 In retribution for the death of Guo Xiaoke , Ashina She 'er ordered the execution of eleven thousand Kuchean inhabitants by decapitation . It was recorded that " he destroyed five great towns and with them many myriads of men and women ... the lands of the west were seized with terror . " After Kucha 's defeat , Ashina dispatched a small force of light cavalry led by the lieutenant Xue <unk> to Khotan , ruled by the king <unk> <unk> . The threat of an invasion persuaded the king to visit the Tang court in person . 
