The Turks , Tibetans , and the Tang competed Competition for control Control over Central Asia for the next few centuries .

The Dalai Lama had fled Escaping to safety , first in Mongolia and later in China , but thousands of Tibetans armed Hold with antiquated muzzle-loaders and swords had been mown down by modern rifles and Maxim machine guns while attempting to block Hindering the British advance Motion .

In the 7th-8th century Tang , Turks and Tibetans warred Hostile_encounter for control Control , and the Tang dynasty shortly established Creating the Anxi Protectorate of Xinjiang and Central Asia .