The Conquest of Kucha (January 19, 649 CE)

In 649 CE, far from China’s heartland, a desert city at the crossroads of the Silk Road made a decision that quietly reshaped Eurasian power.

In this episode of Baked Battlefields, we break down the Conquest of Kucha, when Tang dynasty forces under the steppe-born general Ashina She’er laid siege to the oasis kingdom of Kucha for forty days and forced its surrender—bringing the northern Tarim Basin under Tang control. This wasn’t a flashy battlefield slaughter, but a patient, strategic victory built on logistics, pressure, and the understanding that controlling trade routes can matter more than winning battles.

We talk Silk Road politics, why Kucha mattered far beyond its walls, how a Turkic general ended up conquering Central Asia for a Chinese empire, and why sieges are really just aggressive waiting. Along the way, we get a little high, tell some jokes, and explore how empires expand quietly—one choke point at a time.

Precise history. Imprecise sobriety. Trade routes win wars.