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Khan Bilge had the desire to have a good relations
with China. He had this opinion according to Tonyukuk's belief about the strength of
China, and the Gok-Turks' fatigue and needs of carefulness. However, China, that was
encouraging the refugee Gok-Turks' prince and the people around him to struggle with gun
against Bilge, responded to the Gok-Turks' peace proposal with the preparation of a army
formed by 300 thousands of soldiers (721) with the strong desire of Turkish exploitation
of the situation.
At the same time,
China, that obtained the military support of K'itans and Tatabis, made agreements with
Basmils at Beş-balik. The delicate condition was saved by the great stateman and
strategist Tonyuku. Under his plans, leadership and administration, firstly the Basmils
were defeated, and Beş-balik was surrounded. The danger of K'itans and Tatabis was
eliminated (722-723); then China that was remained alone, was taken under the control with
a severe suppression: The regions of Liang-çu, Kan-çu, Yuan-çu were obtained with 10
attacks, after the Chinese army was defeated in the war of Santan (in Kan-su) and Beş-balik
was conquered. The kingdom was regained ex vitality and honor. Whole the east and the west
until Tarbagatay was under the control of kingdom. Bilge even recognized as dependent to
himself, the kingdom of Turgiş which was a state on his own after it broke off relations
with Ötüken in the disorder of 717.
These success were
obtained with the determination and effort of the three Turkish great nobles: Tonyukuk,
Bilge and Kül Tegin. China, of course, was aware of the situation. They talked in a
meeting led by the Emperor Huang-sung such that: "It can not be known what and when
the Turks would do. Khan Bilge is good, he likes his nation, and the Turks are content
with him… Kül Tegin is the master of the art of war, there can be hardly found a force
that could resist against him…
Tonyukuk is
authoritarian and wise, he was full of intentions and shrewdness. Here, these three "
barbarians" having the same understanding are altogether…". In 724, there was
an agreement made with China. The Emperor sent an envoy to Ötüken to discuss the
marriage of Khan Bilge, who requested a Chinese princess. Khan received this envoy in
front of the Hatun (Lady), Kül Tegin and Tonyukuk (725), then he sent an envoy, Mei-lu-ç'o
(Buyrukçur), one of the ministers, to the capital of China. As a result of the relations
of this envoy, who was treated with respect and care, it was decided that the city of
Sofank (Ling-çu) would be a place of a common Bazaar that the Gok-Turks could engage in
commerce freely.
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