A. G. Malyavkin. The Uyghur States in the IX—XII Centuries. Novosibirsk, 1983
Sima Guang. Zizhi Tongjian (Comprehensive Mirror to Aid in Government). Beijing. 1956.
Text: The Kyrgyz sent General Tabu-khezu and others to the fortress of the Tian'de province... they also reported that they would be relocating to the Helo River(1) to live on the old territory of the Uyghur state; moreover, five tribes submitted to them — Anxi (Kucha), Beiting (Beshbalyk), Dada (Tatars), and others (2nd year of the reign of Huai-chang, tenth month) (6.XI—5.XII.842 AD).
Li Ju. Huai-chang Yiping Ji (Collection of Epistolary Works of Li Deyu. Shanghai. 1936). Tabu-khezu also stated that the Kyrgyz had relocated to the Helo River, living on the old territory of the Uyghur state, and had also acquired five tribes — Anxi (Kucha), Baitam (Beshbalyk), Tatars, and others. (The letter to the khagan and the Uyghur ministers from which this excerpt is taken is dated to the winter months of the 2nd year of the reign of Huai-chang (14.11 842—2.11 843 AD) — O. K).
Currently, the Kyrgyz hate the Uyghur khagan. Simultaneously with the search for the princess(3), they are planning to launch a major military campaign. Uniting various barbarians, they will undertake a deep raid to the south, up to the border fortifications. Currently, the khagan's people are starving, and the number of troops is small. If a strong enemy unexpectedly strikes, how will they fend off the attack? Only the might of the Great Tang can help in this difficult situation(4).
It has also been learned that this autumn (the Kyrgyz — T. Abe(5)) plan to relocate to the area of the Uyghur stronghold, destroying their great state, and want to retain the old dwelling place (of the Uyghurs — T. Abe). (This message was written shortly after the second month of the 4th year of the reign of Huai-chang (22. II—22. III 844 AD) — O. K.)
Liu Xu. Jiu Tang Shu (Old Chronicle of the Tang State). Beijing. 1958. In the second month of the 3rd year of the reign of Huai-chang (5. III—3. IV 843 AD), Zhao Fan reported that the Kyrgyz attacked the governorships of Anxi and Beiting, so troops should be sent for assistance. Li Deyu, in his report (to the emperor), stated: “According to geographical data, from Anxi to the capital is 7000 li, from Beiting to the capital is 5200 li. In peaceful times, traveling to the western provinces from Hexi (Ordos) and Longyu (eastern part of modern Gansu province), one usually passed through the Yumen Pass; along the entire route, there were districts and counties of the Tang state, and in all of them were large military units. When troops were needed in Anxi and Beiting, they were usually recruited from nearby places. After the onset of difficulties, Hexi and Longyu completely fell under the control of the Tibetans, and to communicate with Anxi and Beiting, one had to use the Uyghur road.
Currently, the Uyghurs have been defeated, and it is unknown whether they are under the control of the Kyrgyz or not. Even if assistance is provided at an opportune moment, it is necessary to establish strongholds where protective troops of Han soldiers must be stationed, with no less than 10,000 men in each garrison. Where can people be mobilized? By what roads can food be transported?
Comments and Notes
1 Helo or Helo-chuan — the Edzin-Gol River. This is the Chinese transcription of one of the names of this river, namely Kara-Muren, the Black River. Part of the Uyghurs led by Khagan U-jie moved to the Edzin-Gol valley in the early 840s.
2 i.e., to the Kyrgyz.
3 Here it refers to Princess Tai-he, sent by the Ajo of the Kyrgyz to China accompanied by her tarhans.
4 From this text, it is clear that the Tang court played a double game between the Kyrgyz and the Uyghurs.
5 A. G. Malyavkin took this excerpt-translation from the book of the Japanese scholar T. Abe.