the turkic tribes 415643, Yi-nan (P’i-chia) also offered military assistance against Koguryo
(Chiu T’ang shu 199B:3a).
In the 1st month (Feb./Mar.) of 644, Hsüeh-yen-t’o envoys offered
regional objects (Ts’e-fu yüan-kuei p.5024).
In the 11th month (Nov./Dec.) of 645, Hsüeh-yen-t’o envoys came
to congratulate and offer regional objects (Ts’e-fu yüan-kuei p.5024).
During 645, the P’i-chia Qaghan died and his two sons were kil-
led. There ensued chaos. In in the 6th month (July/Aug.) of 646,
the Hsüeh-yen-t’o were defeated by the Chinese and Uighurs. They
enthroned To-mo-chih, a nephew of P’i-chia, who withdrew to the
area of Karakorum. He there surrendered to a Chinese expeditionary
force, was brought to Ch’ang-an, and there appointed General-in-chief
of the Guards of the Right (Chiu T’ang shu 3:10a; Tzu-chih t’ung-chien
pp.6228, 6237, 6238).
However, the Hsüeh-yen-t’o were not yet a spent force. On Oct.29,
646, several tribes of the T’ieh-le offered gifts and complained about
the Turks. In the 9th month (Oct./Nov.) of the same year, various
tribes of the T’ieh-le sent envoys to the Ning-hsia Oasis and offered
regional objects (Chiu T’ang shu 3:10a, 10b).
In the 12th month (Jan./Feb., 647) of the Chinese year 646, the
T’ieh-le were invited to participate in the attack on Kucha by the Chi-
nese, Turks, Tibetans, and T’u-yü-hun (Tzu-chih t’ung-chien p.6251).
On Feb.18, 647, envoys from various T’ieh-le tribes including the
Uighurs^46 had an audience with T’ai-tsung (T’ang hui-yao 196:13b;
Tzu-chih t’ung-chien p.6245).
In the 2nd month (Feb./Mar.) of 648, Emperor T’ai-tsung gave a
banquet for a T’ieh-le envoy (Tzu-chih t’ung-chien p.6252).
In 650, T’ieh-le envoys offered gifts to the T’ang court. Emperor
Kao-tsung sent the General of the Cloud Flags on a return visit. When
he came back, T’ieh-le envoys were attached to him and presented
ten fine horses. Thereafter, connections broke off (Chiu T’ang shu 199B:
5a).
It goes without saying that the P’i-chia Qaghan of the Hsüeh-yen-t’o
was an independent ruler. For the Tzu-chih t’ung-chien p.6146 to claim
that P’i-chia in 639 presented a “memorial” to the emperor in which
he referred to himself as “I, your slave” is therefore absurd. He was
recognized by the T’ang, but at his death there was no official mourn-
(^46) See further under that heading.