Temudjin now seems to have been master of the country generally known as Eastern Dauria, watered by the Onon, the Ingoda, the Argun; and also of the tribes of the Tungusic race that lived on the Nonni and the Upper Amur.  The various victims of his prowess began to gather together for another effort.  Among these were Tukta, the chief of the Merkits, with the Naiman leader, Buyuruk Khan, the tribes Durban, Katagun, Saldjut, and Uirat, the last of whom were clients of the Naimans.  Wang Khan was then in alliance with him.  At the approach of the enemy they retired into the mountains Caraun Chidun, in the Khinggan chain, on the frontiers of China, where they were pursued.  The pursuers were terribly harassed by the ice and snow, which Mailla said was produced by one of their own shamans, or necromancers, and which proved more hurtful to them than to the Mongols.  Many of them perished, and when they issued from the defiles they were too weak to attack the two allies.  The latter spent the winter at Altchia Kungur.  Here their two families were united by mutual betrothals; as these, however, broke down, ill-feeling was aroused between them, and Chamuka had an opportunity of renewing his intrigues.  He suggested that Temudjin had secret communications with the Naimans, and was not long in arousing the jealousy of Wang Khan and his son Sengun.  They attempted to assassinate him, but he was warned in time.

He now collected an army and marched against the Keraits.  His army was very inferior in numbers, but attacked the enemy with ardor.  Wang Khan’s bravest tribe, the Jirkirs, turned their backs, while the Tunegkaits were defeated, but numbers nevertheless prevailed, and Temudjin was forced to fly.  This battle, which is renowned in Mongol history, was fought at a place called Kalanchin Alt.  Raschid says this place is near the country of the Niuchis, not far from the river Olkui.  Some of the Chinese authorities call it Khalagun ola and Hala chon, and D’Ohsson surmises that it is that part of the Khinggan chain from which flow the southern affluents of the Kalka, one of which is called Halgon in D’Anville’s map.  Mailla, however, distinctly places it between the Tula and the Onon, which is probably right.  Abandoned by most of his troops, he fled to the desert Baldjuna, where he was reduced to great straits.  Here are still found many grave mounds, and the Buriats relate that this retired place, protected on the north by woods and mountains, was formerly an asylum.  A few firm friends accompanied him.  They were afterward known as Baldjunas, a name compared by Von Hammer with that of Mohadshirs, borne by the companions of Mahomet’s early misfortunes.  Two shepherds, named Kishlik and Badai, who had informed him of Wang Khan’s march, were created Terkhans.

Having been a fugitive for some time, Temudjin at length moved to the southeast, to the borders of Lake Kara, into which flows the river Uldra; there he was joined by some Kunkurats, and he once more moved on to the sacred Mongol lake, the Dalai Nur.  Thence he indited the following pathetic letter to Wang Khan: