Ling’s Celebration and Jiang’s Lament

The Ling army was gathered in their tents. King Gesar and his ministers enjoyed tea, wine, white rice, and fine meats in great abundance. Amidst the revelry, each warrior piled up the heads and arms they had taken as trophies. Chao Tong, seeing this, thought to himself: "There is no glory for me in today's display of valor. If I do not offer some words of praise to the heroes, it would not be fitting." So he spoke: "Today, all heroes have shown their achievements, which is truly rare. For your efforts and merits in battle, your uncle will sing your praises and celebrate you. And for the nephew, the Lion King, and the four mothers and officers, I offer my blessings." Then he sang:

"Though today I have no deeds to praise,

I know full well the value of pure gold.

How can glass and gold be compared?

For gold's luster always catches the eye.

The sun and moon traverse the sky,

Surrounded by the scattered stars.

Sun, moon, and stars all trust each other,

Watching over one another through the hours.

King Gesar sits upon his golden throne,

With his ministers gathered close around.

United like a tightly twisted rope,

Ling's iron kingdom shall forever stand.

Rise up, Zumu and all the maidens,

Do not be lazy, do not sleep!

Rise quickly and offer tea and wine,

To wash the dust from our heroes and give them cheer."

After Chao Tong finished singing, the Lion King gave a faint smile, and the other heroes said nothing. Then the Chief Steward spoke: "As Chao Tong has said, the medicine and the poison are clearly distinguished, the brave are honored, the cowardly are rebuked, and that is as it should be. Today, let us follow Chao Tong's suggestion and hold the celebration and award the merits! Quickly offer tea and wine to the heroes! Not a single Ling warrior has fallen today, and that is worth rejoicing over."

The King and all the heroes agreed with the Chief Steward's words. So the king and his ministers joyfully celebrated the heroes' achievements, drinking and feasting through the night.

Meanwhile, the Jiang army had suffered loss after loss. Those who had fled back to camp gathered together, their cries filling the air with sorrow and gloom. The minister Baidui spoke: "Ah! King Sadan must be satisfied now, isn't he? The army and ministers are nearly all gone, has he finally gotten what he wished for?" Then he sang a mournful lament:

"In summer's third month, flowers bloom in splendor,

But winter's frost soon strikes them down.

In times of peace, heroes gather together,

But in war, men fall upon the ground.

The Ling army has pressed upon us for nine years,

Our kingdom's power is lost, our land trampled.

The princess advised the king, but he would not listen,

Baidui pleaded, but the king would not accept.

The King shut himself away in mourning,

Spending his years in confused idleness.

He stirred up this war with no one to stop him,

And Jiang's beautiful land is now laid waste.

So many brave men have been slain,

So many young women are left widowed.

The Purple Jiang army is more than half destroyed,

The rest are maimed, crawling and lame.

The people of Jiang have no one to care for them,

Like headless flies, they struggle in vain.

The ministers who fled have no commander,

Scattered like grains of sand.

I hope King Sadan will awaken quickly,

Leave this dark chamber and tend to his realm.

Do not hesitate or remain confused,

Do not let your ancestral inheritance be lost.

At first I admonished you again and again,

Do not invade others and sow enmity.

Do not bring disaster upon us without cause,

But you threw my good counsel to the wind.

No one in the world dares provoke Ling,

Yet you insisted on making them your foe.

What use was it to make them your enemy?

Now do you finally understand?

The surviving Jiang people are in dire straits,

Their hearts restless, their days filled with dread,

Tears streaming down every face,

Not a single heart free from sorrow.

Jiang blood has flowed across the land,

Like summer torrents flooding the ravines.

Those who escaped the peril for now

Are like sheep in the slaughterhouse, their time is short.

This is the situation now,

The fate of Jiang lies in Ling's hands.

What does the king intend to do?

When the horse reaches the cliff, better to turn back!"

After Baidui finished his song, the people around him grew even more resentful. Some wept endlessly, others cried out their grievances, utter chaos reigned. King Sadan, hearing this, thought: These wicked Ling people are masters of illusion and deception; they can do anything. They have brought such misfortune upon the government of Zhale Dam in my Jiang land, and slain so many brave generals. It is truly frightening. Now I must leave my mourning chamber and seek revenge against them.

With this thought, fury began to rise within him. His teeth ground together audibly, his fiery red eyes rolled back and forth, and his nostrils flared with anger, the breath carrying sparks. He said: "Ah! Minister Baidui speaks truly. The Ling army advanced a day too early. If they had not struck first today, I would have risen to attack tomorrow. Had that been the case, they would not even be worthy of the dust beneath my feet. A little setback now is nothing, tomorrow I will eat the steaming flesh of my enemies and drink the foaming blood of my foes!"

Having said this, he sat back down, still seething with rage. That night, the ministers and the people redoubled their vigilance in guarding the castle.

King Sadan’s Revenge and the Lion King's Readiness to Fight

The next day, King Sadan decided to take revenge against the Ling people. He left his mourning chamber and climbed to the rooftop of the "Jade Dragon Precious Dew Palace." He wore a blue silk robe patterned with flowing clouds and water, a white turban adorned with serpentine knots and tassels, green jade bracelets on his wrists, and coral anklets. Filled with fury, he stood upon the palace platform, his eyes scanning the horizon for the enemy. He let out a long breath that emerged like a cloud of mist, then shouted angrily at the sky: "Wicked Ling people! Pitiful and shameless foes! Do you think there is no way to deal with you? I pray to the Flower Demon God of Jiang, and the Half-Sky Flower Demon God, come swiftly, like the wind when called! Come and help me subdue these wicked Ling people! I praise and pray to the Black Demon God of Jiang, Black Earth Demon God, descend quickly! Hear my call and come like a clap of thunder! Help me conquer the wicked Ling people! I ask you, Heaven Demon, Sky Demon, and Earth Demon, you did not grasp the land correctly, why did you recklessly give me prophecies? Now come quickly and help me defeat my enemies! Throughout those long days before, misfortunes befell us and caused much grief. I sat in my dark chamber in mourning, my heart anxious and restless day and night. Joru, with his ruthless cruelty, cut off our necks leaving bowl-sized scars, he has slaughtered the heroes and generals of Jiang almost to the last man. Their evil deeds are many, and now their retribution has come. Is one who does not avenge a grievance worthy of being called a hero? Is one who does not wash away shame deserving of the name 'capable'? Today I will destroy the Ling camp! I will leave the Ling people no place to hide! I will slaughter every Ling man, and leave their women widows for life! This morning my worries have lifted, my heart's window is thrown open, and my spirit soars. Bring me nectar and fine food to enjoy, this afternoon, I will face the Ling people on the battlefield!"

After King Sadan's song, Minister Baidui said: "The king personally going to confront the enemy is certainly good. May it be as you have said, but whether it will come to pass remains to be seen."

The people fell silent. When word spread to the Ling camp that King Sadan was personally leading the attack, they were all taken aback.

Chao Tong said: "Ministers of the Ling kingdom, look quickly! There on the platform of the Jiang 'Jade Dragon Precious Dew Palace' stands a man more terrifying than a demon. His body is as massive as Mount Meru, his head nearly touching the sky! We Ling people, instead of staying safely in our homeland, have come before such a fearsome being. Now we cannot even flee, what are we to do?"

Chao Tong spoke trembling with fear, and the others were greatly angered by his words. The Chief Steward Rongtsa Chagen said: "Quickly stuff a handful of ashes into this cowardly fox Chao Tong's mouth! That Jiang king Sadan, neither human nor ghost, is full of tricks and skilled at showing ill omens. It is useless to flee; we must fight him to the end. Even if disaster befalls us, it is our fate. We Ling people faithfully believe in the gods and Buddhas, and the gods and Buddhas will not deceive us. If the gods do not grant their aid, our own strength alone will not win the day. Though the World Lion King is brave, without the help of the gods, these demon enemies cannot be conquered. Now we must quickly pray to the gods and ask them to come to our assistance, there is no other way."

With that, he sat quietly. The Chief Steward advocated praying to the gods to descend and help subdue King Sadan. The Lion King, hearing this, spoke in a solemn tone: "Heroes, listen! No matter what danger befalls the Ling people, fleeing is not permitted. A man must die on the battlefield for his ancestral inheritance. Only cowardly foxes always think of tucking their tails and running. As for King Sadan, this old demon, I had thought to subdue him through force of arms. But the gods have prophesied that this old demon can only be overcome by gentle means. So long as Old King Sadan comes out to fight, I, Joru, will be his opponent. Feed my divine steed Jang Gapeibu well and saddle him properly. When the enemy comes challenging before our camp, I, the King, will mount and ride out to battle. If I return alive, I am a hero; if I die for my country, it is a willing sacrifice."

The King's Transformation and the Demise of Sadan

As the King spoke, he began to arm himself with various gleaming war weapons and fitted his chestnut divine horse with a splendid saddle. Some in the Ling camp showed signs of unease. Minister Danma, seeing this, said: "People of Ling, do not be afraid. With a great enemy before us, timidity is like the hollow foam on water, unbecoming. Everyone must rally their spirits and face the enemy with courage."

After Danma finished, King Gesar said: "Now all is well. The gods have prophesied that King Sadan's time is up. To subdue him, we do not need to deploy the whole army. He has come to seek his own death. I alone, with my horse, can go and vanquish him. Until the sun sets this evening, everyone must hold their patience and not act rashly, lest we startle him."

With that, he went to prepare for battle. Minister Danma, still not fully appeased, insisted on accompanying the King. He said: "I cannot rest easy if the King goes alone. Wherever the King goes, I follow."

The King repeated: "The gods have instructed that subduing King Sadan cannot be done with an army, only through strategy and miraculous powers. Danma, you must not come, no matter what. Stay here and help guard the camp."

Hearing this, Danma was somewhat reassured. He obeyed the King's command and remained behind to guard the camp. King Gesar mounted his steed and galloped off like a streak of smoke. Meanwhile, King Sadan of Jiang, accompanied by the three demon children of Toto and his soldiers, had arrived at the shores of Lake Uma Tso. There they dug for aconite poison, gathered stones to build a stove for tea, and cooked meat. King Sadan and the three demon children of Toto devoutly prayed to the dragon god of the lake, asking for the Dragon King's blessing to bathe in its waters. In times past, whenever someone came to the lake and prayed to the dragon god, the dragon maiden would transform into a beautiful girl named Naji, offering a precious vase filled with sandalwood-scented water, and warming the lake water for a comfortable bath. But today, there was no sign of her. King Sadan wondered: "I have observed for a long time now, and there is not a single auspicious sign. Has the dragon maiden Naji left her dragon palace? Or is she trapped by sorrow and cannot come out?"

As he was puzzling over this, King Gesar arrived at the lake. Following the gods' instructions, he used his miraculous powers: he transformed his chestnut horse into a sandalwood tree growing by the lake, his helmet into lush foliage, his armor into a spring of water, and his three weapons into clusters of flowers. The King himself transformed into a golden bee, spreading its delicate wings. First, it flitted among the flowers, then flew before King Sadan to observe and ponder the best way to subdue him.

The dragon maiden Naji favored the side of righteousness and was willing to help Gesar defeat his enemy. Knowing that Gesar had arrived at the lake, she immediately churned the waters and appeared, swimming gracefully toward King Sadan. The moment Sadan saw her, he was smitten; his doubts vanished, and without hesitation he went down into the lake to bathe. The dragon maiden parted the waves, swam close to him, and with a look of deep affection, extended her hand and offered him a precious vase. Sadan took it, and hearing the sacred water gurgling inside, he greedily put the vase to his lips and drank. While he was off guard, the little golden bee flew into the vase, and as Sadan took his second sip, the bee slipped down into his belly, where it transformed into a sharp dagger that churned about inside him. Sadan, like a man struck with epilepsy, staggered and could not keep his footing in the lake. The three demon children of Toto, seeing this, immediately jumped into the water, grabbed Sadan's arm, and hastily dragged him ashore, asking what was wrong. He did not answer, thinking: This must be the trick of Joru, son of that wicked mother Guomu. His eyes glared in the direction of Ling, and he pointed toward Ling with his hand. At that moment, the dagger sliced through the boundary between the black and white regions of his heart, and he died on the spot, lying still on the lake shore.

The Duel with Baidui

The three demon children of Toto and the attendant soldiers sat beside King Sadan's body, weeping as if their hearts would break. Among the attendants, the young man Nima said: "What use is crying now? We cannot linger here any longer. This is surely the work of those wicked Ling people, what else could it be?"

Tears streamed down his face. The attendants agreed to send three men back to the palace to report the death, while the others remained by the lake to guard the body. In the palace, Princess Pema Chuzhen and Minister Baidui felt restless and uneasy. Suddenly, a lookout reported three riders approaching in the distance. Baidui immediately climbed to the palace rooftop and, after observing, said: "These three seem agitated. I wonder what bad news they bring now."

When the three entered the palace, they burst into loud wailing, crying: "Minister and Princess! We have the most heartbreaking news to report: The King, who was the apple of our eyes and the very heart of our being, has passed away at Lake Uma Tso! We do not know the cause, it is a misfortune upon misfortune!"

They then wailed even louder. Princess Pema Chuzhen, upon hearing this, was struck as if by a thunderbolt. Breathless with grief, she fainted dead away, like the moon devoured by Rahu. Ministers Baidui, Jiaduo, and Sela were at a loss, each weeping in his own way. After a while, Jiaduo and Sela slowly revived the princess, while Baidui mounted his yellow steed and galloped off without a word to anyone.

Meanwhile, the golden bee that was the Lion King's transformation had drilled a hole through the top of Sadan's head, emerged from it, and resumed his true form by the lakeshore. The dragon maiden Naji presented him with a crystal vase. From it, the King poured fragrant sacred water to bathe, then restored his chestnut horse, helmet, armor, and weapons to their original forms. He and his horse rested briefly by the lake. The attendants guarding Sadan's body watched all this, dumbstruck with terror, not daring to utter a word. Though Sadan was fated to be Gesar's enemy, the King still felt a measure of compassion for him. After meditating for a moment there, he mounted his steed and rode away from the shore.

On his way back to camp, King Gesar encountered Baidui galloping toward him. There was nowhere for either to dodge or hide, they collided head-on. Baidui recognized Gesar at once and flew into a rage, biting his lower lip. He thought: I have no other weapon in hand now, only this precious sword. Though it may not be enough to harm my opponent, in this moment I only wish to fight to the death with the King of Ling and perish together. So he reined in his horse and sang a song of desperate resolve:

"Alas! Misfortune, misfortune, true misfortune!

Why is this restless fury without end?

The fog of sorrow clings to my heart,

And will not be dispelled.

Guomu's wicked child Joru,

You knew no bounds and made an enemy of Jiang.

Every wicked deed under heaven you have done,

There is not a single evil you have left undone.

King Sadan, with his tiger's smile,

You are the one who murdered him.

Wicked men are like poisonous trees,

Their branches and leaves poison all the land.

Today we two will fight to the death with our blades,

Whichever of us falls, let there be no regret.

If you die, the sun of happiness will rise;

If I die, the fog of sorrow will lift."

After Baidui sang this song, King Gesar remained calmly seated in his saddle. Then Baidui patted his horse and said: "Today I, the hero Baidui, charge forward with all my might, my yellow steed, you must gallop with all your strength!"

With that, horse and rider surged forward. Baidui grabbed the King's arm and shoved hard, knocking the King from his horse. From his elevated position on horseback, Baidui fought with the King, and the two gradually struggled toward the Berita Sea, where the King nearly slipped in several times. The King immediately sang a song calling upon the gods, then, with a mighty heave, and aided by his protective deities, he threw Baidui to the ground with ease. Gesar swiftly drew his three-edged golden curved sword and declared: "Aiyaya! Demon child Baidui, were you not Sadan's minister? Were you not your parents' beloved son? Were you not the ornament of a fine steed? Did you not practice the Vajra longevity rites? If you still have the courage, get up quickly and brandish your 'cut-whate'er-it-strikes' precious sword! If you dare not, then watch helplessly as your life comes to an end!" With that, he pressed a knee against Baidui's chest.

Baidui, enraged, gritted his teeth and struggled to break free, but there was nothing he could do. With one stroke of his sword, the King cut off his head. He loaded the head, along with Baidui's armor and helmet, onto the yellow steed's back, and threw the headless corpse into the Berita Sea. Then, mounting his chestnut horse and leading the yellow steed, he galloped back to camp.