu and Zhale Zejie, especially you, red-bearded Sinba! How the divine tribe of Ling should defend our land is no matter for a prisoner to arrange. Sinba, you must not rely solely on your tongue to get by. Whether your bold claims are truly useful, only you know. You, Hor Sinba, bear an irreconcilable enmity with our divine Ling tribe. So what if you know the Jiang Kingdom inside out? Our Ling heroes, blessed by the Great Lion King, possess the martial skill and strategy to handle it. Sinba, do not presume to show off here!"

Seeing the situation, it seemed all the Ling heroes were about to heap humiliation upon Sinba Meruze. With tears in his eyes, he let out a long sigh. What was coming had come. If he did not speak his grievances today, the name of butcher would follow Sinba Meruze even after death. He stood up, knelt before Prince Zhale, and sang the words from his heart:

What Lord Zhale says is correct,

But the reasoning should be explained from the start!

Sinba wishes to speak his mind,

I beg Lord Zhale to consider carefully.

In the past, Hor was at war with Ling,

Recalling those events pains Sinba to death.

I earnestly advised White Tent King,

Wearing out my lips, but the king would not listen.

I wished to stop the war,

But my limited power was of no avail.

I never intended to invade Ling’s land,

Nor dared to oppose the Lion King.

Between the sky and the earth,

The Lion King, Gyatsa Xiega,

And I, Sinba, we three,

Once swore an oath in the white divine realm.

Though our life’s desires differed,

We vowed not to commit evil deeds.

Should the three of us ever meet,

We would never glare at each other in anger.

I opposed Hor’s military campaign,

Cherishing Hor-Ling friendship in my heart.

White Tent King brought the war upon himself,

Chao Tong’s inviting the wolf in was even more shameful!

Before the peerless hero Gyatsa Xiega,

Sinba never dared to show off his skill.

Like a little pika seeing a mighty eagle,

I sought a hiding place by all means.

I recall during the great Hor-Ling war,

Gyatsa charged into the camp, invincible.

When Hor’s three armies engaged in battle,

Sinba, unafraid of shame, urgently avoided him.

As for thoughts of harming Gyatsa,

Not even a fingernail’s worth crossed my mind.

Yet fate is hard to escape,

The hero’s neck was severed on the grassland.

Sinba’s heart is pure, without blemish,

Seeing Gyatsa fall shattered my heart.

Gyatsa and I were brothers in a past life,

Now that he is gone, I too have no wish to live.

Now my life is in Ling’s hands,

To kill or to spare is entirely Lord Zhale’s decision.

Such has been the truth, then and now.

Then he stood up, his gaze neither submissive nor arrogant sweeping over Danma and Adanam, who had questioned him, and said: "As for the rest of you, I have no enmity with you. The reason for your harsh words towards me, Sinba, is jealousy and resentment! When the king ordered me to come to Ling, I hesitated repeatedly, foreseeing that the heroes would compete with me for merit and make things difficult. But the messenger Michong dispelled my worries. He said the hearts of Ling’s heroes were broader than the grasslands. Today, I, Sinba, have truly gained insight! During the Hor-Ling war, because Sinba remembered the bond from a past life with the Lion King, I deliberately avoided all of you. I ask you now not to press me so aggressively. In the end, I am now only a surrendered minister of Hor, a prisoner of Ling. It is for the heroic cause of King Gesar that I have clung to life until today. However, it seems my presence only stirs discord among Ling’s heroes. Sinba begs the king to permit my return. I vow to spend my life in retreat. If not, execute me here on the spot, repaying Lord Gyatsa’s life with my blood. Sinba is willing!"

The assembled heroes were moved by Sinba’s words and found themselves speechless. Queen Zumu had also been startled upon hearing Prince Zhale’s song. She hadn’t realized that Zhale harbored some resentment towards her in his heart. Moreover, during the Hor-Ling war, some Ling people also blamed the root of the disaster on her. Though not as sharply as they targeted Sinba, it occasionally pricked her heart like a needle’s point. Seizing the moment while everyone was present, she quickly expressed her feelings and pleaded her case: "King and ministers, please listen, especially Prince Zhale, listen carefully. Throughout my life, my nature has been as straight as an arrow bamboo. I have never harbored evil intentions, nor committed immoral deeds. Now the disputes from ten thousand tongues all fall upon me alone. Perhaps this is my destined fate. Some speak idly to my face, others slander and ruin my reputation behind my back. My nephew Zhale Zejie, you also speak of me before everyone today, saying your aunt Zumu did not cherish you. Search your heart and ask if that is truly so? Everyone says Zumu is the root of misfortune, so of course Zhale resents me. Such is often the way of worldly affairs. But Zhale Zejie, recall the past carefully. Whenever you approached your aunt, did I not greet you with a smiling face? Did your aunt not personally take your horse’s reins, often converse with pleasant words, prepare fine food to you, with a heart as pure as Mount Gongga? Aunt Zumu has never been disloyal to you. The successor to the Lion King’s throne is you, nephew Zhale Zejie. Sangjang was blameless in her past life; how could she be the root of misfortune in this one? Now, with a great enemy at our gates, I only hope the heroes of Ling will be united in heart, and handle all matters through mutual consultation!"

The King’s Decree and Danma’s Dissatisfaction and Defiance

The heroes’ disputes before the hall also made King Gesar feel somewhat embarrassed, so he resolved to put an end to this war of words. He called for silence and then spoke with authority: "Hor Sinba and I, in our past lives in the divine realm, swore an oath before the gods: ‘Even if we are reborn in different lands and under different circumstances in future lives, at life-and-death moments, we shall be like flesh and blood.’ If we had killed him when Hor was defeated, the gossip among people would have been endless against Ling. Moreover, breaking the oath of a past life would bring disaster to all beings, especially hindering Ling’s future conquest of all black demon realms. To avoid breaking the oath and for the benefit of Ling, releasing the prisoner and sparing his life is entirely justified. Please do not complain. This time, I did not appoint you, Danma, as vanguard but entrusted this important task to Sinba entirely due to the prophecy of White Brahma King. He specifically instructed that without Sinba’s participation in this campaign against King Sadan, we would face defeat. We should follow this and not defy the will of heaven!"

After King Gesar finished speaking, Danma thought to himself: The king treats the prisoner Sinba and Ling’s heroes as equals in status and importance, and his words show particular regard for Sinba. Now he even says we cannot do without Sinba to fight the enemy. I absolutely cannot campaign alongside Sinba. If I must go to war with Sinba, I might as well return home. Thinking this, Danma said: "Great Lion King! I cannot share the same heart and mind with Hor Sinba, nor can I fight the enemy alongside him. Since Your Majesty has Sinba for the campaign against Jiang, I, Danma, will return home!"

After Danma spoke, the Lion King was filled with anger. He fixed his gaze on Danma, planning to teach this arrogant, meritorious hero a lesson, and spoke harsh words to him: "Danma, listen carefully! When Hor invaded Ling in the past, why did we not hear half a word of your bold talk? When Chief Steward’s son Yuda sacrificed his life, why did Danma not come to eliminate the traitors? When Darong’s army’s helmet banners were cut down, where was Danma hiding then? When Dazi Castle was destroyed, why did Danma not resist then? When the great Hor army invaded, Gyatsa was like the moon devoured by the heavenly dog. How many Ling heroes died in battle? Why did Danma not display his skill then? Now Sadan comes to seize the Salt Sea, Ling’s heroic divine troops are about to strike. At this time, you stir trouble with harmful words—what difference is there between an internal and an external enemy? For eighteen generations of the sacred Ling royal line, your Danma family has served as ministers for nineteen. You were fortunate to inherit this position. Why tolerate the enemy but bully your own? I advise Danma not to be so headstrong; weigh your words carefully. Sinba has his uses for our Ling. Do not continue with these offensive, hurtful remarks!"

After King Gesar finished, Danma remained unconvinced, his face showing grievance as he sat sulking in his seat. The eloquent dwarf Michong Kade, having heard the Lion King’s explanation, thought: If the king and Danma continue to argue like this, it will surely affect the mobilization against the Jiang army. Danma’s hot temper is hard to calm. To persuade Danma, it will take a few words from this eloquent dwarf to mediate. So he stood up from his seat and addressed the king: "Your Majesty and ministers should not quarrel over these matters now. The king and his ministers are like the head and neck—inseparable. Their thoughts should be united. Others should not chatter and bring up other topics. Jiang Sadan’s army is already at our borders, yet our Ling has made no preparations for resistance. For heroes, father and son, to be quarreling endlessly now—what kind of behavior is this? Please think carefully."

Then he turned to Danma and said: "Danma, don’t be so hot-headed! As the saying goes: ‘If greed is too great, the principal will be lost; if the river is too swollen, clear water turns muddy.’ You should think carefully. Stubborn arrogance brings no good. Sinba and the Lion King, sharing the same roots in the heavenly realm, swore an oath long ago: ‘In future lives, neither shall harm the other.’ Therefore, the king cannot kill Sinba in this life due to this past cause. A subject should not dispute the king’s decision. That ministers have their status today is entirely due to the king’s grace. Now, with a great enemy before us, heroes uniting in heart and strength to face the foe together is the paramount task. Hor’s crimes have already been punished; Danma need not hold onto anger. White Tent King brought disaster upon Ling through his own actions, dying nine times with head and body separated. After the thief king’s death, his corpse was left in the black earth, and Sinba was also tied like a dog at the camp gate. The great enmity and hatred of those days have been avenged. You, Danma, should be satisfied and joyful. In times of plenty, do not forget the hardship of famine; in victory, do not forget the days of defeat. Sinba is now loyal and protective of the sacred Ling. You, Danma, calling him ‘prisoner’ and ‘lowly minister’ with every breath is utterly unreasonable!"

Quarrel Escalates and the Chief Steward’s Intervention

To Danma, the dwarf Michong’s words praised Sinba to the skies. Moreover, during the Hor-Ling war, this Michong had also become a surrendered minister of the Hor state, which made Danma even angrier: "Ah! This dwarf’s tongue is as sharp as a fast knife cutting grass rope, and as confident as tethering a rein to a stake—this is overconfidence! To speak of it, you are the truly spineless flea! In those days, our Ling land was trampled and ravaged by the Hor army, our people suffered nine kinds of cruel torture. Sinba bears part of this, but you, Michong, are not free of blame either. In the days you betrayed Ling, your clever, spring-like tongue surely offered plenty of advice to Hor, didn’t it? If a boat is sunk by floodwaters, the root of the trouble lies at the water’s source. No matter how you explain it for him, I only remember during the fierce battle with Hor, the butcher leading the Hor Baturu was this slaughterer, and later, the one who seized Gyatsa’s helmet was also him! Now, if we keep him and reuse him, how can that be called avenging Gyatsa?"

Then Danma turned even more fiercely on Michong, scolding: "You wagging-tailed dog! Don’t secretly scheme against me with your spear-like mind! If you truly want a contest, Danma will never shrink back!" With that, he immediately picked up his long spear, ready to confront Michong. Michong, having failed to mediate and instead been publicly insulted, though possessing a somewhat cowardly fox’s nature, could not back down before so many heroes! Instantly, his anger flared, and he too brandished his weapon, preparing to fight Danma. Waving his weapon, he shouted furiously: "For Danma to be a minister is utterly absurd! Not only brave but witless, and every word hurts others! How broad is the mind of a superior man? It is like an arena for eighteen spears to compete. How broad is the mind of a middling man? It is like a field for eighteen sharp arrows to contest. The mind of an inferior man is the narrowest; you couldn’t even thread a horse’s tail through it. Danma’s mind is just that small—you are no different from an inferior man! I did not bring about Hor’s invasion; Gyatsa was not killed by me. Your malicious words hurt others unreasonably, weaving false charges to slander my reputation. Neither of us needs to yield. If you have skill, come fight a round! Don’t be a vicious dog barking while tied up; don’t be a coward sweating through your armor!"

After his tirade, Michong immediately donned his armor and brandished his weapon. Danma also rose to his feet at once and strode toward his Silver-Grey Steed. Panic briefly swept through the assembly. Some rushed to seize Danma's reins, while others grabbed Michong's bridle, trying to prevent the two from coming to blows. This only fueled Danma's fury further, and he was just about to raise his spear and charge at Michong when the respected elder Chief Steward, Uncle Rongtsa Chagen, stood up and gestured for calm.

"What is there for you two to quarrel over?" he declared. "A true man should have some magnanimity. For kinsmen to casually raise weapons against each other—wouldn't our enemies laugh at the sight? The heroes of the Ling Kingdom must stand united. Whoever stirs up division will not be tolerated by military law. Before we have even engaged the enemy in battle, you start fighting amongst yourselves. Do you not feel ashamed? Whoever stirs up such disgraceful, shameful business, this uncle will show them no courtesy. I advise you both to know your place, lest your uncle's wrath descend like a thunderbolt from a clear sky!"

The old Chief Steward was highly esteemed for his virtue and fairness, and his words were both reasonable and persuasive, striking a chord with everyone present. After Uncle Chief Steward finished speaking, people from the Senior, Middle, and Junior lineages of Ling all vied to dissuade Michong and Danma. Thus, a vicious fight between the two was narrowly averted.