created him firstly as Tardu Bilge khagan (大度毗伽可汗) and bestowed on him a flag with a wolf head, the symbol of the Tujue. Liang guided Shibi's forces to occupy the Ordos Desert region. Subsequently, Shibi created him Jieshi Tianzi (解事天子, i.e., "the Tianzi who solved issues") for Liang, although he himself declared a state of Liang and himself its emperor. His ally Guo Zihe was also created Wuli shad. He also supported Liu Wuzhou, who gathered about 10,000 soldiers and declared himself commandery governor. When officials of the nearby Yanmen Commandery (roughly modern Xinzhou, Shanxi), Chen Xiaoyi (陳孝意) and Wang Zhibian (王智辯) attacked him, he struck back in conjunction with Eastern Tujue, killing Wang and forcing Chen to flee. He then captured Loufan Commandery (樓煩郡, part of modern Xinzhou) and pillaged Fenyang Palace (汾陽宮)—one of the numerous subsidiary palaces that Emperor Yang built around the empire—and took the ladies in waiting and gave them to khagan as a tribute; in return, khagan sent him horses. Liu then also captured Dingxiang Commandery (定襄郡, roughly modern Hohhot, Inner Mongolia). Shibi then created him "Dingyang Khagan"—i.e., "the Khagan who rules over Yang." Khagan also bestowed on Liu a great banner with a symbol of a wolf's head. Another rebel, Li Yuan declared rebellion in fall 617, and Liu Wenjing suggested that he, who was still ostensibly claiming to be loyal to Sui but wanting to support Emperor Yang's grandson Yang You the Prince of Dai, then at Chang'an, as emperor, should change his banners from the regular Sui banners to distance himself from Emperor Yang, while seeking an alliance with Eastern Tujue for support. Li Yuan agreed, and sent Liu to Eastern Tujue to meet with the Shibi Khan. When khagan asked him what Li Yuan's intention was, Liu responded: The emperor [i.e., Emperor Yang's father Emperor Wen] deposed his proper heir [i.e., Emperor Yang's older brother Yang Yong] and gave the throne to this current emperor, and this led to the current troubles. The Duke of Tang is an honored relative of the imperial clan, and he did not dare to sit by watching for the state to fail, and therefore he rose in righteousness, wanting to depose the improper emperor. He is willing to enter the capital with the soldiers of you, Great Khagan. If you do so, the people and the land will belong to the Duke of Tang, but