 Most of the Tang expeditionary army was made up of 100 @,@ 000 cavalry supplied by the Tang empire 's Tiele allies . The commander @-@ in @-@ chief of the Tang expeditionary army , Ashina She 'er , was a member of the Eastern Turkic Khaganate ruling family . He joined the Tang forces after his surrender in 635 , and served as a general leading a campaign against Karakhoja . His familiarity with the region as a former Turkic ruler contributed to his success commanding the campaigns against Kucha and Karasahr . Prior to his recruitment as a Tang general , he reigned for five years between 630 and 635 , governing the city of Beshbalik in the Dzungarian Basin . Ashina She 'er 's deputy commanders were Qibi Heli ( a Tiele chieftain who had also become a Tang general ) and Guo Xiaoke . 
