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Marshal Qi, a MythSource painting
Mongghul

Marshal Qi

01Identity

Marshal Qi in Mongghul tradition

Marshal Qi is the hero of a Mongghul song about a campaign to Luoyang. The book’s editors explain that the song blends elements linked to Qi Bingzhong, ancestors and descendants of the Qi tusi family; it is not a one-person historical biography. In the song, Qi is portrayed as nearly eighty, but he accepts an imperial order to lead the expedition and promises to protect Luoyang’s people.

A three-day deadline leaves him with no way across the Black River. Scouts first find no ice and fear punishment, then falsely report a frozen bridge; at the river, they discover one has formed. At Shaliu Bridge, Qi uses horse dung to make the river look crossed, confusing the guards so his soldiers can rush over. Rain and delayed supplies further test the march. At Luoyang, Qi hides lanterns on goats so the lights across the hills resemble a much larger force. The defenders flee, his soldiers extinguish the fires and rebuild the Snow Horse Hall with their weapons. The returning troops arrive in Xining to a welcome and the birth of a son.

SourceLong Narrative Songs from the Mongghul of Northeast Tibet [OAPEN]: Chapter 2, The Ballad of Marshal Qi, printed pp. 111-150

Top questions

The quick answers

02The myths

The myths of Marshal Qi

1 myth, with sources recorded for each.

Marshal Qi Crosses the Black River and Takes Luoyang

The Mongghul song begins with Marshal Qi under an imperial order to lead troops to Luoyang. It portrays him as nearly eighty and physically weakened, but he says he will go to protect the city’s people. He chooses young soldiers, prepares horses and weapons, and commands that the troops must not harm civilians. His wives fear for him and ask him to stay, but the order has come three times and he sets out.

At the Black River there is no bridge, and an opposing commander gives him three days to cross. The scouts find no ice and, afraid to return with that news, lie that the river has frozen. When the army arrives, an ice bridge really has formed. They cross carefully, then find bandits holding Shaliu Bridge, their only route onward. Qi considers the problem through the night, rejects an assault or building ships, and orders the soldiers to collect horse dung. They push it into the river, turning the water yellow. The guards mistake the discoloured water for proof that Qi’s troops have already crossed; in the confusion, the soldiers rush over the bridge and the bandits flee.

Rain and delayed provisions slow the march. A dream offers spotted deer as food, but the grain eventually arrives. At Luoyang, Qi rejects a direct assault on the brick walls. He has lanterns fastened to goats and drives them across the hills at night, making the small army seem vast. The defenders flee. Qi’s troops extinguish fires in the city and rebuild the Snow Horse Hall with their weapons. The rebellion is suppressed, and the army returns toward Xining, avoiding armed groups along the way. The song ends with the troops welcomed home and Marshal Qi embracing his newborn son.

Marshal Qi Crosses the Black River and Takes Luoyang, a MythSource painting of the scene

25 sources· checked 2026-10-03

  1. 1Long Narrative Songs from the Mongghul of Northeast Tibet [OAPEN]T1
  2. 2Long Narrative Songs from the Mongghul of Northeast Tibet [OAPEN]T1
  3. 3Long Narrative Songs from the Mongghul of Northeast Tibet [OAPEN]T1
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