the southwest 241Han-heng back with an escort and repeated his wish for peace, but
this time his envoys were stopped and sent back (Chiu T’ang shu 12:
24a, 24b; 196B:5a, 5b; Tzu-chih t’ung-chien p.7482, 7483, 7488, 7496).
For the next ten years, there was uninterrupted fighting and no dip-
lomatic exchange between the two countries. In 790, the Tibetans
overran the Chinese protectorate of Pei-t’ing (Besbalïq) in Zungharia
(Chiu T’ang shu 195:10a),^17 whereafter the Tarim Basin again came
under Tibetan domination.
On Feb.16, 797, envoys from the Tibetan king were received at
the T’ang court, proposing peace and a marriage alliance. But when
Te-tsung was informed, he refused to receive the envoys because so
many covenants had been broken. The king died, and his son unsuc-
cessfully repeated the request (Chiu T’ang shu 13:13b; 196B:11a; Tzu-chih
t’ung-chien p.7576; Wen-hsien t’ung-k’ao 334:31a).
Renewed fighting lasted until 803, when a Tibetan envoy was
received at the T’ang court in the 5th month (May/June). In the
6th month (June/July), Te-tsung made the General-in-chief Who Is
Martial as a Dragon a Concurrent Grandee Secretary and sent him
as his envoy to the Tibetans (Chiu T’ang shu 196B:12b; Wen-hsien t’ung-
k’ao 334:31a).^18 Henceforth, relations improved.
In early 804, Tibetan envoys announced that the king of Tibet had
died and had been succeeded by his younger brother.^19 On Apr.22,
Te-tsung suspended the court for three days and ordered the civilian
and military officials from the 3rd rank up to condole with the envoys
(Chiu T’ang shu 13:21a; 196B:12b; Tzu-chih t’ung-chien p.7605; Wen-hsien
t’ung-k’ao 334:31a).
On June 3, 804, a Tibetan mission of 54 men offered gifts (Chiu
T’ang shu 13:21b; 196B:12b).
On June 12, 804, Te-tsung appointed a Senior Compiler of the
Historiography Institute as Gentleman-in-Attendance and Concurrent
Grandee Secretary and sent him to Tibet to condole and sacrifice
(Chiu T’ang shu 13:21b; 196B:12b; Tzu-chih t’ung-chien p.7605; Wen-hsien
t’ung-k’ao 334:31a).
In the 12th month (Jan./Feb., 805) of the Chinese year 804, Tibetan
(^17) Cf. Mackerras, Uighur Empire, p.162 note 191.
(^18) The events of 803 are by Wen-hsien t’ung-k’ao dated 802.
(^19) According to Chiu T’ang shu 196B:12b, following the Shih-lu, the king was suc-
ceeded by his eldest son, who died within a year and was succeeded by his younger
brother. This is rejected by Ssu-ma Kuang in his K’ao-yi.