'''卷二百一十五上''' 列傳第一百四十上突厥上

25%◎突厥上

Chapter 215, Part 1 — Biographies 140, Part 1: The Turks (Upper)

夷狄為中國患，尚矣。在前世者，史家類能言之。唐興，蠻夷更盛衰，嘗與中國亢衡者有四：突厥、吐蕃、回鶻、雲南是也。方其時，群臣獻議盈廷，或聽或置，班然可睹也。

The barbarian peoples have been a scourge upon China since antiquity. For earlier periods, historians have for the most part been able to record these matters. After the Tang rose to power, the frontier peoples rose and fell in turn; four powers that at times rivaled China were the Turks, Tibet, the Uyghurs, and Yunnan. In those years the court overflowed with counsel from the ministers; what was adopted and what was set aside can be plainly seen in the annals.

劉貺以為：

Liu Dian argued as follows:

嚴尤辯而未詳，班固詳而未盡，榷其至當，周得上策，秦得其中，漢無策。何以言之？荒服之外，聲教所不逮，其叛不為之勞師，其降不為之釋備，嚴守禦，險走集，使其為寇不能也，為臣不得也。「惠此中夏，以綏四方」，周之道也，故曰周得上策。《易》稱：「王侯設險以固其國。」築長城，脩障塞，所以設險也。趙簡子起長城備胡，燕、秦亦築長城限中外，益理城塹，城全國滅，人歸咎焉。後魏築長城，議者以為人治一步，方千里，役三十萬人，不旬朔而獲久逸，故曰秦得中策。漢以宗女嫁匈奴，而高祖亦審魯元不能止趙王之逆謀，謂能息匈奴之叛，非也。且冒頓手弒其親，而冀其不與外祖爭強，豈不惑哉？然則知和親非久安計而為之者，以天下初定，紓歲月之禍耳。武帝時，中國艾安，胡寇益希，疏而絕之，此其時也。方更糜耗華夏，連兵積年，故嚴尤以為下策。然而漢至昭、宣，武士練習，斥候精明，匈奴收跡遠徙，猶襲奉春之過舉，傾府藏給西北，歲二億七十萬。皇室淑女，嬪於穹廬；掖庭良人，降於沙漠。夫貢子女方物，臣僕之職也。《詩》曰：「莫敢不來享，莫敢不來王。」荒服稱其來，不言往也。公及吳盟，諱而不書。奈何以天子之尊，與匈奴約為兄弟，帝女之號，與胡媼並御；蒸母報子，從其汙俗？中國異於蠻夷者，有父子男女之別也。婉冶之姿，毀節異類，垢辱甚矣。漢之君臣，莫之恥也。魏、晉羌狄居塞垣，資奉逾昔。百人之酋，千口之長，賜金印紫綬，食王侯之俸。牧馬之童，乘羊之隸，賫毳毼邀利者，相錯於路。耒耨之利，絲枲所生，散於數萬里之外。胡夷歲驕，華夏日蹙。方其強也，竭人力以征之；其服也，養之如初。病則受養，強則內攻，中國為羌胡服役且千載，可不悲哉！誠能移其財以賞戍卒，則民富；移其爵以餌守臣，則將良。富利歸於我，危亡移於彼，無納女之辱，無傳送之勞。棄此而不為，故曰漢無策。嚴尤謂古無上策，謂不能臣妾之也，誠能之而不用耳。秦無策，謂攘狄而亡國也。秦亡，非攘狄也。漢得下策，謂伐胡而人病。人既病矣，又役人而奉之，無策也。故曰嚴尤辯而未詳也。班固謂「其來慕義，則接以禮讓。」何者？禮讓以交君子，非所以接禽獸夷狄也。纖麗外散，則戎羯之心生；戎羯之心生，則侵盜之本也。聖人飲食聲樂不與之共，來朝坐於門外，舌人體委以食之，不使知馨香嘉味也。漢氏習玩驕虜，使其悅燕、趙之色，甘太官之珍，服以文綺羅紈，供之則增求，絕之則招怨，是飽豺狼以良肉，而縱其獵噬也。華人步卒利險阻，虜人騎兵利平地，堅守無與追奔競逐，來則杜險使不得進，去則閉險使不得還，沖以長戟，臨以強弩，非求勝也，譬諸蟲豸虺蜴，何禮讓之接哉？故曰班固詳而未盡者，此也。

Yan You argued keenly but left gaps; Ban Gu was exhaustive but did not go far enough. Judged at their best: Zhou had the superior strategy, Qin the middling one, and Han had no real strategy at all. Why do I say this? Beyond the outer marches, where imperial culture does not reach: when they rebel, do not exhaust the army pursuing them; when they submit, do not lower your guard. Hold the defenses, control the passes, and mass at the choke points—so they can neither raid effectively nor truly become vassals. "Bring benefit to the Central States and thereby pacify the four quarters"—that was the Zhou approach; hence Zhou is said to have had the superior strategy. The Book of Changes states: "Kings and feudal lords establish defenses to secure their realms. Building the Long Wall and repairing frontier barriers is precisely how such defenses are established. Zhao Jianzi built the Long Wall against the northern tribes; Yan and Qin likewise raised walls to separate China from the steppe and strengthened ramparts and moats—yet their states fell while those walls still stood, and many blamed the policy. Later, when Wei built the Long Wall, advocates argued that one man's labor over a single pace secured a thousand li, with three hundred thousand men conscripted—yet in less than a month and a half they gained lasting security; hence Qin is credited with the middling strategy. The Han sent imperial princesses to marry Xiongnu chiefs, and even Gaozu knew that the Princess of Lu could not halt the King of Zhao's conspiracy—yet they still believed marriage alliance would quiet Xiongnu revolt; it did not. Modu had murdered his own father with his own hand, yet they hoped he would not strive against his wife's grandfather for dominance—was this not folly? They knew full well that marriage alliance was no lasting solution; they adopted it only because the empire had just been pacified, to buy a few years' respite from disaster. Under Emperor Wu, the empire was secure and northern raids grew infrequent—the time had come to keep the barbarians at arm's length and sever ties altogether. Instead they further drained the heartland and fought year after year—hence Yan You judged this the worst policy of all. Yet even by the reigns of Zhao and Xuan, with trained soldiers and sharp scouts and the Xiongnu driven far away, the court still repeated Feng Chun's error, pouring the treasury into the northwest—two hundred and seventy million a year. Imperial daughters of fine breeding were given as brides to yurt-dwellers; and palace women of rank were dispatched to the sands of the north. It is the duty of vassals to present sons, daughters, and tribute goods. The Book of Odes says: "None dares fail to come to court; none dares fail to acknowledge our sovereignty. For the outer marches the text speaks of their coming to us, not of our going to them. The Duke's treaty with Wu is passed over in silence and left unrecorded. How then could the Son of Heaven, in all his majesty, treat the Xiongnu as sworn brothers, and an imperial princess share a household with a barbarian chieftain's widow; stepmothers marrying stepsons, conforming to their debased customs? What sets China apart from the barbarians is the distinction between father and son, man and woman. Women of grace and beauty, their virtue ruined among foreigners—the disgrace was profound. Yet neither emperor nor minister of the Han felt shame at it. Under Wei and Jin the Qiang and Di settled along the frontier, receiving support greater than ever before. Chiefs of a hundred households and leaders of a thousand clans were granted gold seals and purple ribbons and paid at the rate of kings and marquises. Horse-herding boys and sheep-riding servants, laden with furs and fleeces in pursuit of profit, thronged the highways without end. The fruits of the plow and the products of silk and hemp were dispersed tens of thousands of li beyond the frontier. The northern tribes grew more arrogant each year while the heartland contracted daily. When they were strong, the empire exhausted its manpower to fight them; when they submitted, they were sustained as generously as before. When weak they were fed; when strong they turned inward to attack—China has served the Qiang and Hu for nearly a millennium. What tragedy could be greater? Had that wealth been redirected to reward frontier garrisons, the people would have prospered; and those titles used to reward border commanders, the generals would have been capable. Wealth would stay at home and danger fall on them—without the humiliation of sending princesses, without the burden of endless convoys. They abandoned this course and did nothing—hence Han is said to have had no strategy at all. Yan You claimed antiquity lacked a superior strategy because they could not reduce the barbarians to subjection—yet they could have; they simply chose not to. He said Qin had no strategy because it drove out the Di and lost the realm. Qin did not fall because it expelled the northern tribes. He called Han's approach the inferior strategy—campaigning against the Hu until the people were exhausted. The people were already worn down, yet the court still levied men to sustain the barbarians—this was no policy whatsoever. Hence Yan You is judged argumentative but incomplete. Ban Gu wrote, "When they come in admiration of our virtue, receive them with ritual courtesy. Why is this wrong? Ritual courtesy is for engaging with cultivated men, not for receiving beasts and barbarians. When China's refinements are displayed abroad, the Rong and Jie grow bold; and once they grow bold, raiding and plunder inevitably follow. The sages did not share food, drink, or music with them; when they came to court they sat outside the gate, and interpreters conveyed provisions to them—they were not permitted to taste China's finest flavors. The Han court habitually coddled arrogant nomads, letting them enjoy the beauties of Yan and Zhao, savor imperial delicacies, and dress in brocade and gauze—feed them and their demands grew; cut them off and they turned hostile. This was feeding wolves the finest meat and then letting them hunt at will. Chinese foot soldiers excel in rugged country; nomad horsemen excel on open ground. Stand firm and do not pursue in open chase—when they come, seal the passes so they cannot advance; when they leave, close the passes so they cannot return. Meet them with long halberds and strong crossbows—not merely to win battles, but because they are like vermin and serpents. What place has ritual courtesy in receiving such foes? This is what is meant when Ban Gu is said to have been thorough but not exhaustive.

杜佑謂：

Du You argued:

秦以區區關中滅六強國，今竭萬方之財，上奉京師，外有犬戎恁陵，陷城數百，內有兵革未寧，三紀矣。豈制置異術，古今殊時乎？周制，步百為畝，畝百給一夫。商鞅佐秦，以為地利不盡，更以二百四十步為畝，百畝給一夫。又以秦地曠而人寡，晉地狹而人夥，誘三晉之人耕而優其田宅，復及子孫，使秦人應敵於外，非農與戰不得入官。大率百人以五十人為農，五十人習戰，故兵強國富。其後仕宦途多，末業日滋。今大率百人才十人為農，餘皆習佗技。又秦、漢鄭渠溉田四萬頃，白渠溉田四千五百頃，永徽中，兩渠灌浸不過萬頃，大歷初，減至六千畝。畝晙一斛，歲少四五百萬斛。地利耗，人力散，欲求強富，不可得也。漢時，長安北七百里即匈奴之地，侵掠未嘗暫息。計其舉國之眾，不過漢一大郡，鼉錯請備障塞，故北邊妥安。今潼關之西，隴山之東，鄜坊之南，終南之北，十餘州之地，已數十萬家。吐蕃綿力薄材，食鮮藝拙，不及中國遠甚，誠能復兩渠之饒，誘農夫趣耕，擇險要，繕城壘，屯田蓄力，河、隴可復，豈唯自守而已。

Qin, from the narrow confines of Guanzhong, overthrew six great powers; now the empire exhausts its wealth to feed the capital, while beyond the frontier the Tibetans raid at will and have captured hundreds of cities, and within the realm war has not ceased for thirty years. Is this because institutions differ, and ancient and modern times are not comparable? Under the Zhou system, one hundred paces made a mu, and one hundred mu supported one household. Shang Yang aided Qin, arguing that land was not fully utilized; he redefined the mu as two hundred forty paces and assigned one hundred mu to each household. He also noted that Qin had vast lands and few people, while Jin was crowded; he enticed settlers from the Three Jin to farm, granting them favorable land and tax exemptions for their descendants, while Qin natives faced enemies abroad—office was open only to farmers and soldiers. Roughly half of every hundred men farmed and half trained for war—hence Qin's armies were strong and its treasury full. Later the routes to office multiplied, and nonessential occupations proliferated. Today only about ten in every hundred farm; the rest pursue other trades. Under Qin and Han the Zheng Canal irrigated forty thousand qing and the Bai Canal four thousand five hundred qing; by the Yonghui era combined irrigation had fallen below ten thousand qing, and by early Dali to six thousand mu. At one hu less per mu, the annual shortfall amounts to four or five million hu of grain. With land productivity exhausted and manpower dispersed, strength and wealth cannot be attained. In Han times, seven hundred li north of Chang'an lay Xiongnu land, and raids never ceased even for a moment. Their entire population was no larger than a single Han commandery; Chao Cuo urged strengthening the frontier defenses, and the north remained secure. Today west of Tong Pass, east of Long Mountain, south of Fu and Fang, and north of Zhongnan—more than ten prefectures already hold hundreds of thousands of households. Tibet's power is feeble and its skills crude; their diet is raw and their crafts clumsy—far inferior to China. Restore the two canals' fertility, encourage farmers to till, fortify strategic points, garrison the frontier, and the He and Long regions could be recovered—not merely held in defense.

至佑孫牧亦曰：

Du You's grandson Du Mu likewise wrote:

天下無事時，大臣偷處榮逸，戰士離落，兵甲鈍弊，車馬刓弱，天下雜然盜發，則疾驅以戰，是謂宿敗之師。此不搜練之過，其敗一也。百人荷戈，仰食縣官，則挾千夫之名，大將小裨操其餘贏，以虜壯為幸，執兵者常少，糜食者常多，築壘未乾，公囊已虛。此不責實之過，其敗二也。戰小勝則張皇其功，奔走獻狀以邀賞，或一日再賜，一月累封，凱還未歌，書品已崇，爵命極矣，田宮廣矣，金繒溢矣，子孫官矣，肯外死勤於我哉？此賞厚之過，其敗三也。多喪兵士，顛翻大都，則跳身而來，刺邦而去，回視刀鋸、菜色甚安，一歲未更，已立於壇墀之上。此輕罰之過，其敗四也。大將將兵，柄不得專，一曰為偃月，一曰為魚麗，三軍萬夫，環旋翔佯，愰駭之間，虜騎乘之。此不專任之過，其敗五也。元和時，團兵數十萬以誅蔡，天下乾耗，四歲然後能取之，蓋五敗不去也。長慶初，盜子若孫悉來走命，未幾而燕、趙亂，引師起將，五敗益甚，不能加威於反虜。

In peacetime ministers grow complacent in luxury, soldiers drift apart, arms rust, and horses weaken—then when rebellion erupts everywhere they are rushed into battle. Such troops are defeated before they march. This is the first cause of defeat: failure to recruit and train soldiers properly. A hundred men bear arms on government rations yet claim credit for a thousand; generals and subordinates pocket the surplus and welcome strong enemies—fighters are always few, freeloaders many. Before the fortifications are finished, the treasury is empty. This is the second cause of defeat: failure to enforce accountability. After minor victories they exaggerate their achievements and rush forward petitions for reward—sometimes twice in a single day, with multiple enfeoffments in a month. Before victory celebrations end, their ranks are raised, estates expanded, gold and silk overflowing, and sons and grandsons given office. Why would they risk their lives in earnest service? This is the third cause of defeat: rewards far too generous. After losing many troops and failing catastrophically, they leap to new commands, abandon their posts, and face execution with equanimity—within a year, without repentance, they stand again at court. This is the fourth cause of defeat: punishments far too lenient. Commanders cannot exercise sole authority—one day the formation is crescent-shaped, the next fish-scale; tens of thousands wheel and feint in confusion, and in that moment nomad cavalry strike. This is the fifth cause of defeat: failure to grant commanders full authority. In the Yuanhe era hundreds of thousands of troops were mobilized against Cai; the empire was exhausted, and victory took four years—because these five faults were never corrected. In early Changqing rebel heirs submitted in droves; soon Yan and Zhao erupted in revolt. Armies were raised and generals appointed, yet the five faults grew worse and the court could not impose its will on the rebels.

二杜之論如此。

Such were the arguments of the two Du ministers.

廣德、建中間，吐蕃再飲馬岷江，常以南詔為前鋒，操倍尋之戟，且戰且進，蜀兵折刃吞鏃，不能斃一戎。戎兵日深，疫死日眾，自度不能留，輒引去。蜀人語曰：「西戎尚可，南蠻殘我。」至韋臯鑿青溪道以和群蠻，使道蜀入貢，擇子弟習書算於成都，業成而去，習知山川要害。文宗時，大入成都，自越巂以北八百里，民畜為空，又敗卒貧民因緣掠殺，官不能禁。自是群蠻常有屠蜀之心，蜀民苦於重征者，亦欲啟之以幸非常。歲發戍卒，不習山川之險，緩步一舍，已呵然流汗。為將者刻薄自入，給帛則以疏易良，賦粟以沙參粒，故邊卒怨望而巴、蜀危憂。孫樵謂：「宜詔嚴道、沈黎、越巂三州，度要害，募卒以守。且兵籍於州則易役，卒出於邊則習險，相地分屯，春耕夏蠶以資衣食，秋冬嚴壁以俟寇。歲遣廉吏視卒之有無，則官無饋運，吏無牟盜。」此其備禦之策可施行者，著之於篇。

Between the Guangde and Jianzhong reigns Tibet repeatedly crossed the Min River, often with Nanzhao as vanguard wielding halberds twice a man's height, advancing as they fought. Shu troops broke their blades and swallowed arrowheads yet could not kill a single enemy. As the invaders pressed deeper and plague deaths mounted, they judged they could not hold and withdrew. The people of Shu had a saying: "The Tibetans we can endure; it is the southern tribes who destroy us. Wei Gao opened the Qingxi Road to pacify the southern tribes, routing their tribute missions through Shu and selecting their sons to study writing and reckoning in Chengdu. When they returned home, they knew every mountain pass and strategic point. Under Emperor Wenzong they sacked Chengdu on a vast scale; for eight hundred li north from Yuexi, people and livestock were wiped out. Defeated soldiers and the destitute joined in the slaughter, and officials could not stop them. From then on the southern tribes often planned to devastate Shu, while Shu people crushed by heavy taxes were willing to open the passes, hoping for deliverance. Each year garrison troops were sent who knew nothing of the mountain terrain—after a single easy day's march they were already gasping and drenched in sweat. Commanders were harsh and corrupt, substituting coarse cloth for fine and mixing sand with grain rations. Frontier soldiers grew resentful, and Ba and Shu lived in fear. Sun Qiao urged: "The court should order the three prefectures of Yandao, Shenli, and Yuexi to survey strategic points and recruit local garrisons. Soldiers registered locally are easy to mobilize; troops raised on the frontier know the terrain. Divide garrisons by terrain, farm in spring and raise silkworms in summer for provisions, and fortify in autumn and winter to await invasion. Send honest officials annually to verify troop strength, and the state need not ship supplies from afar nor will clerks profit from corruption. Such defensive measures as these could actually be implemented; they are recorded here in this chapter.

凡突厥、吐蕃、回鶻以盛衰先後為次；東夷、西域又次之，跡用兵之輕重也；終之以南蠻，記唐所繇亡云。

The Turks, Tibet, and the Uyghurs are treated in order of their rise and fall; followed by the Eastern Yi and the Western Regions, reflecting the scale of military engagement; and concluding with the southern tribes, recording how the Tang dynasty met its end.

突厥阿史那氏，蓋古匈奴北部也。居金山之陽，臣於蠕蠕，種裔繁衍。至吐門，遂強大，更號可汗，猶單于也，妻曰可敦。其地三垂薄海，南抵大漠。其別部典兵者曰設，子弟曰特勒，大臣曰葉護，曰屈律啜、曰阿波、曰俟利發、曰吐屯、曰俟斤、曰閻洪達、曰頡利發、曰達幹，凡二十八等，皆世其官而無員限。衛士曰附離。可汗建廷都斤山，牙門樹金狼頭纛，坐常東向。

The Turks of the Ashina clan were descended from the northern branch of the ancient Xiongnu. They lived south of the Altai Mountains, submitted to the Rouran khans, and their clans multiplied. Under Tumen they grew powerful, adopted the title khan as equivalent to chanyu, and called his consort khatun. Their lands stretched on three sides nearly to the sea and southward to the great desert. Military governors of subordinate tribes were called she; princes were tegin; chief ministers yabghu, with twenty-eight ranks in all—including qulug chuo, apo, irbir, tutun, irkin, and tagin—all hereditary offices without fixed numbers. Royal guards were called fuli. The khan established his court on Mount Dujin, raised a golden wolf-head banner at his gate, and always sat facing east.

隋大業之亂，始畢可汗咄吉嗣立，華人多往依之，契丹、室韋、吐谷渾、高昌皆役屬，竇建德、薛舉、劉武周、梁師都、李軌、王世充等倔起虎視，悉臣尊之。控弦且百萬，戎狄熾強，古未有也。高祖起太原，遣府司馬劉文靜往聘，與連和，始畢使特勒康稍利獻馬二千、兵五百來會。帝平京師，遂恃功，使者每來多橫驕。武德元年，骨咄祿特勒來朝，帝宴太極殿，為奏九部樂，引升御坐。是歲，始畢牙帳自破，帝問內史令蕭瑀，瑀曰：「魏文帝幸許，城門無故壞，是年文帝崩，豈其類耶？」二年，始畢自將度河，至夏州，與賊梁師都合，又佐劉武周以五百騎入句註，將侵太原。會病死，帝為發哀長樂門，詔群臣即館吊其使，遣使者持段物三萬賻之。子什缽幼，不克立，以為泥步設，使居東偏，立其弟俟利弗設，是為處羅可汗。

During the chaos of the Sui's final years, Shibi Khan Tuji succeeded to power. Chinese refugees flocked to him; the Khitan, Shiwei, Tuyuhun, and Gaochang all submitted. Rebel leaders Dou Jiande, Xue Ju, Liu Wuzhou, Liang Shidu, Li Gui, and Wang Shichong all bowed to his authority. His bowmen numbered nearly a million—the northern peoples had never been so powerful. When Gaozu raised his banner at Taiyuan, he sent Liu Wenjing to negotiate an alliance. Shibi dispatched the tegin Kangshaoli with two thousand horses and five hundred warriors to join him. After the emperor pacified the capital, the Turks grew arrogant over their contribution, and their envoys came with increasing insolence. In the first year of Wude the tegin Kutlug came to court. The emperor feasted him in the Hall of Supreme Ultimate, ordered the nine court orchestras to perform, and seated him beside the throne. That year Shibi's camp collapsed on its own. The emperor asked Internal Affairs Director Xiao Yu, who replied: "When Emperor Wen of Wei visited Xu, the city gate broke without cause—and that year he died. Is this not a similar omen? In the second year Shibi personally crossed the Yellow River to Xia Prefecture, joined the rebel Liang Shidu, and sent five hundred horsemen with Liu Wuzhou through Gouzhu to threaten Taiyuan. He died of illness before the campaign could proceed. The emperor ordered mourning at Changle Gate, commanded ministers to condole with the Turkish envoys, and sent thirty thousand bolts of silk as funeral gifts. His son Shibo was too young to succeed and was made Nibu she in the eastern territories. His younger brother Irbis she was enthroned as Elui Khan.

處羅復妻隋義成公主，遣使來告，則又潛通王世充，潞州總管李襲譽擊斬其使，取牛羊萬餘。處羅迎隋蕭皇后及齊王柬之子正道於竇建德所，因立正道為隋王，奉隋後，隋人沒者隸之，行其正朔，置百官，居定襄，眾萬人。秦王討武周也，處羅以弟步利設騎二千會并州三日，多掠城中婦人女子去，總管李仲文不能制，以俱儉特勒助屯。明年，謀取并州置楊正道，卜之，不吉，左右諫止，處羅曰：「我先人失國，賴隋以存，今忘之，不祥。卜不吉，神詎無知乎？我自決之。」會天雨血三日，國中犬夜群號，求之不見，遂有疾，公主餌以五石，俄疽發死。主以子奧射設陋弱，棄不立，更取其弟咄嗣，是為頡利可汗。

Elui married Sui Princess Yicheng and sent envoys to announce the alliance, yet secretly communicated with Wang Shichong. Luzhou Inspector Li Xiyu ambushed and killed his envoys, seizing more than ten thousand head of livestock. Elui received Empress Xiao of Sui and Yang Zhengdao, son of the Prince of Qi, from Dou Jiande's custody. He installed Zhengdao as King of Sui, restored Sui institutions and calendar, assigned captured Sui subjects to his court, and established a government of ten thousand followers at Dingxiang. When the Prince of Qin campaigned against Liu Wuzhou, Elui sent his brother Buli she with two thousand horsemen to Bing Prefecture for three days. They abducted many women from the city. Inspector Li Zhongwen could not restrain them and assigned the tegin Juqian to assist in garrison duty. The following year he plotted to seize Bing Prefecture for Yang Zhengdao. Divination proved inauspicious and his advisers urged caution. Elui said: "Our ancestors lost their kingdom and survived only through Sui's favor. To forget that debt now would be disastrous. If the oracle is unfavorable, do the spirits truly know nothing? I shall decide for myself. Blood rained from the sky for three days, and dogs howled in packs at night. He fell ill; the princess gave him the Five-Stone Powder, and he soon died of erupting sores. Deeming his son Aqishi she unfit, he passed him over and enthroned his younger brother Tujue as Jieli Khan.

頡利始為莫賀咄設，牙直五原北。薛舉陷平涼，與連和，帝患之，遣光祿卿宇文歆賂頡利，使與舉絕；隋五原太守張長遜以所部五城附虜，歆並說還五原地。皆見聽，且發兵舉長遜所部會秦王軍。太子建成議廢豐州，並割榆中地。於是處羅子郁射設以所部萬帳入處河南，以靈州為塞。

Jieli had first served as Moheduo she, with his camp directly north of Wuyuan. When Xue Ju captured Pingliang and allied with the Turks, the emperor sent Yuwen Xin to bribe Jieli into breaking with Xue Ju; Sui prefect Zhang Changsun of Wuyuan had submitted five cities to the Turks; Xin also persuaded Jieli to return Wuyuan territory. Jieli agreed to both proposals and sent troops under Zhang Changsun to join the Prince of Qin's army. Crown Prince Jiancheng proposed abolishing Feng Prefecture and ceding the Yuzhong region. Elui's son Yugu she then led ten thousand tents to settle south of the desert, with Ling Prefecture as the frontier marker.

頡利又妻義成，以始畢子什缽為突利可汗，使居東。義成，楊諧女也，其弟善經亦依突厥，與王世充使者王文素共說頡利曰：「往啟民兄弟爭國，賴隋得復位，子孫有國。今天子非文帝後，宜立正道以報隋厚德。」頡利然之，故歲入寇。然倚父兄餘資，兵銳馬多，謷然驕氣，直出百蠻上，視中國為不足與，書辭悖嫚，多須求。帝方經略天下，故屈禮，多所舍貸，贈賫不貲，然而不厭無厓之求也。

Jieli married Princess Yicheng and installed Shibi's son Shibo as Tuli Khan in the eastern territories. Yicheng was the daughter of Yang Xie; her brother Shanjing also lived among the Turks. Together with Wang Shichong's envoy Wang Wensu they urged Jieli: "When Qimin's brothers fought for power, they regained their throne only through Sui's aid, and their descendants ruled thereafter. Today's emperor is no descendant of Emperor Wen of Sui. You should install Yang Zhengdao to repay Sui's great kindness. Jieli agreed, and henceforth raided the borders every year. Relying on his predecessors' accumulated strength, with sharp troops and abundant horses, he grew insufferably arrogant, ranking himself above all other peoples and treating China with contempt. His letters were insolent and full of demands. The emperor was still consolidating the realm and therefore humbled himself, forgiving debts and lavishing gifts without measure—yet Jieli's demands knew no limit.

四年，頡利率萬騎與苑君璋合寇雁門，定襄王李大恩擊卻之。頡利執我使者漢陽公瑰、太常卿鄭元璹、左驍衛大將軍長孫順德，帝亦囚其使與相當。由是寇代州，敗行軍總管王孝基，略河東，犯原州，穿延州塞，諸將與戰，不能有所俘。

In the fourth year Jieli led ten thousand horsemen with Yuan Junzhang to raid Yanmen. Prince of Dingxiang Li Da'en drove them back. Jieli seized the envoys Duke of Hanyang Gui, Zheng Yuanshu, and Zhangsun Shunde. The emperor retaliated by imprisoning Turkish envoys in equal number. He then raided Dai Prefecture, defeated Wang Xiaoji, plundered Hedong, invaded Yuan and Yan prefectures, and fought Tang generals without suffering significant losses.

明年，還順德等，且請和，贄魚膠，紿云：「固二國之好也。」帝雖未情，釋其使特勒熱寒等，厚與金還之。大恩上言：「突厥饑，馬邑可圖也。」詔殿中少監獨孤晟共擊之。晟後約，大恩不敢進，屯新城，頡利自將數萬騎與劉黑闥合圍之，大恩沒，士死者數千人。進擊忻州，為李高遷所破。黑闥以突厥萬人擾山東，又殘定州。頡利未得志，乃率十五萬騎入雁門，圍并州，深鈔汾、潞，取男女五千，分數千騎轉掠原、靈間。於是太子建成將兵出豳州道，秦王將兵出蒲州道擊之；李子和以兵趨雲中，掩可汗後；段德操出夏州，狙其歸。并州總管襄邑王神符戰汾東，斬虜五百首，取馬二千；汾州刺史蕭顗獻俘五千。虜陷大震關，縱兵掠弘州，總管宇文歆、靈州楊師道拒之，獲馬、橐它數千。頡利聞秦王且至，引出塞，王師還。又明年，與黑闥、君璋等小小入寇定、匡、原、朔等州，與屯將相勝負。帝遣太子建成復屯北邊、秦王屯并州備虜，久乃罷。俄又破代地一屯，進擊渭、豳二州，取馬邑，不有也，復請和，歸我馬邑。

The following year he returned Shunde and the others and sought peace, presenting fish glue as tribute with the claim: "To strengthen friendship between our two states. Though distrustful, the emperor released the tegin Rehan and other envoys and sent them back laden with gold. Li Da'en reported: "The Turks are starving. Mayi can be seized. The emperor ordered Palace Supervisor Dugu Sheng to join the attack. Sheng arrived late; Li Da'en hesitated to advance and encamped at New City. Jieli personally led tens of thousands of horsemen with Liu Heita to surround him. Li Da'en was killed and thousands of his men perished. He advanced on Xin Prefecture but was defeated by Li Gaoqian. Heita deployed ten thousand Turkish troops to ravage Shandong and laid waste to Ding Prefecture. Frustrated, Jieli led one hundred fifty thousand horsemen through Yanmen, besieged Bing Prefecture, raided deeply along the Fen and Lu rivers, seized five thousand captives, and sent thousands of horsemen to plunder Yuan and Ling prefectures. Crown Prince Jiancheng marched out by the Binzhou route and the Prince of Qin by the Puzhou route to attack them; Li Zihe advanced toward Yunzhong to strike the khan's rear; Duan Decao marched from Xia Prefecture to ambush their retreat. Prince of Xiangyi Shenfu fought east of the Fen River, killing five hundred Turks and capturing two thousand horses; Fen Prefecture Inspector Xiao Yi presented five thousand captives. The Turks captured Dazhen Pass and raided Hong Prefecture. Yuwen Xin and Yang Shidao of Ling Prefecture repelled them and seized several thousand horses and camels. Hearing that the Prince of Qin was approaching, Jieli withdrew beyond the frontier and the Tang armies returned. The following year Jieli joined Heita and Junzhang in minor raids on Ding, Kuang, Yuan, and Shuo prefectures, trading victories with Tang garrison commanders. The emperor stationed Crown Prince Jiancheng on the northern frontier and the Prince of Qin at Bing Prefecture against Turkish raids. They remained there for a long time before being recalled. Soon they destroyed a garrison in Dai territory, attacked Wei and Bin prefectures, briefly seized Mayi but could not hold it, then sued for peace and returned Mayi.

七年，攻原、朔二州，入代地，不勝，更與君璋合攻隴州及陰般城，分擊並地，秦王與齊王元吉屯豳州道以備胡。君璋與虜出入原、朔、忻、並地，剽繋騷然，數為諸將驅逐。其八月，頡利與突利兵悉起，自原州連營而南，所在震恐，秦王、齊王拒之。

In the seventh year they attacked Yuan and Shuo, entered Dai territory without success, then joined Junzhang to attack Long Prefecture and Yinyan. The Prince of Qin and Prince of Qi Yuanji garrisoned the Binzhou route against the Turks. Junzhang and the Turks raided Yuan, Shuo, Xin, and Bing prefectures, carrying off captives in waves, and were repeatedly driven back by Tang generals. In the eighth month Jieli and Tuli mobilized all their forces, advancing south from Yuan Prefecture in successive camps. Terror spread before them; the Prince of Qin and Prince of Qi met them in battle.

初，關中霖潦，餉道絕，軍次豳州，可汗萬騎奄至，陣五龍阪，以數百騎挑戰，舉軍失色。秦王馳百騎掠陣，大言曰：「國家於突厥無負，何為深入？我，秦王也，故來自與可汗決，若固戰，我才百騎耳，徒廣殺傷，無益也。」頡利笑不答。又馳騎語突利曰：「爾往與我盟，急難相助，今無香火情邪？能一決乎？」突利亦不對。王將絕水前，頡利見兵少，又聞與突利語，陰相忌，即遣使者來曰：「王毋苦，我固不戰，將與王議事耳。」於是引卻。秦王縱反間，突利乃歸心，不欲戰，頡利亦無以強之，乃遣突利及夾畢特勒思摩請和，帝許之。突利遂自托於王為昆弟。帝見思摩，引升御榻，思摩頓首辭，帝曰：「我見若猶頡利也。」乃聽命。

Floods had cut supply lines in Guanzhong. The army halted at Bin Prefecture when the khan's ten thousand horsemen suddenly appeared at Wulong Slope. Several hundred horsemen rode forward to challenge the Tang lines, and the whole army turned pale. The Prince of Qin galloped forward with a hundred horsemen and shouted: "The empire has done the Turks no wrong. Why do you penetrate so deep into our lands? I am the Prince of Qin. I have come to settle this with the khan in person. If you insist on battle, I have only a hundred horsemen—fighting would only multiply the dead to no purpose. Jieli laughed and made no reply. He galloped to Tuli and said: "You once swore alliance with me to aid each other in need. Have you forgotten our bond of sworn brotherhood? Will you not decide this now? Tuli made no reply. As the prince prepared to ford the river, Jieli saw how few troops he had and overheard his words with Tuli. Suspicious of his brother, Jieli sent an envoy: "Do not trouble yourself, Prince. I do not intend to fight—I wish only to discuss matters with you. He then withdrew. The prince sowed discord between the brothers. Tuli turned toward the Tang and refused to fight; Jieli could not compel him. They sent Tuli and the tegin Simo to sue for peace, and the emperor agreed. Tuli pledged himself to the prince as a sworn brother. The emperor received Simo and seated him on the imperial couch. Simo prostrated himself in refusal. The emperor said: "When I see you, it is as though I see Jieli himself. Simo then accepted.

突厥既歲盜邊，或說帝曰：「虜數內寇者，以府庫子女所在，我能去長安，則戎心止矣。」帝使中書侍郎宇文士及逾南山，按行樊、鄧，將徙都焉。群臣贊遷，秦王獨曰：「夷狄自古為中國患，未聞周、漢為遷也。願假數年，請取可汗以報。」帝乃止。頡利已和，亦會甚雨，弓矢皆弛惡，遂解而還。帝會群臣問所以備邊者，將作大匠於筠請五原、靈武置舟師於河，扼其入。中書侍郎溫彥博曰：「魏為長塹遏匈奴，今可用。」帝使桑顯和塹邊大道，召江南船工大發卒治戰艦。頡利遣使來，願款北樓關請互市，帝不能拒。帝始兼天下，罷十二軍，尚文治，至是以虜患方張，乃復置之，以練卒搜騎。

Because the Turks raided annually, someone urged the emperor: "They invade because the treasury and imperial women are at Chang'an. Move the capital and their ambitions will cease. The emperor sent Yuwen Shiji south of the mountains to survey Fan and Deng as sites for relocating the capital. The ministers approved the move. The Prince of Qin alone objected: "Barbarians have troubled China since antiquity, yet Zhou and Han never moved their capitals on their account. Give me a few years, and I will capture the khan in recompense. The emperor abandoned the plan. Jieli had already made peace, and heavy rain had ruined his bows and arrows. He disbanded his army and withdrew. The emperor convened his ministers to discuss frontier defense. Master of Works Yu Yun proposed stationing a river fleet at Wuyuan and Lingwu to block Turkish crossings. Wen Yanbo said: "Wei built the long rampart against the Xiongnu. We can do the same now. The emperor ordered Sang Xianhe to trench the frontier highways, summoned shipwrights from the south, and mobilized troops to build warships. Jieli sent envoys requesting trade at Beilou Pass. The emperor could not refuse. When the emperor first united the realm he had abolished the Twelve Armies in favor of civil rule. Now, with the Turkish threat resurgent, he restored them to train soldiers and scout cavalry.

八年，頡利攻靈、朔，與代州都督藺謩戰新城，謩敗績。於是張瑾兵屯石嶺，李高遷屯大谷，秦王屯蒲州道。初，帝待突厥用敵國禮，及是，怒曰：「往吾以天下未定，厚於虜以紓吾邊。今卒敗約，朕將擊滅之，毋須姑息。」命有司更所與書為詔若敕。瑾未至屯，虜已逾石嶺，圍并州，攻靈州，轉擾潞、沁。李靖以兵出潞州道，行軍總管任瑰屯太行。瑾戰大谷，敗績，中書侍郎溫彥博陷於賊，鄆州都督張德政死之。遂攻廣武，為任城王道宗破。其欲谷設掠綏州，請和去。敗并州數縣，入蘭、鄯、彭州諸屯，或小勝，不能制。俄寇原州，折威將軍楊屯擊之，且發士屯大谷。

In the eighth year Jieli attacked Ling and Shuo prefectures and defeated Lin Mo at New City. Zhang Jin garrisoned Shiling, Li Gaoqian Dagu, and the Prince of Qin the Puzhou route. At first the emperor had treated the Turks as an equal power. Now he declared in anger: "When the realm was unsettled, I treated the Turks generously to ease our borders. Now they have broken faith. I will destroy them—no more indulgence. He ordered that all correspondence to the Turks be rewritten as imperial edicts or commands. Before Zhang Jin reached his post, the Turks had crossed Shiling, besieged Bing Prefecture, attacked Ling, and raided Lu and Qin prefectures. Li Jing marched by the Luzhou route while Ren Gui garrisoned Taihang. Zhang Jin was defeated at Dagu. Wen Yanbo was captured and Zhang Dezheng of Yan Prefecture was killed. They then attacked Guangwu but were defeated by Prince of Rencheng Daozong. His subordinate Yugu she raided Sui Prefecture, then sued for peace and withdrew. They ravaged several Bing Prefecture counties and raided garrisons in Lan, Shan, and Peng prefectures. Tang forces won minor victories but could not contain them. Soon they raided Yuan Prefecture. Yang Tun repelled them and sent troops to garrison Dagu.

九年，攻原、靈，又圍涼州，進犯涇、原，李靖與戰靈州，虜引去。寇西會州，圍烏城，翔徉隴、渭間，平道將軍柴紹破之於秦州，斬一特勒、三大將，虜千級。大抵虜得志則深入，負則請和，不恥也。其七月，頡利自將十萬騎襲武功，京師戒嚴。攻高陵，尉遲敬德與戰涇陽，獲俟斤烏沒啜，斬首千餘級。頡利遣謀臣執失思力入朝以覘我，因誇說曰：「二可汗兵百萬，今至矣！」太宗曰：「我與可汗嘗面約和，爾則背之。且義師之初，爾父子身從我，遺賜玉帛多至不可計，何妄以兵入我都畿，自誇盛強耶？今我當先戮爾矣！」思力懼，請命，蕭瑀、封德彜諫帝，不如禮遣之，帝不許，繋於門下省。乃與侍中高士廉、中書令房玄齡、將軍周範等馳六騎出玄武門，幸渭上，與可汗隔水語，且責其負約。群酋見帝，皆驚，下馬拜。俄而眾軍至，旗鎧光明，部隊靜嚴，虜大駭。帝與頡利按轡，即麾軍卻而陣焉。蕭瑀以帝輕敵，叩馬諫，帝曰：「我思熟矣，非爾所知也。夫突厥掃地入寇，以我新有內難，謂不能師。我若闔城，彼且大掠吾境，故我獨出，示無所畏，又盛兵使知必戰，不意我能沮其始謀。彼入吾地既深，懼不能返，故與戰則克，和則固，制賊之命，在此舉矣！」是日，頡利果請和，許之。翌日，刑白馬，與頡利盟便橋上，突厥引還。蕭瑀曰：「頡利之來，諸將多請與戰，陛下不聽，既而虜自退，其策奈何？」帝曰：「突厥眾而不整，君臣惟利是視，可汗在水西，而酋帥皆來謁我，我醉而縛之，其勢易甚。又我敕長孫無忌、李靖潛師幽州以須，若大軍躡其後，伏邀諸前，取之反覆掌耳。然我新即位，為國者要在安靜，一與虜校，殺傷必多，彼敗未及亡，懼而脩德，與我為怨，其可當耶？今僕械卷鎧，啖以玉帛，虜志必驕，驕則亡之端也，故曰『將欲取之，必固與之』。瑀再拜曰：「非臣愚所逮也！」乃詔殿中監豆盧寬、將軍趙綽護送突厥，頡利獻馬三千匹、羊萬頭，帝不納，詔歸所俘於我。

In the ninth year they attacked Yuan and Ling, besieged Liang Prefecture, and advanced on Jing and Yuan. Li Jing fought them at Ling Prefecture and drove them back. They raided Huizhou in the west, besieged Wucheng, and ranged between Long and Wei prefectures. Chai Shao defeated them at Qin Prefecture, killing a tegin, three senior commanders, and a thousand men. As a rule the Turks pressed deep when victorious and sued for peace when beaten, without a trace of shame. In the seventh month Jieli led a hundred thousand horsemen against Wugong, and Chang'an went on alert. They attacked Gaoling. Yuchi Jingde met them at Jingyang, captured the irkin Wumochuo, and took more than a thousand heads. Jieli sent his strategist Zhishi Sili to court to reconnoiter. He boasted: "The two khans command a million warriors—they are here! Taizong replied: "I once pledged peace with the khan face to face, and you have broken that pledge. When I first raised my banner, your father and you rode with me. I lavished gifts of silk and treasure on you beyond reckoning. Why do you dare march on the capital and boast of your power? I ought to execute you on the spot!" Sili was terrified and pleaded for his life. Xiao Yu and Feng Deyi urged the emperor to release him with courtesy; the emperor refused and had him imprisoned at the Secretariat. Then, with Gao Shilian, Fang Xuanling, Zhou Fan, and others, he rode out the Xuanwu Gate with only six horsemen to the Wei River. Across the water he spoke with the khan and rebuked him for breaking faith. The Turkish chiefs were astonished to see the emperor. They dismounted and prostrated themselves. Soon Tang armies appeared, banners and armor blazing, ranks motionless and disciplined. The Turks were utterly unnerved. The emperor and Jieli held their horses while he signaled his troops to fall back and form ranks. Fearing the emperor had underestimated the enemy, Xiao Yu grabbed his bridle to protest. The emperor said: "I have weighed this carefully. You would not understand. The Turks swept south because they thought our recent civil strife left us unable to fight. Had I shut the gates, they would have ravaged the countryside. I came out alone to show I was unafraid and massed troops to show we would fight. I never expected to break their plan so easily. They had penetrated too deep to retreat safely. Fight and we would win; make peace and it would hold. The enemy's fate turned on this single gesture. That day Jieli sued for peace, and the emperor agreed. The next day they sacrificed a white horse and sealed the alliance with Jieli on Bian Bridge. The Turks withdrew. Xiao Yu asked: "When Jieli came, many generals urged battle, but Your Majesty refused. The Turks withdrew on their own—what was your strategy? The emperor replied: "The Turks were numerous but disordered; ruler and subjects cared only for gain. The khan sat west of the river while his chiefs came to pay me homage. Had I gotten them drunk and bound them, it would have been easy. I had also ordered Zhangsun Wuji and Li Jing to move secretly toward Youzhou. With our main force on their heels and ambushes ahead, capturing them would have been as easy as turning one's hand. But I had just taken the throne, and a state needs peace above all. Battle would mean heavy losses. Defeated but not destroyed, they would reform and become our lasting enemy. Could we afford that? Now I have sheathed our swords and showered them with silk and treasure. They will grow arrogant, and arrogance is the road to ruin—as the saying goes, 'To take, one must first give abundantly.'" Xiao Yu bowed deeply. "This is beyond my understanding!" The emperor then sent Dou Lu Kuan and Zhao Chuo to escort the Turks home. Jieli offered three thousand horses and ten thousand sheep, but the emperor refused them and ordered the return of Tang captives.

貞觀元年，薛延陀、回紇、拔野古諸部皆叛，使突利討之，不勝，輕騎走，頡利怒，囚之，突利由是怨望。是歲大雪，羊馬多凍死，人饑，懼王師乘其敝，即引兵入朔州地，聲言會獵。議者請責其敗約，因伐之，帝曰：「匹夫不可為不信，況國乎？我既與之盟，豈利其災，邀險以取之耶？須其無禮於我，乃伐之。」

In Zhenguan 1 the Xueyantuo, Uyghurs, Bayegu, and other tribes rebelled. Jieli sent Tuli against them; Tuli was defeated and fled with a small escort. Jieli imprisoned him, and Tuli turned resentful. That year heavy snow killed countless sheep and horses and brought famine. Fearing Tang armies would strike while they were weak, the Turks entered Shuo Prefecture under the pretense of a hunting expedition. Some urged punishing them for breaking the treaty and launching an attack. The emperor said: "Even a common man must keep his word—how much more a state? I have sworn alliance with them. How could I exploit their disaster and ambush them in distress? We will strike only when they give us cause."

明年，突利自陳為頡利所攻，求救。帝曰：「朕與頡利盟，又與突利有昆弟約，不可不救，奈何？」兵部尚書杜如晦曰：「夷狄無信，我雖如約，彼常負之，今亂而擊之，侮亡之道也。」乃詔將軍周範壁太原經略之，頡利亦擁兵窺邊。或請築古長城，發民乘塞。帝曰：「突厥盛夏而霜，五日並出，三月連明，赤氣滿野，彼見災而不務德，不畏天也。遷徙無常，六畜多死，不用地也。俗死則焚，今葬皆起墓，背父祖命，謾鬼神也。與突利不睦，內相攻殘，不和於親也。有是四者，將亡矣，當為公等取之，安在築障塞乎？」突厥俗素質略，頡利得華士趙德言，才其人，委信之，稍專國；又委政諸胡，斥遠宗族不用，興師歲入邊，下不堪苦。胡性冒沓，數翻覆不信，號令無常。歲大饑，裒斂苛重，諸部愈貳。

The following year Tuli reported that Jieli was attacking him and begged for aid. The emperor said: "I am allied with Jieli, yet I am sworn brothers with Tuli. I cannot refuse to help him. What should we do? Minister of War Du Ruhui said: "Barbarians are faithless. Though we keep our word, they break theirs. To strike them now while they are in turmoil is to kick a man when he is down." The emperor ordered Zhou Fan to fortify Taiyuan and prepare for action. Jieli also massed troops along the frontier. Some urged rebuilding the old Great Wall and drafting peasants to garrison the frontier. The emperor said: "The Turks had frost in midsummer, five suns rose together, three months of unbroken daylight, and red mists covered the steppe. They saw these omens yet did not mend their ways—they do not fear Heaven. They wander without settling; their herds die in droves—they do not know how to use the land. Their custom is to burn the dead, yet now they build tombs—defying their fathers and ancestors and deceiving the spirits. Jieli and Tuli are at odds, tearing each other apart—there is no harmony among kin. With these four failings they are doomed to fall. We should conquer them for ourselves—why bother building walls? The Turks were plain and rough by nature. Jieli took the Chinese adviser Zhao Deyan into his trust and gradually concentrated power in his own hands. He entrusted government to foreign advisers, pushed aside his own clansmen, and launched annual raids. His people could bear it no longer. The foreign advisers were reckless and greedy, shifting loyalties constantly. Orders changed without warning. Famine struck that year, and exactions grew harsh. The tribes grew ever more restive.

又明年，屬部薛延陀自稱可汗，以使來。詔兵部尚書李靖擊虜馬邑，頡利走，九俟斤以眾降，拔野古、仆骨、同羅諸部、習奚渠長皆來朝。於是詔并州都督李世勣出通漠道，李靖出定襄道，左武衛大將軍柴紹出金河道，靈州大都督任城王道宗出大同道，幽州都督衛孝節出恒安道，營州都督薛萬淑出暢武道，凡六總管，師十餘萬，皆授靖節度以討之。道宗戰靈州，俘人畜萬計，突利及郁射設、蔭奈特勒帥所部來奔，捷書日夜至，帝謂群臣曰：「往國家初定，太上皇以百姓故，奉突厥，詭而臣之，朕常痛心病首，思一刷恥於天下，今天誘諸將，所向輒克，朕其遂有成功乎！」

The following year the Xueyantuo, a subordinate tribe, proclaimed their own khan and sent envoys to court. The emperor ordered Li Jing to attack the Turks at Mayi. Jieli fled. Nine irkin submitted with their followers, and the Bayegu, Pugu, Tongluo, and Xi chiefs all came to pay homage. The emperor dispatched six commanders with more than a hundred thousand men under Li Jing's overall command: Li Shiji by the Tongmo route, Li Jing by Dingxiang, Chai Shao by Jinhe, Prince Daozong by Datong, Wei Xiaojie by Heng'an, and Xue Wanshu by Changwu. Daozong fought at Ling Prefecture and captured tens of thousands of people and livestock. Tuli and the shes Yushe and Yinnai tegin defected with their followers. Victory reports poured in day and night. The emperor told his ministers: "When the dynasty was young, the retired emperor submitted to the Turks for the people's sake—a humiliation that has gnawed at me ever since. Now Heaven favors our generals and every campaign succeeds. At last we may redeem our honor!"

四年正月，靖進屯惡陽嶺，夜襲頡利，頡利驚，退牙磧口，大酋康蘇蜜等以隋蕭皇后、楊正道降。或言中國人嘗密通書於後，中書舍人陽文瓘請劾治。帝曰：「天下未一，人或當思隋，今反側既安，何足治耶？」置勿劾。頡利窘，走保鐵山，兵猶數萬，令執失思力來，陽為哀言謝罪，請內屬，帝詔鴻臚卿唐儉、將軍安脩仁等持節慰撫。靖知儉在虜所，虜必安，乃襲擊之，盡獲其眾，頡利得千里馬，獨奔沙缽羅，行軍副總管張寶相禽之。沙缽羅設、蘇尼失以眾降，其國遂亡，復定襄、恒安地，斥境至大漠矣。

In the first month of the fourth year Li Jing encamped at Eyang Ridge and attacked Jieli by night. Jieli fled to Qikou. The chieftain Kang Sumi surrendered with Empress Xiao of Sui and Yang Zhengdao. Some claimed Chinese subjects had secretly corresponded with the empress. Yang Wenguan urged an investigation. The emperor said: "The realm was not yet united; some still looked back to Sui. Now the disloyal are pacified—why pursue this? He dropped the matter. Hard pressed, Jieli fled to Tieshan with tens of thousands of men. He sent Zhishi Sili with feigned remorse to sue for submission. The emperor dispatched Tang Jian and An Xiuren with credentials to reassure him. Li Jing knew the Turks would relax while Tang Jian was negotiating. He attacked and captured the entire force. Jieli escaped on a swift horse toward Shabolu, but Zhang Baoxiang captured him. The shes Shabolu and Sunishi submitted with their followers. The Turkish state was destroyed. Tang recovered Dingxiang and Heng'an, and the frontier reached the great desert.

頡利至京師，告俘太廟，帝御順天樓，陳仗衛，士民縱觀，吏執可汗至，帝曰：「而罪有五：而父國破，賴隋以安，不以一鏃力助之，使其廟社不血食，一也；與我鄰而棄信擾邊，二也；恃兵不戢，部落攜怨，三也；賊華民，暴禾稼，四也；許和親而遷延自遁，五也。朕殺爾非無名，顧渭上盟未之忘，故不窮責也。」乃悉還其家屬，館於太僕，稟食之。

Jieli was brought to the capital and presented at the Imperial Ancestral Temple. The emperor mounted Shuntian Tower with full guard while the people looked on. Officials led the khan forward. The emperor said: "You are guilty of five crimes. First: when your father's state was broken, Sui restored you, yet you never lifted a finger to aid them, leaving Sui's ancestral temples without sacrifice. Second: though we were neighbors, you broke faith and raided our borders. Third: you relied on force and would not restrain your troops, earning your tribes' hatred. Fourth: you preyed on Chinese subjects and destroyed our harvests. Fifth: you promised alliance by marriage, then delayed and slipped away. I would be justified in executing you, but I have not forgotten our covenant on the Wei River, and so I will not press the matter further. He returned Jieli's family, housed them under the Imperial Stud, and provided for their upkeep.

思結俟斤以四萬眾降，可汗弟欲谷設奔高昌，既而亦來降。伊吾城之長素臣突厥，舉七城以獻，因其地為西伊州。制詔：突厥往逢癘疫，長城之南，暴骨如丘，有司其以酒脯祭，為瘞藏之。又詔：隋亂，華民多沒於虜，遣使者以金帛贖男女八萬口，還為平民。

The Sijie irkin submitted with forty thousand followers. Jieli's brother Yugu she fled to Gaochang but later surrendered as well. The lord of Yiwu, long a Turkish vassal, surrendered seven cities. Tang established Western Yizhou on that territory. An edict ordered: "During past epidemics Turkish dead lay unburied south of the Great Wall, bones heaped like hills. Let the authorities offer wine and meat in sacrifice and give them proper burial." Another edict declared: "During the Sui collapse countless Chinese were taken captive. Send envoys to redeem eighty thousand men and women with gold and silk and restore them to civilian life."

頡利不室處，常設穹廬廷中，久郁郁不自憀，與家人悲歌相泣下，狀貌羸省。帝見憐之，以虢州負山多麕麋，有射獵之娛，乃拜為刺史，辭不往，遂授右衛大將軍，賜美田宅。帝曰：「昔啟民失國，隋文帝不恡粟帛，興士眾，營護而存立之，至始畢稍強，則以兵圍煬帝雁門，今其滅者，殆背德忘義致然耶？」頡利子疊羅支，有至性，既舍京師，諸婦得品供，羅支預焉；其母最後至，不得給，羅支不敢嘗品肉。帝聞，嘆曰：「天稟仁孝，詎限華夷哉！」厚賜之，遂給母肉。

Jieli refused to live indoors and kept a yurt pitched in the courtyard. He grew despondent, singing mournfully with his family and weeping together until he was gaunt and wasted. The emperor took pity on him. Guo Prefecture, mountainous and rich in game, would have suited his love of the hunt, and the emperor offered him the post of inspector. Jieli declined, so he was made Right Guard General and given a fine estate. The emperor remarked: "When Qimin lost his kingdom, Emperor Wen of Sui spent grain and treasure and sent armies to restore him. Yet when Shibi grew strong he besieged Emperor Yang at Yanmen. Perhaps their destruction came from betraying those who had saved them. Jieli's son Dieluozhi was deeply filial. After leaving the capital, the wives received ranked rations, and Luozhi was among them. His mother arrived last and received no share. Luozhi would not touch his ration until she was served. When the emperor heard this he sighed: "Heaven bestows filial piety without regard for Chinese or barbarian! He rewarded Luozhi generously and saw that his mother received her share.

八年，頡利死，贈歸義王，謚曰荒，詔國人葬之，從其禮，火屍，起冢灞東。其臣胡祿達官吐谷渾邪者，頡利母婆施之媵臣也，頡利始生，以授渾邪，至是哀慟，乃自殺。帝異之，贈中郎將，命葬頡利冢旁，詔中書侍郎岑文本刻其事於頡利、渾邪之墓碑。俄蘇尼失亦以死殉。尼失者，啟民可汗弟也。始畢以為沙缽羅設，帳部五萬，牙直靈州西北，姿雄趫，以仁惠御下，人多歸之；頡利政亂，其部獨不貳。突利降，頡利以為小可汗。頡利已敗，乃舉眾來，漠南地遂空，授北寧州都督、右衛大將軍，封懷德王云。

In the eighth year Jieli died. He was posthumously enfeoffed as King of Returning Righteousness with the temple name Disordered. By edict his countrymen buried him in their custom: the body was burned and a tomb raised east of Ba. His minister Tuyuhun Xie, a retainer of Jieli's mother Boshi, had nursed Jieli from birth. Grief-stricken, he took his own life. The emperor was moved, posthumously made him a Gentleman of the Palace Guard, and ordered him buried beside Jieli's tomb. Cen Wenben was commanded to inscribe the story on their stele. Soon Sunishi also died in loyalty to his lord. Sunishi was the younger brother of Qimin Khan. Shibi had made him she Shabolu over fifty thousand tents, headquartered northwest of Ling Prefecture. Bold and swift, he ruled with kindness, and many rallied to him. When Jieli's rule collapsed, his tribe alone remained loyal. After Tuli defected, Jieli made him lesser khan. After Jieli's defeat he brought his entire following to Tang. The steppe south of the desert lay empty. He was made Grand Protector of North Ningzhou and Right Guard General, enfeoffed as King of Cherishing Virtue.

頡利之亡，其下或走薛延陀，或入西域，而來降者尚十餘萬，詔議所宜，鹹言：「突厥擾中國久，今天喪之，非慕義自歸，請悉籍降俘，內兗、豫閑處，使習耕織，百萬之虜，可化為齊人，是中國有加戶，而漠北遂空也。」中書令溫彥博請：「如漢建武時，置降匈奴留五原塞，全其部落，以為捍蔽，不革其俗，因而撫之，實空虛之地，且示無所猜。若內兗、豫，則乖本性，非函育之道。」秘書監魏征建言：「突厥世為中國仇，今其來降，不即誅滅，當遣還河北。彼鳥獸野心，非我族類，弱則伏，強則叛，其天性也。且秦、漢以銳師猛將擊取河南地為郡縣者，以不欲使近中國也。陛下奈何以河南居之？且降者十萬，若令數年，孳息略倍，而近在畿甸，心腹疾也。」彥博曰：「不然，天子於四夷，若天地養萬物，覆載全安之，今突厥破滅，余種歸命，不加哀憐而棄之，非天地蒙覆之義，而有阻四夷之嫌。臣謂處以河南，蓋死而生之，亡而存之，彼世將懷德，何叛之為？」徵曰：「魏時有胡落分處近郡，晉已平吳，郭欽、江統勸武帝逐出之，不能用。劉、石之亂，卒傾中夏。陛下必欲引突厥居河南，所謂養虎自遺患者也。」彥博曰：「聖人之道無不通，故曰『有教無類』。彼創殘之餘，以窮歸我，我援護之，收處內地，將教以禮法，職以耕農，又選酋良入宿衛，何患之恤？且光武置南單于，卒無叛亡。」於是中書侍郎顏師古、給事中杜楚客、禮部侍郎李百藥等皆勸帝不如使處河北，樹首長，俾統部落，視地多少，令不相臣，國小權分，終不得亢衡中國，長轡遠馭之道也。帝主彥博語，卒度朔方地，自幽州屬靈州，建順、祐、化、長四州為都督府，剖頡利故地，左置定襄都督、右置雲中都督二府統之。擢酋豪為將軍、郎將者五百人，奉朝請者且百員，入長安自籍者數千戶。乃以突利可汗為順州都督，令率其下就部。

After Jieli's fall his followers fled to the Xueyantuo or westward, yet more than a hundred thousand surrendered. The court debated their disposition. Many argued: "The Turks have plagued China for generations. They surrender from weakness, not loyalty. Register them all and settle them in vacant lands in Yan and Yu, teach them farming and weaving—a million barbarians could become ordinary subjects, China would gain population, and the northern steppe would lie empty. Secretariat Director Wen Yanbo argued: "As Emperor Guangwu of Han settled surrendered Xiongnu at Wuyuan Pass, keeping their tribes intact as a buffer without changing their customs—we would fill empty lands and show we do not distrust them. Settling them deep in Yan and Yu would violate their nature—it is not the way of humane governance." Director of the Secretariat Wei Zheng objected: "The Turks have been China's enemies for generations. Now that they surrender, if we do not destroy them outright we should at least send them back north of the Yellow River. They have the hearts of wolves. They are not our kind. Weak, they submit; strong, they rebel—that is their nature. Qin and Han conquered the lands south of the desert and made them commanderies precisely to keep barbarians away from the heartland. Why would Your Majesty settle them in Henan? A hundred thousand have surrendered. In a few years their numbers could double. Placed near the capital, they would become a disease in our very vitals." Yanbo replied: "Not so. The Son of Heaven treats the four barbarians as Heaven and Earth nurture all things—with shelter and care. The Turks are broken; their remnants submit. To abandon them without compassion violates the way of Heaven and will alienate all foreign peoples. Settling them in Henan means giving life to the dying and saving the lost. Grateful for generations, why would they rebel?" Wei Zheng countered: "In Wei times barbarian tribes were settled in nearby commanderies. After Jin conquered Wu, Guo Qin and Jiang Tong urged Emperor Wu to expel them—but he did not listen. The uprisings of Liu Yuan and Shi Le ultimately overturned the heartland. If Your Majesty insists on settling Turks in Henan, you will be rearing a tiger to plague your descendants." Yanbo replied: "The sage's way embraces all—'In education there are no distinctions of kind. They come to us broken and destitute. We shelter them, settle them inland, teach them rites and law, set them to farming, and select worthy chiefs for palace guard—what is there to fear? Moreover, when Emperor Guangwu established the Southern Chanyu, none ultimately rebelled or fled." Secretariat Vice-Director Yan Shigu, Du Chuke, Li Baiyao, and others urged settling the Turks north of the Yellow River instead. Install chieftains to govern their tribes, divide their lands, and keep them from uniting under one ruler. Small states with divided power could never challenge China—this was the way of governing from afar with loose reins. The emperor sided with Wen Yanbo. He mapped out Shuofang territory from Youzhou to Ling Prefecture, established the four prefectures Shun, You, Hua, and Chang under a grand protectorate, and divided Jieli's former lands between the Dingxiang and Yunzhong protectorates. Five hundred tribal leaders were made generals and commandants, nearly a hundred received court attendance appointments, and several thousand households registered in Chang'an. Tuli Khan was appointed Grand Protector of Shun Prefecture and ordered to lead his people to their assigned lands.

突利初為泥步設，得隋淮南公主以為妻。頡利之立，用次弟為延陀設，主延陀部，步利設主霫部，統特勒主胡部，斛特勒主斛薛部，以突利可汗主契丹、靺鞨部，樹牙南直幽州，東方之眾皆屬焉。突利斂取無法，下不附，故薛延陀、奚、霫等皆內屬，頡利遣擊之，又大敗，眾騷離，頡利囚捶之，久乃赦。突利嘗自結於太宗，及頡利衰，驟追兵於突利，不肯從，因起相攻。突利請入朝，帝謂左右曰：「古為國者勞己以憂人，則系祚長；役人以奉己，則亡。今突厥喪亂，由可汗不君，突利雖至親，不自保而來。夷狄弱則邊境安，然觀彼亡，我不可以無懼，有不逮者，禍可紓乎！」突利至，禮見良厚，輟膳以賜之，拜右衛大將軍，封北平郡王，食戶七百。及為都督，太宗敕曰：「而祖啟民破亡，隋則復之，棄德不報，而父始畢反為隋敵。爾今窮來歸我，所以不立爾為可汗，鑒前敗也。我欲中國安，爾宗族不亡，故授爾都督，毋相侵掠，長為我北藩。」突利頓首聽命。後入朝，死并州道中，年二十九，帝為舉哀，亦詔文本文其墓，子賀邏鶻嗣。

Tuli was first made she Nibu and married Princess Huainan of Sui. When Jieli took power he assigned his brothers to govern the tribes: Xueyantuo, Mohe, Hu, and Huxue. Tuli Khan ruled the Khitan and Mohe, with his headquarters south of Youzhou. All eastern tribes fell under his authority. Tuli taxed his people harshly and lost their loyalty. The Xueyantuo, Xi, and Mohe submitted to Tang. Jieli sent troops against them and suffered another crushing defeat. His forces scattered in turmoil. Jieli imprisoned and beat Tuli, releasing him only after a long time. Tuli had once allied with Taizong. As Jieli's power waned, he suddenly pressed Tuli with troops. Tuli refused, and the two brothers came to blows. Tuli asked to come to court. The emperor told his attendants: "Ancient rulers who toiled for their people's sake enjoyed long reigns; those who used their people for personal gain perished. The Turks are in chaos because their khan failed to rule. Tuli, though a close kinsman, could not protect himself and has come to us. Weak barbarians mean a secure frontier, yet watching them collapse I cannot be complacent. If we fall short anywhere, how can we avert disaster? Tuli was received with great honor. The emperor shared his own meal with him, made him Right Guard General, enfeoffed him as Prince of Beiping Commandery, and granted seven hundred households. When Tuli became grand protector, Taizong wrote: "Your grandfather Qimin was destroyed, and Sui restored him—but he betrayed that kindness. Your father Shibi then made himself Sui's enemy. You come to me in desperation. I do not make you khan, taking warning from these past failures. I want China secure and your clan preserved. I appoint you grand protector. Do not raid one another. Serve forever as my northern bulwark. Tuli prostrated himself and accepted. On a later visit to court he died on the road in Bing Prefecture at twenty-nine. The emperor mourned him and had Cen Wenben compose his epitaph. His son Heluoge succeeded him.

帝幸九成宮，突利弟結社率以郎將宿衛，陰結種人謀反，劫賀邏鶻北還，謂其黨曰：「我聞晉王丁夜得辟仗出，我乘間突進，可犯行在。」是夕，大風冥，王不出，結社率恐謀漏，即射中營，噪而殺人，衛十等共擊之，乃走，殺廄人盜馬，欲度渭，僥邏禽斬之，赦賀邏鶻，投嶺外。於是群臣更言處突厥中國非是，帝亦患之，乃立阿史那思摩為乙彌泥孰俟利可汗，賜氏李，樹牙河北，悉徙突厥還故地。

While the emperor was at Jiucheng Palace, Tuli's brother Jieshelu, a commandant on palace guard, secretly plotted rebellion with tribal allies. He planned to seize Heluoge and flee north, telling his followers: "I hear the Prince of Jin takes up arms at midnight—I can burst in and strike the imperial camp. That night a fierce wind blew and darkness fell; the prince did not emerge. Fearing discovery, Jieshelu shot into the camp, raised a clamor, and began killing. Guards repelled him. He fled, killed stable hands, and stole horses to cross the Wei River, but was captured and executed at Yaoluo. Heluoge was pardoned and exiled beyond the passes. Ministers again argued that settling Turks in China was a mistake, and the emperor agreed. He established Ashina Simo as Yimi Nishu Irli Khan, granted him the surname Li, set his headquarters north of the river, and moved all Turks back to their former lands.

思摩，頡利族人也，父曰咄六設。始，啟民奔隋，磧北諸部奉思摩為可汗，啟民歸國，乃去可汗號。性開敏，善占對，始畢、處羅皆愛之。然以貌似胡，疑非阿史那種，故但為夾畢特勒，而不得為設。武德初，數以使者來，高祖嘉其誠，封和順郡王。及諸部納款，思摩獨留，與頡利俱禽，太宗以為忠，授右武候大將軍、化州都督，統頡利故部居河南，徙懷化郡王。及是將徙，內畏薛延陀，不敢出塞。帝詔司農卿郭嗣本持節賜延陀書，言：「中國禮義，未始滅人國，以頡利暴殘，伐而取之，非貪其地與人也。故處降部於河南，薦草美泉，利其畜牧，眾日孳蕃，今復以思摩為可汗，還其故疆。延陀受命在前，長於突厥，舉磧以北，延陀主之；其南，突厥保之。各守而境，無相鈔犯，有負約，我自以兵誅之。」思摩乃行，帝為置酒，引思摩前曰：「蒔一草一木，見其溺廡以為喜，況我養爾部人，息爾馬羊，不減昔乎！爾父母墳墓在河北，今復舊廷，故宴以慰行。」思摩泣下，奉觴上萬歲壽，且言：「破亡之餘，陛下使存骨舊鄉，願子孫世世事唐，以報厚德。」於是趙郡王孝恭、鴻臚卿劉善就思摩部，築壇場河上，拜受冊，賜鼓纛，又詔左屯衛將軍阿史那忠為左賢王，左武衛將軍阿史那泥孰為右賢王，相之。

Simo was of Jieli's clan. His father was she Zhuoliu. When Qimin fled to Sui, the tribes north of the desert made Simo khan. When Qimin returned, Simo relinquished the title. Quick-witted and eloquent, he was favored by both Shibi and Chuluo. Because he looked like a foreigner, some doubted he was true Ashina blood. He was made only Jabiy tegin and never promoted to she. In the early Wude era he came repeatedly as envoy. Gaozu praised his sincerity and enfeoffed him as Prince of Heshun Commandery. When the tribes submitted, Simo alone stayed with Jieli and was captured. Taizong deemed him loyal, made him Right Martial Guard General and Grand Protector of Hua Prefecture over Jieli's former followers settled south of the river, and transferred his title to Prince of Huaihua Commandery. When the time came to move north, he feared the Xueyantuo and dared not leave the frontier. The emperor sent Guo Siben with credentials and a letter to the Xueyantuo: "China's way of rites never seeks to destroy nations. We attacked Jieli because he was cruel—not from greed for land or people. We settled the surrendered tribes south of the river where pasture and water were good, and their herds multiplied. Now we restore Simo as khan and return them to their former lands. The Xueyantuo received their mandate first and rank above the Turks. All lands north of the desert belong to the Xueyantuo; to the south the Turks shall hold. Each shall guard its own border without raiding the other. Whoever breaks this covenant, I shall punish with arms. Simo then departed. The emperor held a farewell feast and drew Simo forward: "One rejoices to see a single plant flourish—how much more should you rejoice that I nurture your people and rest your herds as before! Your parents' graves lie north of the river. Now you return to your old domain—I feast to comfort your journey." Simo wept, raised his cup to toast the emperor's long life, and said: "We are the remnant of a broken people. Your Majesty restores us to our homeland. May our descendants serve Tang forever to repay your grace." Prince Xiaogong of Zhao and Liu Shan went to Simo's camp, built an altar on the riverbank, and invested him with drums and banners. Ashina Zhong was made Left Wise King and Ashina Nishu Right Wise King to assist him.

薛延陀聞突厥之北，恐其眾奔亡度磧，勒兵以待。及使者至，乃謝曰：「天子詔毋相侵，謹頓首奉詔。然突厥酣亂翻覆，其未亡時殺中國人如麻，陛下滅其國，謂宜收種落皆為奴婢，以償唐人。乃養之如子，而結社率竟反，此不可信明甚。後有亂，請終為陛下誅之。」十五年，思摩帥眾十餘萬、勝兵四萬、馬九萬匹始度河，牙於故定襄城，其地南大河，北白道，畜牧廣衍，龍荒之最壤，故突厥爭利之。思摩遣使謝曰：「蒙恩立為落長，實望世世為國一犬，守吠天子北門，有如延陀侵逼，願入保長城。」詔許之。

Hearing the Turks were moving north, the Xueyantuo feared their people would flee across the desert and marshaled troops to intercept them. When the envoy arrived they apologized: "The Son of Heaven has forbidden mutual invasion. We bow and accept his decree. Yet the Turks are drunken, disorderly, and treacherous. Before their fall they killed Chinese by the thousands. Your Majesty destroyed their state—we believe their tribes should all be enslaved to repay Tang. Yet you nurture them like sons, and Jieshelu still rebelled. Their untrustworthiness could not be clearer. If they rebel again, we ask leave to destroy them for Your Majesty. In the fifteenth year Simo crossed the river with more than a hundred thousand followers, forty thousand warriors, and ninety thousand horses. He established his headquarters at old Dingxiang city—south lay the great river, north the White Road. Its vast pastures were the finest on the northern steppe, which the Turks had long contested. Simo sent envoys in gratitude: "By your grace I am made tribal chief. I hope to serve as your watchdog at the northern gate for generations. If the Xueyantuo attack, I ask shelter within the Great Wall. The emperor agreed.

居三年，不能得其眾，下多攜背，思摩慚，因入朝願留宿衛，更拜右武衛將軍。從伐遼，中流矢，帝為吮血，其顧厚類此。還，卒京師，贈兵部尚書、夏州都督，陪葬昭陵，築墳象白道山，為刊其勞，碑於化州。

After three years he could not hold his people together. Many followers turned away. Ashamed, Simo came to court and asked to remain on palace guard. He was made Right Martial Guard General. On the Liaodong campaign he was struck by an arrow. The emperor sucked the blood from his wound. Such was his care for Simo. He died in the capital on his return. Posthumously made Minister of War and Grand Protector of Xia Prefecture, he was buried at Zhaoling. His tomb was shaped like White Road Mountain, and a stele recording his service was erected at Hua Prefecture.

右賢王阿史那泥孰，蘇尼失子也。始歸國，妻以宗女，賜名忠。及從思摩出塞，思慕中國，見使者必流涕求入侍，許之。

Right Wise King Ashina Nishu was the son of Sunishi. When he first submitted, an imperial clanswoman was given him in marriage and he was granted the name Zhong. When he followed Simo beyond the frontier he yearned for China. Whenever he saw Tang envoys he wept and begged to enter court service. His request was granted.

思摩既不能國，殘眾稍稍南度河，分處勝、夏二州。帝伐遼，或言突厥處河南，邇京師，請帝無東。帝曰：「夫為君者，豈有猜貳哉！湯、武化桀、紂之民，無不遷善，有隋無道，舉天下皆叛，非止夷狄也。朕閔突厥之亡，內河南以振贍之，彼不近走延陀而遠歸我，懷我深矣，朕策五十年中國無突厥患。」思摩眾既南，車鼻可汗乃盜有其地。

Unable to maintain his state, Simo's remnant followers gradually crossed south of the river and were settled in Sheng and Xia prefectures. When the emperor campaigned against Liaodong, some warned that Turks settled south of the river were too close to the capital and urged him not to go east. The emperor replied: "Should a ruler harbor suspicion and division? Tang and Wu transformed the people of Jie and Zhou, and all turned toward virtue. Sui lost the Way and all under Heaven rebelled—not barbarians alone. We pity the Turks' fall and settled them south of the river to sustain them. They did not flee to the Xueyantuo but came to us from afar—they cherish us deeply. I calculate that China will have no Turkish trouble for fifty years. Once Simo's people moved south, Chebi Khan seized the vacated lands.

車鼻，亦阿史那族，而突利部人也，名斛勃，世為小可汗。頡利敗，諸部欲共君長之，會薛延陀稱可汗，乃往歸焉。其為人沈果有智數，眾頗便附，延陀畏逼，將殺之，乃率所部遯去，騎數千尾追，不勝。竄金山之北，三垂斗絕，惟一面可容車騎，壤土夷博，即據之，勝兵三萬，自稱乙註車鼻可汗，距長安萬里，西葛邏祿，北結骨，皆並統之，時時出掠延陀人畜。延陀後衰，車鼻勢益張。

Chebi was also Ashina, from Tuli's division. His name was Hubo. His family had held the title of lesser khan for generations. After Jieli's defeat the tribes wished to make him their leader, but the Xueyantuo had proclaimed a khan, so he submitted to them instead. Deep, resolute, and cunning, he drew many followers. The Xueyantuo, fearing his rise, moved to kill him. He fled with his tribe. Thousands of horsemen pursued but could not catch him. He fled north of the Altai Mountains to a plateau accessible from only one side. With thirty thousand warriors he proclaimed himself Yizhu Chebi Khan, ten thousand li from Chang'an. He ruled the Geluolu to the west and the Kirghiz to the north, and raided the Xueyantuo whenever he could. As the Xueyantuo declined, Chebi's power grew.

二十一年，遣子沙缽羅特勒獻方物，且請身入朝。帝遣雲麾將軍安調遮、右屯衛郎將韓華往迎之，至則車鼻偃然無入朝意，華謀與葛邏祿共劫之，車鼻覺，華與車鼻子陟特勒鬥死，調遮被殺。帝怒，遣右驍衛郎將高偘發回紇、仆骨兵擊之，其大酋長歌邏祿泥孰闕俟利發、處木昆莫賀咄俟斤等以次降。偘師攻阿息山，部落不肯戰，車鼻攜愛妾，從數百騎走；追至金山，獲之，獻京師。高宗責曰：「頡利敗，爾不輔，無親也；延陀破，爾遯亡，不忠也。而罪當死，然朕見先帝所獲酋長必宥之，今原而死。」乃釋縛，數俘社廟，又見昭陵。拜左武衛將軍，賜居第，處其眾郁督軍山，詔建狼山都督府統之。初，其子羯漫陀泣諫車鼻，請歸國，不聽。乃遣子庵鑠入朝，後來降，拜左屯衛將軍，建新黎州，使領其眾。於是突厥盡為封疆臣矣。始置單于都護府領狼山雲中桑乾三都督、蘇農等二十四州，瀚海都護府領金微新黎等七都督、仙萼賀蘭等八州。即擢領酋為都督、刺史。麟德初，改燕然為瀚海都護府，領回紇，徙故瀚海都護府於古雲中城，號雲中都護府，磧以北蕃州悉隸瀚海，南隸雲中。雲中者，義成公主所居也，頡利滅，李靖徙突厥羸破數百帳居之，以阿史德為之長，眾稍盛，即建言願以諸王為可汗，遙統之。帝曰：「今可汗，古單于也。」乃改雲中府為單于大都護府，以殷王旭輪為單于都護。帝封禪，都督葛邏祿叱利等三十餘人皆從至泰山下，已封，詔勒名於封禪碑云。凡三十年北方無戎馬警。

In the twenty-first year he sent his son Shabolu tegin with tribute and asked to come to court in person. The emperor sent An Diaozhe and Han Hua to escort him. Chebi showed no intention of coming to court. Han Hua plotted with the Geluolu to seize him, but Chebi discovered the plan. Han Hua and Chebi's son Zhi tegin killed each other in the fight, and Diaozhe was slain. Enraged, the emperor sent Gao Kan with Uyghur and Pugu troops. The great chiefs Geluolu Nishu Que Irli Fa, Chumukun Moheduo Irkin, and others surrendered one after another. Gao Kan attacked Mount Axi, but the tribes refused to fight. Chebi fled with his favorite concubine and a few hundred horsemen. Pursued to the Altai Mountains, he was captured and brought to the capital. Gaozong rebuked him: "When Jieli fell you did not aid him—you lacked loyalty to kin. When the Xueyantuo fell you fled and hid—you lacked loyalty to your lord. Your crimes deserve death, yet my father always pardoned captured chieftains. I pardon you now. His bonds were removed. Captives were presented at the ancestral temple and at Zhaoling. He was made Left Martial Guard General and given a residence. His people were settled at Mount Yudu under the newly established Langshan Protectorate. His son Jieman tuo had wept and urged Chebi to submit to Tang, but Chebi refused. Chebi had sent another son, Anshuo, to court. Anshuo later surrendered, was made Left Garrison Guard General, and given Xinli Prefecture to govern his followers. The Turks were now all subjects of the Tang frontier. The Chanyu Grand Protectorate was established over the Langshan, Yunzhong, and Sanggan protectorates and twenty-four prefectures including Sunong. The Hanhai Grand Protectorate governed seven protectorates including Jinwei and Xinli and eight prefectures including Xian'e and Helan. Tribal chiefs were promoted to grand protectors and prefectural governors. In Linde 1 Yanran was renamed Hanhai Grand Protectorate over the Uyghurs. The former Hanhai protectorate moved to old Yunzhong city as the Yunzhong Grand Protectorate. Frontier prefectures north of the desert fell under Hanhai; those south under Yunzhong. Yunzhong was where Princess Yicheng had lived. After Jieli's fall Li Jing settled several hundred broken Turkish tents there under Ashina De. As their numbers grew, they proposed that Tang princes be made khans to rule them from afar. The emperor said: "Today's khan is the ancient Chanyu. Yunzhong Protectorate was renamed the Chanyu Supreme Protectorate, and Prince Yin Xulun was made Chanyu Protector. At the emperor's feng and shan rites at Mount Tai, more than thirty grand protectors including Geluolu Chili accompanied him. After the ceremony their names were carved on the stele. For thirty years the north knew no alarm of war-horses.

調露初，單于府大酋溫傅、奉職二部反，立阿史那泥孰匐為可汗，二十四州酋長皆叛應之。乃以鴻臚卿單于大都護府長史蕭嗣業、左領軍衛將軍苑大智、右千牛衛將軍李景嘉討之，恃勝不設備，會雨雪，士皸寒，反為虜襲，大敗，殺略萬餘人，大智等收餘卒，行且戰，乃免。於是嗣業流桂州，余坐免官。更拜禮部尚書裴行儉為定襄道行軍大總管，率太僕少卿李思文、營州都督周道務、西軍程務挺、東軍李文柬，士無慮三十萬，捕擊反者。詔右金吾將軍曹懷舜屯井陘，右武衛將軍崔獻屯絳、龍門。明年，行儉戰黑山，大破之，其下斬泥孰匐，以首降，禽溫傅、奉職以還，餘眾保狼山。始虜未叛，鳴鵽群飛入塞，吏曰：「所謂突厥雀者，南飛，胡必至。」比春還，悉墮靈、夏間，率無首，泥孰果亡。狼山眾掠雲州，都督竇懷哲、右領軍中郎將程務挺逐出之。

At the start of Tiaolu the great chiefs Wenfu and Fengzhi of the Chanyu Protectorate rebelled, enthroned Ashina Nishufu as khan, and chieftains of twenty-four prefectures rose with them. Xiao Siye, Yuan Dazhi, and Li Jingjia were sent against them. Overconfident, they made no preparations. Rain and snow struck; soldiers froze. The rebels attacked and routed them, killing or capturing more than ten thousand. Dazhi and the others gathered survivors and fought their way out. Siye was exiled to Guizhou; the others were dismissed from office. Pei Xingjian was made supreme commander of the Dingxiang route with Li Siwen, Zhou Daowu, Cheng Wuting, and Li Wenjian. With some three hundred thousand men they pursued the rebels. Cao Huaishun was ordered to garrison Jingxing and Cui Xian to garrison Jiang and Longmen. The next year Pei Xingjian routed them at Black Mountain. His men beheaded Nishufu and surrendered with the head. Wenfu and Fengzhi were captured. The remnants held out at Langshan. Before the rebellion flocks of screaming pheasants flew into the frontier passes. Officials said: "These 'Turkish sparrows' fly south when barbarians are coming. When spring came they fell dead between Ling and Xia—mostly headless. Nishufu indeed perished." The Langshan rebels raided Yun Prefecture. Dou Huaizhe and Cheng Wuting drove them out.

永隆中，溫傅部又迎頡利族子伏念於夏州，走度河，立為可汗，諸部響應。明年，遂寇原、慶二州。復詔行儉為大總管，以右武衛將軍曹懷舜、幽州都督李文柬副之。諜者紿言伏念、溫傅保黑沙，饑甚，可輕騎取也。懷舜獨信之，輕兵倍道至黑沙，乃不見虜，得薛延陀餘部，降之；引還至長城，遇溫傅與戰，所殺相當。行儉兵壁代之陘口，縱反間，故伏念、溫傅相貳，因遣兵擊伏念，敗之。伏念走，與懷舜遇，行且戰一日，為伏念所破，棄軍奔雲中，士為虜所乘，死不可算，皆南首仆。懷舜殺牲與伏念盟，乃免。伏念益北，留輜重妻子保金牙山，以輕騎將襲懷舜，會行儉遣部將掩得其輜重，比還，無所歸，乃北走保細沙。行儉縱單于鎮兵躡之，伏念意王師不能遠，不設備，及兵至，惶駭不得戰，遂遣使間道詣行儉，執溫傅降，行儉虜之，送京師，斬東市。

In Yonglong Wenfu's faction welcomed Jieli's kinsman Funian at Xia Prefecture. Funian fled across the river and was made khan. Tribes rallied to him. The next year they raided Yuan and Qing prefectures. Pei Xingjian was again made supreme commander, with Cao Huaishun and Youzhou Inspector Li Wenjian as deputies. Spies reported falsely that Funian and Wenfu held Black Sand, were starving, and could be taken with a light cavalry raid. Huaishun alone believed the report and rushed light troops to Black Sand. They found no rebels, only Xueyantuo remnants, whom they accepted in surrender. On the return march at the Great Wall they met Wenfu in battle. Casualties were roughly equal on both sides. Pei Xingjian fortified at the Daizhou pass, sowed discord between Funian and Wenfu, then attacked Funian and defeated him. Funian fled and encountered Huaishun. They fought a running battle for a day before Huaishun was routed. He abandoned his army and fled to Yunzhong. Tang soldiers were overrun; the dead were beyond count, all lying faced south. Huaishun sacrificed livestock to seal an alliance with Funian and escaped. Funian marched north, leaving family and supplies at Mount Jinyá. He led light cavalry against Huaishun, but Pei Xingjian's detachments captured his baggage. With nowhere to turn, Funian fled north to Xisha. Pei Xingjian sent Chanyu garrison troops in pursuit. Funian assumed Tang armies could not march so far and took no precautions. When they arrived he panicked. He sent envoys to Xingjian, handed over Wenfu, and surrendered. Xingjian sent him to the capital and executed him at the eastern market.

永淳元年，骨咄祿又反。

In Yongchun 1 Kutlug rebelled again.

骨咄祿，頡利族人也，雲中都督舍利元英之部酋，世襲吐屯。伏念敗，乃嘯亡散，保總材山，又治黑沙城，有眾五千，盜九姓畜馬，稍強大，乃自立為可汗，以弟默啜為殺，咄悉匐為葉護。時單于府檢校降戶部落阿史德元珍者，為長史王本立所囚。會骨咄祿來寇，元珍請諭還諸部贖罪，許之。至即降骨咄祿，與為謀，遂以為阿波達幹，悉屬以兵。乃寇單于府北鄙，遂攻并州，殺嵐州刺史王德茂，分掠定州，北平刺史霍王元軌擊卻之。又攻媯州，圍單于都護府，殺司馬張行師，攻蔚州，殺刺史李思儉，執豐州都督崔知辯。詔右武衛將軍程務挺為單于道安撫大使備邊。

Kutlug was of Jieli's clan, a division chief under Sheli Yuanying of Yunzhong Protectorate, hereditary tutun. After Funian's defeat Kutlug rallied fugitives, held Mount Zongcai, and fortified Black Sand city. With five thousand men he stole Nine Surname herds, grew strong, and proclaimed himself khan, making his brother Mokchur she and Tuxibo yabghu. Ashina Yuanzhen, inspector of surrendered tribes under the Chanyu Protectorate, was imprisoned by Chief Administrator Wang Benli. When Kutlug raided, Yuanzhen offered to summon the tribes back in exchange for pardon. The offer was accepted. Upon arrival he defected to Kutlug and became his strategist. Kutlug made him Apo Taghan and entrusted him with all troops. They raided the Chanyu Protectorate's northern frontier, attacked Bing Prefecture, and killed Lan Prefecture Inspector Wang Demao. They plundered Ding Prefecture but were repelled by Prince Yuan Gui of Huo, inspector of Beiping. They attacked Ji Prefecture, besieged the Chanyu Protectorate, and killed Administrator Zhang Xingshi. They attacked Yu Prefecture, killed Prefect Li Sijian, and captured Feng Prefecture Protector Cui Zhibian. Cheng Wuting was appointed Right Martial Guard General and Pacification Commissioner of the Chanyu route to guard the frontier.

嗣聖、垂拱間，連寇朔、代，掠吏士。左玉鈴衛中郎將淳于處平為陽曲道總管，將擊賊總材山，至忻州與賊遇，鏖戰不利，死者五千人。更以天官尚書韋待價為燕然道大總管討之。明年，入昌平，右鷹揚衛大將軍黑齒常之擊卻之。復入朔州地，常之與戰黃花堆，虜敗，追奔四十里，遯過磧。右監門衛中郎將爨寶璧當追，意虜即破，欲幸取功，乃募諜出塞二千里，間虜無備，趨襲之。將至，漏言於軍，虜得整眾出，皆死戰，大敗，寶璧跳還，舉軍沒。武後怒，誅寶璧，改骨咄祿曰不卒祿。俄而元珍攻突騎施，戰死。

Between Sisheng and Chuigong they repeatedly raided Shuo and Dai and preyed on officials and soldiers. Chunyu Chuping was made supreme commander of the Yangqu route to attack the rebels at Mount Zongcai. At Xin Prefecture he met them in fierce battle and lost five thousand men. Wei Daijia was made supreme commander of the Yanran route to suppress them. The next year they entered Changping. Heichi Changzhi drove them back. They entered Shuo Prefecture again. Changzhi defeated them at Yellow Flower Mound and pursued them forty li until they fled across the desert. Cuan Baobi was ordered to pursue. Assuming the enemy was already broken, he recruited spies to scout two thousand li beyond the frontier, found the Turks unprepared, and rushed to attack. Word leaked before he arrived. The Turks mustered and fought to the death. Baobi was routed; he escaped alone while his entire force was destroyed. Empress Wu executed Baobi and renamed Kutlug Buzulu. Soon Yuanzhen attacked the Turgesh and died in battle.

天授初，骨咄祿死，其子幼，不得立。默啜自立為可汗，篡位數年，始攻靈州，多殺略士民。武後以薛懷義為朔方道行軍大總管，內史李昭德為行軍長史，鳳閣鸞臺平章事蘇味道為司馬，率朔方道總管契明、雁門道總管王孝傑、威化道總管李多祚、豐安道總管陳令英、瀚海道總管田揚名等凡十八將軍兵出塞，雜華蕃步騎擊之，不見虜，還。俄詔孝傑為朔方道行軍總管備邊。

At the start of Tianshou Kutlug died. His son was too young to succeed. Mokchur seized the khanship. After several years he attacked Ling Prefecture and killed and plundered widely. Empress Wu sent Xue Huaiyi as supreme commander of the Shuofang route with Li Zhaode and Su Weidao, leading eighteen generals including Qiming, Wang Xiaojie, Li Duozuo, Chen Lingying, and Tian Yangming with mixed Chinese and tribal forces beyond the frontier. They found no enemy and returned. Wang Xiaojie was soon made supreme commander of the Shuofang route to guard the frontier.

契丹李盡忠等反，默啜請擊賊自效，詔可。授左衛大將軍、歸國公，以左豹韜衛將軍閻知微即部冊拜遷善可汗。默啜乃引兵擊契丹，會盡忠死，襲松漠部落，盡得孫萬榮妻子輜重，酋長崩潰。後美其攻，復詔知微持節冊默啜為特進、頡跌利施大單于、立功報國可汗。未及命，俄攻靈、勝二州，縱殺略，為屯將所敗。又遣使者謝，請為後子，復言有女，願女諸王，且求六州降戶。初，突厥內屬者分處豐、勝、靈、夏、朔、代間，謂之河曲六州降人。默啜又請粟田種十萬斛，農器三千具，鐵數萬斤，後不許，宰相李嶠亦言不可。默啜怨，為慢言，執使者司賓卿田歸道。於是納言姚璹等建請與之，乃歸粟、器、降人數千帳，繇是突厥遂強。

When the Khitan Li Jinzhong rebelled, Mokchur offered to attack the rebels. The empress agreed. He was made Left Guard General and Duke of Returning State. Yan Zhiwei invested him as Qianshan Khan at his camp. Mokchur attacked the Khitan. When Jinzhong died he raided the Songmo tribe, seized Sun Wanrong's wives and baggage, and shattered their chiefs. Impressed by his campaign, the court again sent Yan Zhiwei to invest Mokchur as Special Grand Master, Elteber Great Chanyu, and Khan Who Establishes Merit and Serves the State. Before the commission arrived he attacked Ling and Sheng prefectures, ravaged the countryside, and was defeated by garrison commanders. He sent envoys to apologize, asked to become the empress's adopted son, offered his daughter for marriage to an imperial prince, and demanded the six prefectures' surrendered households. Internally submitted Turks had been settled among Feng, Sheng, Ling, Xia, Shuo, and Dai—the six river-bend prefectures of surrendered peoples. Mokchur also demanded a hundred thousand bushels of seed grain, three thousand farming tools, and tens of thousands of pounds of iron. The empress refused, and Chancellor Li Jiao agreed. Mokchur was enraged, spoke insolently, and seized the envoy Tian Guidao. Remonstrance Counselor Yao Shuang and others urged compliance. Grain, tools, and thousands of surrendered tents were sent—and the Turks grew strong.

詔淮陽王武延秀聘其女為妃，詔知微攝春官尚書，與司賓卿楊鸞莊持節護送。默啜猥曰：「我以女嫁唐天子子，今乃後家子乎！且我世附唐，今聞其子孫獨二人在，我當立之。」即囚延秀等，妄號知微為可汗，自將十萬騎南向擊靜難、平狄、清夷等軍，靜難軍使慕容玄崱以兵五千降。虜入圍媯、檀，後詔司屬卿武重規為天兵中道大總管，右武威衛將軍沙咤忠義為天兵西道總管，幽州都督張仁亶為天兵東道總管，兵凡三十萬擊之；右羽林大將軍閻敬容、李多祚為天兵西道後軍總管，兵亦十五萬。默啜破蔚州飛狐，進殘定州，殺刺史孫彥高，焚廬舍，鄉聚為空。後怒，下詔購斬默啜者王之，更號曰斬啜。虜圍趙州，長史唐波若應之，入殺刺史高睿，進攻相州。詔沙咤忠義為河北道前軍總管，李多祚為後軍總管，將軍嵎夷公福富順為奇兵總管，擊虜。時中宗還自房陵，為皇太子，拜行軍大元帥，以納言狄仁傑為副，文昌右丞宋玄爽為長史，左肅政臺御史中丞霍獻可為司馬，右肅政臺御史中丞吉頊為監軍使，將軍扶余文宣等六人為子總管。未行，默啜聞之，取趙、定所掠男女八九萬悉坑之，出五回道去，所過人畜、金幣、子女盡剽有之，諸將皆顧望不敢戰，獨狄仁傑以兵追之，不及。

Prince Wu Yanxiu of Huaiyang was betrothed to Mokchur's daughter. Yan Zhiwei and Yang Luanzhuang were sent to escort her. Mokchur sneered: "I offered my daughter to the Son of Heaven's son—and you send a Wu clan prince! We have served Tang for generations. I hear only two Tang descendants survive—I ought to install one of them. He imprisoned Yanxiu and the others, proclaimed Yan Zhiwei khan, and led a hundred thousand horsemen south against the Jingnan, Pingdi, and Qingyi armies. Murong Xuankuo surrendered with five thousand men. The Turks besieged Ji and Tan. Wu Chonggui was made supreme commander of the central Celestial Army route, Shazha Zhongyi of the western route, and Zhang Renyan of the eastern route—three hundred thousand men in all. Yan Jingrong and Li Duozuo commanded a hundred fifty thousand as rear guard of the western route. Mokchur broke through Feihu in Yu Prefecture, ravaged Ding Prefecture, killed Prefect Sun Yangao, burned settlements, and emptied the countryside. The empress offered kingship to whoever beheaded Mokchur and renamed him Zhanchuo. The Turks besieged Zhao Prefecture. Chief Administrator Tang Boruo colluded with them, entered the city, killed Prefect Gao Rui, and advanced on Xiang Prefecture. Shazha Zhongyi was made front-army commander of the Hebei route, Li Duozuo rear-army commander, and Fufushun odd-army commander. Crown Prince Zhongzong, recently returned from exile, was made grand campaign marshal with Di Renjie as deputy, Song Xuanshuang as chief administrator, Huo Xianke as marshal, Ji Xu as inspector, and Fuyu Wenxuan and six others as sub-commanders. Before they marched Mokchur heard the news. He buried alive eighty or ninety thousand captives from Zhao and Ding, withdrew by the Wuhui route, plundering everything in his path. Generals dared not fight; only Di Renjie pursued but could not catch him.

默啜負勝輕中國，有驕志，大抵兵與頡利時略等，地縱廣萬里，諸蕃悉往聽命。復立咄悉匐為左察，骨咄祿子默矩為右察，皆統兵二萬；子匐俱為小可汗，位兩察上，典處木昆等十姓兵四萬，號拓西可汗。歲入邊，戍兵不得休，乃高選魏元忠檢校并州長史為天兵軍大總管，婁師德副之，按屯以待。又徙元忠靈武道行軍大總管，備虜。

Confident after victory and contemptuous of China, Mokchur's armies rivaled Jieli's and his domain stretched ten thousand li. All tribal peoples obeyed him. He made Tuxibo Left Overseer and Kutlug's son Moju Right Overseer, each commanding twenty thousand men. His son Fuju became lesser khan above the two overseers, commanding forty thousand men of the ten surnames including Chumukun as Elteber Khan of the West. Annual raids gave frontier garrisons no rest. Wei Yuanzhong was made inspector-general of Bingzhou and supreme commander of the Celestial Army, with Lou Shide as deputy, to organize defenses. Yuanzhong was transferred to supreme commander of the Lingwu route.

默啜剽隴右牧馬萬匹去，俄復盜邊，詔安北大都護相王為天兵道大元帥，率并州長史武攸宜、夏州都督薛訥與元忠擊虜，兵未出，默啜去。明年，寇鹽、夏，掠羊馬十萬，攻石嶺，遂圍并州。以雍州長史薛季昶為持節山東防禦大使，節度滄、瀛、幽、易、恒、定、媯、檀、平等九州之軍，以瀛州都督張仁亶統諸州及清夷、障塞軍之兵，與季昶掎角，又以相王為安北道行軍元帥，監諸將，王留不行。虜入代、忻，仍殺略。

Mokchur stole ten thousand horses from Longyou pastures. He raided again soon after. Prince of Xiang was made supreme commander with Wu Youyi, Xue Ne, and Yuanzhong—but Mokchur withdrew before they marched. The next year he raided Yan and Xia, seized a hundred thousand sheep and horses, attacked Shiling, and besieged Bing Prefecture. Xue Jichang was made Shandong defense commissioner over nine prefectures. Zhang Renyan commanded Qingyi and barrier garrisons in support. Prince of Xiang was named Pacified North grand marshal but did not take the field. The Turks entered Dai and Xin and continued to kill and plunder.

長安三年，遣使者莫賀達幹請進女女皇太子子，後使平恩郡王重俊、義興郡王重明盛服立諸朝。默啜更遣大酋移力貪汗獻馬千匹，謝許婚，後渥禮其使。中宗始即位，入攻嗚沙，於是靈武軍大總管沙咤忠義與戰，不勝，死者幾萬人，虜遂入原、會，多取牧馬。帝詔絕昏，購斬默啜者王以國、官諸衛大將軍。默啜殺我行人鴻臚卿臧思言，詔左屯衛大將軍張仁亶為朔方道大總管屯邊。明年，始築三受降城於河外，障絕寇路。久之，以唐休璟代屯。睿宗初立，又請和親，詔取宋王成器女為金山公主下嫁。會左羽林大將軍孫佺等與奚戰冷陘，為奚所執，獻諸默啜，默啜殺之，更以刑部尚書郭元振代休璟。

In Chang'an 3 Mokchur sent Mohedagan to offer his daughter to the crown prince. Empress Wu had Princes Chongjun and Chongming appear in full regalia. Mokchur sent the great chief Yilibahan with a thousand horses in thanks for the betrothal. The empress treated the envoy generously. When Zhongzong ascended, Mokchur attacked Wusha. Shazha Zhongyi was defeated with nearly ten thousand dead. The Turks entered Yuan and Hui and seized pasture horses. The emperor broke off the marriage and offered kingship and Guard General rank for Mokchur's head. Mokchur killed the envoy Zang Siyan. Zhang Renyan was made supreme commander of the Shuofang route. The next year the three Surrender Reception cities were built beyond the river to block raiding routes. Eventually Tang Xiujing replaced him on the frontier. When Ruizong succeeded Mokchur again sought marriage. Princess Jinshan, daughter of Prince Chengqui of Song, was betrothed to him. General Sun Yan and others were captured by the Xi at Lengling and handed to Mokchur, who killed them. Guo Yuanzhen replaced Xiujing.

玄宗立，絕和親。默啜乃遣子楊我支特勒入宿衛，固求昏，以蜀王女南和縣主妻之，下書諭尉可汗。明年，使子移涅可汗引同俄特勒、火拔頡利發石失畢精騎攻北庭，都護郭虔瓘擊之，斬同俄城下，虜奔解。火拔不敢歸，攜妻子來奔，拜左武衛大將軍、燕山郡王，號其妻為金山公主，賜賫優縟。楊我支死，詔宗親三等以上吊其家。是時突厥再上書求昏，帝未報。

When Xuanzong succeeded he ended marriage alliances. Mokchur sent his son Yang Wozhi tegin to palace guard and pressed for marriage. Princess Nanhe of Shu was given as his wife. The next year his son Yinen Khan led Tong'e tegin and elite cavalry against Beiting. Guo Qianzhen beheaded Tong'e below the walls and routed them. Hubo dared not return and fled with his family. He was made Left Martial Guard General and Prince of Yanshan; his wife was styled Princess Jinshan and richly rewarded. When Yang Wozhi died, third-rank clansmen and above were ordered to mourn at his house. The Turks again requested marriage by letter. The emperor did not reply.

初，景雲中，默啜西滅娑葛，遂役屬契丹、奚，因虐用其下。既年老，愈昏暴，部落怨畔。十姓左五咄陸、右五弩失畢俟斤皆請降。葛邏祿、胡屋、鼠尼施三姓，大漠都督特進朱斯，陰山都督謀落匐雞，玄池都督蹋實力胡鼻率眾內附；詔處其眾於金山。以右羽林軍大將軍薛訥為涼州鎮軍大總管，節度赤水、建康、河源等軍，屯涼州，以都督楊執一副之：右衛大將軍郭虔瓘為朔州鎮軍大總管，節度和戎、大武、并州之北等軍，屯并州，以長史王晙副之。撫新附，檢鈔暴。默啜屢擊葛邏祿等，詔在所都護、總管掎角應援。虜勢浸削。其婿高麗莫離支高文簡，與𨁂|⻊夾跌都督思太，吐谷渾大酋慕容道奴，郁射施大酋鶻屈頡斤、悉頡力，高麗大酋高拱毅，合萬餘帳相踵款邊，詔內之河南；引拜文簡左衛大將軍、遼西郡王，思太特進、右衛大將軍兼𨁂|⻊夾跌都督、樓煩郡公，道奴左武衛將軍兼刺史、雲中郡公，鶻屈頡斤左驍衛將軍兼刺史、陰山郡公，悉頡力左武衛將軍兼刺史、雁門郡公，拱毅左領軍衛將軍兼刺史、平城郡公，將軍皆員外置，賜各有差。

In the Jingyun era Mokchur destroyed Suoge in the west and subjugated the Khitan and Xi, cruelly exploiting his subjects. As he aged he grew more brutal. Tribes resented and rebelled. The ten surnames—the five Tulu on the left and five Nushibi on the right—all sought to submit. The Geluolu, Huwu, and Shunishi, with Grand Protectors Zhu Si, Mulu Fuge, and Tabishi Hubi, submitted in succession. They were settled at the Altai Mountains. Xue Ne was made grand commander at Liangzhou with Yang Zhiyi as deputy. Guo Qianzhen was made grand commander at Bing Prefecture with Wang Jun as deputy. They pacified the new submitters and restrained raids. Mokchur repeatedly attacked the Geluolu. Protectorate commanders were ordered to support them. Turkish power gradually waned. His son-in-law Gao Wenjian of Goguryeo, Ba Protector Si Tai, Murong Daonu of Tuyuhun, Huqu Irkin and Xi Irli of Yujue, and Gao Gongyi of Goguryeo—more than ten thousand tents—submitted in succession and were settled south of the river. Wenjian was made Left Guard General and Prince of Liaoxi; Si Tai Special Grand Master, Right Guard General, Ba Protector, and Duke of Loufan; Daonu Left Martial Guard General and Duke of Yunzhong; Huqu Irkin Left Martial Guard General and Duke of Yinshan; Xi Irli Left Martial Guard General and Duke of Yanmen; Gongyi Left Army Guard General and Duke of Pingcheng—all supernumerary, with gifts according to rank.

默啜討九姓，戰磧北，九姓潰，人畜皆死，思結等部來降，帝悉官之。拜薛訥朔方道行軍大總管，太僕卿呂延祚、靈州刺史杜賓客佐之，備邊。詔金山、大漠、陰山、玄池都督等共圖取默啜，班賞格，賜物諭之。默啜又討九姓拔野古，戰獨樂河，拔野古大敗，默啜輕歸不為備，道大林中，拔曳固殘眾突出，擊默啜，斬之，乃與入蕃使郝靈佺傳首京師。

Mokchur attacked the Nine Surnames north of the desert and routed them. The Sijie and others submitted and received offices. Xue Ne was made supreme commander of the Shuofang route with Lu Yanzuo and Du Binke to guard the frontier. Grand protectors of Jinshan, Great Desert, Yin Mountains, and Dark Pool were ordered to capture Mokchur, with published rewards. Mokchur attacked the Bayegu at the Dule River and routed them. Returning carelessly through a forest, Bayegu remnants ambushed and beheaded him. The envoy Hao Lingqian sent his head to the capital.

骨咄祿子闕特勒合故部，攻殺小可汗及宗族略盡，立其兄默棘連，是為毗伽可汗。

Kutlug's son Kül Tigin rallied the old tribes, killed the lesser khan and nearly all the royal clan, and enthroned his brother Mojilian as Bilge Khan.

25%◎突厥下毗伽可汗毗伽可汗毗伽可汗默棘連|默棘連，本謂「小殺」者，性仁友，自以立非己功，讓於闕特勒，特勒不敢受，遂嗣位，實開元四年。以特勒為左賢王，專制其兵。初，默啜死，闕特勒盡殺其用事臣，惟暾欲谷者以女婆匐為默棘連可敦，獨免，廢歸其部。後突騎施蘇祿自為可汗，突厥部種多貳，默棘連乃召暾欲谷與謀國，年七十餘，眾尊畏之。俄而𨁂|⻊夾跌思太等自河曲歸之。始，降戶之南也，單于副都護張知運盡斂其兵，戎人怨怒；及姜晦為巡邊使，遮訴禁弓矢無以射獵為生，晦悉還之。乃共擊張知運，禽之，將送突厥；朔方行軍總管薛訥、將軍郭知運追之，眾潰，釋知運去。思太等分為二隊北走，王晙又破其左隊。

Mojilian—called "lesser she"—was benevolent by nature. Believing the throne was not his own achievement, he yielded to Kül Tigin, who refused. Mojilian succeeded—in Kaiyuan 4. Kül Tigin was made Left Wise King with sole command of the armies. When Mokchur died Kül Tigin killed his ministers. Only Ton Yugu was spared because his daughter Bopo was Mojilian's khatun. He was dismissed to his tribe. When the Turgesh Suluk proclaimed himself khan many Turks wavered. Mojilian recalled Ton Yugu, over seventy and universally revered, to counsel on state affairs. Soon Si Tai of the Ba tribe and others returned from the river bend. When surrendered households moved south, Deputy Protector Zhang Zhiyun confiscated all their weapons and they grew resentful. Border inspector Jiang Hui restored their bows when they petitioned that the ban left them unable to hunt. They attacked Zhang Zhiyun, captured him, and prepared to deliver him to the Turks. Xue Ne and Guo Zhiyun pursued. The rebels scattered and released Zhiyun. Si Tai and others fled north in two columns. Wang Jun defeated the left column.

默棘連既得降胡，欲南盜塞，暾欲谷曰：「不可，天子英武，人和歲豐，未有間，且我兵新集，不可動也。」默棘連又欲城所都，起佛、老廟，暾欲谷曰：「突厥眾不敵唐百分一，所能與抗者，隨水草射獵，居處無常，習於武事，強則進取，弱則遁伏，唐兵雖多，無所用也。若城而居，戰一敗，必為彼禽。且佛、老教人仁弱，非武強術。」默棘連當其策，即遣使者請和。帝以不情，答而不許。俄下詔伐之，乃以拔悉蜜右驍衛大將軍金山道總管處木昆執米啜、堅昆都督右武衛大將軍骨篤祿毗伽可汗、契丹都督李失活、奚都督李大酺、突厥默啜子左賢王墨特勒、左威衛將軍右賢王阿史那毗伽特勒、燕山郡王火拔石失畢等蕃漢士悉發，凡三十萬，以御史大夫、朔方道大總管王晙統之，期八年秋並集稽落水上，使拔悉蜜、奚、契丹分道掩其牙，捕默棘連。默棘連大恐，暾欲谷曰：「拔悉蜜在北庭，與二蕃相距遠，必不合。晙與張嘉貞有隙，必相執異，亦必不能來。即皆能來，我當前三日悉眾北徙，彼糧竭自去。拔悉蜜輕而好利，當先至，擊之可取也。」俄而拔悉蜜果引眾逼突厥牙，知晙等不至，乃引卻，突厥欲擊之，暾欲谷曰：「兵千里遠出，士殊死鬥，鋒不可當也。不如躡之，邀近而取之。」距北庭二百里，乃分兵由它道襲拔其城，即急擊拔悉蜜，眾走趨北庭，無所歸，悉禽之。還出赤亭，掠涼州，都督楊敬述使官屬盧公利、元澄等勒兵討捕，暾欲谷曰：「敬述若城守，當與和。如兵出，吾且決戰，必有功。」澄令於軍曰：「裸臂持滿外註。」會大寒裂膚，士手不能張弓矢，由是大敗，元澄走，敬述坐以白衣檢校涼州事，突厥遂大振，盡有默啜餘眾。

Having gained the surrendered Hu, Mojilian wished to raid the frontier. Ton Yugu said: "We cannot. The emperor is formidable, the realm prosperous, and our armies are newly gathered. Mojilian wished to build a capital and erect Buddhist and Daoist temples. Ton Yugu said: "We are not one hundredth of Tang's strength. Our strength is mobility—following pasture, hunting, advancing when strong and fleeing when weak. Tang's vast armies cannot touch us. If they build cities and settle in them, one defeat and they will be captured. Buddhism and Daoism teach gentleness, not martial strength." Mojilian took his advice and sent envoys to sue for peace. The emperor deemed the overture insincere and refused. An edict mobilized three hundred thousand men under Wang Jun—including Baximi, Kirghiz, Khitan, Xi, and Turkish princes—to converge on the Jiluo River in autumn of the eighth year and capture Mojilian by separate routes. Mojilian was terrified. Ton Yugu said: "Baximi at Beiting is too far from the other tribes—they will not unite. Jun and Zhang Jiazhen are at odds—they will not cooperate and may not come at all. Even if they all come, we move north three days ahead. When their supplies run out they will withdraw. Baximi is rash and greedy. They will arrive first—we can defeat them. Baximi pressed the Turkish camp but withdrew when Jun failed to appear. The Turks wanted to attack, but Ton Yugu said: "They marched a thousand li and will fight desperately—we should not meet them head-on. Better to follow and ambush them when they are near." Two hundred li from Beiting they seized Baximi's city by a detour, then routed Baximi's army. The survivors fled to Beiting and were all captured. On the return they raided Liang Prefecture. Yang Jingshu sent Lu Gongli and Yuan Cheng against them. Ton Yugu said: "If Jingshu holds his walls we should negotiate. If he sallies out we will fight and win. Cheng ordered his men: "Bare your arms, draw full bows, and aim outward." Bitter cold split their skin; men could not draw their bows. Tang forces were routed. Cheng fled and Jingshu was demoted. The Turks revived and absorbed Mokchur's remaining followers.

明年，固乞和，請父事天子，許之。又連歲遣使獻方物求婚。是時天子東巡泰山，中書令張說謀益屯以備突厥，兵部郎中裴光庭曰：「封禪以告成功，若復調發，不可謂成功者。」說曰：「突厥雖請和，難以信結也。且其可汗仁而愛人，下為之用，闕特勒善戰，暾欲谷沈雄，愈老而智，李靖、世勣流也，三虜方協，知我舉國東巡，有如乘間，何以禦之？」光庭即請以使召其大臣入衛，乃遣鴻臚卿袁振往諭帝意。默棘連置酒與可敦、闕特勒、暾欲谷坐帳中，謂振曰：「吐蕃，犬出也，唐與為昏；奚、契丹，我奴而役也，亦尚主；獨突厥前後請，不許，云何？」振曰：「可汗，天子子也，子而昏，可乎？」默棘連曰：「不然，二蕃皆賜姓，而得尚主，何不可云？且公主亦非帝女，我不敢有所擇，但屢請不得，為諸國笑。」振許為請，默棘連遣大臣阿史德頡利發入獻，遂從封禪。有詔四夷諸酋皆入仗佩弓矢，會兔起帝馬前，帝一發斃之，頡利發奉兔頓首賀曰：「陛下神武超絕，若天上則臣不知，人間無有也。」詔問：「饑欲食乎？」對曰：「仰觀弧矢之威，使十日不食猶為飽。」因令仗內馳射。扈封畢，厚宴賜遣之，然卒不許和親。

The next year he begged for peace and asked to treat the emperor as a father. The request was granted. For years he sent tribute and marriage requests. While the emperor toured Mount Tai, Zhang Yue proposed reinforcing garrisons. Pei Guangting objected: "The feng and shan rites celebrate success—fresh mobilization would contradict that. Zhang Yue replied: "Turkish peace offers cannot be trusted. Their khan is benevolent and beloved; Kül Tigin is a fierce warrior; Ton Yugu grows wiser with age—rivals to Li Jing and Li Shiji. With all three united, they could strike while we tour the east." Pei Guangting proposed summoning Turkish ministers to court as hostages. Yuan Zhen was sent to explain the emperor's intent. Mojilian feasted with his khatun, Kül Tigin, and Ton Yugu and told Yuan Zhen: "Tibetans are dogs, yet Tang gives them princesses; the Xi and Khitan are my slaves, yet they too receive princesses; yet the Turks alone are repeatedly refused. Why? Yuan Zhen replied: "The Son of Heaven is like a son to his people—can a son marry within the family?" Mojilian retorted: "Those tribes were granted surnames and received princesses. Why not us? And we do not demand the emperor's own daughter—we only ask not to be the laughingstock of the world." Yuan Zhen promised to petition. Mojilian sent Ashina Irli Fa with tribute to attend the feng and shan ceremony. Barbarian chiefs entered guard with bows. A hare bolted before the emperor's horse; he killed it with one shot. Irli Fa prostrated himself: "Your Majesty's archery surpasses all mortal men. The emperor asked: "Are you hungry?" He replied: "Seeing Your Majesty's archery, I could fast ten days and still feel sated." He was then invited to demonstrate his riding and archery. After the ceremony they were feasted and sent home—but marriage was still denied.

自是比年遣大臣入朝，吐蕃以書約與連和鈔邊，默棘連不敢從，封上其書，天子嘉之，引使者梅錄啜宴紫宸殿，詔朔方西受降城許互市，歲賜帛數十萬。十九年，闕特勒死，使金吾將軍張去逸、都官郎中呂向奉璽詔吊祭，帝為刻辭於碑，仍立廟像，四垣圖戰陣狀，詔高手工六人往，繪寫精肖，其國以為未嘗有，默棘連視之，必悲梗。

Thereafter Turkish ministers came annually. Tibet proposed joint raids; Mojilian refused and forwarded the letter. The emperor rewarded him, feasted envoy Meluo Qie, opened markets at the western Surrender Reception city, and granted silk yearly. In the nineteenth year Kül Tigin died. Zhang Quyi and Lu Xiang were sent to mourn. The emperor inscribed a stele and erected a temple with battle scenes painted on the walls. Mojilian wept whenever he saw it.

默棘連請昏既勤，帝許可，於是遣哥解栗必來謝，請昏期。俄為梅錄啜所毒，忍死殺梅錄啜，夷其種，乃卒。帝為發哀，詔宗正卿李佺吊祭，因立廟，詔史官李融文其碑。國人共立其子為伊然可汗。

Mojilian's marriage petitions were granted. Geli Bi came to give thanks and set the date. Soon he was poisoned by Meluo Qie. Dying, he killed Meluo Qie and exterminated his clan. The emperor mourned him, sent Li Quan to sacrifice, erected a temple, and had Li Rong compose the epitaph. The tribes enthroned his son as Yiran Khan.

伊然可汗立八年，卒。凡遣使三入朝。其弟嗣立，是為星伽骨咄祿可汗，使右金吾衛將軍李質持冊為登利可汗。明年，遣使伊難如朝正月，獻方物，曰「禮天可汗如禮天，今新歲獻月，願以萬壽獻天子」云。可汗幼，其母婆匐與小臣飫斯達幹亂，遂預政，諸部不協。登利從父分掌東西兵，號左右殺，士之精勁皆屬。可汗與母誘斬西殺，奪其兵，左殺懼，即攻登利可汗，殺之。

Yiran Khan reigned eight years and died. He sent envoys to court three times. His brother succeeded as Qapaghan Kutlug Khan. Li Zhi invested him as Dengli Khan. The next year envoy Yinanru came for New Year with tribute: "We honor the Heaven-Khan as we honor Heaven—we bring the new moon's greeting and wish the Son of Heaven long life." The young khan's mother Bopo and the official Yus Dagan meddled in government and divided the tribes. Dengli's uncles commanded east and west armies as Left and Right She, holding the finest warriors. The khan and his mother killed the West She and seized his army. The Left She attacked and killed Dengli Khan.

左殺者，判闕特勒也，遂立毗伽可汗子，俄為骨咄葉護所殺，立其弟，旋又殺之，葉護乃自為可汗。天寶初，其大部回紇、葛邏祿、拔悉蜜並起攻葉護，殺之，尊拔悉蜜之長為頡跌伊施可汗，於是回紇、葛邏祿自為左右葉護，亦遣使者來告。國人奉判闕特勒子為烏蘇米施可汗，以其子葛臘哆為西殺。帝使使者諭令內附，烏蘇不聽，其下不與，拔悉蜜等三部共攻烏蘇米施，米施遁亡。其西葉護阿布思及葛臘哆率五千帳降，以葛臘哆為懷恩王。

The Left She was Pan Kül Tigin. He enthroned Bilge's son, who was killed by Kutlug Yabghu. Yabghu killed two khans in succession and made himself khan. In Tianbao 1 the Uyghurs, Geluolu, and Baximi killed Yabghu and made the Baximi chief Elteber Yishi Khan. The Uyghurs and Geluolu became Left and Right Yabghu and notified Tang. The tribes made Pan Kül Tigin's son Wusu Mish Khan, with Geladuo as West She. Tang urged Wusu Mish to submit; he refused. Baximi and the other tribes attacked him and he fled. West Yabghu Abu Si and Geladuo surrendered with five thousand tents. Geladuo was enfeoffed as Prince of Cherishing Grace.

三載，拔悉蜜等殺烏蘇米施，傳首京師，獻太廟。其弟白眉特勒鶻隴匐立，是為白眉可汗。於是突厥大亂，國人推拔悉蜜酋為可汗，詔朔方節度使王忠嗣以兵乘其亂，抵薩河內山，擊其左阿波達幹十一部，破之，獨其右未下，而回紇、葛邏祿殺拔悉蜜可汗，奉回紇骨力裴羅定其國，是為骨咄祿毗伽闕可汗。明年，殺白眉可汗，傳首獻。毗伽可汗妻骨咄祿婆匐可敦率眾自歸，天子御花萼樓宴群臣，賦詩美其事，封可敦為賓國夫人，歲給粉直二十萬。

In Tianbao 3 Baximi killed Wusu Mish and sent his head to the ancestral temple. His brother White-Eyebrow tegin Helong Fu became White-Eyebrow Khan. Turkish chaos followed. Wang Zhongsi struck eleven divisions of the Left Apo Taghan. Before he finished, the Uyghurs and Geluolu killed the Baximi khan and enthroned Gulipeiluo as Kutlug Bilge Que Khan. The next year they killed White-Eyebrow Khan and sent his head to court. Kutlug Bopo Khatun, Bilge Khan's widow, submitted with her people. The emperor feasted at Hua'e Tower and enfeoffed her as Lady of Guest State with an annual stipend.

始突厥國於後魏大統時，至是滅。後或朝貢，皆舊部九姓云，其地盡入回紇。始其族分國於西者，曰西突厥。西突厥西突厥，其先訥都陸之孫吐務，號大葉護。長子曰土門伊利可汗，次子曰室點蜜，亦曰瑟帝米。瑟帝米之子曰達頭可汗，亦曰步迦可汗。始與東突厥分烏孫故地有之，東即突厥，西雷翥海，南疏勒，北瀚海，直京師北七千里，由焉耆西北七日行得南庭，北八日行得北庭，與都陸、弩失畢、歌邏祿、處月、處蜜、伊吾諸種雜。其風俗大抵突厥也，言語少異。

The Turkish state founded under Northern Wei in the Datong era was now destroyed. Later tribute came only from the old Nine Surnames; their lands passed entirely to the Uyghurs. Where the clan had divided westward they were called the Western Turks. The Western Turks: their ancestor was Neudou's grandson Tuwu, titled Great Yabghu. His eldest son was Tumen Il Khan; his second was Shidianmi, also called Sedi Mi. Sedi Mi's son was Datou Khan, also Boka Khan. They divided the old Wusun lands with the Eastern Turks: east to the Turks, west to the Caspian, south to Kashgar, north to the desert, seven thousand li from the capital. Seven days northwest from Yanqi lay the Southern Court; eight days north the Northern Court—mixed with Tulu, Nushibi, Geluolu, and others. Their customs were largely Turkish, their speech slightly different.

初，東突厥木桿可汗死，舍其子大邏便，而立弟佗缽可汗。佗缽死，先令戒其子庵羅必立大邏便，國人以其母賤，不肯立，而卒立庵羅。庵羅後以讓木桿兄子攝圖，是為沙缽略可汗。而大邏便別為阿波可汗，自臣所部，沙缽略襲擊之，殺其母，阿波西走達頭。當是時，達頭為西面可汗，即授阿波兵十萬，使與東突厥戰。而阿波竟為沙缽略所禽。及啟民可汗時，達頭可汗歲以兵相加，而隋常助啟民，故達頭敗奔吐谷渾。

When Eastern Turk Mughan Khan died he skipped his son Daluobian and enthroned his brother Tabo Khan. Tabo had charged his son Anluo to restore Daluobian, but the people rejected Daluobian's low-born mother and enthroned Anluo. Anluo later yielded to Mughan's nephew Shetu, who became Shabolue Khan. Daluobian became Apo Khan over his own followers. Shabolue attacked, killed his mother, and Apo fled to Datou. Datou, Western Khan, gave Apo a hundred thousand men to fight the Eastern Turks. Apo was ultimately captured by Shabolue. Under Qimin Khan, Datou attacked yearly until Sui aid to Qimin drove him to flee to Tuyuhun.

始，阿波既禽，國人立鞅素特勒子，是為泥利可汗。達頭之奔，泥利亦敗，及死，其子達漫立，是為泥橛處羅可汗，政苛察多忌。大業中，從煬帝征高麗，賜號曷薩那可汗，妻以宗女，留其弟闕達度設畜牧於會寧郡，即自稱闕可汗。江都亂，曷薩那從宇文化及至黎陽，遁歸長安，高祖降榻與共坐，封歸義王，以大珠獻帝，帝不受，曰：「朕所重者王之赤心，是無用也。」闕可汗有馬三，武德元年內屬，賜號吐烏過拔闕可汗，與李軌連和。隋西戎使者曹瓊據甘州誘之，俄與瓊合，共擊軌，兵不勝，走達鬥拔谷，與吐谷渾相輔車，為軌所滅。

After Apo's capture the tribes enthroned Yangsu tegin's son as Nili Khan. When Datou fled Nili was defeated. His son Daman succeeded as Nijue Chuluo Khan, harsh and suspicious in rule. In Daye he followed Emperor Yang against Goguryeo, was titled Yiwasna Khan, and married an imperial clanswoman. His brother Quedu she herded at Huining and styled himself Que Khan. When Jiangdu fell Yiwasna followed Yuwen Huaji then escaped to Chang'an. Gaozu enfeoffed him Prince of Returning Righteousness. He offered a great pearl; Gaozu refused: "I value your loyalty, not gems. Que Khan submitted in Wude 1 as Tuwuguoba Que Khan and allied with Li Gui. Cao Qiong of Ganzhou enticed him. He joined Qiong against Li Gui, was defeated, fled to Dadouba Valley, and was destroyed with Tuyuhun's help.

初，曷薩那朝隋，國人皆不欲，既被留不遣，乃共立達頭孫，號射匱可汗，建廷龜茲北之三彌山，玉門以西諸國多役屬，與東突厥亢。射匱死，其弟統葉護嗣，是為統葉護可汗。

When Yiwasna was detained in Sui the tribes enthroned Datou's grandson Shekui Khan at Sanmi Mountain north of Kucha. States west of Yumen submitted; he rivaled the Eastern Turks. Shekui's brother Tong Yehu succeeded as Tong Yehu Khan.

統葉護可汗勇而有謀，戰輒勝，因並鐵勒，下波斯、罽賓，控弦數十萬，徙廷石國北之千泉，遂霸西域諸國，悉授以頡利發，而命一吐屯監統，以督賦入。明年，射匱使使來，以曷薩那有世憾，請殺之，帝不許。群臣曰：「存一人，失一國，後且為患。」秦王曰：「不然，人來歸我，我殺之不祥。」帝又不聽。宴禁中，酒酣，至中書省，縱使者戕之，不宣也。射匱亦連年系貢條支巨卵、師子革等，帝厚申撫結，約與並力討東突厥。統葉護可汗請期，頡利大懼，乃與和，約毋相伐也。統葉護可汗來請昏，帝與群臣謀：「西突厥去我遠，緩急不可杖，可與昏乎？」封德彜曰：「計今之便，莫若遠交而近攻，請聽昏以怖北狄，待我既定，而後圖之。」帝乃許昏，詔高平王道立至其國，統葉護可汗喜，遣真珠統俟斤與道立還，獻萬釘寶鈿金帶、馬五千匹以藉約。會東突厥歲犯邊，西道梗澀，又頡利遣謂曰：「若迎唐公主，必假我道，我且留之。」統葉護可汗病之，未克昏。方負其強，不以恩結下，眾怨，多叛去，其諸父莫賀咄殺之，帝欲賫玉帛焚祭其國，會亂，不果至。

Tong Yehu was brave and always victorious. He annexed the Tiele, conquered Persia and Kashmir, commanded hundreds of thousands of bowmen, moved his court to the Thousand Springs north of Samarkand, and dominated the west—appointing irbir and tutun to collect tribute. Shekui's envoys asked to kill Yiwasna over old enmity; the emperor refused. Ministers argued: "Spare one man, lose a kingdom—he will trouble us later. The Prince of Qin objected: "He came to us—killing him brings ill fortune." The emperor again refused. At a palace feast, when wine ran deep, they let the envoys kill Yiwasna at the Secretariat—unannounced. Shekui sent tribute of Tiaozhi giant eggs and lion skins. The emperor cultivated alliance against the Eastern Turks. Tong Yehu set a date to attack; Jieli made peace and pledged not to fight. Tong Yehu sought marriage. The emperor asked: "The Western Turks are far—can we rely on them in crisis? Feng Deyi advised: "Ally with the far to strike the near—grant marriage to frighten the northern Turks, then deal with them later." Marriage was granted. Prince Dao Li went west. Tong Yehu sent Zhenzhu Tong Irkin with five thousand horses to seal the pact. Eastern Turkish raids blocked the route. Jieli warned: "If you fetch the Tang princess through my lands I will seize her. Tong Yehu resented this and the marriage failed. Arrogant and graceless, he lost his followers. His uncle Moheduo killed him before Tang could send funerary offerings.

莫賀咄立，是為屈利俟毗可汗，遣使者來獻。俟毗可汗初分統突厥為小可汗，既稱大可汗，國人不附。弩失畢部自推泥孰莫賀設為可汗，泥孰辭不受。會統葉護可汗子咥力特勒避莫賀咄亂，亡在康居，泥孰迎立之，為乙毗缽羅肆葉護可汗，與俟毗可汗分王其國，挐鬥不解，各遣使朝獻。太宗追憐曷薩那死非罪，為贈上柱國，具禮以葬。貞觀四年，俟毗可汗請昏，不許，詔曰：「突厥方亂，君臣未定，何遽昏為？各敕其部毋相侵。」由是西域諸國悉叛之，國大虛耗，眾悉附肆葉護可汗，雖俟毗之部亦稍稍去，共以兵擊俟毗，俟毗走保金山，為泥孰所殺，奉肆葉護為大可汗。

Moheduo became Qulisi Bi Khan and sent tribute. Having proclaimed himself great khan after ruling a lesser division, Bi Khan lost the people's loyalty. The Nushibi pushed Nishu Mohe she as khan; he refused. Tong Yehu's son Dilitegin, exiled in Kangju, was enthroned by Nishu as Yipi Boluo Siye Hu Khan. He and Bi Khan divided the realm and fought endlessly. Taizong, grieving Yiwasna's unjust death, posthumously made him Upper Pillar of State and gave him full burial rites. In Zhenguan 4 Bi Khan sought marriage. The emperor refused: "The Turks are in turmoil—how can we marry now? Each was ordered to keep his division from attacking the others. All the Western Regions rebelled. The state was drained. Tribes rallied to Siye Hu Khan; even Bi Khan's followers deserted. They attacked Bi Khan, who fled to the Altai and was killed by Nishu. Siye Hu became great khan.

肆葉護已立，即北討鐵勒、薛延陀，為延陀所敗。性猜愎，狹於統下。小可汗乙利者，於國最有功，肆葉護聽讒，種夷之，眾皆沮駭。又忌泥孰，陰圖殺之，泥孰亡入焉耆。未幾，沒卑達幹與弩失畢部諸豪謀執廢肆葉護，葉護輕騎走康居，憂死。國人迎泥孰於焉耆，立之，是為咄陸可汗。可汗父莫賀設，本隸統葉護者，武德時來朝，太宗與之盟，約為昆弟。死而泥孰代之，或曰伽那設。既立，遣使詣闕，不敢當可汗號。帝詔鴻臚少卿劉善因持節冊號吞阿婁拔利邲咄陸可汗，賜鼓纛，段彩巨萬。泥孰遣使謝。它日，太上皇宴使者兩儀殿，謂長孫無忌曰：「今蠻夷率服，古亦有乎？」無忌上千萬歲壽，太上皇喜，以酒屬帝，帝頓首謝，亦奉觴上太上皇壽。

Siye Hu immediately marched north against the Tiele and Xueyantuo and was defeated. He was suspicious, obstinate, and harsh toward his subjects. Lesser khan Yili had done the most for the state. Siye Hu listened to slander and had him executed. The tribes were dismayed. He also plotted against Nishu, who fled to Yanqi. Meibei Taghan and Nushibi leaders deposed Siye Hu. He fled to Kangju and died of grief. The tribes welcomed Nishu from Yanqi and enthroned him as Tulu Khan. Tulu's father Mohe she had served Tong Yehu Khan. In Wude he came to court and Taizong swore brotherhood with him. When he died Nishu succeeded—or he is called Gana she. Once enthroned he sent envoys to court but declined the title of khan. Taizong sent Liu Shanyin to invest him as Tulu Khan with drums, banners, and lavish gifts. Nishu sent envoys in gratitude. Another day the retired emperor feasted envoys and asked Zhangsun Wuji: "Has antiquity ever seen such universal submission? Wuji offered long life. The retired emperor passed wine to Taizong, who bowed and returned the toast.

咄陸可汗死，弟同俄設立，是為沙缽羅咥利失可汗，贈三遣使奉方物，遂請昏，帝慰而不俞。可汗分其國為十部，部以一人統之，人授一箭，號十設，亦曰十箭。為左、右：右五咄陸部，置五大啜，居碎葉東；右五弩失畢部，置五大俟斤，居碎葉西。其下稱一箭曰一部落，號十姓部落云。然不為眾悅賴，其部統吐屯以兵襲之，咥利失率左右戰，統吐屯不勝去。咥利失與其弟步利設奔焉耆。阿悉吉闕俟斤與統吐屯召國人謀立欲谷設為大可汗，以咥利失為小可汗。會統吐屯被殺，欲谷設又為其俟斤所破，咥利失乃復得故地。後西部卒自立欲谷設為乙毗咄陸可汗，而與咥利失交戰，殺傷不可計，乃因伊列河約諸部：河以西受令於咄陸，其東咥利失主之。自是西突厥又分二國矣。

Tulu's brother Tong'e she became Shaboluo Dilishi Khan. He sent tribute thrice and sought marriage; the emperor refused. He divided the realm into ten divisions, each led by one man with one arrow—the Ten She or Ten Arrows. The right held five Tulu divisions with five great chuo, east of Suyab; the left five Nushibi divisions had five great irkin, west of Suyab. Each arrow was one tribe—the Ten Surname Tribes. Unpopular, he was attacked by his tutun. Dilishi fought back; the tutun fled. Dilishi and his brother Buli she fled to Yanqi. Axijie Que Irkin and the tutun planned to make Yugu she great khan and Dilishi lesser khan. Tutun was killed and Yugu she was defeated by his irkin. Dilishi recovered his lands. The west made Yugu she Yipi Tulu Khan. After bloody war they divided at the Yilie River—west to Tulu, east to Dilishi. The Western Turks were split in two.

咄陸可汗建廷鏃曷山西，謂之「北庭」，駁馬、結骨諸國悉附臣之，陰與咥利失部吐屯俟列發以兵攻咥利失。咥利失援窮，奔拔汗那而死。國人立其子，是為乙屈利失乙毗可汗，逾年死。弩失畢大酋迎伽那設之子畢賀咄葉護立之，是為乙毗沙缽羅葉護可汗。太宗詔左領軍將軍張大師持節冊命，賜鼓纛，建庭雖合水北，謂之「南庭」，東薄伊列河，龜茲、鄯善、且末、吐火羅、焉耆、石、史、何、穆、康等國皆隸屬。是時咄陸兵浸浸盛，與沙缽羅葉護數交戰。會二可汗使者皆來，帝敕以敦睦，令各罷兵，咄陸不肯聽，遣石國吐屯攻葉護可汗，殺之，並其國。弩失畢不服，叛去。咄陸又擊吐火羅，取之，乃入寇伊州。安西都護郭孝恪以輕騎二千，自烏骨狙擊，敗之。咄陸以處月、處蜜兵圍天山而不克，孝恪追北，拔處月俟斤之城，抵遏索山，斬千餘級，降處蜜部而歸。咄陸可汗性很傲，留使者元孝友等不遣，妄曰：「我聞唐天子才武，我今討康居，爾視我與天子等否？」遂與共攻康居，道米國，即襲破之，系虜其人，取貲口不以與下，其將泥孰啜怒，奪取之，咄陸斬以徇。泥孰啜之將胡祿屋舉兵襲咄陸可汗，多殺士，國大亂，將歸保吐火羅，大臣勸其返國，不從，率眾去，度葉水，及石國，左右亡去略盡，乃保可賀敦城。自輕出招叛亡，阿悉吉闕俟斤逆擊之，咄陸敗，襲取白水胡城以居。弩失畢不欲咄陸為可汗，遣使者至闕下，請所立。帝遣通事舍人溫無隱持璽詔與國大臣擇突厥可汗子孫賢者授之，乃立乙屈利失乙毗可汗之子，是為乙毗射匱可汗。

Tulu built the Northern Court west of Mount Zhuohe and subjugated Boma and the Kirghiz. With Tutun Houlie Fa he attacked Dilishi. Dilishi fled to Ferghana and died. His son Yiquli Yipi Khan reigned one year and died. Nushibi leaders enthroned Gana she's son Bihuo Yehu as Yipi Shaboluo Yehu Khan. Taizong invested Shaboluo Yehu Khan and established the Southern Court north of Suihe. Kucha, Shanshan, Yanqi, Samarkand, and others submitted. Tulu grew stronger and repeatedly fought Shaboluo Yehu. Both sent envoys; Taizong ordered peace. Tulu refused, killed Yehu Khan, and annexed his realm. The Nushibi rebelled and withdrew. Tulu conquered Tokhar and raided Yizhou. Guo Xiaojie ambushed him with two thousand light cavalry from Wugu and defeated him. Tulu failed to take Tianshan. Xiaojie pursued, took a Chuyue city, and accepted Chumi's submission. Arrogant Tulu detained envoy Yuan Xiaoyou and boasted: "I am attacking Kangju—am I the equal of your Son of Heaven? He attacked Kangju, sacked the Mi kingdom, and hoarded the booty. General Nishu Quluo seized it; Tulu executed him. Huluju revolted and ravaged Tulu's forces. Tulu fled toward Tokhar, lost his followers, and held Kehedun city. Axijie Que Irkin defeated Tulu, who seized Baishui Hucheng. The Nushibi rejected Tulu and asked Tang to choose a khan. Tang sent Wen Wuyin to select a Turkish prince. They enthroned Yiquli's son as Yipi Shekui Khan.

乙毗射匱既立，改館使者，悉還之長安，使弩失畢將兵攻白水胡城。咄陸勒兵自城出，鳴鼓角薄鬥，弩失畢不能軍，殺獲甚多。咄陸因其勝招徠舊部，皆曰：「戰千人，存一人，我猶不從也。」咄陸自知眾怨，乃走吐火羅。乙毗射匱遣使貢方物，且請昏，帝令割龜茲、於闐、疏勒、朱俱波、蔥嶺五國為聘禮，不克昏。於是阿史那賀魯反，盡得可汗部落。賀魯阿史那賀魯賀魯者，室點蜜可汗五世孫，曳步利設射匱特勒劫越子也。始，阿史那步真來歸國，咄陸可汗以賀魯為葉護，代步真，居多邏斯川，直西州北千五百里，統處月、處蜜、姑蘇、歌邏祿、弩失畢五姓之眾。咄陸之走吐火羅也，乙毗射匱以兵迫逐，賀魯無常居，部多散亡。有執舍地、處木昆、婆鼻三種者，以賀魯無罪，往請可汗，可汗怒，欲誅執舍地等，三種乃舉所部數千帳，與賀魯皆內屬，帝優撫之。會討龜茲，請先馳為向導，詔授昆丘道行軍總管，宴嘉壽殿，厚賜予，解衣衣之。擢累左驍衛將軍、瑤池都督，處其部於庭州莫賀城，密招攜散，廬幕益眾。

Shekui Khan returned envoys to Chang'an and sent the Nushibi against Baishui Hucheng. Tulu sallied forth and routed the Nushibi with heavy losses. Tulu tried to rally old followers, but they refused: "After a thousand fought, one survived—we will not follow. Knowing he was hated, Tulu fled to Tokhar. Shekui sought marriage; Taizong demanded five states as bride-price. The marriage failed. Ashina Helu rebelled and seized the khan's tribes. Ashina Helu was fifth-generation grandson of Shidianmi Khan, son of Shekui tegin Jieyue of Yebu she. Tulu had made Helu yabghu over five tribes at Duolosi River, fifteen hundred li north of Xizhou. When Tulu fled, Shekui pursued. Helu wandered and his tribes scattered. Three tribes petitioned for Helu; the khan threatened them. They defected with Helu and Tang treated them well. Helu guided the Kucha campaign and was made Kunqiu route commander, richly rewarded. Promoted to Left Martial Guard General and Yaochi Protector at Mohe city, he gathered scattered followers.

方帝崩，即謀取西、庭二州，刺史駱弘義以聞，高宗遣通事舍人喬寶明馳撫，因令賀魯遣子咥運入宿衛。咥運中悔，劫於勢，不得去，拜右驍衛中郎將。帝遣還，咥運即勸賀魯引而西，取咄陸可汗故地，建牙於千泉，自號沙缽羅可汗，遂統咄陸、弩失畢十姓。咄陸有五啜，曰處木昆律啜、胡祿屋闕啜、攝舍提暾啜、突騎施賀邏施啜、鼠尼施處半啜。弩失畢有五俟斤，曰阿悉結闕俟斤、哥舒闕俟斤、拔塞幹暾沙缽俟斤、阿悉結泥孰俟斤、哥舒處半俟斤。而胡祿屋闕，賀魯婿也。阿悉結闕俟斤最盛強，勝兵至數十萬。以咥運為莫賀咄葉護。遂寇庭州，敗數縣，殺掠數千人去。詔左武衛大將軍梁建方、右驍衛大將軍契何力為弓月道行軍總管，右驍衛將軍高德逸、右武衛將軍薩孤吳仁副之，發府兵三萬，合回紇騎五萬擊之。駱弘義獻計曰：「安中國以信，馭夷狄以權，理有變通也。賀魯保一城，方寒積雪，謂唐兵必不來，宜乘此一舉滅之。遷延及春，且生變，縱不率連諸國，必遠跡遁去。且兵本誅賀魯，而處蜜、處木昆等亦各欲自免，若留不進，彼與賀魯復合矣。今雖嚴冬風勁，兵苦皸墮，又不可久留費邊糧，使賊得堅黨附、賒死期也。請寬處月、處蜜等罪，專誅賀魯，除禍務本，不可先治枝葉也。願發射脾、處月、處蜜、契等兵，賫一月食，急趨之，大軍住憑洛水上為之景助，此驅戎狄攻豺狼也。且戎人藉唐兵為羽翼，今胡騎出前，唐兵躡後，賀魯窮矣。」天子然其奏，詔弘義佐建方等經略之。處月朱邪孤註者，引兵附賊，據牢山，建方等攻之，眾潰，追行五百里，斬孤註，上首九千級，虜其帥六十，不如弘義所計。

At Gaozong's accession Helu plotted against Xi and Ting. Gaozong sent Qiao Baoming and took Helu's son Dieyun as hostage. Dieyun was trapped and made Right Martial Guard Commandant. Sent home, Dieyun urged Helu west to Thousand Springs as Shaboluo Khan over the ten surnames. Tulu's five chuo were Chumukun, Huluju, Shesheti, Turgesh, and Shunishi. Nushibi's five irkin were Axijie, Geshu, Bassegan, Axijie Nishu, and Geshu Chuban. Huluju Que was Helu's son-in-law. Axijie Que Irkin was strongest, with hundreds of thousands of warriors. Dieyun was made Moheduo Yabghu. Helu raided Ting Prefecture, ravaged counties, and withdrew after killing thousands. Liang Jianfang and Qibi Heli were sent with eighty thousand men against Helu. Luo Hongyi argued: "Rule China with trust, control barbarians with expedient force. Helu holds one city and thinks winter excludes Tang armies—we should strike now. Delay until spring and he will escape or rally allies. Our target is Helu; Chumi and Chumukun will rejoin him if we hesitate. Winter is harsh, but prolonged delay strengthens Helu. Pardon Chuyue and Chumi; strike Helu alone—the root, not the branches. Send tribal allies with one month's rations while the main army holds Pingluo River in support. Barbarian cavalry in front and Tang behind will corner Helu. The emperor approved and had Hongyi assist Jianfang. Zhu Ye Guzhu of the Chuyue joined Helu. Jianfang defeated him, taking nine thousand heads—not quite as Hongyi had envisioned.

永徽四年，罷瑤池都督府，即處月置金滿州，又遣左屯衛大將軍程知節為蔥山道行軍大總管，率諸將進討。是歲，咄陸可汗死，其子真珠葉護請討賀魯自效，為賀魯所拒，不得前。明年，知節擊歌邏祿、處月，斬千級，收馬萬計。副將周智度擊處木昆城，拔之，斬馘三萬。前軍蘇定方擊賀魯別帳鼠尼施於鷹娑川，斬首虜獲馬甚眾，賊棄鎧仗彌野。會副總管王文度不肯戰，降怛篤城，取其財，屠之，知節不能制。

In Yonghui 4 the Yaochi Protectorate was abolished; Cheng Zhijie was sent against Helu. Tulu died; his son Zhenzhu Yehu offered to attack Helu but was blocked. Next year Zhijie defeated the Geluolu and Chuyue, taking a thousand heads and ten thousand horses. Zhou Zhidu took Chumukun city with thirty thousand kills. Su Dingfang routed Helu's Shunishi camp at Yingsuo River. Wang Wendu refused battle, sacked Dudu city, and Cheng Zhijie could not restrain him.

顯慶初，擢定方伊麗道行軍大總管，率燕然都護任雅相、副都護蕭嗣業、左驍衛大將軍瀚海都督回紇婆閏等窮討。詔右屯衛大將軍阿史那彌射、左屯衛大將軍阿史那步真為流沙道安撫大使，分出金山道，俟斤嫩獨祿等萬餘帳迎降。定方以精騎至曳咥河西，擊處木昆，破之。賀魯舉十姓兵十萬騎來拒，定方以萬人當之，虜見兵少，以騎繞唐軍。定方令步卒據原，欑槊外註，自以騎陣於北。賀魯先擊原上軍，三犯，軍不動。定方縱騎乘之，虜大潰，追奔數十里，俘斬三萬人，殺其大酋都搭達幹等二百人。明日躡北，五弩失畢皆降。五咄陸聞賀魯敗，趨南道降步真。定方命嗣業、婆閏趨邪羅斯川追虜，任雅相提降兵踵後。會大雪，軍中請須霽，定方曰：「今晦風冽，虜謂我不能師，掩其不虞可也，緩則遠矣，省日兼功，上策也。」於是晝夜進，收所過人畜，至雙河，與彌射、步真會，軍飽氣張，距賀魯牙二百里，陣而行，抵金牙山。賀魯眾適獵，定方兵縱破其牙，俘數萬人，獲鼓纛器械，賀魯跳度伊麗水。嗣業次千泉，彌射至伊麗，處月、處蜜諸部皆下。次雙河，賀魯先以步失達幹據柵戰，彌射攻之，潰，定方追賀魯至碎葉水，盡奪其眾。賀魯、咥運將奔鼠耨設，至石國蘇咄城，馬不進，眾饑，賫寶入城，且市馬，城主伊涅達幹迎之，既入，拘送石國。會彌射子元爽與嗣業兵至，取之。乃悉散諸部兵，開道置驛，收露胔，問人疾苦，賀魯所掠悉還之民，西域平。賀魯謂嗣業曰：「我，亡虜也，先帝厚我，我則背之，今天降怒罰，尚何道？且聞漢法殺人必都市，我願就死昭陵，謝罪於先帝也。」帝曰：「先帝賜賀魯二千帳主之，今罪人既得，獻昭陵其可乎？」許敬宗曰：「古者，軍凱還則飲至於廟。若諸侯，獻馘天子，未聞獻於陵。然陛下奉園寢與宗廟等，可行不疑。」於是執而獻昭陵，赦不誅。

In Xianqing 1 Su Dingfang was made Yili supreme commander to pursue Helu. Ashina Mishe and Buzhen were sent on the Liusha route; Nendulu and others surrendered. Dingfang's elite cavalry broke Chumukun west of Yidie River. Helu brought a hundred thousand horsemen; Dingfang met him with ten thousand. The Turks surrounded the Tang line. Dingfang planted infantry with halberds outward and cavalry to the north. Helu assaulted the infantry three times without breaking them. Dingfang's cavalry routed them—thirty thousand killed, two hundred chiefs slain. The next day the five Nushibi submitted. The five Tulu submitted to Buzhen. Dingfang sent Siye and Poyan to Talas; Yaxiang followed with submitted troops. In heavy snow Dingfang insisted on marching: "Helu thinks we cannot fight in winter—surprise him. They marched day and night to Shuanghe, joined Mishe and Buzhen, and reached Jinyá Mountain. Helu was hunting when Dingfang stormed his camp. Helu fled across the Ili River. Siye reached Thousand Springs; Mishe the Ili; Chuyue and Chumi submitted. At Shuanghe Mishe broke Bushida Taghan's line. Dingfang pursued Helu to Suyab and seized his army. Helu fled toward Shunou she but was trapped at Sudu city and delivered to the Shi kingdom. Yuanshuang and Siye's troops captured them. Dingfang restored plundered property and pacified the Western Regions. Helu told Siye: "I betrayed the emperor who favored me. Heaven's punishment is just—what can I say? I hear Han law executes criminals in the capital. Let me die at Zhaoling and apologize to the former emperor. The emperor said: "The former emperor entrusted Helu with two thousand tents. Can we present this captive at Zhaoling?" Xu Jingzong said: "Victorious armies traditionally offered wine at the ancestral temple. Feudal lords presented captives to the Son of Heaven—not at a tomb. Yet Your Majesty treats the imperial tomb like the ancestral temple—proceed without hesitation." Helu was presented at Zhaoling and spared execution.

賀魯已滅，裂其地為州縣，以處諸部。木昆部為匐延都督府，突騎施索葛莫賀部為嗢鹿都督府，突騎施阿利施部為絜山都督府，胡祿屋闕部為鹽泊都督府，攝舍提暾部為雙河都督府，鼠尼施處半部為鷹娑都督府，又置昆陵、濛池二都護府以統之。其所役屬諸國皆置州，西盡波斯，並隸安西都護府。以阿史那彌射為興昔亡可汗，兼驃騎大將軍、昆陵都護，領五咄陸部，阿史那步真為繼往絕可汗，兼驃騎大將軍、濛池都護，領五弩失畢部，各賜帛十萬，以光祿卿盧承慶持冊命之。賀魯死，詔葬頡利冢旁，紀其概於石。

Helu's lands were divided into prefectures to settle the tribes. Protectorates were established for Chumukun, Turgesh, Huluju, Shesheti, Shunishi, and others under Kunling and Mengchi grand protectorates. Subject states west to Persia became prefectures under the Pacified West Protectorate. Ashina Mishe became Xingxiwang Khan over the five Tulu; Buzhen became Jiwangjue Khan over the five Nushibi, each with a hundred thousand bolts of silk. Helu was buried beside Jieli with an epitaph on stone.

阿史那彌射，亦室點蜜可汗五世孫，世為莫賀咄葉護。貞觀中，遣使者持節立彌射為奚利邲咄陸可汗，賜鼓纛。族兄步真謀殺彌射，欲自立，彌射不能國，即舉所部處月、處蜜等入朝，拜右監門衛大將軍。而步真遂自為咄陸葉護，眾不厭，去之，亦與族人來朝，拜左屯衛大將軍。彌射從帝征高麗有功，封平壤縣伯，遷右武衛大將軍。及平賀魯，乃與步真皆為可汗，得補所部刺史以下。是歲，彌射擊真珠葉護於雙河，斬之，殺闕啜二人。

Mishe was also fifth-generation grandson of Shidianmi Khan, hereditary Moheduo Yabghu. In Zhenguan Mishe was invested as Xili Tulu Khan with drums and banners. Buzhen plotted against Mishe, who fled to court with Chuyue and Chumi and became Right Gate Guard General. Buzhen made himself Tulu Yabghu, lost his followers, and came to court as Left Garrison Guard General. Mishe served in Liaodong, was enfeoffed Baron of Pyongyang, and promoted Right Martial Guard General. After Helu's defeat both became khans with power to appoint officials in their divisions. That year Mishe killed Zhenzhu Yehu at Shuanghe and two quechuo.

彌射、步真無綏御材，下多怨，於是思結都曼率疏勒、朱俱波、喝槃陀三國叛，擊破於闐，詔左驍衛大將軍蘇定方討之，都曼兵保馬頭川。五年，定方傅其城，擊降之。龍朔二年，彌射、步真以兵從䫻海道總管蘇海政討龜茲，步真怨彌射，且欲並其部，乃誣以謀反。海政不能察，即集軍吏計議先發誅之，因稱詔發所賫賜可汗首領，彌射以麾下至，悉收斬之。其部鼠尼施、拔塞幹叛走，海政追平之。步真死幹封時。

Mishe and Buzhen failed to govern; Sijie Duman rebelled with three states and broke Khotan. Su Dingfang was sent against him at Matou River. In the fifth year Dingfang took Duman's city and forced his surrender. In Longshuo 2 Mishe and Buzhen joined Su Haizheng against Kucha. Buzhen falsely accused Mishe of rebellion. Haizheng believed the accusation and executed Mishe and his chiefs under false pretense of distributing gifts. Shunishi and Bassegan rebelled; Haizheng pursued and pacified them. Buzhen died in Qianfeng.

咸亨二年，以西突厥部酋阿史那都支為左驍衛大將軍兼匐延都督，以安輯其眾。儀鳳中，都支自號十姓可汗，與吐蕃連和，寇安西，詔吏部侍郎裴行儉討之。行儉請毋發兵，可以計取。即詔行儉冊送波斯王子，並安撫大食，若道兩蕃者。都支果不疑，率子弟止謁，遂禽之，召執諸部渠長，降別帥李遮匐以歸，調露元年也。西姓自是益衰，其後二部人日離散。遂擢彌射子元慶為左玉鈐衛將軍，步真子步利設斛瑟羅為右玉鈐衛將軍，盡襲父所領及可汗號。元慶累拜鎮國大將軍、行左威衛大將軍。武後擅命，率諸蕃長請賜睿宗氏曰武，更號斛瑟羅曰竭忠事主可汗。長壽中，元慶坐謁皇嗣，為來俊臣所誣，要斬，流其子獻於振州。

In Xianheng 2 Ashina Duzhi was made Left Martial Guard General and Fuyan Protector. In Yifeng Duzhi allied with Tibet and raised Anxi. Pei Xingjian was sent against him. Xingjian proposed taking Duzhi by stratagem without mobilizing troops. He was sent to invest the Persian prince and pacify the Arabs, passing through both realms. Duzhi was captured when he came to pay respects. Xingjian detained the chiefs and returned with Li Zhebi—in Tiaolu 1. Western Turkish power waned as the two divisions scattered. Mishe's son Yuanqing and Buzhen's son Huseluo inherited their fathers' titles and domains. Yuanqing rose to General of Pacifying the State and Acting Left Guard General. Empress Wu had tribal chiefs request the Wu surname for Ruizong's clan and renamed Huseluo Jiezhong Shizhu Khan. In Changshou Yuanqing was executed by Lai Junchen for visiting the crown prince; his son Xian was exiled.

其明年，西突厥部立阿史那俀子為可汗，與吐蕃寇，武威道大總管王孝傑與戰冷泉、大領谷，破之；碎葉鎮守使韓思忠又破泥熟俟斤及突厥施質汗、胡祿等，因拔吐蕃泥熟沒斯城。聖歷二年，以斛瑟羅為左衛大將軍兼平西軍大總管，令撫鎮國人。是時烏質勒兵張甚，斛瑟羅不敢歸，與其部人六七萬內遷，死長安，擢子懷道為右武衛將軍。

The next year Ashina Chizi was made khan and raided with Tibet; Wang Xiaojie defeated them at Lengquan and Daling Valley; Han Sizhong defeated Nishu Irkin and took Tibet's Nishu Meisi city. In Shengli 2 Huseluo was made Left Guard General and Pacified Western Army commander. Wuzhile was too strong; Huseluo migrated with sixty thousand followers and died in Chang'an. His son Huaidao succeeded.

長安中，以阿史那獻為右驍衛大將軍，襲興昔亡可汗、安撫招慰十姓大使、北庭大都護。四年，以懷道為十姓可汗兼濛池都護。未幾，擢獻磧西節度使。十姓部落都擔叛，獻擊斬之，傳首闕下，收碎葉以西帳落三萬內屬，璽書嘉慰。葛邏祿、胡屋、鼠尼施三姓已內屬，為默啜侵掠，以獻為定遠道大總管，與北庭都護湯嘉惠等掎角。於是突騎施陰幸邊隙，故獻乞益師，身入朝，玄宗不許。詔左武衛中郎將王惠持節安慰。方冊拜突騎施都督車鼻施啜蘇祿為順國公，而突騎施已圍撥換、大石城，將取四鎮。會嘉惠拜安西副大都護，即發三姓葛邏祿兵與獻共擊之。帝將詔王惠與相經略，宰相臣璟、臣頲曰：「突騎施叛，葛邏祿攻之，此夷狄自相殘，非朝廷出也。大者傷，小者滅，皆我之利。方王惠往撫慰，不可參以兵事。」乃止。獻終以娑葛強狠不能制，亦歸死長安。

In Chang'an Ashina Xian became Right Martial Guard General, Ten Surname Khan, and Beiting Protector. In the fourth year Huaidao became Ten Surname Khan and Mengchi Protector. Soon Xian was made Western Desert Military Commissioner. Xian killed the rebel Dudan and accepted thirty thousand tents west of Suyab. Xian was sent to coordinate with Beiting against Mokchur's raids on submitted tribes. The Turgesh sought opportunity; Xian asked for reinforcements and to come to court—Xuanzong refused. Wang Hui was sent to reassure the frontier. Suluk was to be made Duke of Shunguo—but the Turgesh besieged Bo Huan and Dashicheng, threatening the Four Garrisons. Jiahui mobilized Geluolu troops with Xian to attack. Chancellors Song and Zhang argued: "Let the Turgesh and Geluolu fight each other—it is not our fight. Whether the strong are hurt or the weak destroyed, we profit. Wang Hui goes to soothe—not to fight. The plan was halted. Unable to control Suoge, Xian returned to Chang'an and died.

突騎施吐火仙之敗，始以懷道子昕為十姓可汗、開府儀同三司、濛池都護，冊其妻涼國夫人李為交河公主，遣兵護送。昕至碎葉西俱蘭城，為突騎施莫賀達幹所殺，交河公主與其子忠孝亡歸，授左領軍衛員外將軍，西突厥遂亡。突騎施烏質勒突騎施烏質勒突騎施烏質勒，西突厥別部也。自賀魯破滅，二部可汗皆先入侍，虜無的君。烏質勒隸斛瑟羅，為莫賀達幹。斛瑟羅政殘，眾不悅，而烏質勒能撫下，有威信，諸胡順附，帳落浸盛，乃置二十都督，督兵各七千，屯碎葉西北。稍攻得碎葉，即徙其牙居之，謂碎葉川為大牙，弓月城、伊麗水為小牙，其地東鄰北突厥，西諸胡，東直西、庭州，盡並斛瑟羅地。

After Tuhuoxian's fall Xin was made Ten Surname Khan; Princess Jiaohe was sent with an escort. Xin was killed at Julan city; Princess Jiaohe fled home. The Western Turks perished. Turgesh Wuzhile was a separate division of the Western Turks. After Helu's fall both khans served at court; the steppe had no fixed ruler. Wuzhile served Huseluo as Moheda Taghan. Huseluo was cruel; Wuzhile won loyalty, established twenty grand protectors with seven thousand men each northwest of Suyab. He seized Suyab as his capital, with secondary seats at Gongyue and the Ili, annexing Huseluo's domain.

聖歷二年，遣子遮弩來朝，武後厚加慰撫。神龍中，封懷德郡王。是歲，烏質勒死，其子嗢鹿州都督娑葛為左驍衛大將軍，襲封爵。是時勝兵三十萬，詔十姓可汗阿史那懷道持節冊命，賜宮人四。景龍中，遣使者入謝，中宗為御前殿，列萬騎羽林二仗，引見勞賜。俄與其將厥啜忠節交怨，兵相加暴。娑葛訟忠節罪，請內之京師。忠節以千金賂宰相宗楚客等，願無入朝，請導吐蕃擊娑葛以報。楚客方專國，即以御史中丞馮嘉賓持節經制。嘉賓與忠節書疏反復，娑葛邏得之，遂殺嘉賓，使弟遮弩率兵盜塞。安西都護牛師獎與戰火燒城，師獎敗，死之，表索楚客頭以徇。大都護郭元振表娑葛狀直，當見赦，詔許，西土遂定。

In Shengli 2 his son Zhenu came to court and was warmly received. In Shenlong he was enfeoffed Prince of Huaide Commandery. Wuzhile died; his son Suoge inherited as Left Martial Guard General. Suoge commanded three hundred thousand warriors; Huaidao invested him with four palace women. In Jinglong Zhongzong received Turgesh envoys with full ceremony. Suoge quarreled with general Zhongjie and they fought. Suoge accused Zhongjie and asked that he be brought to court. Zhongjie bribed Zong Chuke to stay out of court and bring Tibet against Suoge. Chuke sent Feng Jiabin to mediate. Suoge intercepted Jiabin's correspondence, killed him, and sent Zhenu to raid the frontier. Niu Shijiang died fighting at Huoshaocheng and demanded Chuke's head. Guo Yuanzhen argued Suoge was justified; he was pardoned and the west was settled.

既而與遮弩分治其部，遮弩恨眾少，叛歸默啜，請為鄉導反攻其兄。默啜留遮弩，自以兵二萬擊娑葛，禽之。默啜歸語遮弩曰：「汝兄弟不相協，能盡心事我乎？」兩殺之。

Zhenu, resentful of a smaller share, defected to Mokchur to attack Suoge. Mokchur kept Zhenu and captured Suoge with twenty thousand men. Mokchur asked Zhenu: "Your brothers could not cooperate—will you serve me faithfully? He killed them both.

突騎施別種車鼻施啜蘇祿者，裒拾餘眾，自為可汗。蘇祿善撫循其下，部種稍合，眾至二十萬，於是復雄西域。開元五年，始來朝，授右武衛大將軍、突騎施都督，卻所獻不受。以武衛中郎將王惠持節拜蘇祿左羽林大將軍、順國公，賜錦袍、鈿帶、魚袋七事，為金方道經略大使。然詭猾，不純臣於唐，天子羈系之，進號忠順可汗。其後閱一二歲，使者納贄，帝以阿史那懷道女為交河公主妻之。是歲，突騎施鬻馬於安西，使者致公主教於都護杜暹，暹怒曰：「阿史那女敢宣教邪？」笞其使，不報。蘇祿怒，陰結吐蕃舉兵掠四鎮，圍安西城。暹方入當國，而趙頤貞代為都護，乘城久之，出戰又敗。蘇祿略人畜，發囷貯，徐聞暹已宰相，乃引去；即遣首領葉支阿布思來朝，玄宗召見，饗之。會東突厥使者亦來，與爭長曰：「突騎施國小，且突厥臣，不宜居上。」蘇祿使者曰：「宴乃為我，不可下。」遂設東西幄，而蘇祿使者西席，乃克宴。

Chebi Shichuo Suluk of the Turgesh rallied remnants and made himself khan. Suluk reunited the Turgesh to two hundred thousand and again dominated the west. In Kaiyuan 5 Suluk came to court as Turgesh Protector; his gifts were declined. Wang Hui invested Suluk as Duke of Shunguo and Jinfang route commissioner. Cunning and not fully loyal, Suluk was titled Loyal and Submissive Khan. The emperor married Huaidao's daughter to him as Princess Jiaohe. When the Turgesh sold horses at Anxi, Du Xian flogged the envoy who bore Princess Jiaohe's orders. He gave no reply. Enraged, Suluk allied with Tibet, raided the Four Garrisons, and besieged Anxi. Du Xian became chancellor; Zhao Yizhen held Anxi but was defeated sallying out. Suluk plundered and opened granaries, then withdrew on hearing Du Xian was chancellor; He sent Abu Si to court; Xuanzong feasted him. Eastern Turkish envoys disputed rank: "The Turgesh are small and were Turkish subjects—they should not sit above us. Suluk's envoy replied: "This feast is for us—we will not sit below." East and west seats were arranged with the Turgesh in the west seat before the feast could proceed.

始，蘇祿愛治其人，性勤約，每戰有所得，盡以予下，故諸族附悅之，為盡力，又交通吐蕃、突厥，二國皆以女妻之，遂立三國女並為可敦，以數子為葉護。費日廣而無素儲，晚年愁窶不聊，故鹵獲稍留不分，下始貳矣；又病風，一支攣，不事事。於是大首領莫賀達幹、都摩支二部方盛，而種人自謂娑葛後者為「黃姓」，蘇祿部為「黑姓」，更相猜讎。

Suluk was generous in victory and married daughters of Tibet and the Turks, making three khatuns and several yabghu sons. In old age he hoarded booty and lost the loyalty of his followers; He also suffered paralysis and neglected affairs. Moheda Taghan and Dumozhi rose while Yellow and Black surnames feuded.

俄而莫賀達幹、都摩支夜攻蘇祿，殺之。都摩支又背達幹立蘇祿子吐火仙骨啜為可汗，居碎葉城，引黑姓可汗爾微特勒保怛邏斯城，共擊達幹。帝使磧西節度使蓋嘉運和撫突騎施、拔汗那西方諸國。莫賀達幹與嘉運率石王莫賀咄吐屯、史王斯謹提共擊蘇祿子，破之碎葉城。吐火仙棄旗走，禽之，並其弟葉護頓阿波。疏勒鎮守使夫蒙靈詧挾銳兵與拔汗那王掩怛邏斯城，斬黑姓可汗與其弟撥斯，入曳建城，收交河公主及蘇祿可敦、爾微可敦而還，又料西國散亡數萬人，悉與拔汗那王。諸國皆降。處木昆匐延闕律啜等諸部皆上書謝曰：「生於荒裔，國亂王薨，更相攻屠。賴天子遣嘉運將兵誅暴拯危，願得稽首聖顏，以部落附安西，永為外臣。」許之。明年，擢闕律啜為右驍衛大將軍，冊石王為順義王，加拜史王為特進，顯酬其功。嘉運俘吐火仙骨啜獻太廟，天子赦以為左金吾衛員外大將軍、脩義王，頓阿波為右武衛員外將軍。以阿史那懷道子昕為十姓可汗，領突騎施所部，莫賀達幹怒曰：「平蘇祿，我功也。今立昕，謂何？」即誘諸落叛。詔嘉運招諭，乃率妻子及纛官首領降，遂命統其眾。後數年，復以昕為可汗，遣兵護送。昕至俱闌城，為莫賀咄所殺。莫賀咄自為可汗，安西節度使夫蒙靈詧誅斬之，以大纛官都摩支闕頡斤為三姓葉護。

Moheda Taghan and Dumozhi assassinated Suluk. Dumozhi enthroned Tuhuoxian at Suyab; Black and Yellow factions warred. Gai Jiayun was sent to pacify the Turgesh and western states. Taghan and Jiayun with Shi and Shi kings defeated Tuhuoxian at Suyab. Tuhuoxian fled but was captured with his brother Dunabo. Menglingzha and the Ferghana king took Talas, killed the Black Surname Khan, recovered Princess Jiaohe, and resettled tens of thousands with Ferghana. All the states submitted. The Chumukun, Fuyan, Queleichuo, and other divisions all sent memorials of apology: "Born in remote borderlands, after the kingdom fell into chaos and our king died, we turned on one another in slaughter. Thanks to the Son of Heaven, who sent Jiayun with troops to punish the violent and restore order, we wish to kowtow before your sacred countenance and submit our tribes to the Anxi Protectorate as perpetual outer subjects. The emperor granted their request. The following year Queleichuo was promoted to Grand General of the Right Xiaowei Guard, the Stone Prince was enfeoffed as Prince of Shunyi, and the Shi Prince was further appointed Special Advance — a public reward for their service. Jiayun captured Tuhuoxian Guchuo and presented him at the imperial temple. The emperor pardoned him, appointing him Supernumerary Grand General of the Left Jinwu Guard and Prince of Xiuyi, and made Dun'abo Supernumerary General of the Right Wuwei Guard. Ashina Huaidao's son Xin was installed as khan of the Ten Surnames to command the Turgesh tribes. Mohadagan protested angrily: "I was the one who pacified Sulu. The credit belongs to me. And now you install Xin instead — what is that supposed to mean? He then incited the various tribes to rebel. The emperor ordered Jiayun to negotiate with him. Mohadagan then submitted with his family and tribal chieftains and was appointed to command his followers. Several years later Xin was again installed as khan, with troops sent to escort him. Xin reached Julancheng, where Mohaduo killed him. Mohaduo declared himself khan. Anxi Military Governor Fumeng Lingcha executed him and installed the great banner-chieftain Tumozhi Quejiejin as yabghu of the Three Surnames.

天寶元年，突騎施部更以黑姓伊里底蜜施骨咄祿毗伽為可汗，數通使貢。十二載，黑姓部立登里伊羅蜜施為可汗，亦賜詔冊。

In Tianbao 1 the Turgesh tribes again installed Ilidimishigudulubili of the Black Surname as khan and sent envoys and tribute on several occasions. In the twelfth year the Black Surname tribes installed Dengli Yiluomishi as khan, and the court issued an investiture edict.

至德後，突騎施衰，黃、黑姓皆立可汗相攻，中國方多故，不暇治也。乾元中，黑姓可汗阿多裴羅猶能遣使者入朝。大歷後，葛邏祿盛，徙居碎葉川，二姓微，至臣役於葛祿，斛瑟羅餘部附回鶻。及其破滅，有特厖勒居焉耆城，稱葉護，餘部保金莎領，眾至二十萬。

After the Zhide era the Turgesh declined. Both the Yellow and Black surnames installed rival khans and fought one another, while the court, embroiled in domestic crises, had no time to intervene. During the Qianyuan era the Black Surname khan Aduopeiluo still managed to send envoys to court. After the Dali era the Karluk grew powerful and moved to the Suyab River. Weakened, the two surnames became subject to the Karluk, while the remnant tribes of Kunsolo joined the Uyghurs. When the Karluk fell, Tilmoch occupied Karasahr and styled himself yabghu. The remaining tribes held Jinsaling, their numbers reaching two hundred thousand.

贊曰：隋季世，虛內以攻外，生者罷道路，死者暴原野，天下盜賊共攻而亡之。當此時，四夷侵，中國微，而突厥最強，控弦者號百萬，華人之失職不逞皆往從之，槊之謀，導之入邊，故頡利自以為強大古無有也。高祖初即位，與和，因數出軍助討賊，故詭臣之，贈予不可計。虜見利而動，又與賊連和，殺掠吏民，於是掃國入寇，薄渭橋，騎壒蒙京師。太宗身勒兵，顯責而陰間之，戎始內阻。不三年，縛頡利獻北闕下，霆掃風除，其國遂墟。自《詩》、《書》以來，伐暴取亂，蔑如帝神且速也，秦漢比之，陋矣。然帝數暴師不告勞，料敵無遁情，善任將，必其功，蓋黃帝之兵也。而突厥乃以失德抗有道，浸衰當始興，雖運之盛衰屬於天，而其亡信有由矣！

Commentary: In the late Sui the empire drained its interior to wage foreign campaigns. The living exhausted themselves on the roads; the dead littered the fields. Bandits rose everywhere and together overthrew the dynasty. At this time the frontier peoples pressed in while China weakened. Among them the Turks were strongest — their bowmen were said to number a million. Disgraced Chinese outcasts rallied to them, plotting invasions and guiding them across the border. Qilibi believed himself mightier than any ruler in history. When Gaozu first took the throne he made peace with the Turks and repeatedly sent troops to help suppress rebels. He therefore flattered them and lavished gifts beyond reckoning. Seeing opportunity, the Turks allied with rebels and slaughtered and plundered officials and civilians. They then invaded in force, advancing to Weiqiao Bridge until the dust of their cavalry obscured the capital. Taizong personally led his troops, rebuking the Turks openly while secretly sowing discord among them. Internal divisions began to appear among the invaders. Within three years Qilibi was bound and presented at the northern gate. Like a thunderbolt sweeping clean, their state was reduced to ruin. Since the days of the Book of Songs and Book of Documents, no ruler has punished the violent and overthrown disorder with such divine speed. Qin and Han pale by comparison. Yet the emperor repeatedly mobilized his armies without complaint, assessed the enemy with clear-eyed precision, entrusted capable generals and ensured they received credit for their victories — a style of warfare worthy of the Yellow Emperor himself. The Turks had lost virtue and resisted the righteous empire, declining just as Tang was rising. Though the rise and fall of dynasties belongs to Heaven, their fall had clear causes of their own.

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