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The Northeast of Ling Gabu and the Search for a New Bride

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To the northeast of Ling Gabu lies the land of the Hor people. The Heavenly Emperor of the Hor Kingdom was named Hor Saiqing, hence the Hor people were also called the Yellow Hor. During the reign of King Jinei Haituo Du, the Yellow Hor Kingdom expanded even further, becoming wealthier and more prosperous. King Jinei Haituo Du had three sons. Because they lived in black, white, and yellow tents, they were called the Black Tent King, the White Tent King, and the Yellow Tent King. The three brothers grew up quickly and were all highly skilled in martial arts. Among them, the second son, the White Tent King, was the most talented.

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In the Year of the Fire Dragon, the third year of Gesar’s northern demon-slaying campaign, tragedy struck the White Tent King when his wife, Gana’s Gas, suddenly passed away. Unable to endure the loneliness, the White Tent King gathered his ministers to discuss finding a new bride—someone renowned as the most beautiful woman in the world.

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After deliberation, the ministers decided to send the talking birds raised in the palace—a dove, a peacock, a parrot, and a crow—to search the world for a woman who could become the new queen.

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The four birds flew out as instructed. When they reached a fork in the road, the parrot said, “We four birds may be sent out like arrows, but we’re merely following orders. To find a woman who can be the White Tent King’s bride, the stepmother to Prince Lawu, the mistress of the Hor Kingdom, and the mother of the people—how can such a woman be found? Even if we find her, she may not agree to marry him. If she refuses, the king will send troops to seize her, and countless lives may be lost. When that happens, it will all be blamed on us four birds. I say we shouldn’t take on this thankless task.”

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“But the king sent us. How will we explain ourselves if we return empty-handed?” said the always gentle dove, worried about failing the mission.

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“Exactly! What will we do?” asked the beautiful peacock, spreading its colorful tail feathers in anxiety.

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“I think we should all go back to our homelands,” the parrot suggested. “The dove can return to Gana, the peacock to the Yellow River, and I’ll go back to Menyu. As for the crow—it has no homeland, so it can settle wherever it likes.”

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The dove and peacock agreed, happily returning to their homes. But the crow refused to follow the parrot’s advice. Watching the other birds leave, the crow felt both anger and joy. It was angry because the more favored birds—the gentle dove, the beautiful peacock, and the clever parrot—had abandoned the king’s mission, despite being treated far better than the crow. While they were fed fine grains, the crow was given only dregs. Yet the crow was also pleased, for their departure gave it a chance to earn the king’s favor. Determined to find the most beautiful woman in the world, the crow set off with renewed resolve.

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The crow flew tirelessly, traveling from city to city, region to region, north to south, east to west. But no matter how hard it searched, it couldn’t find a woman who met its standards.

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One day, the crow arrived in the beautiful land of Ling. Tired and frustrated, it decided that if it couldn’t find the woman here, it wouldn’t return to the Hor Kingdom. Failure meant the crow would face punishment for the entire group of birds, and the White Tent King might even take its life.

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Ling was a stunning place, where heavenly dragons sang, cuckoos chirped melodiously, and larks filled the air with sweet songs. The crow, enchanted by this land, forgot its worries and flew freely. Without realizing it, it arrived at the Auspicious Victory Palace in the city of Dazi. Before the precious turquoise pavilion, the crow could no longer fly. It exclaimed in awe, “The most beautiful woman in the world is here!”

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This was the residence of Gesar’s queen, Zhumuo. The Lion King had left for the northern lands to slay demons three years ago and hadn’t returned. During these three years, Zhumuo had lost interest in dressing up.

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However, that day was an auspicious day in Ling. The stars in the sky, the time on earth, and the sun above were all exceptionally bright and beautiful. Zhumuo felt a rare sense of happiness. She recalled how Gesar had promised before leaving, “If I return early, it will be within two years; if I’m late, it won’t exceed three years. No matter what, I’ll return within three years.”

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Now, three years had passed. Zhumuo thought, Perhaps the king will return today. I should prepare myself to welcome him. She called her maids, Arongji and Lirongji, to help her wash her hair and dress up. Afterward, the three of them sat outside the pavilion, admiring the colorful clouds in the sky, the distant green mountains, the nearby trees, and the singing birds. Zhumuo’s rare good mood lifted the spirits of her maids, who happily shared cheerful stories to keep her entertained.

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At that moment, the crow arrived. It was stunned by Zhumuo’s beauty. Her radiant complexion outshone even the most vibrant lotus flower, and her elegance surpassed that of celestial maidens. Overwhelmed with joy, the crow sang:

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I spread my iron-black wings,

Flying through heaven and earth.

I’ve seen countless beautiful worlds,

And countless lovely maidens,

Yet not one compares

To this woman’s unmatched beauty.

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The crow exclaimed, “Ah, Lady Zhumuo, your beauty is renowned, but seeing you today, I realize the truth exceeds the tales. You are Gesar’s queen, yet you sit alone in an empty room. What a pity, what a waste of your youth to live in sorrow. I am the envoy of the Hor White Tent King, searching for a bride for my king. A woman as beautiful as you would be the perfect match for him. Our king is young, strong, skilled in combat, and rules over twelve thousand households, with countless cattle and sheep. If you become his queen, you’ll enjoy wealth and luxury far beyond living here alone.”

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Zhumuo’s Anger and the Crow’s Success

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The crow spoke proudly, but Zhumuo, filled with anger, was furious. What bad luck to see this wretched bird on such a joyous day. She turned to her two companions and sang:

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Hey! Hey! My dear companions,

We’ve herded lambs together since childhood,

We’ve picked flowers together since we were young.

On the land of Ling Gabu,

Birds like this have never been seen.

Why has this crow appeared today?

Did you hear what it said?

That vile demon bird said:

“Zhumuo of the Galo family,

Your husband is alive, yet you live as if widowed.

Why stay in Ling Gabu?

Why not go to the land of Hor?

Would you like to be the bride of the White Tent King?

Would you like to be the stepmother of Prince Lawu?

Would you like to be the mistress of the Hor Kingdom?

Would you like to be the mother of the Hor people?

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Across the roads of the world,

Across Han and Tibetan lands,

Compared to the prosperous Hor Kingdom,

No place can match its splendor.”

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You wretched demon crow,

Spreading bad omens by day,

Bringing evil dreams by night,

Spreading disasters wherever you go,

Creating bad luck wherever you land!

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After singing, Zhumuo grabbed a handful of ashes and threw it at the crow. However, the ashes missed the crow and instead knocked her turquoise hair ornament to the ground. The crow quickly picked up the ornament and, flapping its wings, flew straight to the Hor Kingdom.

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Zhumuo and her two maids, Arongji and Lirongji, concealed the incident and didn’t tell anyone about it.

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Meanwhile, in the Hor Kingdom, the White Tent King grew increasingly anxious. It had been one hundred days since the four birds were sent out, yet none had returned. The king ordered his minister, Sinba Meruze, to go outside the city and investigate, hoping to hear good news about a beautiful woman.

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On this day, Sinba climbed to the highest point in Yaze City and looked in all directions. He saw no sign of the dove, peacock, or parrot, but noticed the crow perched on the top of a tall flagpole. Sinba asked the crow if it had brought good news for the king, but the clever crow, fearing Sinba might steal the credit, replied, “Sinba! I have nothing to say to you.”

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With that, the crow flew straight to the palace, landing beside the king’s throne. It placed Zhumuo’s turquoise hair ornament before the White Tent King. Seeing the sparkling, jade-green gem, the king knew the crow had found something significant and immediately asked, “Crow, you’ve worked hard. Quickly, tell me—where is the beautiful woman?”

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The black crow, feigning exhaustion, appeared hungry and thirsty. Before answering, it began to sing a song, criticizing the dove, peacock, and parrot:

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If you don’t know this place,

It’s called the “City of a Thousand White Peaks,”

Or the “City of Red Towers,”

Or the “City of Ten Thousand Armor Bearers.”

This is the capital of the White Tent King.

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Oh mighty king with the tiger hat,

Hear my report as your loyal envoy:

The dove, peacock, and parrot,

Along with me, the crow,

Were all raised by you as soul birds.

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The snow-white dove ate white rice,

The blue peacock ate barley,

The colorful parrot ate five grains,

But I, the crow, was fed only dregs.

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Now the dove has returned to Gana,

The peacock has flown back to the Yellow River,

And the parrot has returned to Menyu.

None of them fulfilled your mission,

None repaid your kindness,

They betrayed your trust and loyalty.

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I, the humble black crow,

Never forgot the White Tent King.

I traveled far and wide,

To every land, to every region.

Across the small kingdoms of the world,

Across the mountains of Han and Tibet,

Though languages and customs differ,

And family names are not the same,

While there are many beautiful women,

None are fit to be your queen,

None are fit to be the stepmother of the prince,

None are fit to be the mistress of your kingdom,

None are fit to be the mother of your people.

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Hearing the crow’s account, the White Tent King was furious at the other birds and felt an overwhelming urge to punish them. To reward the crow, he ordered his guards to slaughter a sacred white sheep as a feast for it. He then asked the crow again, “Where is the beautiful woman?”

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The crow shook its head and refused to answer. The king, desperate, ordered the sacrifice of a long-haired sacred bull. Still, the crow shook its head, dissatisfied with the offering. Finally, the king, determined to please the crow, had a golden horse sacrificed for it. Only then did the crow stop demanding more.

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The Crow’s Report 

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Seeing the White Tent King’s furious expression and murderous gaze, the crow dared not bargain anymore. It immediately sang:

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I, the crow, flew to Ling Gabu,

To that dragon-coiled, tiger-crouched land.

Heavenly dragons soared and sang in the sky,

Cuckoos chirped joyfully,

Larks trilled melodiously.

In the magnificent palace,

On the square royal carpet,

Beneath the nine-pillared turquoise canopy,

Lives a woman named Zhumuo,

Truly the most beautiful woman in the world.

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Her skin is like white silk,

Her flesh as radiant as red satin,

Her eyes are as sharp and bright as a hawk’s,

Her eyebrows curve like crescent moons.

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A single step forward is worth a hundred horses,

Like a celestial maiden dancing gracefully,

Even a hundred horses could not compare.

A single step back is worth a hundred purple mules,

Like soaring clouds across the sky,

Even a hundred mules could not compare.

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Her thick black hair is worth a hundred oxen,

Each strand like a string of pearls,

Even a hundred oxen could not compare.

Her smile is worth a hundred sheep,

Her tongue tip forms the sacred “Ah” shape,

Even a hundred sheep could not compare.

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She is the pinnacle of earthly beauty,

The ornament of all daughters of the land.

Among the women of Ling,

She is the finest of them all.

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In winter, she is warmer than the sun,

In summer, she is cooler than the moon.

Her scent surpasses flowers,

Bees swarm around her in delight.

Though there are countless beauties in this world,

Only she is worthy of the king.

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She was once Gesar’s beloved queen,

Known as the renowned Zhumuo.

Gesar ventured north to slay demons,

Leaving her behind to guard an empty room.

Don’t miss this chance to take her,

Her turquoise hair ornament is proof,

And only I, the crow, am truly loyal.

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“Wonderful! The gods have granted me this opportunity. I’ll bring her here immediately!” exclaimed the White Tent King. He was so eager to have Zhumuo by his side that he didn’t want to listen to any more of the crow’s chatter.

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The White Tent King’s Ambition and Sinba’s Advice

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The White Tent King didn’t want to hear any more of the crow’s chatter. He was eager to bring Zhumuo to his side immediately.

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Minister Sinba Meruze, who overheard the conversation between the king and the crow, grew uneasy. He thought: Waging war against Ling Gabu without cause not only violates the heavens’ compassion but will also bring disaster to the people. Though Ling Gabu is small, the Lion King Gesar is incredibly powerful. How can we win an unjust war? Why can’t the king see this?

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Hoping to stop the king from making a mistake, Sinba advised, “My king, we have lived in peace with Ling Gabu for many years without conflict. Is it worth starting a war over one woman? Even if you capture Zhumuo, do you think the Lion King will let this go? Please reconsider your decision.”

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Sinba continued, “Perhaps we should send the disaster bird to investigate Ling Gabu before taking any action.”

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But the White Tent King dismissed Sinba’s advice. He was entirely focused on obtaining Zhumuo and said, “Our Yellow Hor Kingdom is stronger than Ling Gabu in every way—land, soldiers, and leadership. That poor boy Gesar has no real skills. If we strike first, we will surely win. We’ll wipe out the Ling people completely, and no misfortune will come upon us. However, sending the disaster bird to investigate is still a good idea.”

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The disaster bird was ordered to fly to Ling Gabu and scout its current condition.

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Zhumuo’s Unease and Nightmare

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Meanwhile, in Ling Gabu, Zhumuo had been feeling uneasy ever since her encounter with the crow and the loss of her turquoise hair ornament. Her maids, Arongji and Lirongji, were also anxious. They noticed that their queen, who had recently shown signs of joy, now looked even more worried.

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That night, Zhumuo had a terrible dream. She dreamed of mountains collapsing, floods engulfing Ling Gabu’s homes, and cattle and sheep being swept away. In her nightmare, she saw demonic hawks flying chaotically, wolves descending from the mountains, horses scattering, and livestock being taken away.

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Zhumuo woke up in terror, drenched in sweat. She remembered the dream that Meza had once told her about and how Meza had been captured by the black demon afterward. Zhumuo thought: Could a disaster be about to strike Ling Gabu? It must be! And this disaster may fall upon me.

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“Oh, my king, it’s been three years. Why haven’t you returned?” Overwhelmed by fear, Zhumuo missed Gesar more than ever. She woke her maids and told them about her dream.

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Her maids were horrified. “Queen, this is terrible! Meza had a nightmare before she was taken. A few days ago, the black crow came to propose for the Hor King. Could it be that the Hor Kingdom is planning to invade and take you?”

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The Disaster Bird and Ling Gabu’s Alarm

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The queen and her maids were filled with panic and unease. At that moment, the massive disaster bird from the Hor Kingdom arrived at the sacred grounds of Ling Gabu, where heavenly dragons roared. It landed on the top of the nine-pillared turquoise canopy. Suddenly, a sturdy golden pillar cracked, the strong ropes holding the canopy snapped, and the ruby pulley used to tighten the ropes broke apart. The entire canopy began to sway dangerously.

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Zhumuo rushed to the entrance and saw an incredibly hideous and ferocious bird perched on the canopy. She shouted, “Brave warrior Yuda! Come quickly! There’s an ugly bird on the roof of the canopy. Can you shoot it down?”

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Yuda fetched his bow and arrows, but the dazzling radiance of the disaster bird’s feathers intimidated him, and he didn’t dare to shoot. Instead, he went inside the tent and looked at the bird’s twelve tail feathers through the skylight. He shot an arrow, knocking the tail feathers to the ground, but the disaster bird flew away.

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Afterward, the disaster bird thoroughly scouted Ling Gabu, flying all over the land. Once its mission was complete, it returned to the Hor Kingdom.

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Zhumuo turned to her maid Lirongji and said, “First, the black crow came to propose, and now the disaster bird has come to spy on us. This can’t be a good sign. Go and report this to Chief Steward Rongchachagen immediately.”

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Having witnessed these ominous signs alongside her mistress, Lirongji was also deeply worried. She hurried to the steward’s tent and reported everything about the black crow and the disaster bird. However, the steward dismissed her concerns, saying, “How could such things happen in this dragon-coiled, tiger-crouched land? There’s an old saying: ‘Mules can’t run far, and women’s words can’t be trusted.’ The divine tribes of Ling are as calm as solidified yogurt. Why are you stirring up trouble like blood in water? What good will this do?”

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Lirongji replied, “There’s another saying: ‘The sun will rise because the heavens push it forward.’ I’m not stirring up trouble. The queen sent me to deliver this message. She’ll be here shortly. Let her decide what to do. In the meantime, please gather the divine tribes for a meeting.”

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Hearing this, the steward immediately ordered the drums to be beaten and the conch shells to be blown. Letters were sent out like snowflakes falling from the sky, and messengers flew like birds, summoning the people of Ling Gabu. They were instructed to gather at Datang Chamotan at sunrise the next day.

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Notes

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Saiqing : Means "big yellow"; Hor Saiqing refers to "Yellow Hor."

 

Xinba : Originally means "butcher," but here it refers to a hero.

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