He had 5000 Uyghur followers under his command and lived among Tatabi and depended on their chieftain Shi Shelang (石捨朗) for support.
However this support ended when Zhang Zhongwu invaded Xi domains in summer of 847.
After Zhang's victory over the Xi, Enian was forced to flee further to the Shiwei.
In 848, apparently to try to appease Tang, Qaghan sent an emissary to pay homage to Emperor Xuānzong.
When Enian heard this, he fled westward with his wife, son and 12 bodyguards, leaving his people with the Shiwei.