Battle of Irtysh River
Part ofTang campaign against the Western Turks
Date 657 Location Irtysh River Result Tang victory
Belligerents
Tang dynasty Former vassals of the Western Turks	Western Turkic Khaganate
Commanders and leaders
Su Dingfang Ren Yaxiang Ashina Mishe Ashina Buzhen Xiao Siye	Ashina Helu
Strength
Unknown number mainTang army[1]+10,000Tang andUyghur troops	100,000 troops

TheBattle of Irtysh River (Chinese:額爾齊斯河之戰) orBattle of Yexi River (Chinese:曳咥河大戰) took place in 657 betweenTang dynasty generalSu Dingfang and theWestern Turkic KhaganateqaghanAshina Helu during theTang campaign against the Western Turks. It was fought along theIrtysh River near theAltai Mountains. Su Dingfang deployed his infantry in the south, and cavalry in the north behind a hill. Helu's forces, consisting of 100,000 cavalry, surrounded and charged at the Chinese infantry three times, all of the charges were repelled. Then Helu's forces were ambushed by the Tang cavalry from the north. Helu was defeated during Su's surprise attack, and lost most of his soldiers. Turkic tribes loyal to Helu surrendered, and the retreating Helu was captured the next day.^[2]

Helu's defeat ended the Western Turkic Khaganate, strengthened Tang control ofXinjiang, and led to Tang suzerainty over the western Turks.^[3]

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