the turkic tribes 423given him a daughter in marriage. She was a real daughter of a Son
of Heaven and not, as in other cases, a lady of the imperial house who
had been entitled princess. She was also talented, virtuous, and good-
looking and had come over a vast distance to marry the qaghan. That
made him a son-in-law of the emperor. How could he thus receive
the edict squatting on a couch? The qaghan thereupon was ashamed,
rose, saluted, and accepted the edict (Chiu T’ang shu 195:4b; Hsin T’ang
shu 217A:4a; Tzu-chih t’ung-chien p.7059; Wen-hsien t’ung-k’ao 347:28b).
It is not probable that Li Yü lectured the qaghan and that the latter
meekly accepted it. On the contrary, the qaghan knew that he had the
upper hand and surely demanded and received homage from Yü.
On the following day, the Princess of Ning-kuo, was made the
qatun. The silken fabrics and gold and silver vessels which Li Yü
had presented were by the qaghan distributed among his chiefs and
officials. When Yü returned, the qaghan presented him with 500
horses, 100 sable furs, white cotton fabrics, etc. (Chiu T’ang shu 195:
4b-5a;Hsin T’ang shu 217A:4b; Tzu-chih t’ung-chien p.7059; Wen-hsien
t’ung-k’ao347:28b).
In the 8th month (Sep./Oct.) of 758, fresh Uighur forces arrived
in China, commanded by the qaghan’s third son, the prince (tegin)
Ku-ch’o, and the chief minister Ti-te. Su-tsung gave them a banquet
(Chiu T’ang shu 195:5a; T’ang hui-yao 98:3b-4a).
On Oct.21, 758, a great chief of the Uighurs was received at the
T’ang court. He conveyed the thanks of the qaghan for the marriage
with the princess and also informed that the Uighurs had defeated
the Kirghiz. The envoys were given a banquet and received gifts in
accordance with their ranks (Chiu T’ang shu 195:5a).
On Jan.29, 759,^57 three ladies sent by the qaghan thanked for the
marriage with the Princess of Ning-kuo. They were given a banquet
(Chiu T’ang shu 195:4a).
From 758 to 760, the Uighurs annually requested joint border
markets. Uighur envoys also frequently arrived in Ch’ang-an to
trade horses for silk. The usual contingent was several 10,000 horses
and the agreed price 40 bolts of pongee for one horse. Many envoys
were waiting in the Ministry of the Herald for payment. The Chinese
complained that the horses were inferior, weak, and useless, and that
(^57) Correcting chia-wu to chia-tzu. See also Mackerras, Uighur empire, p.135 note
64.