430 the turkic tribes
by force, and wounded the goalers. Tai-tsung ignored it (Chiu T’ang
shu 195:9a; Hsin T’ang shu 217A:7a; Tzu-chih t’ung-chien p.7232).
In the 12th month (Dec./Jan., 776) of the Chinese year 775, the
Uighurs raided Chinese border areas. In the 1st month (Feb./Mar.)
of 778, they invaded Shan-hsi and after some fighting withdrew. Later
that year, a returning Uighur mission was robbed by Chinese soldiers in
southern Shan-hsi, and the Uighurs retaliated by looting the populace
(Chiu T’ang shu 195:9a; Tzu-chih t’ung-chien p.7236, 7251).
Emperor Tai-tsung died on June 10, 779, and was succeeded by
his eldest son Li Kua or Te-tsung. This man had been through the
experience of 762, hated the Uighurs, and even went so far as to
consider an alliance with the Tibetans against them (Tzu-chih t’ung-
chien p.7483). He nevertheless sent a eunuch to the Teng-li Qaghan
to announce the death of his father. The envoy was not received (Chiu
T’ang shu 195:9a).
While the Chinese envoy was at the Uighur court, the qaghan,
together with his relatives and many Sogdians, was killed by his chief
minister Tun. Tun enthroned himself as Ho-ku-to-lu-p’i-chia Qaghan.
He apparently received the Chinese envoy and sent a chief to follow
him back to the T’ang court (Chiu T’ang shu 195:9a-9b). In the 6th
month (June/July), Te-tsung appointed the Herald as Cavalier Atten-
dant and sent him to the Uighurs to condole (T’ang hui-yao 98:5a).
On Aug.28, 779, Te-tsung ordered that the Uighurs in Ch’ang-an
were not allowed to adopt Chinese garments but had to wear Uighur
clothing.^68
On July 28, 780, Te-tsung ordered the Governor of the Capital to
go to the Uighur court and recognize Tun as Qaghan Who Is Martial
and Righteous and Achieves Merit (Chiu T’ang shu 195:9b).
At this time, the Uighur chief T’u-tung (a paternal uncle of the new
qaghan), Yi-mi-shih, and others were returning to their homeland with
a caravan of camels. They had halted for three months just northeast
of Shan-hsi, near the northeastern bend of the Yellow River, at great
expense to the Chinese government. There, it was discovered that
they were attempting to smuggle Chinese women out of the country
in bags. The local Army Commissioner, Chang Kuang-sheng, pro-
posed to Te-tsung to kill these Uighurs, and the emperor apparently
agreed. Kuang-sheng then ordered one of his officers to be publicly
(^68) For details see Mackerras, Uighur Empire, p.153 note 150.