The Words of Daqiqi

When Jamasp said, The dawn has broken now, and the light of the stars has faded away, he brought the army down onto the plain, beat the war drum on the elephants, and marched the troops. From there he moved on toward the battlefield, and settled that chosen army there. It was the hour when the breeze of first light carries the scent of roses from the garden to the palace. Lookouts had been posted on every side, just as is the custom of noble folk. A rider came and said to the king: My lord, an army has drawn near. Such a host, O king of the earth, as never yet came out of Turk or China. They have camped close to us, pitching their tents on mountain, valley, and plain. Their commander chose scouts and sent them out, and scout signaled to scout across the lines. Then the noble Gushtasp, the bold king, called his general, the fortunate Zarir. He gave him a banner and said: Ride out, array the elephants and set the army in order. The general went, drew up his troops, and made ready to fight the lord of China. The world's ruler gave to Esfandiar fifty thousand chosen horsemen. He handed him one wing of the army, this man with a lion's heart and an elephant's strength. The other wing he arrayed the same way, with lion-hearted, defiant warriors. He entrusted that force to Garami, who was the world's own lion and the king's equal. He gave the rear guard to Bastur, that shining lamp of royal-blooded lineage. When he had drawn up the army and climbed the hill, worn down and weary from all his toil, he took his place on the fine, gleaming throne and from there looked out over the troops. Then Arjasp, king of the brave men of China, arrayed his own army the same way. He set apart thirty thousand from Khallukh, world-tested horsemen skilled in war. He sent them off to that Bidarafsh, who held the great war drum and the bright banner. He gave him one wing of the army, a man beside whom no raging lion could stand. The other wing he gave to Gorgsar, along with a hundred thousand chosen riders. The center of his army too he arrayed with fine and hand-picked troops. He gave command to that sorcerer of his, granting whatever names and thousands he asked. He himself, with a hundred thousand fierce riders, all men who had made their mark across the world, kept watch over the rear of the army, casting his eyes on the troops on every side. He had a son, a man of great worth, one who had seen the world and known its heat and cold, a world-wise horseman whose name was Kohram, a man who had met with much hardship and ease. He made that son of his the commander, and set him as chief over that vast army.