The Feast of Hor and the Rise of Tangze Yuzhou
 
At the foot of Yalasewu Mountain, on the vast Red Yulang Plain, the White Tent King hosted a grand feast for the Hor army. During the gathering, archery and sword-fighting contests were held. Among the younger generation of Hor warriors, a Yellow Tent soldier named Bandan Daru—a young Sinba warrior—amazed everyone by shooting through nine armored wooden figures with a single arrow. The Hor army erupted in cheers, declaring that after the death of A’e, they finally had another great archer.
 
The White Tent King bestowed a glorious title upon Bandan Daru, naming him “Tangze Yuzhou,” which means “The Fierce Green Dragon of the Grasslands.” He was also promoted to Left Wing General. To honor him, the king placed a golden plume on Tangze Yuzhou’s white helmet and tied a yellow silk longevity knot on his armor.
 
That day, the White Tent King ordered his warriors, including Sinba generals Meruze, Dochin, and Qiangla, to hunt wild animals as part of the celebration. They returned with deer, wild oxen, yellow sheep, and even rabbits from the grasslands. Tangze Yuzhou captured a tiger cub, a three-year-old wild ox calf, and three wild colts, all of which he presented to the king for entertainment.
 
That night, the White Tent King held a grand banquet in his massive white tent. The seating arrangement reflected the power structure of the Hor forces: the White Tent troops sat on the right, Yellow Tent troops on the left, and Black Tent troops in the center. Behind them, nine divisions, each with 100,000 soldiers, were seated in dense rows that stretched as far as the eye could see. Around them, the common people of the Black and Red Twelve Tribes gathered. Meat was piled like mountains, and tea and wine flowed like rivers.
 
During the feast, the White Tent King sat majestically on a golden throne and issued an order to attack Ling Gabu. He recited a commanding song, detailing the battle strategy and assigning roles to his generals and soldiers.
 
The White Tent King's Command and Battle Preparations
 
In the celestial heavens, the blessed courtyard,
Where the gods of day are surrounded by the sun and moon,
In the eternal palace of the middle realm,
The flower void gods stir up a storm,
On the solid, treasure-filled earth of the lower realm,
The black earth gods cause the seas to surge.
Oh, people of the Black and Red Twelve Tribes!
 
The Yellow Tent King listens on the left,
The Black Tent King listens on the right,
The brave Sinba warriors listen in the front,
And the sea-like armies listen on the flanks!
Tomorrow, when the sun rises above the mountain peaks,
And the conch horn blows its deep calls,
Quickly pack up the beautiful tents,
Saddle the warhorses with bridles and reins,
And prepare the mules with supplies, awaiting orders.
 
When the conch blows a second time,
Together, eat fresh meat with gusto,
Together, drink fresh blood with fervor,
And then immediately set out on the march.
 
When the melodious trumpets sound,
And the small drums beat like songs,
The Sinba warriors with their red-plumed army,
Like blazing fire, will lead the charge.
Sinba Meruze will serve as their general,
While Qiangla Mubu will supervise from the rear.
The right-wing army of 100,000 with white plumes,
Is the sacred army of my heavenly king,
Led by General Silatuoga,
Advancing with the force of a whirlwind sweeping white clouds.
 
The left-wing army of 100,000 with yellow plumes,
Is the sacred army of the Yellow Tent King's brother,
Led by General Tangze Yuzhou,
Advancing like yellow clouds covering the sky.
 
The central army of 100,000 with black plumes,
Is the sacred army of the Black Tent King’s brother,
Led by General Tangnaze Jia,
Moving forward like rolling black clouds.
 
Following behind the White Tent army are:
The Bemba Division with their floral plumes,
The Riba Division with their green plumes,
And the Tamba Division with their blue plumes,
Each with 100,000 soldiers.
 
Riba’s Jiechou Juma,
Bemba’s younger brother Anu Chitu,
And Tamba’s Tangga Zegu,
Will serve as generals for their divisions.
 
Behind the Yellow Tent army follows:
The Garwa Division with their iron plumes and bird helmets,
The Nyanga Division with their water silk and tiger helmets,
And the Genga Division with their white cloth and leopard tails,
Each with 100,000 troops.
 
Garwa’s Nabuzhongtu,
Nyanga’s Quwogandu,
And Genga’s Tuoguoluoqiu,
Will serve as generals for their divisions.
 
The young princes must look after themselves:
Chabao, Chaxiao, Dunba, and others,
Each leading the Black, White, and Floral Plume Divisions,
With 100,000 troops following behind the Black Tent army.
 
Gongjie Yuyachizong King,
Baturu Chitunanlang,
And Xiezhuo Darokama,
Will serve as generals for their divisions.
 
No matter where the left, center, and right armies go:
First is my heavenly White Tent King,
Second is Dochin Langbuchaba,
Third is Jubai Zhugubaqing,
Fourth is Yamai Langnajiejiao,
Fifth is Xieqing Rewubangliao,
Sixth is Hor Gamasi Guo,
Seventh is the crown prince Chizong Rouya.
 
When needed, these seven leaders will convene,
And they must not stray far from each other.
 
The conch horn will signal the beginning of the march,
The sound of gongs will signal archery,
The long horn will signal the drawing of swords,
The small drum will signal the throwing of spears,
The bugle will signal retreat,
And the shifting drumbeat will signal a coordinated attack.
 
No one is allowed to act alone in pursuit of glory,
No one is allowed to retreat out of cowardice,
No one is allowed to fall behind the ranks.
Those who flee will be cut down by the sword!
No one is allowed to speak carelessly;
Everyone must maintain order and solemnity.
 
When thick fog rises, shout “Gou!”
When crossing rivers, shout “Suo!”
When we reach the left bank of the Yellow River in Ling Gabu,
At the call of “Arrived!” pitch the tents.
Tie the reins of 100 horses neatly,
And let the voices of 100 men sound in unison.
 
Beware of Ling Gabu’s famed warriors:
Jiacha with his sharp Yasidao,
Minister Danma with his thunderous arrows,
Senda with his gallant horse Qianshanteng,
Dapan with his poisonous mist spear,
And Zhugade with his explosive stone cannon.
 
If you encounter them, proceed with caution.
But do not fear anyone else under any circumstances!
At the sound of the command to advance, move forward as one.
At the sound of the stop command, halt together.
When chasing the enemy, rotate in waves to attack fiercely.
In skirmishes, fight with courage and determination.
 
At Ling Gabu in the East,
The campaign will end in three months.
After three months, they won’t be able to hold out:
Humans can endure, but their horses will fail,
Armor can hold up, but their weapons will falter,
Grass can sustain them, but firewood will be insufficient,
Water may be available, but their territory is too narrow.
 
The outcome of this war will become evident.
Heroes’ ambitions should be as steadfast as stone,
And foolish enemies must be crushed relentlessly.
Weapons must be wielded like gusting winds,
And battles must be fought with collective effort.
 
Too much sleep will destroy an army,
Removing armor in the camp will destroy an army,
Losing swords from the waist will destroy an army,
And losing warhorses will destroy an army.
 
Remember these lessons carefully.
What should be done next?
We’ll decide after reaching Ling Gabu.
 
Once war begins,
It doesn’t matter how many are killed.
Even Ling Gabu’s black dogs are enemies.
Show no mercy, even to the old, the weak, or the children!
 
The Battle Preparation and the Heroes' Encounter
 
After the White Tent King finished his war song, he rested for the night. Early the next morning, on the 14th day of the Tibetan lunar calendar, the sun rose above the mountains, and the conch horn signaled the start of the campaign. The Hor army moved with remarkable efficiency: tents were packed up as if by one person, and warhorses were saddled and ready to go in no time.
 
When the trumpets sounded, the Sinba-led Baturu vanguard of 23,000 soldiers, bearing red plumes, advanced one arrow’s distance ahead of the main army. General Qiangla Mubu led at the front, while Sinba Meruze commanded the rear. With a roaring shout, the army began its march. The three main divisions’ generals led their respective troops from the front, while the young princes guarded the rear of their units. The entire army, tightly organized like a single rope, moved steadily forward.
 
The White Tent King, wearing a white-plumed helmet and a crimson cloak, rode a swift mule said to cover “nine days’ journey in one.” Surrounded by banners, parasols, and ceremonial umbrellas, he was accompanied by a hundred mounted guards who escorted him to the harmonious sounds of music.
 
Meanwhile, on the night before the Hor army set out, Ling Gabu had also made its preparations. Four warriors—Gade, the Black-Robed Protector of the Zhu Division; Senda, the invincible hero; Nianza Adan from Chaotong’s family; and the 15-year-old young general Bansai Dawa—gathered their troops. Dressed impeccably in polished armor and carrying gleaming weapons, they set out on patrol.
 
At midnight, they arrived at the junction of the two roads near Yalasewu Mountain, the very spot where the heroes had fallen two days prior. They pitched their camp between two rocky cliffs, tying the warhorses’ reins to long ropes secured by wooden stakes.
 
Around midnight, Senda’s horse, "Qianshanteng," and Gade’s horse, "Black-Faced Windchaser," began pawing the ground anxiously, snorting and neighing in distress. Senda, recalling how similar omens had occurred when A’e was killed, shouted, “Something’s wrong! Brothers, wake up! Saddle your horses and move to higher ground!”
 
The group quickly armed themselves and followed Senda toward the mountain peak. At dawn, they reached the summit of the upper path of the White Road. As sunlight illuminated the valley below, they saw clouds of dust rising in the distance, signaling the arrival of the Hor army. Tightening their armor straps and adjusting their helmets, they prepared for battle.
 
Soon, the Sinba vanguard, a massive force of 23,000 Baturu warriors, surged forward like a tidal wave through the valley. Gade remarked, “Here comes Hor’s vanguard, the 23,000 Sinba Baturu warriors. They’re a formidable enemy. Today, we must teach them a lesson!”
 
The three warriors decided to send Bansai Dawa back to Ling Gabu with a message:
“The Hor army has arrived alongside the sunrise; they are near the summit of Yalasewu Mountain. The three of us will engage in battle. We will not return until we achieve victory. This message is sent ahead to inform you.”
 
Bansai Dawa departed with the message. Meanwhile, Senda mounted his horse and charged boldly toward the Sinba vanguard, stopping within an arrow’s distance of their frontlines. His sudden charge caused the Hor soldiers to halt, uncertain of what to do.
 
Standing in his stirrups, Senda drew his massive sword and shouted, “You Sinba of Hor, instead of staying safely at home, you’ve come to Ling Gabu to die. Since you’ve come, I, Senda, will welcome you properly—with my blade!”
 
Senda charged fearlessly into the enemy lines, causing chaos as the Sinba vanguard retreated in disarray. He fired an arrow that struck the flag bearer of the Hor frontlines, causing the red banner to fall. Another rider quickly picked it up to stabilize morale, but Senda pressed the attack.
 
With his sword flashing, he fought fiercely, cutting down countless enemies. Though struck by many blows and pierced by over a dozen arrows, none of the wounds were fatal. Watching from the rear, Gade and Nianza were inspired by Senda’s bravery. Gade exclaimed, “This is truly exhilarating! Senda Adong’s name fits him well—he’s like a lion or a bear!”
 
Nianza, equally moved, declared, “If every hero in Ling Gabu fought like this, how long could Hor possibly hold out?”
 
Nianza then charged into the fray to fight alongside Senda, while Gade climbed the hillside and dislodged two massive boulders. The stones rolled into the densest parts of the Hor army, crushing and injuring hundreds of soldiers.
 
At the rear of the Hor forces, Sinba Meruze found himself unable to reach the frontlines due to the chaos. He could only watch helplessly as the three heroes decimated his troops. The once-confident Sinba warriors, caught off guard by the ambush, lost their morale. By evening, the shattered remnants of the Hor vanguard regrouped in the 18 mountain valleys on the sunny side of the Yellow River.
 
The Standoff Between Ling Gabu and the Hor Army
 
At this moment, the heroes of Ling Gabu marched in units from Datang Chama, lining up along a wide road opposite the White Tent army, with the Yellow River flowing between them. Jiacha, the leader of the heroes, stood proudly at the front, while the wise Chief Steward commanded from the rear.
 
The soldiers of Ling Gabu, their helmets adorned with fluttering plumes, rode atop galloping warhorses. Their battle flags surged like waves, exuding a sense of overwhelming power. Compared to the Hor army, the Ling Gabu forces appeared energetic, radiant, and at least ten times more imposing.
 
As the two armies faced each other across the river, the White Tent King sat on his golden throne in front of his white military tent. Around him stood flags, ceremonial umbrellas, and victory banners. The steady beat of war drums and the melodious sound of suonas filled the air. Surveying the formidable presence of the Ling Gabu army on the opposite bank, the White Tent King sneered.
 
He disdainfully remarked to his attendant, Gama Siguo:

“They say the heroes of Ling Gabu are brave, but aren’t there only about twenty of them who can actually fight? The rest are just tribal leaders, standing idly by. How many men and horses could they possibly have behind them? How strong could the sons of mere servants be? Crossing the Yellow River will be no easy task for them. Gama, tell me, who are the leaders of Ling Gabu on the other side? Let the four Sinba brothers guard the river crossing to prevent them from advancing.”
 
Gama Siguo climbed to a high vantage point, carefully observing the Ling Gabu forces. After identifying each figure, he turned to the king and sang:
 
"I have lived through two lifetimes,
In my youth, I was loved by the people of Ling Gabu,
In middle age, I wandered as an outsider,
Though I left my homeland, I never forgot it.
Like a swan longing for a crystal lake,
I often sighed for what I could not change.
 
White Tent King, you bring thunder and lightning,
But the disaster you summon will fall upon you.
Look across the Yellow River at that sight:
The troops of Ling Gabu form a small group.
You could count them, one by one,
And even call many of them by name.
 
Though not as numerous as the Hor army,
Their courage and strength are unmatched.
Before each hero of Ling Gabu,
Tigers dare not flaunt their stripes,
White lions dare not shake their green manes,
And red bulls dare not lower their horns.
No matter how many enemies come,
None dare charge against them.
 
Each warrior of Ling Gabu wields thunder,
When thunder roars, even mountains crumble.
Their horses gallop like flying eagles,
Even a falcon cannot match their speed.
Their weapons are fiercer than death itself,
Like the jaws of Yama, leaving no escape.
 
The man at the front, clad in white,
Rides the thousand-mile steed, 'Jiaxia Whiteback.’
His face glows like the moon—this is Jiacha,
As brave as a little white snow lion on the mountain.
With a swing of his Yasidao, no one can stand against him.
He is the supreme commander of Ling Gabu’s army,
Like the sun rising to shine on all lands.
 
Behind him rides a man in yellow,
On the golden horse, 'Flying Golden Goose.’
This is Niben Daya, the master of the Golden Plume Army.
 
Following him is a man in reddish-brown,
Riding the horse, 'Dancing Red Pearl.’
This is Aluba Sen, the master of the Silver Plume Army.
 
After him comes a man in blue,
Riding the horse, 'Flying Azure Waters.’
This is Renqing Dalü, the leader of the White Conch Plume Army.
 
Then comes a man in purple,
On the steed, 'Divine Galloper Silver Gray.’
This is Danma, the master archer and famous marksman,
Known for his skill in piercing armor and striking the enemy’s crown.
He commands an army of 100,000 troops.
 
Behind them is a man in white,
Riding the mighty horse, 'Qianshanteng.’
This is the warrior Senda Adong,
Who turned the Hor vanguard into a sea of blood.
 
Next is a man in black,
On the steed, 'Black-Faced Windchaser.’
This is Gade, the Black-Robed Protector,
Who hurls massive stones from the cliffs above.
 
Following him is a man in purple,
On the horse, 'Smoky Haze Galloper.’
This is Dapan, known as the Poison Tree,
Whose bravery will soon be clear to all.
 
Then comes a man in black,
Riding the horse, 'Sky-Flying Raven.’
This is Sipan, the leader of the Darong tribe.
 
Behind him is a man in white,
On the steed, 'Snow Mountain Galloper.’
This is the young Adan, nicknamed 'Poison Flower,’
Who turned the Sinba forces into a sea of blood.
 
Next is a man in blue,
Riding the horse, 'Turquoise Bluebird.’
This is Dongzan Aban, a renowned hero,
Known for catching birds in flight with his bare hands.
 
Then comes a man in yellow,
On the horse, 'Raksha Black-Tailed Jackal.’
He is called Short Fox,
Skilled with the war drum and the tambourine.
 
Following him is a man in white,
On the steed, 'The Unicorn Among Nine-Hundred Horses.’
This is Zhuji, the handsome young general of the Jialuo family.
 
Finally, a man in pale red,
Riding an old but sturdy mule,
This is the aged Chief Steward,
The elder among elders, wise and venerable.
 
Ling Gabu’s Six Valleys are protected by warriors with unparalleled resolve.
Their leaders are clad in armor and march ahead,
Followed by their troops, who move like a tidal wave.
 
Jiacha is the mightiest in skill,
The Chief Steward is unmatched in strategy.
Their heroes charge forward with courage and determination,
Ready to die to protect their homeland.
 
Either Jiacha will fall,
Or you will never conquer Ling Gabu.
If you wish to defeat Ling Gabu,
It will not be an easy task.
Hor will face endless years of war!
White Tent King, your ambitions may never be fulfilled.”
 
The White Tent King’s Challenge
 
After Gama Siguo finished his song, the White Tent King paused in thought for a moment and then said, “General Silatuoga and the newly appointed officer Tangze Yuzhou, which of you will shoot an arrow to test Ling Gabu’s reaction?”
 
Tangze Yuzhou thought to himself:

“A hero’s skill must be displayed openly. Among all, the only one who can defeat me is King Gesar himself; no one else is my equal. However, shooting a sneaky arrow at the heroes of Ling Gabu is something I absolutely cannot do. As the saying goes, ‘Shooting an arrow in the dark may strike the Buddha’s radiant eye.’ A true hero should aim at a natural target, shoot an arrow, and show his skills openly so that everyone can enjoy the spectacle.”
 
Having made up his mind, he donned his red cloak, placed a white-plumed helmet on his head, drew an arrow from his quiver, and set it on his bowstring. He called to the others to step outside and watch the show. Facing the heroes of Ling Gabu encamped on the opposite side, he sang:
 
I am from the Yellow Tent Tribe of Hor,
The most outstanding among heroes,
A newly appointed, brave young general,
Tangze Yuzhou, the noble warrior.
 
At the Achin Plains,
I once shot through nine trees with a single arrow.
Between heaven and earth,
Other than King Gesar of Ling,
No one can rival me on horseback.
 
My steed, Windwing Blue,
Only bows before the Rainbow Horse King.
Other than that, no horse on earth
Can match my mount’s speed.
 
The crimson arrow between my fingers,
The only thing it cannot hit is the wind.
Anything else—wherever I aim,
It will hit without fail.
 
Oh, heroes of Ling Gabu on the opposite bank of the Yellow River,
Today, I, Tangze Yuzhou, will shoot an arrow.
Set up a target for me, brothers of Ling Gabu!
 
If I shoot an arrow into the sky,
I will use the stars as my target.
When I say “hit,” the stars will fall,
And even the sun cannot stop me.
 
If I shoot an arrow at the snowy mountains,
I will use the snow lions as my target.
When I say “strike,” their green manes will scatter,
And even the mountains cannot resist me.
 
If I shoot an arrow at the white cliffs,
I will use the king of birds, the white eagle, as my target.
When I say “hit,” its beautiful feathers will fall,
And even the great roc cannot prevent it.
 
If I shoot an arrow across the Yellow River,
I will use thirty heroes as my target.
When I say “strike,” blood will dye the ground,
And even the mighty Lion King cannot stop me.
 
Oh, young brothers of Ling Gabu,
If you wish to set a real target,
Erect a massive boulder in the raging waves.
 
If you want to set up a large target,
Use the giant rocks behind you.
 
If you wish to see something extraordinary,
Line up nine trees in a row,
And dress them in armor to serve as targets.
 
If you wish to see true skill,
Set up an embroidered needle as the target.
If you do not set up a target,
You are not worthy of being called the sons of the Holy Ling.
If I dare not shoot,
Tangze Yuzhou will have revealed his cowardice.
 
If I fail to hit the target,
The Sinba warriors of Yellow Hor will lose their pride.
If we cannot exchange arrows back and forth,
The Hor and Ling armies will laugh at us.
 
I am Tangze Yuzhou of Hor.
There are times to boast of one’s martial skills.
If I meet an opponent of equal strength,
I will display my skill and fight with honor.
 
Otherwise, I will restrain myself,
Not out of fear of you,
But because Ling has the mighty Lion King Gesar,
Who rewards good and punishes evil whenever paths cross.
There is no need to tempt fate without reason.
Remember this, brothers of Ling Gabu!
 
The Duel of Arrows
 
After Tangze Yuzhou's song, Nianza and Dongzan Aban built a two-layered mound of compacted dirt on top of a large boulder and placed a stalk of malian flower on it. They shouted, “If you are truly a master archer, shoot it!”
 
Tangze Yuzhou drew his bow and shot an arrow, hitting the malian flower stalk directly. The large boulder cracked with a loud “snap,” and the arrow pierced through it, landing in the grass below. Jiacha, watching the scene, said, “An archer like this is truly difficult to contend with. I've heard there’s another archer just as accurate as him. If we don’t deal with the two of them first, the heroes of Ling Gabu are bound to suffer losses.”
 
The Chief Steward, however, offered a different perspective:
“We don’t yet know the situation with the other one. As for this archer, he hasn’t shown any ill intent toward Ling Gabu. Didn’t he express admiration for our Lion King Gesar in his song? Whether he’s a threat to us remains uncertain. But if we don’t fire back, the Yellow Hor will surely mock us. Danma, shoot an arrow and deliver a heavy blow to their camp. Let everyone see the spectacle!”
 
Danma accepted the command and shouted across to Tangze Yuzhou:

“Little Hor child, watch closely! If we don’t return an arrow, the brothers of Ling Gabu won’t be worthy of being called heroes, and our arrows won’t deserve to be called Thunderbolts. You Yellow Hor only know how to boast. If you talk about shooting arrows, they should strike with power. Whether or not you dare to challenge the Lion King, you know the answer yourself. The same applies to how you treat the people of Ling Gabu.
 
In this world, whoever respects the Lion King will emerge victorious. We are not afraid of you!”
 
After speaking, Danma drew an arrow, set it on his bowstring, and boldly declared:
“I don’t shoot arrows to break boulders or do pointless things, nor do I shoot to scare people. When I shoot, I bring thunder into the enemy camp. To the twelve black-and-red tribes of Hor, today, I will show you the miracles that Ling Gabu’s heroes are capable of creating!”
 
With that, Danma shot an arrow like a flash of lightning, aiming directly at the Hor army’s command tent. At that moment, many Sinba warriors and important figures were gathered inside and outside the tent. The arrow flew straight into their midst, piercing through fifteen or sixteen key officials before heading toward the White Tent King’s head.
 
Fortunately, Zaqing leaped into the air and caught the arrow just in time, saving the White Tent King from certain death. Those struck by the arrow were either killed or severely injured, and cries of pain and despair echoed through the Hor army. The devastating blow greatly shook the morale of the Hor forces.