280 ch’ing-hai
In the 5th month (June/July) of 635, the Chinese went on the attack,
and in a campaign lasting for several months defeated the T’u-yü-hun.
Among the captives were Yün-fu’s wives and children. He escaped
but then hanged himself.^8 Yün-fu was succeeded by his son Shun, the
one who had been detained in China from 604 to 618. Because of his
long absence, his father had selected another son as heir-apparent. But
being the son of Yün-fu’s legal wife, Shun had a geater right to the
throne than the heir-apparent and replaced him either by consensus
or force. He made peace with the T’ang and was by it recognized
as king of Hsi-p’ing. Shun was not popular, however, because of his
extended stay in China, and he was murdered before the end of 635.
His young son No-ho-po was entroned. Since the new king was still
young, various dignitaries struggled for power at the T’u-yü-hun court
(Chiu T’ang shu 198:7a, 7b; Tzu-chih t’ung-chien pp.6113, 6117; Wen-hsien
t’ung-k’ao 334:26a).
In Shun, the Chinese had lost a potentially friendly ruler. In the 12th
month (Jan./Feb., 636) of the Chinese year 635, T’ai-tsung ordered a
military demonstration in favour of No-ho-po, presumably in the hope
of winning him over. But he also demanded the release of Chinese
envoys who had been detained by the T’u-yü-hun (Chiu T’ang shu 198:
7b;Tzu-chih t’ung-chien p.6117). The outcome is not recorded.
On Apr.17, 636, envoys from No-ho-po were received at the T’ang
court. They requested the T’ang calendar, which was provided. On
Apr.27, T’ai-tsung entitled No-ho-po king of the imaginary Ho-yüan
commandery (”Commandery at the Source of the Yellow River”) and
recognized him as qaghan (Chiu T’ang shu 198:7b; Tzu-chih t’ung-chien
p.6119).
In the 11th month (Nov./Dec.) of 637, No-ho-po presented 13,000
head of cattle and sheep (Ts’e-fu yüan-kuei p.5024).
In the 8th month (Sep./Oct.) of 638, T’u-yü-hun envoys offered
regional objects (Ts’e-fu yüan-kuei p.5024).
On Jan.20, 640, No-ho-po was personally received at the T’ang
court. T’ai-tsung enfeoffed a lady of the imperial house as Princess
of Hung-hua, married her to him, and gave him rich presents. On
Mar.10, the General of the Resolute Guards of the Left and king of
Huai-yang, a distant relative of T’ai-tsung, set out from Ch’ang-an
(^8) According to Tzu-chih t’ung-chien and Wen-hsien t’ung-k’ao, he was killed by his
attendants.