As Li Xiaogong's territory was contiguous with another rebel ruler, Xiao Xian the Emperor of Liang, he offered Emperor Gaozu suggestions on destroying Liang.
Emperor Taizong of Tang (r. 626-649), the second emperor of Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, faced a major threat from Tang's northern neighbor, the Eastern Turkic Khaganate, whom his father Emperor Gaozu of Tang had been subjugated by in several manners.
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Turkic nobles largely surrendered to Tang, while the Turkic Khaganate's people scattered in three directions—either surrendering to Tang, surrendering to Xueyantuo, or fleeing west to the Western Turkic Khaganate and the nearby kingdoms.
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At the same time, however, Xueyantuo, which had been a vassal of both the Eastern Turkic Khaganate and the Western Turkic Khaganate at times, was beginning to strengthen, as was another vassal of the Eastern Turkic Khaganate, Huige, and Ashina Duobi was unable to defeat or contain them.
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With much internal troubles, Ashina Duobi was unable to aid Liang, and later in 628, with Emperor Taizong's brother-in-law Chai Shao (柴紹) sieging Liang's capital Shuofang (朔方, in modern Yulin, Shaanxi), Liang Shidu's cousin Liang Luoren (梁洛仁) assassinated Liang Shidu and surrendered, ending the final rival claim to Emperor Taizong's for China's imperial throne.
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By 627, Emperor Taizong, hearing this, was contemplating attacking the Eastern Turkic Khaganate, and he consulted the chancellor Xiao Yu and his brother-in-law Zhangsun Wuji.
Li Xian | Xian H-6 | Emperor Xian of Han | Xiao Yuanming | Xiao Yi | Xiao Yanling | Xiao Xiu | Liu Xian | Zhu Xiao Di | Xiao Xian | Xiao Mohe | Xiao Huang-Chi | Xiao He | Xiao-Gang Wen | Xiao'erjing | Xiao | Xian Y-7 | Xian Xinghai | Xian'an District | Xian | Statuary at Xiao Xiu's tomb. Photo by Victor Segalen | Ma Xiao | Li Xián | Liu Xiao Ling Tong | Jia Xian | Gong Xian | Empress Xiao Wen | Dou Xian | David Xiao |