412 the turkic tribes
reaches of the Orkhon River. But although the Eastern Turks did their
best to control the T’ieh-le, these frequently rose against them and had
no difficulty in sending envoys to and in some cases forming military
alliances with China. Although the sources use the term T’ieh-le for
all the tribes collectively, it primarily refers to the Hsüeh-yen-t’o.
In 607, the T’ieh-le envoys to the Sui court offered peace and
regional objects. Emperor Yang sent a Gentleman-in-Attendance at
the Yellow Gates to conclude an alliance with them against the T’u-
yü-hun (Sui shu 83:4b; 84:19a; Wen-hsien t’ung-k’ao 334:26a; 344:14a).
In 609, the T’ieh-le participated in the Chinese war against the
T’u-yü-hun (Sui shu 3:13b; 83:4b-5a; Tzu-chih t’ung-chien p.5841).
When in 628 the power of the Eastern Turkish Qaghan was declin-
ing, Yi-nan of the Hsüeh-yen-t’o was elected rival qaghan. His envoys
offered gifts to the T’ang court. In the 12th month (Dec./Jan., 629)
of that Chinese year, Emperor Tai-tsung of T’ang recognized him
as Chen-chu-p’i-chia Qaghan or P’i-chia for short (Ts’e-fu yüan-kuei
p.5023;Tzu-chih t’ung-chien p.6061).
On Aug.31, 629, a younger brother of P’i-chia was received at the
T’ang court and offered gifts. T’ai-tsung presented him with a precious
sword and a precious horse whip. He joked that it was the custom of
the Hsüeh-yen-t’o to decapitate those who had committed great crimes
and to whip those who had committed lesser crimes (Chiu T’ang shu
2:10a; 199B:1b; T’ung-tien 197:40b; Ts’e-fu yüan-kuei p.5023; Tzu-chih
t’ung-chien p.6065; Wen-hsien t’ung-k’ao 343:7b).
In the 2nd (Mar./Apr.) and 9th month Oct./Nov.) of 630, Hsüeh-
yen-t’o envoys offered regional objects (Ts’e-fu yüan-kuei p.5023).
In the 10th month (Oct./Nov.) of 631, Hsüeh-yen-t’o envoys offered
gifts (Ts’e-fu yüan-kuei p.5024).
In the 1st (Jan./Feb.) and 11th month (Dec./Jan., 633) of the
Chinese year 632, Hsüeh-yen-t’o envoys offered gifts (Ts’e-fu yüan-
kuei p.5024).
In the 4th (Apr./May) and 9th month (Oct./Nov.) of 635, Hsüeh-
yen-t’o envoys offered regional objects (Ts’e-fu yüan-kuei p.5024).
At this time, the Hsüeh-yen-t’o were attacked by A-shih-na Mi-she, a
son of the Ch’u-lo Qaghan of the Western Turks. They defeated him,
whereupon he fled to Turfan and then in the 1st month (Feb./Mar.)
of 636 to China^42 (T’ang-hui-yao 94:4b; Tzu-chih t’ung-chien p.6117).
(^42) He was appointed General-in-chief of the Left Inspecting the Gates, attended