CHAPTER 48
CHAO TONG'S TREACHEROUS ARROW BREAKS THE PEACE; QUEEN ZUMU TAKES THE FIELD AND IS CAPTURED BY HOR

 

A Treacherous Arrow Rekindles the Flames of War

 

The Hor army retreated swiftly, reaching Yarlasawu Mountain on the sixth day. As they were setting up camp, a red copper-tailed arrow, shrieking through the air, flew into White Tent King's great tent and landed at the feet of the assembled men, startling everyone. The Sinba immediately rushed out to investigate, fearing another attack from the Ling Kingdom.

 

After a long while, when it became clear no assault was forthcoming, they realized the arrow carried a message. A servant presented the letter to White Tent King. After reading it, the king's face turned as pale as the yellowed paper.

 

"Summon Sinba Meruze," White Tent King roared, emphasizing the word "summon."

 

As soon as Meruze entered the great tent, the king flung the sheaf of yellow paper at him. "Read this! The foxes of Ling have pulled off a grand trick!"

 

Meruze picked up the letter from the ground. His worst fears were confirmed by the words on the page:

 

Who knew the prize bought with precious lives,

Was green stone passed off as precious turquoise,

Poison leaves for the beautiful white lotus,

Brass masquerading as shining gold,

Lead and iron posing as dazzling silver,

A black crow impersonating the singing cuckoo,

The maid Lizhongji made to stand in for Queen Zumu.

Hoping to join with the snow lion, a companion to dispel worries,

Who knew we'd befriended a long-tailed black dog;

Hoping to join with the fierce tiger, a companion to sit proudly,

Who knew the one we lean on is a fox;

Hoping to join with the great bear, a companion to show off,

Who knew our travel mate is a puny mule foal;

Hoping to join with Zumu, a lifelong companion,

Who knew the one we obtained is the maid Lizhongji.

Oh, mighty White Tent King,

Can you endure such deception?

Can you bear such insult?

Can you swallow such shame?

If you lack the skill, you shouldn't have come,

Having come, why scurry back to your nest?

 

Meruze's heart sank, and his face clouded over.

 

"Who sent this letter?" Meruze wished he could devour the writer whole and chew him to pieces.

 

"It was this arrow," a guard said, handing the red copper-tailed arrow to Meruze.

 

Meruze racked his memory, trying to identify the arrow's owner. Finally, he remembered—it was the arrow of Darong official Chao Tong. Rage surged through Meruze. "Great King, I never imagined the Ling people would deceive us. Let us turn our army back now. This time, we will leave not a single scrap of their armor intact, and we will certainly seize the real Zumu." What Meruze didn't say aloud was that first, he would tear this letter-writer, Darong's King Chao Tong, limb from limb, so he could never scheme again!

 

"They say the wisdom of Hor's Sinba Meruze is unmatched under heaven. Yet, since you joined this campaign, you've never achieved a single military merit. Instead, you've repeatedly let the enemy succeed. I suspect you knew about this deception all along. None of us have seen Zumu, but you have! While our being fooled is understandable, you... weren't you deliberately deceiving me alongside them?" White Tent King, recalling Meruze's several attempts to persuade him to withdraw, grew deeply suspicious.

 

"Great King, Zumu is a consort, soon to be your queen. How could I dare to scrutinize her? Besides, in my eyes, all women under heaven are much the same, differing only in dress and adornment. Once that maidservant wore the queen's garments, how could I possibly tell them apart?" Seeing White Tent King suspect him of deception, Meruze hurriedly explained.

 

White Tent King listened, but doubts still lingered in his heart.

 

"Very well, then you shall lead a hundred thousand troops to the Ling Kingdom and seize Zumu. We will wait for you here!"

 

Upon hearing this, Meruze thought it might be for the best. With fewer troops, there would be less harm to the Ling common folk. This time, however, they absolutely must bring back the real Zumu; only then could the Ling Kingdom be preserved to the greatest extent.

 

Chao Tong's Scheme and the Siege of Dazi

 

Watching the Hor army sweep back like a tide, Darong's King Chao Tong was overjoyed. He finally had another chance for revenge against Gesar. His previous letter to the Northern Demon King had led to Lutsan abducting Consort Meisa, which had pleased Chao Tong for a while but hadn't fully quenched his hatred, nor had he gained anything himself. This time, the Hor King's invasion to seize a bride had delighted Chao Tong once more, as it was a truly rare opportunity. As the prize of the horse race, Zumu had been taken by Gesar as his queen. Watching helplessly as the most beautiful maiden in Ling was snatched away by Gesar, Chao Tong could only swallow his rage. Now, this was perfect. If he couldn't have her, then Gesar shouldn't either. Chao Tong desperately wished the Hor would quickly take Zumu away and slaughter all of Ling's heroes and warriors, big and small, so he could seize the throne and rule over everything. However, the foolish White Tent King, utterly beguiled by Zumu, had happily withdrawn his million-strong army with a mere maidservant, leaving Chao Tong bitterly disappointed.

 

How could the notoriously ruthless and cunning Darong King Chao Tong allow the Hor to retreat so easily? He longed to tell White Tent King plainly: "You've been deceived, tricked by a woman." But Chao Tong lacked the courage; he didn't dare betray Zumu and the Ling Kingdom in broad daylight. After waiting several days, his opportunity finally arrived—he shot the arrow with the letter. Thereafter, he waited sleeplessly, day and night, for the Hor to swiftly return. Now, he had his wish: Sinba Meruze was back with a hundred thousand troops.

 

Sinba Meruze had no desire to fight the Ling Kingdom. He only wished to persuade Zumu to come with them peacefully, avoiding the clash of swords and spears, and sparing both Hor and Ling people from further bloodshed and death. Therefore, Meruze did not raise a great clamor. Instead, he quietly advanced on Ling and directly surrounded Dazi City—the castle where Zumu resided.

 

One morning, Zumu pushed open her window to enjoy the view. Her mood had improved these past few days, though she felt slightly uneasy missing Lizhongji. She took a deep breath and was instantly stunned: the surroundings were filled with Hor troops—a sea of heads, a forest of spears and blades, countless soldiers and horses. Zumu felt a surge of terror, wondering if she was dreaming again. At that moment, Sinba Meruze emerged from the midst of the army and sang loudly to Zumu:

 

Oh, young and beautiful Queen Zumu,

Listen to this song from Sinba.

Since the war between Hor and Ling began,

Hundreds of heroes have lost their lives,

Thousands of men have shed their blood,

Countless mothers have lost beloved sons,

The realm shakes like milk mixed with blood,

Heaven and earth turn over like cymbals clashing.

Where does the root of this lie?

Green seedlings adorn the earth,

Hoping for a bountiful harvest of rice,

Who knew they'd be destroyed by harsh frost—

This is a sin committed by the heavens.

Beautiful flowers adorn the jade vase,

Hoping the blossoms would bloom gloriously,

Who knew they'd be destroyed by hail—

This is a sin committed by dark clouds.

Long fish adorn the river waters,

Hoping the golden-eyed fish would swim in circles,

Who knew they'd be hooked through the gills—

Blame the flesh being too fragrant and fresh.

The king of birds, the vulture, adorns the stone mountain,

Hoping its feathers would be preserved,

Who knew its claws would be caught in a net at a perilous spot—

Because its feathers can make sharp arrows.

The Ling army adorns Jambudvipa,

Hoping the Ling Kingdom would find peace,

Who knew the powerful Hor would invade—

This disaster was sparked by you, Queen Zumu.

 

As he sang, Sinba Meruze watched Zumu intently. Seeing her listening attentively, he knew his words had moved her. But he also had to make it clear that further deception was futile; the Hor were not so easily fooled:

 

Waiting repeatedly for the bright, clear moon,

We got stars that cannot dispel the dark night.

Longing to obtain beautiful white jade,

Who knew we'd get a string of white stone prayer beads.

Longing to obtain the melodious cuckoo,

Who knew a mountain sparrow would fly in.

Longing to obtain Sangjang Zumu,

Who knew Lizhongji impersonated the queen.

Good words and bad, a mute knows in his heart;

Love or hate, even a child understands clearly.

With good words I sincerely advise you, Zumu,

Do not hesitate, set forth on your journey soon.

​

Zumu listened carefully to Sinba Meruze's song. In her heart, she felt his words held truth. Yet, she could not go with the Sinba to the Hor Kingdom. She would rather die than follow the murderous White Tent King. With this thought, Zumu sang in reply:

 

I, Sangjang Zumu, queen of Ling,

Am an incarnation of the White Tara Mother of the East.

With the Lion King of Jambudvipa,

I swore solemn vows to serve the Buddha,

To establish the true teachings of Shakyamuni,

To let the black-headed masses enjoy peace.

I and the Great Lion King Gesar,

Are like the bright moon paired with the sun,

Descended from the celestial realm to the human world,

Not for ourselves, but for the public good.

The white lion on the snow mountain peak,

Though lacking a magnificent green mane,

Cannot adorn the snow mountain more beautifully,

Will never go down to the plains.

The fierce tiger in the sandalwood forest,

Though lacking splendid stripes,

Cannot adorn the forest more beautifully,

Will never go to the grasslands.

The white lotus in the clear pond,

Though not growing dense branches and leaves,

Cannot adorn the offering vase more beautifully,

Will never fall into the hands of demons.

I, Zumu, am the queen of the Ling Kingdom,

Though I have no great reputation,

Cannot adorn Dazi City more beautifully,

Will never go to Hor's Yaze City.

 

Failed Persuasion and the King's Impatience

 

Hearing this, Sinba Meruze suppressed his rising anger and continued patiently:

 

Better than meditating atop a cliff,

Is to resolve disputes for the common people more often.

How can Sacred Ling find peace?

How can Hor depart safely?

How can the heroes led by Gyatsa,

Live safe, long lives, equal to the heavens?

I sincerely advise you, Zumu,

Carefully weigh what is urgent here.

Peace and war balance on a spear's tip,

The boundary between life and death lies in this instant.

 

"Zumu, Queen of Ling, do not think I desire war. For peace's sake, I have advised the Great King countless times. But the king has sworn not to rest until he wins you—this is a resolve that cannot be turned. All in Hor know I, Meruze, have five extremes: in joy, I am most kind; in anger, most ruthless; against enemies, I am a most cruel thunderbolt; towards spoils of war, I am most selfless; towards the common people, I am as soft as silk. Now, Hor and Ling have fought for three years. The bones of the dead pile into mountains, blood has flowed into rivers. Do you truly wish our two lands to continue fighting?"

 

Zumu heard the sincerity in Meruze's words and believed he spoke truthfully. Thinking of the countless Ling lives lost over these three years, all for her sake... My king, Gesar, are you truly not returning? Have you truly abandoned Ling? Since you went north to subdue demons, I have waited three years. Since Hor invaded, Chief Steward and brother Gyatsa have led Ling's heroes in fierce resistance for another three years. Six years, a full six years. Why has the king not returned?

 

Vajra Dakinis of the East, Jewel Dakinis of the South, Lotus Dakinis of the West, Action Dakinis of the North, Dakinis of the Five Great Bliss Families! For me, the suffering Zumu, the time for compassion is now, the time for pity has come; the time for protection is now, the time for granting blessings has come; the time for shelter is now, the time for empowerment has come; the time for aid is now, the time for fulfillment has come. Pity me, Sangjang Zumu. I wish to die, but my life force persists; I wish to fly, but alas, my wings cannot lift high; I wish to flee, but I am surrounded layer upon layer. What to do? What to do?

 

Zumu was at her wits' end. After Hor's retreat, Ling's armies had disbanded and returned home. No one expected the Hor army to return so swiftly. There was no time to summon the troops again.

 

"Meruze, how can you still spare the leisure to bandy words with her? Act quickly, seize her!" Just as Sinba Meruze was still trying to persuade Zumu, White Tent King himself arrived at the head of another hundred thousand troops. It turned out the king, still uneasy and fearing Meruze's force might be too small to succeed and even suffer harm from the Ling people, had mustered a hundred thousand elite soldiers soon after Meruze's departure and followed.

 

"Great King, we still must not be too hasty. As the proverb says: 'For the yellow wild yak's fat meat, there is time to boil it, and time to let it cool; butter placed on the tea stove, there is time to brew the tea, and time to savor its taste; a sharp arrow nocked on the bow, there is time to aim, and time to shoot.' Please return to your great tent and rest a moment. Let me advise Zumu a few more words. If she complies and comes willingly, all the better. If not, then we seize her without delay."

​

White Tent King saw the reason in this and reluctantly returned to his tent. Before he could even settle on his tiger-skin cushion, a sharp arrow—whistling, flashing like lightning, thundering—flew into White Tent King's great tent and embedded itself in the pillar above his seat, startling the king so much he slid from his cushion onto the floor.

 

"Quick, summon Meruze at once!" White Tent King ordered.

 

As soon as Sinba Meruze entered the great tent, he saw the arrow lodged in the pillar. "Great King, this is Gesar's divine arrow. We should leave Ling territory quickly. Otherwise, once Gesar returns, it will be hard to manage."

 

"And Zumu?!"

 

"She says she needs to think more."

 

"Think more, think more! She has been thinking for three years! She is deliberately stalling, waiting for Gesar to return. Now, the divine arrow has arrived, so Gesar cannot be far. We cannot linger here. Tomorrow, we withdraw and return to Hor." Though White Tent King was mighty, the sight of that divine arrow seemed to slice away his courage, leaving him less defiant.

 

"In my opinion, Great King, it would be better not to seize Zumu. Gesar is not far now; how could he allow us to take his beloved queen? If you insist on having Zumu, it will spark an even greater war."

 

"Then... I shall think on it too." This time, White Tent King truly listened to Meruze's words and genuinely considered returning home. He had been on campaign for three years and was growing homesick.

 

Treachery Triumphs and Zumu's Capture

 

Just as White Tent King sank into contemplation, a sharp "whoosh" accompanied by a piercing gust of wind shattered his thoughts. Another red copper-tailed arrow, carrying a sheaf of hateful yellow paper, shot into the great tent. Seeing the arrow and the paper, Sinba Meruze knew it portended no good and wished he could capture and execute Chao Tong immediately.

 

White Tent King had already taken the letter, confirming Meruze's fears. After reading it, the king's worried expression vanished. Waving the yellow papers, he laughed wildly and shouted, "The deities are aiding me! I must seize the beauty Zumu!"

 

Sinba Meruze took the letter from the king's hand. Malicious words leaped from the page. The letter stated that the previous arrow was indeed Gesar's divine arrow, but Gesar himself was still far away! If he were near, he wouldn't have shot an arrow. If they pulled out that arrow and placed it under the feet of a demon deity, it could suppress the arrow and also suppress Gesar. Seizing Zumu would then bring no disaster.

 

"Great King, let us first pull out this arrow," Meruze said. Though he detested the letter's venom, for the sake of swift peace and an end to fighting, he thought to follow its suggestion. Two guards stepped forward and tugged for a long while, but the arrow didn't budge.

 

"Meruze, you pull out this divine arrow!" White Tent King commanded.

 

Meruze stepped forward and pulled twice. The arrow remained immovable, and the great hero broke into a sweat from the effort.

 

"Come, I must do it myself." Thinking Meruze hadn't used enough force, White Tent King personally stretched out his pillar-like arms, grabbed the divine arrow, and yanked with all his might. The divine arrow remained utterly undamaged and unmoved. The force of his pull sent White Tent King tumbling to the floor. Only then did he understand the arrow's power.

 

White Tent King thought to himself: If this divine arrow is so formidable, the Lion King must be even more incredibly fierce. If we don't seize Zumu quickly, once he returns, we won't be able to leave.

 

"Meruze, quickly! Order the attack on the city! Seize Zumu immediately! No more thinking for her.

 

"Your Majesty, are you still determined to marry Zumu?"

 

"Say no more. If we do not seize Zumu, the three-plus years we've spent here, the soldiers and horses lost or wounded, and all the provisions expended would be meaningless. Our entire campaign to the Ling Kingdom would have been in vain."

 

At the White Tent King's command, the vast Hor army once again tightly encircled the city of Dazi, inside and out. Queen Zumu was prepared for the enemy. Donning the Great Lion King's armor and taking up his bow and arrows, which had been left at home, she suddenly appeared atop the city wall of Dazi:

 

"Hear me, Hor king and ministers,

I am the Great Lion King Gesar.

The northern demons have been subdued,

Now I return to protect my homeland.

You invaded Ling without cause,

My wrath burns three thousand zhang high.

With my Red Bird Seven Divine Arrows,

I shall shoot dead the culprit, the White Tent King."

 

Seeing the helmeted, armored figure with bow in hand, the Hor soldiers believed Gesar had truly returned. Instantly, morale crumbled and they scattered in all directions. Even the White Tent King lost his composure. Just as the Hor forces were on the verge of rout, Chao Tong seized the moment to inform the White Tent King that the figure on the wall was not the Great Lion King, but Queen Zumu. He urged the Hor not to retreat, but to advance. This time, Chao Tong did not shoot an arrow, but instead sang a song.

 

Hearing Chao Tong's song, the White Tent King's resolve steadied, and the Hor soldiers' fear subsided. The White Tent King and Sinba Meruze led the charge toward the city wall. Zumu shot four arrows in succession, killing over four hundred Hor soldiers. However, as she was about to loose her fifth arrow, she was captured by the White Tent King.

 

The White Tent King ordered the copper horns blown for an immediate retreat.

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