Meruze Met Prince Yula of Jiang and a Cunning Plan is Hatched

At that moment, the Jiang army saw a cloud of dust rising from the northeast, from which a red horse came galloping. Mounted on it was a red-bearded, red-skinned man wearing a golden helmet and armor, holding a red spear that blazed like fire. He sped towards the army camp like a bolt of lightning.

When Meruze reached the salt lake shore, the forces of the Jiang Kingdom had not yet arrived. Meruze dismounted to rest. Before long, he saw billowing black smoke and swirling dust. Meruze knew this signaled the arrival of the troops coming to seize the salt lake. Seeing the many soldiers and officers surrounding a young commander, Meruze guessed this must be Prince Yula Toju of the Jiang Kingdom. The Jiang forces were vast, and he was alone and on foot. How could he possibly withstand such a formidable army? A clever idea suddenly struck Meruze. He immediately wrote a long letter in the tone of the Hor King, tied it to an arrow shaft, and sat waiting by the salt lake shore.

Prince Yula of Jiang, swift as an arrow shot from a bow, galloped forward on his horse and stopped a few dozen paces from Meruze. "Hey, red-clad man by the shore, where have you come from, and where are you heading all alone? Have you lost your way, or is there some matter? Don't just sit there pretending to be confused; leave this place quickly."

"Why should I leave? Is this your territory?" Meruze deliberately replied slowly.

"Our Jiang Kingdom has all manner of goods, only lacking the seasoning of salt. By order of my father, King Sadan, I have come to seize this salt lake for Jiang. As the saying goes, 'A sheep on the grassland meets the wolf only when its life is spent; a goat on the hillside meets the tiger only when its life is spent; a small bird in the forest meets the eagle only when its life is spent.' Red-clad man, has your life reached its end? Otherwise, why have you come before me?" Prince Yula, anxious and quick-tongued, only wanted to drive away this red-clad man before him quickly.

Sinba Meruze slowly stood up, pulled a five-foot-long white silk Khata from his robe, and approached Yula with a smile. "Respected Prince Yula, I am the inner minister of Yellow Hor, named Sinba Meruze. I come from Hor, bound for the Jiang Kingdom. The Hor King has a letter; please report it to King Sadan."

"You red-bearded man from Hor, spouting nothing but nonsense and lies. When you speak of Yellow Hor, do you mean the past or the present? In the vast white meadows of Hor, the mournful cries of ghosts are heard everywhere. These tales must have some basis; why come before me to wag your tongue? In the great plains of Achin in all directions, the corpses of a hundred thousand troops lie scattered. Only one survivor remains; you know well who that is. If the Hor kingdom's governance were truly secure, you could enjoy it to your heart's content. If the battle flags of a hundred thousand troops were intact, you could raise them high yourself. With just a few wild and deceitful words, do you think I would believe them and fall into your trap?"

As Yula sang, he grew increasingly agitated. Sinba thought, if he shoots his arrow, it would be no different from a thunderbolt; I'd better avoid it. He replied, "Hey! Yula Toju, if you don't know a place's name, you ask others; if you have thoughts in your heart, you can speak them slowly. What use is this impatient anger? I, Sinba, was sent here by the governor of Yaze City to discuss with you a joint action against the Ling Kingdom. Even if you use blades or arrows against me, I will not retaliate. If you wish to seize my horse, armor, and weapons, then go ahead. But if you act recklessly without thinking, who knows what consequences will follow? White Tent King values me, Sinba, more than a hundred thousand troops. Yet now you belittle me so; it truly baffles the mind. The evil consequences arising from this, beware lest they fall upon the head of King Sadan of Jiang. The one who provokes conflict between Hor and Jiang would be you yourself, the hero. Now, you'd do better to listen carefully as I, Sinba, convey the decree of White Tent King!"

Then he continued, as if with great sincerity: "The prince of our Hor White Tent King's household is eight years old this year, of an age to marry, and has been searching everywhere for a young consort. The heavenly gods have delivered a prophecy, saying the princess of the Jiang Kingdom is a perfect match for the prince. The families are well-matched, the ages are suitable, and their astrological charts do not conflict. If the Hor King and King Sadan unite, they would become the foremost king in the world."

Having said this, Sinba removed the three weapons from his person—his sword, arrows, and spear—lay down on the grass, closed his eyes, and pretended to fall asleep. Yula Toju thought to himself: What Sinba says seems to be true. What is really going on? He and I are strangers, yet he trusts me so and has happily spoken many words. Does his leather pouch contain the six medicinal herbs, or is it monkshood? I must test him further and see how he responds. So he said, "Very well! Sinba Meruze, you have two tongues in one mouth, like a thief caught red-handed, skilled only in lies and deception. You cannot fool me. If you don't believe me, let us test our strength and see!"

Deception and Temptation Lead to Prince Yula’s Fateful Decision

Having spoken, Yula, in great anger, drew his precious bow, aimed at Sinba, and prepared to shoot his sharp arrow. At this moment, Sinba said, "Yula Toju, think carefully. The Hor Yaze royal lineage descends from the heavens. The four great continents are all under the dominion of the royal power; even the changes of the four seasons are in the hands of the royal house. In this world, there is no rival that can oppose it. If you wish to be its enemy, I fear you will only bring about your own destruction, with no good outcome. Listen to me, Sinba, as I speak a few more heartfelt words to you! King Sadan of Jiang is renowned, but whether in power or territory, he cannot compare to White Tent King. An alliance between our two kingdoms benefits both; we should think of various ways to achieve it. What are your true thoughts? I hope you, Yula, will make up your mind soon. To say White Tent King is incompetent, to say my words are only deceitful, to say the Hor kingdom is already empty—these tales are baseless. These are Sinba's sincere words; whether you heed them is entirely up to you. Heeding them saves you from immediate suffering; ignoring them will make you regret it later. If you do not believe me, then ride alongside me to Hor. Important matters should be discussed internally; how can the Jiang and Hor kingdoms jointly overcome the enemy? Yellow Hor and your Sadan's Jiang should point their spearheads in the same direction; we should live and die together, facing the enemy as one!"

Sinba finished speaking and still sat there calmly and at ease. Yula then thought to himself: If what Sinba says is true and will lead to regret, what should be done? Yula felt uneasy and, without realizing it, lowered his bow, dismounted, and walked up to Sinba. Sinba also immediately dismounted. The two tethered their horses nearby, each sat cross-legged on the grass, and began to converse face to face. After talking for a while, Yula seemed to fall under a demonic illusion, becoming confused and muddle-headed, thinking of going to Hor with Sinba. Yula said to the two Jiang officers accompanying him—Jiwu Tuoge from the demon division and Zhuzha Baideng Guibu: "Please arrange for the army to wait here. I will go with Sinba to Hor. Once I have discussed matters there and settled the alliance, I will return immediately. I will definitely be back within three days; there is no need for you to worry here."

Jiwu Tuoge took this at face value and verbally agreed. His heart was filled with pride and confidence. He thought he should take advantage of Yula's trip to Hor to seize the salt lake, then quickly return to report his achievement and claim a reward before the king. So he said, "If that is the case, then let it be as you say, Prince!"

He planned to prepare the troops, arrange what needed to be done, and then seize the salt lake. Zhuzha Baideng Guibu was a man of broad experience, gentle temperament, and sincere goodwill toward all. His kind heart, pure as fine gold, thought: If Prince Yula leaves us, I don't know if we can manage the army camp. Separating the army from Yula at the border with the enemy is not right. He thus said to Yula, "Please reconsider, Prince. I think the mission given to us by Great King Sadan was only to seize the best seasoning for food—salt—and not to form marriage alliances or any such bonds with Hor. Moreover, for the past three years, there have been rumors that Hor was destroyed by the Ling Kingdom, and these reports have never ceased these three years. This person who appeared without reason, we don't know what his purpose is. Our officers and soldiers should not separate; we should follow the king's command and carry out our mission as quickly as possible."

At this, Yula seemed to suddenly become clear-headed again. He turned and questioned Sinba suspiciously: "Ah, Meruze, you are truly a wicked thing, telling great lies to deceive Yula. Your Hor White Tent King was subdued by Gesar long ago. Hor's thirty great heroes were also killed by the Great Lion King. Only you, this old dog, remain on the mountain, living without shame, acting as a slave and accomplice for Ling. We have ears and have long heard that your Hor has surrendered."

"Prince, do not listen to random talk. How could the great Hor King surrender? Here is a letter from White Tent King; please present it to King Sadan." So saying, Sinba Meruze handed over the letter.

Prince Yula took the envelope and saw written on it, "May the affairs of Yellow Hor King succeed." Opening it, the content indeed was a marriage proposal to the Jiang Kingdom, just as Sinba Meruze had said, and at the end was inscribed, "Sent from the Hor Kingdom's Yaze Royal Palace."

Zhuzha Baideng Guibu again advised with utmost sincerity: "Prince, think thrice! Do not be taken in by this stranger!"

Yula, hearing this, was displeased and said, "These are the words of a narrow-minded person; there is no need for this. As the saying goes: 'Both the bow and wisdom must be bent skillfully.' If we can form an alliance with Hor, not only will we secure the governance of the four directions of Jiang, we can also steadily seize the Ling Kingdom's salt lake. Doing so will certainly satisfy the king. You all arrange and guard the army camp well, awaiting my victorious return."

Having spoken, he mounted his Blue-Maned Horse and, together with Sinba, galloped away like a raging wind. Though the two rode side by side in the same direction, advancing on the same road, just as when wind and snow come, goats and sheep have different thoughts in their hearts. Yula thought that this trip to Hor with Sinba was a rare and excellent opportunity. On one hand, as Sinba said, they could join forces with Hor to attack Ling and seize that precious salt lake for eternal enjoyment. On the other hand, he could also select a few beautiful Hor maidens in Hor as candidates for a marriage alliance between Jiang and Hor. Sinba, however, thought: No matter how cunning the fox, it cannot escape the hunter's sharp arrow; no matter how fierce the striped tiger, it cannot escape the hunter's trap. You, Yula, are a fledgling eaglet just out of the nest, having encountered few storms. Today your boasts are wider than the blue sky, your tone vaster than the great sea—truly unaware of your own limits. Let's see how capable you really are. He also prayed in his heart to White Brahma King, asking him to cast an illusion over Yula Toju and requesting the aid of the heavenly gods:

Heavenly gods, aid me swiftly,

Yula Toju goes to the Hor Kingdom,

Use mist to cloud his eyes,

Let him fail to see the truth.

When Yula Toju arrived at the Hor Kingdom, he indeed saw that Hor remained as before: cattle and sheep covered the land, mules and horses were in herds, the royal palace was shrouded in dark clouds, and on the training grounds, thirty heroes stood in neat rows like bull horns. Only then did Yula feel relieved. Seeing such a scene in Hor, the Hor King must surely still be there, and Meruze's words were true.

Yula dismounted and said to Meruze, "Even if what you say is true, whether our Jiang princess, my elder sister, can marry your Hor prince still depends on what betrothal gifts you offer?"

"The betrothal gifts are certainly not a problem. Our Hor Kingdom is vast; gold, silver, and jewels are everywhere for you to choose from." Seeing that Yula believed his words, Sinba Meruze felt very pleased and boasted extravagantly.

"My elder sister is no ordinary person. She is the pearl in my father's palm, the flesh of my mother's heart. Though young, her wisdom is great; no maiden in the world can compare to her. The year before last, the king of Eastern Jhana came to propose marriage; four hundred chests of betrothal gifts were not accepted. Last year, Minister Borga of Jaga came to propose for his prince; four thousand chests of betrothal gifts were not accepted. This year, King Nuoer of the Great Western Kingdom came to propose; forty thousand chests of betrothal gifts were not accepted."

"Then, how many betrothal gifts do you actually want?"

"Eighteen golden horses, eighteen silver sheep, eighteen jade elephants, eighteen iron men, eighteen white crystal maidservants. Also, a hundred horses with fine coats, a hundred cattle with fine necks, a hundred mules with fine stature, a hundred yaks with fine fur."

"We have them, we have them all. Hor's golden horses can run, silver sheep can bleat, jade elephants can bear heavy loads, iron men can fight, white crystal maidservants can sing and dance. Mules, horses, cattle, and sheep are countless; a hundred of each is no problem. Prince Yula, the betrothal gifts you ask for are all agreed to, and we will additionally send countless jewels beyond measure. Today, the two of us should first celebrate; how about drinking a cup of celebratory wine?"

Sinba, intent on capturing Prince Yula alive, boasted even more wildly and without basis. Yula Toju thought the betrothal gifts he demanded would stump Meruze, but unexpectedly, he agreed to them all. Naturally, Yula was delighted. He also hoped his sister would marry into a wealthy and powerful kingdom. Hearing Meruze's invitation to drink, Yula readily agreed. Meruze took out a black gold wooden bowl engraved with the Eight Auspicious Symbols and blooming lotuses, inlaid with five kinds of precious stones. Under the sunlight, it glittered dazzlingly, very pleasing to the eye. Meruze filled the bowl with fine wine and presented it to Yula. Not to mention how much Yula Toju liked this bowl; the aroma of the fine wine within had already assailed his nostrils, further intoxicating the prince.

Meruze offered the wine while singing a drinking song:

A great man drinks wine,

Like a steed drinking water;

A man of middling sort drinks wine,

Like a woman sipping tea;

A worthless man drinks wine,

Swallowing it like medicine.

You are a great man of Jiang,

Drink wine like a steed drinking water.

Drink the first cup,

For eternal peace between White Tent King and King Sadan;

Drink the second cup,

For eternal harmony between the prince and princess;

Drink the third cup,

For eternal friendship between the Hor and Jiang peoples.

Yula was Captured

Sinba Meruze sang and urged Yula to drink. Yula Toju, forgetting himself, drank cup after cup until he became utterly intoxicated, his speech slurred. "I have drunk enough; I must return to the royal palace. Whether the marriage succeeds or not, I must discuss it further with my father."

Seeing he wanted to leave, Meruze would not let him go. "Prince Yula, do not leave. Wine becomes more intoxicating in the wind; you might roll down a slope from your horse and injure your vajra-like body. There are also great rivers on the road; how will you cross their rolling waves? If you go up the high mountains and fall off a cliff, you cannot survive. Dying on the road with no kin is worse than staying here to keep me company."

Yula thought this reasonable. As the saying goes, drink a few more bowls of wine, and you are sure to make a fool of yourself; listen more to others, and speak less yourself. Today he had truly drunk too much; he feared he could not return safely to the royal palace. Better to rest here awhile. Thinking this, Yula, already unable to control himself, lay down on the ground and immediately began to snore.

Seeing Yula was asleep, Meruze immediately took out yak-hair ropes, bound Yula's hands and feet tightly, drove four iron stakes into the ground around him, tied the other ends of the yak-hair ropes to the stakes, and tested it, finding it very secure. Only then did he relax.

The Bound Prince's Furious Struggle

Prince Yula of the Jiang Kingdom, bound by the ropes, felt excruciating pain that sobered him somewhat from his drunkenness. Opening his eyes, he saw himself tied to an iron stake. Immediately, lightning flashed from his eyes, poisonous vapor hissed from his mouth, and flames shot from his hair roots. With a mighty heave, he snapped the yak-hair ropes. Surging to his feet, he lunged at Meruze: "You old dog, what trickery is this? Yula wasn't drunk, just a sated tiger needing rest. These few yak-hair ropes are like silk threads to me. Yula's strength is boundless, capable of facing armies of thousands. Hateful old dog, using deceit to bind me! Today I'll take your life, needing neither wine nor ropes!"

As he spoke, Yula Toju lifted Meruze upwards as if to hurl him to the heavens, then slammed him down as if to cast him into hell; he shoved him left as if to push him off a cliff, then flung him right as if to toss him onto a grassy mountain. Sinba Meruze, tossed about in Yula's grasp, panted heavily, utterly unable to fight back! He hurriedly called upon the gods for aid.

The Mountain God Machen Pomra came, but could not subdue Yula; the Mountain God of Reqiao came, but could not subdue Yula; Vaishravana, the Great King of the North and the Nine Luminaries, including Rahu, arrived, yet still could not suppress this prince of Jiang. Finally, the White Brahma King himself descended, pressing Yula Toju firmly to the ground. Meruze produced an eighteen-fathom-long rope, thick as an arm, and bound Yula left and right, three layers each, until he resembled a ball of yarn, finally rendering him immobile.

A Captive's Lament and a Captor's Pity

Meruze tied Yula to his blue horse and immediately galloped towards the Ling Kingdom. Bound and captive, Prince Yula suddenly thought of his mother and her parting words, silently praying: "Demonic gods of the Jiang Kingdom, please rescue this afflicted one. Yula has fallen into enemy hands, unable to return to see his parents. The white lion on the snow mountain can reunite with its cub; the striped tiger in the sandalwood forest can reunite with its young; the spotted doe on the grassland can reunite with its fawn. But I, Yula, have abandoned my mother, how pitiful."

Lost in thought, Yula spoke aloud: "White-breasted eagle, Great Golden-Winged Garuda Bird, yellow swan, cuckoo bird, please fly to the Purple Jiang Kingdom, carry my news to my father and mother. Tell them I miss my mother, yearn for Jiang, my heart aches with longing for home and kin."

Hearing Yula's words, Sinba Meruze felt a pang of sorrow. So young, the apple of his parents' eye in Jiang, he had never known hardship. Now bound on horseback, how could it not stir pity!

"Prince Yula, good child, don't fret or despair. When you see the Great Lion King Gesar, just say you admire Ling Gabu, that you came willingly without capture. I'll untie you now." So saying, Meruze prepared to dismount and loosen Yula's bonds. But the young prince, proud and fiery, refused to concede, instead rebuking Meruze: "Sinba, you pathetic old dog, born with a slave's nature. The Hor King treated you with kindness, yet you turned against him—why? The pitiable one here isn't me, Yula, but you, the Hor Sinba King."

Seeing Yula Toju's such heroic spirit, Meruze felt not anger but increased respect. He brought him before the king and ministers, offering him meat and rice. Then, among King Gesar and his ministers, Darong official Chao Tong rose from his seat and mocked Yula: "When you led troops from Jiang, how boastful and formidable you were; before King Sadan, how you flaunted your prowess you know well. In times of fine tea and wine, your endless bragging knew no bounds. Now with a black rope around your neck, what abilities do you truly have? Young Yula overestimated himself; instead of enjoying life and training at home, you sought hardship on the northern grasslands, content as a captive of Ling Gabu."

Defiance in Captivity and a King's Test

Hearing Chao Tong's song, Yula thought: This man spews arrogance, flaunting power before a captive, truly infuriating. But now, nothing could be done. With a stern face, he declared: "Listen, King and ministers of Ling, I too have words: Think of me at home—others dared not even address me, let alone meet my gaze. Unexpectedly, I've fallen to this state, a prisoner of your Ling with a black rope at my neck, insulted even by an official whose courage is less than a fox's! Who is a hero is proven on the battlefield; which is a steed is known on the road. Unfortunately captured by Ling men now, I won't beg for mercy even if you chop off my head!"

Finishing, Yula furiously hurled the prisoner's food given by Sinba, striking Chao Tong squarely in the face, knocking him tumbling from his seat. King Gesar and the ministers roared with laughter. Chao Tong lay unconscious for a while before slowly reviving, his face flushed crimson, filled with rage yet helpless.

The Great Lion King, seeing Prince Yula's endearing appearance, already felt fondness, but unsure of his heart, decided to test him: "Prince Yula, instead of living well in Jiang, you came to our Ling to seize the Salt Sea. Now captured by Meruze, your body is just right for offering to the heavenly gods."

Hearing the Great Lion King's words, Yula Toju's expression remained unchanged, his demeanor natural: "Now that I'm in Ling, my body is no longer mine. Offer it to the gods if you wish, feed it to dogs if you will."

Hearing this, Gesar thought: This child is not only likable in looks but has the bearing of a true man! A smile instantly appeared on his face: "Prince Yula, don't take the jest seriously. I, the Great Lion King, subdue demons, rid harm for the people, but cherish true heroes all the more. In the future, I will make you King of Jiang, and the Jiang Kingdom's fortunes will prosper."

A Prince's Plea and a King's Promise

Yula Toju had long heard of Gesar's fame, originally thinking him a ruler more fearsome than demons. He never expected the king to be so compassionate and also exceptionally majestic and dignified in appearance. His respect for the Great Lion King grew immensely. He knelt down, kowtowed three times, and pleaded earnestly: "My father has sinned, can you spare his life? If he must die, may his next life be in a heavenly realm. My mother is good, don't let her suffer hunger. My sister, Princess Jiang, let her come to Ling." Finally, Yula Toju added that he was willing to charge into battle for the king, fetch water, tend horses—in short, a thousand words in one plea:

Don't let my father fall into hell,

Don't let my mother endure suffering,

Don't let my sister be exiled to the borderlands,

Don't let the Jiang Kingdom meet with calamity.

Hearing Yula's words, Gesar nodded repeatedly: "Good child, set your heart at ease. I grant all you ask. I will treat you like my own younger brother. I confer upon you the title of Great Hero, to forever follow me in virtuous deeds."

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Great Western Kingdom: Originally the name of a Persian tribe. Since the Tang Dynasty, the Arab Empire has been referred to as Great Western Kingdom.