The Xue and the Yantuo were initially two separate tribes.
The Xue appeared earlier as Xinli but were not referred to again until the seventh century.
After Yishibo, the Xueyantuo establish a short-lived Qaghanate over the steppe under Zhenzhu Khan, his son Duomi Khan and nephew Yitewushi Khan, the last of which will eventually surrender to the Chinese.
The Xueyantuo ally with the Chinese on March 27, 630, to defeat the Eastern Qaghanate in the Yin Mountains.
Ashina Duobi, Eastern Gokturk Illig Qaghan, escapes but on May 2 is handed over to the Chinese by his subordinate qaghan.
The Tang dynasty in 630 defeats Illig Qaghan, and the Xueyantuo effectively take over control of the Eastern Gokturks, former territory, at times submissive to Tang and at times warring with Tang and the subsequent khan of the Eastern Gokturks that Tang supports, the Qilibi Khan Ashina Simo.
