Part 12: The Armies Face Off

When the face of the world turned black like a sea of tar, and neither Venus nor Mars nor Mercury could be seen, the lookout came running to Tus, his face pale as amber from the news. He said: General of the army, reinforcements have come from Iran, sent by the king. The commander smiled and told his chiefs: You, famous warriors and heroes, now that help has arrived, we will not rush into battle; sometimes we press on, sometimes we hold back. By the power of God, the mighty Rostam is coming to join our gathering. That news from the lookout gladdened every heart; old and young alike gave the good tidings. He sent out scouts across the battlefield; from the mountains rose shouting and the ring of bells. When the sun climbed onto the domed sky, dark night vanished from the world. The Khan of China called an assembly and had the ground dressed in silk brocade. He told Piran: Today we prepare for war; not a single day should be wasted. We will meet them with proud, fierce champions, famed riders who cut down their foes. Let us see whom the Iranians have gathered, and who stands with them on this field. Piran replied: The Khan of China is a wise and blessed king. We must do as he desires, for your judgment rules over us all. Then from the royal pavilion rose the thunder of war drums and trumpets. The gleaming spears and the seething army turned the face of the land black with troops. They set five saddles upon the elephants, adorning them further with Chinese brocade. The saddles were studded with topaz, made of gold-woven, turquoise-colored silk, with golden stirrups and leopard-hide straps, with golden and silver bells and chimes. On each elephant driver's head, an ornate crown, all with collars and earrings. The air was so full of silken banners it looked like a bazaar in China, red and yellow and violet. An army marched onto that battlefield so splendid it made you long for a feast instead. The earth glittered like a rooster's eye from all the colors, ornaments, elephants, and drums. The kings led their army forward; the air filled with the wail of trumpets. When Tus the commander saw them from afar, he drew up all the troops he had into ranks. The champions of Iran girded themselves for battle, and Giv raised the banner of Kaveh. From the battleground to the mountain's crest, the men of Iran stood group upon group. Warriors like Kamus, Manshur, the Khan of China, Bivard, and blessed Shangol, went up to Mount Hamavan to observe; they had not come by choice to face the enemy. When the Khan of China looked from afar and heard the roar of Iran's horsemen, he was impressed and said: Now that is an army, warlike riders thirsting for revenge. The commander Piran spoke differently: A man's true skills should not be hidden. A general who conceals a pit under thorns, then gallops his horse over it on the hunting day, does better than one who, foolishly on the day of battle, buries his enemy's skills under dust. I have never seen riders and proud champions of such courage and manliness as these. The Khan of China said to Piran: What shall we do now on this field of vengeance? Piran told him: They will not care about a small army on this battlefield. You have endured such hardship and so long a road, crossing every valley and height. Stay three days on this field; let us rest, and let the army recover. After that I will split the army in two, for now the days of dread and battle have come. From dawn until noon our world conquering riders will charge, with javelins and daggers, arrows and bows, they will press the fight against these doubters. For the second half of the day another group will fight until night rises over the mountain. In the dark night I will send fresh troops into battle so their situation grows desperate. I will not let them rest at all, my riders with their full force and gear. Kamus said to him: This is not sound counsel; I have no patience for such delay. For so few men and this kind of fighting, why should we linger so long? Let us prepare once and strike at once; let us close mountain and pass upon them. We will drive our army from here into Iran; we will leave no throne, no crown, no king. We will lay their land and home to ruin; we will fight not as men but as lions. Women and small children, old and young, king and margrave and champion alike, in Iran I will leave no home or place, no palace, no hall, no beast of burden. Why waste so many days on this, holding useless grief and sorrow and worry? Just for tonight, keep the road blocked so they cannot escape from this battlefield. When the wind of dawn begins to blow, the whole army must charge into the fray. Tomorrow you will see a mound of the slain, heaps of Iran's champions, high as a mountain. So that the Iranians, every last one, will meet nothing on this road but a mourner. The Khan told him: There is no better plan; in all the world there is no army marshaler like you. All the famous men agreed with this, that Kamus the lion slayer had laid the foundation. They rose and went from their places, and all night long they arrayed the army.