Pei Xingjian

Pei Xingjian put down the risings that preceded the restoration of the Göktürk state. He did so twice.^[1]

The rising of 679

Map of northern China and the steppe, 679 to 681: the Göktürks of the Ordos and of Yunzhong in revolt, Pei Xingjian's marches from Chang'an to Black Mountain and into the west against Ashina Duzhi, Funian raised at Xiazhou, numbered in the order of events — 679–681: In 679 the Göktürks of the Chanyu protectorate raise Nishufu as khan, and twenty-four prefectures rise with them. Pei Xingjian beats them at Black Mountain in 680, and Nishufu is killed by his own men. Funian, raised next at Xiazhou, surrenders to Pei Xingjian in 681 and is beheaded at Chang'an. The numbers follow the order of events. Modern map; the roads are drawn, not recorded.

Two chiefs of the Ashide raised the surrendered tribes of the Ordos and set up a khan. Twenty-four prefectures went over with them.^[1] The first Tang army sent against them was beaten.^[1]

The second Tang army, under Pei Xingjian, broke Ashide Wenfu.^[1] The khan they had raised, Nishufu, was killed by his own people. Fengzhi was taken.^[1]

Funian

The tribes rose again behind Ashina Funian, the son of an elder cousin of Ilig. They fetched him from Xiazhou to make him khan.^[1] Pei Xingjian’s army drove him to surrender. He was beheaded in the eastern market of Chang’an in 681.^[1]

The Tang had now executed two khans of two risings in two years. The men who had submitted to save themselves had watched it happen. A year later Ilterish went into the Chugay mountains with a few hundred men. He did not surrender to anybody.^[2]

Consequences

The risings of 679 and 681 failed because their leaders stayed within reach of the Tang frontier and let themselves be brought to terms. The rising of 682 succeeded because it went north. There a Chinese army had to be supplied across the desert to reach it.^[2]

Pei Xingjian’s campaigns are therefore part of the same story as the war of restoration. They taught the next leaders where not to stand.