It is said that General Youqi, Xiang Qiang, had been ordered to proceed to the Holy Flame Radiant Hall of the Zoroastrian Temple. The place stood high above the surrounding land, commanding the approaches and easily defended against attack. The Tibetan army had besieged Lingwu for several months and had originally intended to seize this high ground and install catapults there with which to bombard the city. Yet their scheme was exposed before it could be carried out. Having received secret intelligence, heroes from the Central Plains came rushing to the scene from every direction.
The Tibetan and Western Regions allied forces, led by the Tibetan State Preceptor, Dharma King Marpa, had been expected to strike first. The outcome should have been certain. But who could have imagined that the Beggars' Sect Leader and the other heroes of the Central Plains would arrive one after another to reinforce the defenders? Thus, this elaborate scheme had ultimately gone awry. Their original hope that the Tibetan army would arrive in time to reinforce their own forces had likewise ended in failure.
The Tibetan State Preceptor, Dharma King Marpa, was ambitious and fond of taking credit for himself, yet lacked true military ability. He was, however, exceedingly skilled in schemes and stratagems, and had repeatedly urged the Tibetan king, Trisong Detsen, to invade the Central Plains. Now that his plans had failed, it would be difficult for him to accomplish the great victory he had promised, and he feared that he would have much to answer for before the Tibetan king.
Dharma King Marpa was consumed by ambition. He had persuaded the Tibetan king, Trisong Detsen, to send his armies into the Central Plains, hoping to seize the empire of the Great Tang.
After General Xiang Qiang and the heroes of the Central Plains exchanged their farewells, a portion of the soldiers remained behind to guard the Holy Flame Radiant Hall. The heroes of the Central Plains then departed for their respective destinations. Only Li Jian and the men of the Beggars' Sect accompanied General Xiang Qiang into the city of Lingwu.
That evening, the commander of the Shuofang military command was General Chang Qian-guang, also known as the Military Governor of Lingwu. General Chang was well acquainted with the Beggars' Sect Leader. He therefore hosted a great banquet at his official residence.
Five tables were laid out in the hall. The feast was held not only to welcome the members of the Beggars' Sect, but also to honor the officers and soldiers who had fought bravely to break the enemy's attack.
General Chang Qian-guang had served under the great General Guo Ziyi and had won many distinguished victories in battle. He had since been appointed Military Governor of Shuofang, entrusted with the defense of the strategic strongholds along the northwestern frontier.
During the banquet, General Chang rose with a cup in his hand and looked around the hall.
"Gentlemen and soldiers," he said, "today we raise our cups to honor the heroes of the Beggars' Sect. More than ten years ago, they organized volunteers and aided the Tang army in suppressing the rebels, helping restore the Great Tang. Let us raise our cups to the Beggars' Sect Leader and the Four Great Elders!"
Everyone raised his cup.
"To the heroes of the Beggars' Sect!"
They drained their cups together.
General Chang continued, "In yesterday's battle, three more heroes distinguished themselves by defeating the Tibetan and Western Regions allied forces. I now invite these three heroes to rise..."
Li Jian, Tan Wei, and Lu Rou heard this and rose from their seats. Facing the assembled officers and soldiers, they bowed respectfully.
General Chang pointed toward Li Jian.
"This is Li Jian, the newly appointed Lord of the Hall of Loyalty and Righteousness. He was personally chosen by Hall Master Wu Tong to succeed him as master of the Hall. Such an honor is proof enough of Lord Li's extraordinary abilities. His martial prowess is unparalleled, and his talent is second to none. Among the heroes of our age, he surely stands among the very greatest."
Li Jian's face reddened slightly at these words. He cupped his hands and said modestly,
"General, you flatter me. I am unworthy of such praise."
General Chang then turned toward Tan Wei.
"This lady is the heroine Tan Wei. She is the sworn daughter of Han Zhen, a former Hall Master of the Hall of Loyalty and Righteousness. She is also Lord Li's beloved companion. The two of them have traveled the martial world together, upholding justice and aiding those in need."
Tan Wei cupped her hands.
"You are too kind, General."
Finally, General Chang turned toward Lu Rou.
"And this is Lu Rou, a Branch Master of the Beggars' Sect. Yesterday, he defeated five of Dharma King Marpa's disciples with his bare hands. He then wielded the Dog-Beating Staff Technique and swept aside Lin Ping, Elder Qilin of the Nine Heavens Palace.
"I have heard from our former Sect Leader Fei Jin that Lu Branch Master is soon to succeed him as Leader of the greatest sect in the world. Allow me, then, to offer my congratulations in advance."
Lu Rou cupped his hands.
"My thanks, General!"
At that moment, General Youqi Xiang Yong called out loudly,
"Let us raise our cups to these three heroes!"
Everyone shouted,
"To the three heroes!"
Once again, all the officers and soldiers drained their cups.
Heroes recognized heroes, and the admiration between them ran deep. Before long, one man offered a cup, another returned it, and the drinking became increasingly spirited. Men of the martial world were not accustomed to refusing a toast.
After several cups of wine, everyone's tongue was loosened. One spoke, another answered; laughter and conversation filled the hall. With all manner of delicious dishes spread across the tables, the feast continued deep into the evening.
The heroes drank their fill and talked with great enthusiasm. The details need not be recounted here.
The following day, the Tibetans launched another attack on the city.
A Tibetan general rode forth from the ranks. He appeared to be about thirty years of age, with the fierce countenance of a leopard, round, glaring eyes, a broad jaw, and a thick beard resembling the whiskers of a tiger. He looked every inch a hardened warrior.
He rode beneath the city walls and loudly challenged the Tang army to battle.
Yet the Tang defenders merely raised a "No-Battle" placard upon the battlements. No matter how loudly the Tibetan warrior shouted his insults, not a single Tang soldier came forth to fight.
That afternoon, the Tibetan general Ma Chongying led his troops to the city walls. Seeing no soldiers upon the battlements, he immediately grew suspicious.
He therefore ordered his deputy general, Gongbu, to lead five thousand soldiers in the first assault.
Gongbu commanded the Tibetan soldiers to prepare their siege ladders. Five thousand warriors formed ranks before the walls.
At his command, a tremendous battle cry erupted.
Before long, the siege ladders were raised against the city walls, and the Tibetan soldiers began climbing.
Suddenly—
BOOM!
A cannon blast thundered from the battlements.
The Tibetan soldiers were caught completely by surprise. One after another, they tumbled from the ladders and fell to their deaths below.
At almost the same moment, another cannon blast rang out from within the city.
The city gates suddenly swung open.
The drawbridge was lowered.
General Youqi Xiang Yong led a force of Tang soldiers charging out of the city like a sudden flood.
Gongbu's troops were thrown into complete chaos. They were unable to advance or retreat in good order and were soon routed, fleeing in utter disorder.
By nightfall, the Tibetan general Ma Chongying gave further orders.
His deputy generals, Duoji and Pacho, were each to take five thousand soldiers and stand ready for another assault.
At the third watch of the night, Duoji received the order. He immediately broke camp and led his five thousand men toward the South Gate.
At the same time, Pacho led another five thousand soldiers toward the North Gate.
At the appointed hour, the Tibetan soldiers wrapped oil-soaked cloth around their arrowheads and set them ablaze.
A moment later, flaming arrows filled the night sky like a storm.
The arrows fell upon the city like rain.
Several houses caught fire, and cries of alarm rose from the streets as the inhabitants rushed to fight the flames.
Taking advantage of the confusion within the city, the Tibetan soldiers once again brought forward their siege ladders.
Their battle cries shook the heavens.
Before long, the ladders were once again placed against the walls, and the Tibetan soldiers began climbing.
Although many were struck down and fell from the ladders to their deaths, a number of Tibetan warriors succeeded in reaching the top of the walls and forcing their way inside.
A fierce battle immediately erupted upon the battlements.
The Tang soldiers fought desperately against the Tibetan invaders.
At that very moment, the Leader of the Beggars' Sect, the Four Great Elders, Lu Rou, Li Jian, and Tan Wei stepped forward and fought alongside the Tang army.
The Tibetan warriors were exceptionally brave and fierce. Yet when it came to swordplay, saber techniques, and hand-to-hand combat, they were still no match for these renowned heroes of the martial world.
The battle raged throughout the night.
Only at dawn did the Tang forces finally succeed in eliminating the Tibetan soldiers who had entered the city.
Everyone had fought throughout the night and was exhausted.
Yet the Tibetan general Ma Chongying showed no intention of giving them respite.
He once again ordered his deputy general Gongbu to lead ten thousand soldiers in a fresh assault.
This time, however, the Tang army adopted a purely defensive strategy.
Again and again, the Tibetans raised their siege ladders against the city walls.
Again and again, their soldiers attempted to climb.
Yet each assault ended in failure.
The Tibetan army suffered heavy casualties and was unable to breach the defenses.
At last, the drums of retreat sounded, and the metallic clash of the gongs rang through the battlefield.
The Tibetan forces had no choice but to withdraw for the time being.