King Gesar Dispatches A Merchant Caravan To Lhasa With Offerings, Unaware Of The Danger That Awaits In The Land Of Gongbu

Ever since King Gesar had ascended to the throne of Ling, he had conquered in succession the northern Demon Kingdom, the Hor Kingdom, and the Jiang Kingdom, delivering the black-headed people from lives of hardship and suffering. The people of Dokham Ling enjoyed ever greater prosperity, a testament to King Gesar's heroic deeds, the protection of the celestial gods, and the blessings of the Bodhisattvas.

In the Fire Bird year of the Tibetan calendar, King Gesar dispatched a caravan of several dozen merchants, led by Nyima Lhagyal, Dongzan Yamai Dongdan, and Sherab Wo, to journey to the Potala in Lhasa to pay homage to Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva. On an auspicious day, the caravan was fully prepared: thirty fine horses and mules were adorned with colorful silks, and their saddles, inlaid with coral and turquoise, were laden with countless treasures. Ministers and common folk alike came forward, entrusting gold to the merchants, requesting that once they reached the Potala, the gold be melted and applied to the faces of the Buddha statues to accumulate merit. When they departed, King Gesar himself came to bid them farewell, hanging amulets containing protective deities around the necks of the three merchant leaders and blessing their journey with safety.

The company set forth in grand procession, and with each passing day, as they drew ever closer to Lhasa, their spirits rose higher. One day, they arrived at a place called Longsongdo, a convergence of three valleys in the territory of Gongbu. One valley was a frozen wasteland where ice never melted, another was shrouded in primeval forest so dense it blotted out the sun, and the third was home to ferocious rakshasas. The merchants dared only to pitch their camp at the mouth of the valley, posting thirty mastiff dogs, each the size of a small calf, as sentinels outside their tents.

As they set up camp, the three leaders, Nyima Lhagyal, Dongzan Yamai Dongdan, and Sherab Wo, sent scouts ahead to survey the road and check for danger. Before long, the scouts returned with troubling news: they had reached the border of Gongbu territory. A chill ran through the hearts of everyone in the caravan.

The Greedy King of Gongbu, A Demon's Ambition

Long ago, the land of Gongbu had been a wondrous and fertile place in the eastern reaches of the snowy plateau. Water and grass flourished abundantly; cattle and sheep scattered across the land like stars; and the people lived in peace and contentment. In spring, it was as beautiful as the gods' own garden; in summer, birds returned to their nests in joyous commotion; in autumn, the landscape was resplendent as if draped in multicolored clouds; and in winter, it became a crystalline wonderland adorned in silver. But this peaceful harmony had been shattered by a man named Aqiong Muzha, a demon king reborn, who had seized all the eastern territories of the snowy land and proclaimed himself sovereign. He controlled the region's finest iron mines, cut off the tea-horse trade route to Jhana, blocked the salt road from the Jiang Kingdom, and waged relentless war. He delighted in dark and evil paths, despised all virtuous deeds, and his subjects suffered beyond words.

Meanwhile, Pakdo Zatsan, a minister of Gongbu, happened to be passing through the area while hunting with his retainers. From afar, he spotted a colorful tent camp, with mules laden with treasure visible outside. He thought to himself: This is neither the tea-horse road to eastern Jhana, nor the salt road from Jiang. Apart from the warriors of Gongbu, what manner of people would dare traverse this forbidding rakshasa land? He pondered the matter at length, then decided to return and report to King Aqiong Muzha before taking any action.

When Pakdo Zatsan appeared before the king, he embellished his account of what he had seen: "Your Majesty! A camp has appeared at Longsongdo as if it had fallen from the sky or sprouted from the earth. I know not their origin, but from a distance I saw their mules and horses draped in five-colored brocade, and their saddles laden with more treasure than I could count. Such a company has come to our land of Gongbu, whether they are a gift from the gods or a curse from demons, I cannot say. I hurried back to seek Your Majesty's counsel."

At the mention of gold and silver, the covetous King Aqiong Muzha's eyes gleamed with avarice, and he immediately commanded all his ministers to assemble at court the following day. Before the sun had climbed over the mountain peaks the next morning, the king's twenty-five most important ministers had already gathered in his copper-walled fortress. The king wore a cap made of boar's hide, his eyes bulged with fury, and poisonous vapors seeped from his nostrils as he snarled at his ministers: "Yesterday, an arrogant company dared to pitch camp on my soil of Gongbu! Which of you will go and see who these people are who possess such audacity? If they are merchants, they shall not leave with their treasure; if they are bandits, they shall not leave with their lives!"

The ministers exchanged uneasy glances, none daring to speak. One minister, Namkha Doden, thought privately: The kings of the Aqiong lineage have always been fierce and bold. To carve a path through the territory they guard is like cutting a road through solid vajra rock. That is why no nation has dared to invade for years. The one exception was over a decade ago, when the previous king had a border dispute with Ling, and was repelled by Joru, who was nothing but a child then. Now they say he has conquered the Demon Kingdom, Hor, and Jiang. If anyone would dare to provoke us on our own soil, it would surely be his subjects from Ling. The minister had some inkling of the truth, but knowing his king's explosive temper, he held his tongue.

Minister Drukra, however, was a hot-tempered man and could contain himself no longer. He roared: "If a Garuda descends from the sky, we pluck its feathers! If a rich man's wealth has come to our doorstep, how can we let it escape? And when such arrogant people appear, if we do not teach them a lesson, who knows how bold they will become!"

With that, Drukra volunteered for the mission, and together with Pakdo Zatsan, each led a hundred soldiers racing toward Longsongdo. The soldiers wore black crow feathers in their hair, and at the thought of the countless treasures they had heard were loaded on those saddles, their hearts grew dark with greed. Each man harbored his own scheming hopes, but when they arrived at the camp, there was no trace of the great tent. All that remained on the vast grassland were overturned stoves, cold ash from fires, and scattered tea leaves. Frustrated, the Gongbu soldiers scoured the ground for hoofprints and set off westward in pursuit.

Battle at the Valley, A Bloody Escape

The night before, the protector deity of Ling, the Mountain God Machen Pomra, had appeared in Nyima Lhagyal's dreams, warning him that the demon king's men were plotting to seize their wealth and that they must leave immediately. The merchant leader woke from his nightmare in fright and, not daring to wait for dawn, ordered the camp broken and the company to flee that rakshasa land. But a caravan laden with goods could never outrun a force of mounted light cavalry. As the sound of pursuing hoofbeats grew ever closer, Nyima Lhagyal sensed the gravity of their situation. He commanded the men to prepare their weapons and made ready to face the enemy on horseback.

Drukra and Pakdo Zatsan's two hundred soldiers surrounded the Ling company of barely forty men. Drukra, mounted on his horse, brandished his weapons arrogantly and demanded: "Who are you arrogant people, and where have you come from? What gave you the audacity to pitch your camp on Gongbu soil? What shameful business are you about here? Only rain may fall freely upon this land! Beyond that, no matter how fierce a bandit you may be, you shall not set the tip of your foot upon the soil of Gongbu!"

Nyima Lhagyal thought to himself: Those who can dwell alongside rakshasas cannot be good people. At this moment, not to mention our treasure, even our lives may no longer be our own. Silently he prayed to the Mountain God Machen Pomra and the celestial deities who protected Ling, then answered: "You men in black upon your black horses, let me tell you this: whether a bird flies to one place or another is its own freedom; whether a fish in the sea goes this way or that is its own freedom; whether a monkey in the forest climbs here or there is its own freedom; and where those who travel the world choose to go is also our freedom! Why, Captain, must you question us?"

Enraged by this response, Drukra snarled: "As the saying goes: 'The speech of superior men is like a torrent striking boulders, clear and pleasant to hear; the speech of common men is like a lama preaching, virtue and vice carried in the words; the speech of inferior men is like driving a yellow ox, it moves only when whipped!' You, who are less than an inferior man, a mute who cannot even answer properly! Your captain asks you a question and you reply with nonsense! Very well, I shall not waste more words with you! Since you have come to King Aqiong's domain, you shall follow our rules. You camped here yesterday, your beasts have eaten our grass, so you owe grazing fees! Your men and animals have drunk our water, so you owe water fees! Surely you understand me now!"

It became clear that this was all about the merchants' wealth. The three leaders exchanged glances, and then Nyima Lhagyal answered with calm dignity: "In all my years leading caravans, I have traveled to many lands, from western India to eastern Jhana, and never have I heard of any such thing as water and grazing fees! There is no such custom anywhere in the world, and we shall not agree to it!"

Drukra, who cared nothing for reason and wished only to seize the treasure outright, grew even angrier: "You speak of arrogance, but you are the more arrogant! When asked a question, you do not answer properly; when asked for payment, you refuse. Then I shall simply take your lives!"

Hostile words had been exchanged, and it was clear that a bloody conflict could not be avoided. These treasures had been entrusted to them by King Gesar himself as offerings to the Bodhisattva in Lhasa, they must be protected at all costs. The other merchant leader, Yamai Dongdan, thought that if the bandits' demands were not too outrageous, it might be wiser to pay them off. He counseled: "Every river is a place where fish swim, and every road is a place where people walk. Can a nation become great by taxing every traveler who passes through? Perhaps the customs of our regions simply differ. In any case, we should discuss this in good faith. If this is indeed the custom of your land of Gongbu, then let us hear, how exactly are these water and grass fees calculated?"

Drukra's eyes were fixed only on the merchants' gold and silver. He dismissed the merchant's words with a sneer: "I have said all that needs to be said. As for the price, whether two-legged man or four-legged beast, each shall pay eight ounces of gold as water fee. And for the grass your mules and horses have eaten, each animal shall pay an additional ten ounces of gold. Are you satisfied with my answer? Do not waste my time any further. Either pay up willingly, or neither your treasure nor your lives shall be spared!"

At this, there was no room left for negotiation. Even if it meant fighting to the death, they must make every effort to preserve the gifts for Avalokitesvara. Nyima Lhagyal swiftly drew his treasured sword and, before Drukra could react, struck him three times at the neck. But Drukra was protected by his soul-entrusted serpent spirit, and the sword did him no harm. He immediately countered, thrusting his spear at Nyima Lhagyal three times, yet the amulet bestowed by King Gesar shielded him from injury. As the two leaders clashed, their soldiers and attendants likewise drew weapons and joined the fray. The handful of merchants and their attendants were no match for the wolf-like soldiers. The attendants, fiercely loyal, protected the three leaders as they fought and retreated toward the forest. When they spotted a small escape path, the attendants fought with renewed courage, cutting through the encirclement and breaking free.

Drukra pursued for a while, but his mind was ever fixed on the treasure. Losing interest in the chase, he wheeled his horse around and went to count the spoils. When his men beheld the extraordinary treasures, jewels the likes of which they had never seen, their hearts rejoiced, and they carried the plunder back to the king, celebrating their triumph.

The King Rouses His Armies, A Vow for Vengeance

Who could have foreseen such calamity on a peaceful road? After the brutal battle, the Ling caravan lay scattered and broken. Including the leaders, barely fifteen souls had escaped with their lives. They dared not pause even in the thorn-choked forests but fled day and night until, at last, they reached Lhasa. There on the majestic Potala stood the shrine of Avalokitesvara, where the virtuous King Trisong Detsen was at that very moment expounding the Dharma to a thousand novices. The ragged merchants were stopped at the foot of the mountain by guards who demanded: "This is a place blessed by Avalokitesvara and the residence of the king! What business do you wretched lot have here?"

Nyima Lhagyal removed his amulet and offered it along with some coins to the guard, pleading: "Brave guard, who by great fortune serves the sacred Dharma King, you must surely be descended from the tigers of the mountain. We have come from the fair land of Ling, bearing countless treasures from the Lion King of Ling as offerings to the Bodhisattva and the King. But we never imagined that here, near the borders of this land protected by the sacred Dharma, we would encounter bandits more savage than rakshasas! They have stolen our offerings and cruelly slain our companions, lives more precious than gold. I beg you, tell the King of our misfortune! The King who guards the Dharma of the human world will surely seek justice for us poor souls!"

The guard, moved by their pitiable state, agreed to report to the king. When Trisong Detsen learned of their ordeal, his heart was filled with compassion. He instructed his guards: "The people of Dokham Ling are descendants of the gods! It should never have happened that they suffered such misfortune on the road to Lhasa! Bring these poor souls before me at once!"

The merchants entered the palace with hearts full of gratitude and were granted an audience with King Trisong Detsen. They presented immaculate khatas and recounted every detail of the bandits' attack. When they begged the king to deliver justice, he replied: "I have heard of your misfortune. But all things in this world are governed by the law of cause and effect. When a person's time comes, they must go; when the sun's time comes, darkness must fall. Do not grieve overmuch for the departed. A life must be repaid with a life; a debt must be repaid with coin. Those demons are the enemies of all black-headed Tibetans, and your King is the son of the gods, the true subduer of all demons. I shall write to him and inform him of your situation. Until he responds, you shall stay here in my palace, and everything you need shall be provided."

The merchants were moved to tears by the king's compassion. After offering their thanks, they were escorted to guest quarters to rest. King Trisong Detsen, who perceived all truths of the world, recognized that this was the destined moment for the Lion King to subdue the demon kingdom of Aqiong. He immediately wrote a letter, detailing not only the banditry suffered by the Ling merchants but also urging King Gesar to conquer the demon kingdom of Aqiong Muzha in Gongbu. Only then, he wrote, could the pilgrimage routes to Lhasa be truly safe and the Dharma spread more widely. With sincere and earnest words, he sealed the letter and sent it by celestial crane to Ling.

In the city of Senju Dazi in Dokham Ling, King Gesar was resting in his golden palace when the celestial mother Langman Gam descended into the sky before him and sang:

In that demon-ridden land of Gongbu,

The demon king and his twenty-five evil ministers have lost all conscience;

They block the path of Dharma's spread,

They sever the routes of tea and salt;

They treat the sacred Dharma as heresy,

They treat human life as mere grass.

Now they have grown even more vicious,

Not only have they stolen the treasures meant for Avalokitesvara,

But they have slaughtered the sons and daughters of Ling!

Good child Tuibagawa, do not sleep!

Ride forth swiftly to subdue the demon king Aqiong,

Do not miss the appointed time for vanquishing this evil!

With these words, the celestial mother vanished, and the King awoke from his dream. Reflecting on the decades since his descent from the heavens, persecuted by enemies even in his mother Guomu's womb, and endlessly battling demons and monsters ever since, a ceaseless plague of evil, he found himself regretting his decision to be born into the human world, thinking wistfully of the blissful life in the celestial realms. For many days after the celestial mother's prophecy, King Gesar made no move. It was only when the letter from the King of Tibet arrived by crane that he woke as from a dream, recalling his mission on earth: only by eliminating these demons who obstructed the Dharma could ordinary beings enjoy lasting peace, and suffering cease its endless cycle. The King immediately sent his messenger, the dwarf Michong Kade, to summon the six tribes of Ling Ghabu, the northern Demon Kingdom, and the Hor Kingdom.

Queen Zumu reminded the King that it was uncertain whether the prince and surrendered generals of the Jiang Kingdom were truly loyal to Ling. Campaigning against the demon kingdom of Aqiong Muzha would serve to test their loyalty and reveal the extent of their martial skill. The King thus instructed Queen Zumu to send her Soul-Binding white crane with messages, commanding Prince Yula Toju of Jiang, along with his commanders Jiang’s Yuchi and Hor’s Nimazaba and other great generals of the four directions, to lead their forces of twenty thousand troops each and arrive at the Datang Chamao grassland by the nineteenth day without fail.

As for that troublesome uncle Chao Tong, who had turned traitor during the Hor-Ling war and caused great suffering for Zumu and the people of Ling, he had nevertheless distinguished himself in the conquest of the Jiang Kingdom by using his magic to defeat that kingdom's demons. As the saying goes: "A wicked man ruins a place's reputation; a vicious dog ruins its master's name; an evil woman ruins her family's honor." How could Chao Tong be made to display heroic valor on the battlefield once more? King Gesar decided to send the celestial maiden Dongga Tsomu to deliver a divine message to King Chao Tong. She arrived at the Darong King Chao Tong's palace, transformed herself into a small, iridescent bird, and sang in a sweet and melodious voice:

If you do not know this place,

It is a fortress that one man could defend against ten thousand,

Like an iron bucket impenetrable,

It is the lineage seat of Hayagriva's teachings,

Where Darong Chao Tong practices his Dharma.

If you do not know who I am,

I am the wisdom goddess enshrined in Hayagriva's temple,

Adorned with jewels and gold,

Radiant with moon-like wisdom light.

I sing of omens to dispel ignorance,

I am the guide for those who have lost their way.

Among the lands of the black-headed Tibetan people,

The Dharma has been passed down and flourished.

Listen to me, Great King Chao Tong,

Who can compare with you?

You are the heir of Hayagriva's secret teachings,

The foremost teacher of the black-headed Tibetans,

First among the uncle kings of Ling.

In the regions of region in Tibet,

There is a land ruled by a demon:

He has three great generals, Bird, Boar, and Serpent,

And nine dread ministers beneath him.

The demon king Aqiong Muzha,

He descended upon the human world to work all manner of evil.

With Ling he has both old feuds and new grievances,

Now is the time for revenge!

King of Darong and all your warriors,

Don your armor and gather your troops!

On the nineteenth day of this month,

Join with the other armies!

Having sung her sweet counsel like nectar, the wisdom goddess spread her wings and vanished into the sky.

King Chao Tong thought to himself: Divine predictions at this time are very rare indeed. He knew full well how formidable King Aqiong Muzha was. Though he wished to win some glory to make the people of Ling soften their hatred of him from the Hor-Ling war, and to curry favor with Gesar for rewards of victory, the enemy was the demon king Aqiong, it was hardly worth risking his own life. He thought: if his wicked nephew Joru insisted that the Darong tribe send troops, then let his son lead some of the Darong warriors instead. But how could King Gesar not know Chao Tong's mind? The day after the celestial maiden delivered her message, King Gesar issued another command: King Chao Tong was to assemble the Darong tribal army and appear at Datang Chamao grassland by the nineteenth day without exception. Chao Tong's schemes were dashed, and he could only decide to take things one step at a time.

At dawn on the appointed day, in the Jiang Kingdom, Prince Yula Toju sat in his great hall when the cries of cranes suddenly echoed from outside. Several cranes circled in the sky above the Jiang royal palace. The prince wondered at this strange occurrence and hurried to the tower. Recognizing the Soul-Binding cranes of Queen Zumu of Ling, he immediately ordered his servants to place offerings of milk on the palace rooftop. The cranes descended and drank the milk together, then one raised its head and, in a most pleasing voice, relayed King Gesar's command in full, bidding him lead the warriors and troops of Jiang to join the forces of Ling and its vassal kingdoms.

Having delivered the King's instructions, the cranes spread their wings to return to Ling. Prince Yula Toju called out: "Three crane brothers, please stay a moment! Thank you for coming, do not rush back just yet. Here is an abundance of fine offerings; please enjoy these before you go."

Unable to refuse such hospitality, the three cranes accepted the prince's offerings. As they prepared to depart, the prince asked them to convey his regards to the Lion King and all the warriors of Ling, and to inform the King: "I, Yula Toju, will honor the Lion King's command. Before the nineteenth day of this month, I shall lead the brave warriors of Jiang to assemble before the King's palace. As the saying goes: 'Disobey your superior's orders, and you will end up in prison; disobey your parents' orders, and you will be left homeless.' But if I, Yula Toju, were to disobey the Lion King's command, I would deserve to fall into the deepest hell!" Hearing this, the cranes carried the Jiang prince's solemn vow back to Ling.

On the nineteenth day, heroes from all four directions and brave men from the eight corners gathered at the Datang Chamao grassland. Helmet tassels fluttered, war banners snapped in the wind, a magnificent sight, a beautiful Ling filled with heroes. The warriors greeted one another warmly, sharing wine and song upon the plain, and passed seven happy days together.

On the morning after, the warriors donned their armor, fearless and ready. The generals of Ling, led by Danma, gathered in King Gesar's great tent, and the Chief Steward rose and addressed the assembled warriors:

First, I pay homage to the Three Jewels' protection,

Praying for blessings upon the warriors of Ling,

Wishing prosperity upon the kingdom of Ling.

If you do not know this land,

It is the land of the black-headed Tibetans,

Called Dokham Chamo Ling,

The center of the four directions,

A place longed for by all beings.

Whoever sees it will pray,

To be reborn here in their next life.

If you do not know who I am,

I am the Chief Steward of Ling,

From the sacred Mount Gangdise above,

And Lake Mapang Yumtso in the middle,

To the land of Rongtsa Chagen below,

Among the earliest of the Tibetan people.

As for the demon king Aqiong Muzha,

His magical powers are not without limit,

But his heart is the most vicious of all,

He is king of the eighteen vassal states,

With cruel and wicked ministers,

The root of boundless evil.

He possesses the finest iron mines,

A hundred times more abundant than Ling's;

He rules over fertile lands,

A hundred times richer than Ling's;

He obstructs the spread of the Dharma,

He blocks the roads of trade.

Today we go to conquer,

This demon who does all evil,

The mines and grain we shall gain,

Are what Ling cannot be without!

After the Chief Steward's rousing words, the generals' spirits soared, and they vowed to conquer the demon king Aqiong's land of Gongbu, so that its abundant treasures and fertile territories might serve the cause of the Dharma.

As the Ling army prepared to march, noblewomen led by Guomu, Zumu, Rousa, and others came bearing golden cups to see the warriors off, blessing their swift return in victory.

The Lion King led his divine warriors toward Gongbu. Along the way, small tribes who heard of their approach came forward to present gifts. This demon kingdom had entrenched itself on the tea-salt trade route, blocking the spread of the Dharma. The smaller states dared not oppose it, instead suffering constant abuse from the demon king and his ministers. Now that King Gesar was leading the campaign in person, they were certain the demon kingdom would be conquered for the benefit of all beings. When the King of Tibet learned of King Gesar's departure, he immediately dispatched his minister Nyima Gyeltsen with gifts to escort the surviving merchants of Ling to rendezvous with Gesar's army.

Fifteen days after setting out, the Ling army finally met with the Tibetan envoys. Minister Nyima Gyeltsen presented khatas and gifts to King Gesar, offered fine wine, and expressed the King of Tibet's gratitude on behalf of the righteous army of Ling. The King of Tibet pledged financial and material support to ensure the complete subjugation of the demon kingdom of Aqiong that obstructed the Dharma.

The Chief Steward, speaking on behalf of King Gesar, expressed gratitude to the Tibetan envoys: "King Trisong Detsen is a descendant of the gods, a king of wealth and power, a king of Dharma and law, a king of bravery and fortune. We thank him for extending aid and protection to our people of Ling when they suffered injustice. This campaign against the demon kingdom is undertaken only out of necessity. The righteous hosts of Ling have always repaid grievances with retribution, we go now to reclaim our treasures and seek justice for our fallen countrymen. But we also know that even a drop of kindness must be repaid as a gushing spring, we shall surely repay the King of Tibet's benevolence. As the saying goes: 'Only the dead cannot taste the fragrance of food; only the mute cannot answer when spoken to; only the coward allows himself to be bullied without resistance. Kindness must be repaid, and what is borrowed must be returned. Your arrival is an auspicious omen of our victory!' This campaign shall surely end in triumph for the righteous side!"

Having spoken these stirring words, the Chief Steward presented a pure white khata to the king's envoy, along with gifts of gold, silver, and jewels in return. The two sides enjoyed three days of celebration, during which they discussed strategies for defeating the demon kingdom of Aqiong. At last, the Tibetan envoys departed joyfully with King Gesar's promises and gifts, while the warriors of Ling continued their mighty march toward the demon land of Aqiong Muzha.