380 the turkic tribes
be recorded”. That means, of course, that Shi-pi’s support had to be
bought. At the same time, the Eastern Turks who came to Ch’ang-an
were oberbearing in their manners (Chiu T’ang shu 194A:1a; Tzu-chih
t’ung-chien p.5792; Wen-hsien t’ung-k’ao 343:7a).
On June 25, 618, an envoy from Shih-pi to the T’ang court offered
gifts. He was given a banquet in the Hall of the Grand Ultimate (Chiu
T’ang shi 194A:1b; Ts’e-fu yüan-kuei p.5023; Tzu-chih t’ung-chien p.5792;
Wen-hsien t’ung-k’ao 343:7a).
In the 9th month of 618, Kao-tsu sent a nephew and the Grand
Master of Ceremonies to present singing girls to Shih-pi (Tzu-chih
t’ung-chien p.5814).
On Oct.14, 618, an envoy from Shih-pi was received at the T’ang
court. On Oct.30, the envoy was given a banquet and, as a special
honour, summoned to the presence of the emperor (Ts’e-fu yüan-kuei
p.5023;Tzu-chih t’ung-chien p.5814, 5816).
In the 2nd month (Feb./Mar.) of 619, Shih-pi raided the Ning-hsia
Oasis, but in the 4th month (May/June), his envoys to the court offered
gifts. He died about this time (Chiu T’ang shu 194A:1b; Ts’e-fu yüan-kuei
p.5023;Tzu-chih t’ung-chien p.58547; Wen-hsien t’ung-k’ao 343:7a).
At the time of Shih-pi’s death, a Chinese general was conveying
silk to the Turks. Just before entering their territory, he learned about
the death and halted. The Turks were enraged and became threaten-
ing. But the local Chinese Area Commander-in-chief was quickwitted
enough to send on the silk and to call it now a contribution toward
the funeral expenses (Tzu-chih t’ung-chien pp.5847-5848). Whether the
silk originally had been sent as a Chinese tribute to the Eastern Turks
or as payment for goods received, the Turks clearly regarded it as
their property.
Since Shih-pi’s son Shih-po-pi was considered too young, the Turks
enthroned a younger brother of the late ruler. This was the Ch’u-lo
Qaghan.^7 On July 28, 619, his envoys announced Shih-pi’s death to
the T’ang court. Kao-tsu proclaimed official mourning and suspended
the court for three days. The officials were ordered to go to the guest
lodge and condole with the Turkish envoys. A Member of the Suite
of the Clerk of the Capital was sent to Ch’u-lo to condole and present
30,000 items as a contribution toward the funeral expenses. Ch’u-lo
(^7) He is not to be confused with the Ch’u-lo Qaghan (d.619) of the Western
Turks.