Hindus reign on the Tibetan parade

In the fine spring of 560AD, did the fine Tibetan knights stroll down from their upland pastures keen to secure the ancient silk road and the revenues it would bring the Deli Llama as he sought to create a Tibetan empire. In their way stood the massed ranks of the local Hindus, ready to resist the usurpation of their ancient rights.

Thus it came to pass that the armies of these two civilizations did meet upon a field and join in battle – the first such battle in what came to be known as “the Tussle for the Silk Tassles”.

The Hindus under the eye of their commander Chantony Gupta deployed between a rocky hill and little wood and prepared to face the onslaught of the well-armed and armoured Tibetans commanded by Zhayne Yarlung.

Hindu line

Hindu psiloi block off any flank attack around the hill with mixed foot and mounted ready to move where needed.

Blade are front and centre, supported by elephants.

Bow line up back from the blade, but will come forward on to their flank and supporting cavalry will line up behind. Hordes and psiloi occupy the wood and will do enough to thwart Tibetans trying to come through.

After seeing the Hindu line, Zhayne declined to engage in full-frontal combat, wary of the elephants awaiting his knights in the centre of the field. Instead he paraded up and down in front of the Hindu line probing for a weakness while his light horse tried to find a way through the wood into the Hindu rear.

Tibetan line

Light horse on the Tibetan left will fake left, then come right, then left again.

Bow will advance to face off Hindu bow.

The Tibetan knights will come around the scrub and parade in front of the Hindu blade.

Light horse on the Tibetan right will attempt to cut through the wood.

The killing zone - dead centre of this shot.

The Hindu swordsmen were not afraid to engage and had to be held in check by Chantony, who carefully wheeled them forward as the enemy knights came into sight around the scrubby flat. But one pass by the enemy came too close for the swordsmen to bear and they rushed forward. Seizing the moment, Chantony ordered everyone to attack, catching the Tibetans at a disadvantage. Zhayne valiantly rallied his men and countered, but there were too many of the Hindu horde, and one by one, the knights were isolated and destroyed.

Unable to break through and assist their leader, the Tibetan light horse on the flanks lost heart and fled the field. Result: Hindus 25 – Tibetans 0.