Editing Tonyukuk (section)

=== During Bilgä's reign ===
In 716 he was appointed to be Master Strategist (Bagha Tarkhan) by his son-in-law [[Bilge Khagan|Bilgä Qaγan]].

Chinese sources state that Bilgä Qaγan wanted to convert to [[Buddhism]], establish cities and temples. However, Tonyukuk discouraged him from this by pointing out that their nomadic lifestyle was what made them a greater military power when compared to [[Tang dynasty]].<ref>Denis Sinor (ed.), ''The Cambridge History of Early Inner Asia'', vol.1, Cambridge University Press, 1990, {{ISBN|978-0-521-24304-9}}, 312–313.</ref> While Turks' power rested on their mobility, conversion to Buddhism would bring pacifism among population. Therefore sticking to [[Tengrism|Tengriism]] was necessary to survive.<ref>''[[Wenxian Tongkao]]'', 2693a</ref><ref>''[[New Book of Tang]]'', [https://zh.wikisource.org/wiki/%E6%96%B0%E5%94%90%E6%9B%B8/%E5%8D%B7215%E4%B8%8B vol 215-II]</ref><ref>Golden 2002, p. 9</ref><ref>Ercilasun 2016, pp. 295–296</ref>

In 720 Tang chancellor [[Wang Jun (Tang chancellor)|Wang Jun]] proposed a plan to attack Bilgä Qaγan along with the [[Basmyl|Baximi]], [[Kumo Xi|Xi]], and [[Khitan people|Khitan]].<ref>''[[Old Book of Tang]]'', Vol. 194-I</ref> [[Emperor Xuanzong of Tang|Emperor Xuanzong]] also recruited [[Qapaghan Qaghan|Qapγan Qaγan]]'s sons Bilgä Tegin and Mo Tegin, [[Yenisei Kyrgyz]] Qaγan Qutluğ Bilgä Qaγan and Huoba Guiren to fight against Tujue. Tonyukuk cunningly launched first attack on Baximi in 721 autumn, completely crushing them. Meanwhile Bilgä raided [[Gansu]], taking much of the livestock. Later that year [[Khitan people|Khitans]], next year [[Kumo Xi|Xi]] were also crushed.

He died around 726.