The Glory of Zhenguan

On the fourth day of the sixth month of the ninth year of Wude, the Xuanwu Gate Incident ended in a narrow victory for the Prince of Qin’s household, changing the fate of the Tang Empire. Just as the officials of the Prince of Qin’s household were celebrating their triumph, Empress Zhangsun sat in the Hall of Eternal Autumn, clutching a tiny garment. A tear of pain slipped from the corner of her eye. … In the sixth month of the tenth year of Zhenguan, at the Battle of the Desert, Murong Shun, the Prince of Danning of Tuyuhun, bowed to Li Jing’s formidable army. He presented the head of Tianzhu Wang as a gift and led his troops in surrender to the Tang. Du Jing, the guerrilla general who had led the charge to breach the enemy camp, walked up to Murong Shun. With a cold snort, he took the surrender document, turned, and returned to Li Jing, reporting respectfully, “Reporting to the commander, Tuyuhun has surrendered!” “Accepted!” Long live the Tang! Victory to the Tang army!… The Tang soldiers, who had been pursuing the enemy for two months, raised their weapons and cheered, their shouts reaching the heavens. Under the command of the veteran general Li Jing, Tuyuhun, a kingdom established more than three hundred years ago, bowed before the might of the Tang army.