Tang Conquest of the Eastern Turks

Timeline

1. 629Lingzhou · NingxiaTaizong resolved on a northern expedition against the Eastern Turks, appointing Li Jing as marching commander while Li Ji, Chai Shao, and others attacked along separate routes, advancing north from Lingzhou and elsewhere to strike amid the Eastern Turks' internal strife and severe snow and cold.
2. 630Dingxiang, Yinshan · ChinaLi Jing led 3,000 elite cavalry out of Mayi, launching a night attack on Dingxiang and crushing the Eastern Turks; he then defeated Illig Qaghan's main force again at Yinshan, causing the khaganate's court to collapse and tribes to surrender one after another.
3. 630Chang'an · ShaanxiIllig Qaghan was captured and escorted to Chang'an, where Taizong received him at Taiji Hall and released him rather than executing him; the Eastern Turkic khaganate fell, the Tang set up ten prefectures to resettle surrendered tribes, the lands south of the Gobi came under loose administration, and the various peoples honored Taizong as Heavenly Khagan.