The ancient chronicle turns to Bahram Chubin as he crosses the eastern borders into the realm of the Khaqan of China. Ten thousand elite horsemen, led by the Khaqan’s own son and brother alongside wise guidance councilors, ride forth to welcome the formidable Persian general. Entering the royal throne room, Bahram offers high praise, and the Khaqan rises to embrace him warmly, wiping the dust of travel from his face and inquiring about his journey and his noble companions—Izad Goshasp, Sina, and Khorrad Barzin. Seated together upon a silver throne, they forge an inviolable pact of allegiance, swearing before Almighty God to stand by each other in fortune and adversity.
The Khaqan lavishly equips Bahram with magnificent palaces, precious garments, gems, gold, and silver. Yet soon, Bahram notices a troubling spectacle: every morning, a powerful Chinese warrior named Moqatura—upon whose sword the Khaqan heavily relied—enters the court, gestures insolently, and demands a tribute of a thousand gold coins, which the intimidated ruler meekly hands over out of fear of a military rebellion. Disgusted by this submission, Bahram counsels the ruler that a sovereign must never yield the reins of authority to subordinates, setting the stage for a tense confrontation of strength and iron-tipped shafts.