He rebelled in 59 BC with the aid of Wushanmu and Woyanqudi Chanyu soon committed suicide, leaving the Xiongnu torn apart by factional strife.

He fled south and submitted to the Han dynasty, personally travelled to Chang'an to visit Emperor Xuan, who allowed his tribe to settle in the Yinshan area.

Zhizhi also submitted to the Han the following year, but declared independence in 48 BC once he saw that they favored Huhanye, and moved further west to attack Fergana and the Wusun.

In 33 BC, Huhanye visited Chang'an as part of the tributary system that existed between the Han and Xiongnu governments.

Unwilling to honour Huhanye with a real princess, Emperor Yuan ordered that the plainest girl in the palace be selected.