The khagan's underlying Turkic name, transcribed with Chinese characters 賀魯, became a debate among scholars.
[4] He was awarded with the title shad by Dulu khagan in 633 and appointed to govern certain tribes including Chuye, Qarluq, Nushibi.
He fled to China in 25 April 648 and had served the Tang dynasty as a general stationed in Mohe (莫賀) city in Gansu.
Qiao Baoming (橋寶明) personal staff of Gaozong tried to avert it by ordering him to deliver his son Ashina Xiyun (阿史那咥運) to serve in palace guard.
Xiyun served for a while before returning to Helu again and encouraging him to attack Irbis Dulu khagan.
After formally reasserting independence from Tang, he commanded raids to Jin Ling (金嶺城, near modern Shanshan, Xinjiang) and Pulei (蒲類縣).
Angered Gaozong stripped him of Chinese titles[8] and ordered Qibi Heli and Liang Jianfang (梁建方) to secure border areas.
Conflicts also began in southern border when Zhenzhu yabgu (son of Yukuk Shad) started major incursions to Western Tujue territory.