Just then, the sound of hurried hoofbeats suddenly came from outside the Holy Fire Hall of the Fire-Worshipping Sect. The pounding of hooves approached from not far away. Along a narrow, winding mountain path, a rider came galloping toward them. He was none other than a Tibetan commander. Riding at the head of a large contingent of Tibetan soldiers, he charged straight into the square before the Holy Fire Hall.
The general at the front had thick, bushy eyebrows, fierce tiger-like eyes, and a powerful, muscular build. He hurried toward King Marpa and clasped his hands in salute.
"King Marpa, I have been ordered to bring these troops here. We await your command and will obey your every order."
When the heroes suddenly saw a Tibetan commander leading troops into the Fire-Worshipping Sect's Holy Fire Hall, they could not help but be startled. In an instant, panic spread among the members of the Fire-Worshipping Sect, and the Holy Fire Hall descended into chaos.
King Marpa's expression darkened once again. He suddenly turned around, his eyes wide with fury, and shouted in a thunderous voice,
"Listen well! If you do not withdraw immediately, none shall be spared!"
Moments earlier, the Central Plains martial-arts alliance had been slaughtering the Tibetan forces, sending them fleeing in disorder, their helmets and armor abandoned along the way. Who could have imagined that the situation would suddenly be reversed? In the blink of an eye, a large contingent of Tibetan soldiers had arrived.
When the heroes heard the news, they immediately began discussing the situation among themselves.
Lu Rou suddenly strode forward, his blood running hot with fighting spirit.
"The heroes of the realm are gathered here! Do you really think we're afraid of a few Tibetan soldiers? Everyone, take up your weapons and fight our way out!"
His words immediately stirred the blood of the assembled heroes. Their spirits soared, and cheers erupted from all around.
The Holy Fire Hall of the Fire-Worshipping Sect stood in a naturally fortified location. Although Tibetan soldiers were highly skilled in horseback archery, the road leading up the mountain was nothing more than a narrow, winding trail. Thus, apart from their commanding officers, most of the Tibetan troops had no choice but to dismount and proceed on foot.
At that moment, the northern wind came howling down the mountain. The two sides stood facing each other, swords drawn and bows ready.
King Marpa shouted,
"You had better think carefully! Our Tibetan ruler is destined to dominate the realm! You are all heroes of great renown, so leave at once. Do not throw your lives away needlessly."
After the An Lushan Rebellion, the Tibetan ruler Trisong Detsen saw how greatly the Tang Dynasty had weakened and how vulnerable its western frontier had become. In 763, the Tibetan army defeated the Tang general Lü Yuejiang at the Wei River and rapidly advanced all the way to the gates of Chang'an. Emperor Daizong of Tang fled to Shanzhou for refuge.
The Tibetans then installed Li Chenghong, the Guangwu Prince and nephew of Princess Jincheng, as emperor of the Tang Dynasty. Yu Kefu was appointed chancellor, and a new era name was proclaimed, accompanied by a general amnesty.
However, the Tibetan troops were unaccustomed to the intense summer heat of Chang'an, while Tang forces led by Guo Ziyi and other loyalist commanders were rapidly approaching the capital. After remaining in Chang'an for only fifteen days, the Tibetan commander Dazhaluogong was forced to withdraw his troops. Before leaving, however, the Tibetan army looted Chang'an and had an inscription carved in stone to commemorate its victory.
Ever since the Tibetans withdrew from Chang'an, their armies had returned every autumn to raid and harass the Tang frontier.
Because the Tang Dynasty and Tibet had a deep and bitter history of bloodshed, the assembled heroes readily agreed. One after another, they drew their weapons and prepared to attack.
The Tibetan ranks could not help but tense when they saw this.
At that moment, Beggar Sect Leader Fei Jin stepped forward from the crowd and called out,
"Marpa, your Tibetan soldiers are indeed formidable when fighting on horseback. But this is hardly a battlefield suited to your army. Your Tibetan troops cannot make full use of their strengths here. If they attack, they will only sacrifice their lives for nothing."
Fei Jin hesitated inwardly.
We martial heroes of the jianghu are accustomed to fighting one-on-one. We compete with blades and fists, internal power and hidden weapons. But fighting like soldiers—on horseback and on foot, with long spears and heavy weapons—is not our strength. If we really engage them in battle, we may not have any certainty of victory. The outcome could go either way.
Yet was this not precisely what King Marpa himself was worried about?
He did not dare order his troops forward, but neither was he willing to engage in open battle. After a moment, he spoke in a deep voice.
"Old hero, your reputation is truly well deserved. You are a hero without equal, and I, Marpa, sincerely admire you. Since matters have come to this, allow me to offer you one piece of advice. Why not put down your weapons and leave? This is a contest between Tibet and the Tang army. It has nothing to do with you."
What Fei Jin had said was indeed true. If the two sides actually fought, the Tibetans had no guarantee of victory. For the moment, King Marpa was doing nothing more than putting on a show of strength.
As they were speaking, another burst of hoofbeats suddenly came from nearby.
A general appeared from behind the mountain, riding swiftly toward them. Behind him fluttered a great banner bearing a single character:
Tang.
He was a commander of the Tang army.
Riding at the head of his forces, he charged forward while the soldiers behind him raised a deafening battle cry. More than a thousand troops surged into the square before the Holy Fire Hall.
The general at their head was vigorous and imposing, his eyes sharp as blades, his muscular frame radiating strength. He strode rapidly into the square and came directly before the Holy Fire Hall.
The Tang soldiers immediately formed ranks. Their military bearing was magnificent, and their sheer presence was intimidating.
The general dismounted and called out in a clear, commanding voice,
"I am Xiang Qiang, a Tang general and a Youji Jiangjun! You Tibetan soldiers have invaded Tang territory at will. Withdraw immediately, or you shall be put to the sword!"
During the time of An Lushan's rebellion, Xiang Qiang had been merely a low-ranking military officer. Now he had risen to the rank of Youji Jiangjun, a senior military commander.
Beggar Sect Leader Fei Jin could not help but smile.
At the most critical moment, General Xiang Qiang had arrived—with Tang frontier troops at his back.
Both sides had summoned reinforcements. Although the Tibetan commander had arrived first with his troops, the Fire-Worshipping Sect was not without its own connections. They had urgently appealed to the garrison at Lingwu for assistance, and Chang Qian'guang, Acting Military Governor of Shuofang, had ordered Youji Jiangjun Xiang Qiang to personally lead troops to their aid.
Thus, Xiang Qiang had immediately mobilized his forces and rushed to the Holy Fire Hall.
The Tibetan commander had led his troops into Tang territory and was confident in his own strength. Hearing Xiang Qiang's challenge, he was furious.
"I am the great Tibetan general Chi Duoqinbu! How dare you act so arrogantly before me!"
At this time, the Tibetan ruler Trisong Detsen was a ruler of extraordinary ambition and ability. Under his leadership, Tibetan armies had conquered and raided territories far and wide, and Tibet had reached the height of its power. The Tibetans had even captured the Tang capital of Chang'an.
It was no wonder, then, that Tibetan commanders had grown arrogant and regarded the Tang army with utter contempt.
At that moment, the martial heroes on both sides withdrew from the front line, leaving the confrontation entirely to the Tang and Tibetan armies.
The Tibetan soldiers stood motionless and composed.
General Xiang Qiang said,
"If it were a battle of horseback archery, the Tang army might not be your match. But when it comes to forming ranks and fighting as an organized army, I doubt your troops can defeat mine!"
The two armies were standing too close to one another for bows and arrows to be used effectively. This meant that they could only rely on close-combat weapons.
This was what was known as short-range combat.
Generally speaking, when an enemy was at a distance, soldiers could use bows and crossbows for long-range attacks. Once the enemy drew close, however, they would fight hand-to-hand with spears, swords, and other cold weapons.
Tibetan General Chi Duoqinbu considered the situation carefully.
Our army excels at mounted archery. Now that we are forced into close combat, how can we possibly be a match for the Tang troops? Even if our soldiers are exceptionally brave, at best we might only fight them to a draw.
He then strode forward and called out,
"In my opinion, there is no need for either army to waste its strength. Let us settle this simply. You and I, as commanders, shall fight one-on-one. What say you?"
The Tibetan general Chi Duoqinbu had challenged the Tang army before the entire formation. How could the Tang forces possibly show weakness?
A Tang general immediately strode forward, his presence fierce and commanding, a saber in his hand.
"I am Xiang Qiang, General of the Tang army and Youji Jiangjun! I accept your challenge!"
Hearing this, Chi Duoqinbu wasted no time. He immediately dismounted, drew his saber, and strode forward on foot.
"Your courage and military skill are truly rare in this world. I salute you!"
The two generals prepared to fight to the death before their armies.
It was autumn, and a sudden northern wind swept across the mountain. A bitter chill settled over everyone as the two commanders stood facing one another, their blades ready for battle.