392 the turkic tribes
He insisted that Mo-ch’o had broken the covenant, that peace and
a marriage alliance with the Turks would be impossible, and that
preparations should be made for war. Chih-wei argued for peace and a
marriage (Tzu-chih t’ung-chien p.6516). In other words, Kuei-tao was the
worst type of a stiff, sino-centric, and tactless diplomat, while Chih-wei
was polite and realistic. However, the Empress Wu once more sided
with T’ien Kuei-tao and in the 10th month (Nov./Dec.) of 698 had
Yen Chih-wei executed (Tzu-chih t’ung-chien p.6537).
In 700, Mo-ch’o sent an envoy and proposed that his daughter be
married to a son of the heir-apparent (i.e. of Chung-tsung) (Chiu T’ang
shu 194A:12a; T’ung-tien 198:42b; Tzu-chih t’ung-chien p.6563; Wen-hsien
t’ung-k’ao 343:10a).^23 Later that year, Mo-ch’o sent a high official to
present 1000 horses and regional objects to express his pleasure with
the intended marriage. The Empress Wu gave him a banquet in which
the heir-apparent, the kings, and the court officials from rank 3 and
up participated. He left the court with rich presents. Subsequently,
Mo-ch’o released Wu Yen-hsiu (Chiu T’ang shu 194A:12a; T’ung-tien
198:42b;Ts’e-fu yüan-kuei p.5026; Tzu-chih t’ung-chien pp.6568, 6569;
Wen-hsien t’ung-k’ao 343:10a).^24
After Chung-tsung had ascended the throne on Feb.23, 705, Mo-ch’o
invaded the Ning-hsia Oasis and defeated a Chinese army. Chung-tsung
ordered the proposed marriage to be cancelled. In early 707, Mo-ch’o
again raided the Ning-hsia oasis (Chiu T’ang shu 194A:12a; T’ung-tien
198:42b;Tzu-chih t’ung-chien p.6607; Wen-hsien t’ung-k’ao 343:10a).
On Jan.30, 711, Mo-ch’o’s envoys proposed peace and a marriage
alliance. Emperor Jui-tsung agreed (Chiu T’ang shu 7:13a; 194A:13a-
13b;Tzu-chih t’ung-chien p.6661). According to T’ang hui-yao 94:8b, the
emperor then sent an envoy of his own. Mo-ch’o supposedly “saluted
twice” and called himself a “subject”. This account is due to another
fraudulent report by a self-serving envoy.
In the 3rd month (Mar./Apr.) of 711, Jui-tsung enfeoffed a lady of
the imperial house as Princess of Chin-shan to be the bride of Mo-
ch’o. A son of the latter was received at the T’ang court and appointed
Supernumerary General-in-chief of the Resolute Guards of the Right
(^23) T’ung-tien dates the arrival of this mission 703, Tzu-chih t’ung-chien 6th month
(July/Aug.) of 703, and Ts’e-fu yüan-kuei 11th month (December) of 704.
(^24) T’ung-tien dates the arrival of this mission 703 and Tzu-chih t’ung-chien the 11th
month (Dec./Jan., 704) of the Chinese year 703.