“Father, what happened to the donkey the ox and the merchant?”
There was once a prosperous and wealthy merchant who lived in the countryside and labored on a farm. He owned many sorts of animals and also employed many men, and he had a wife and many grown-up as well as little children. This merchant was taught the language of the beasts on condition that if he revealed his secret to anyone, he would die; therefore even though he knew the language of every animal, he did not let anyone know. One day, a wolf pack came into view from a nearby land. The merchant who was comfortable with beasts of all nature, welcomed the pack into his home. The leader graciously accepted, but told the merchant would need meat to eat. His family questioned the merchant, and ask the merchant how he be so calm with a pack of wild beasts. All the other animals, the cattle, the donkey, and the ox were scared of the wolf pack. After eating their full, the pack left, but proceeded to return tomorrow, with their bellies waiting to be filled. This time, the merchant refused and the leader of the wolves, said “We will back tomorrow with more of our kind if you do not feed us.” The merchant stood his ground and during the night, along his family barricaded the house and surrounding areas. In the morning, many shadows rose as the sun rose. The merchant and his family along with his favorite animals were cuddled behind the wooden boards that the rays of the suns were slanting through. The leader told the merchant to come outside, and after much debate with those around him, walked outside. Next to the leader stood man in animal clothing, with a bow and sword slung on his back. The Mongols had come.
The Merchant with great fear in his heart spoke out to the Mongol standing before him “what do you seek here?” he asked the Mongol. The Mongol said “I have come to take what is yours. If you resist then you will die.” The merchant with nothing in his hands to do asked the Mongol “Would you not do to me what the river did to the Mongol who could not cross it?” The Mongol asked, “what did the River do to the Mongol that could not cross it?”
The Mongol Who could not Cross the River
There was once a Mongol who had been separated from his troop and was venturing in search of them. He came to a river that ran across the entire mountain. He walked to the far ends of the river and could not find a way to cross it that wasn’t straight through it. He tried to build a bridge of logs and ride them to the other side, but he realized soon after that it wouldn’t work since the stream would carry him down the waterfall. He then tried to build a rope out of the yak hair he had on him and that again failed because he wouldn’t have anything to anchor him to the other side. He then thought about trying to overpower the current and swim to the other side. But that too would not work as the current was even strong enough to throw a bear off its mark. Finally giving up as he realized he had no power in his hands he wept into the river, remembering those he loved who he left behind. As the tears flowed into the river, it took pity on him and slowed its current, allowing him to pass. It only asked of him one thing, to do right by those who are in the same position as him. Those who are helpless and powerless against the forces that try to destroy them.