is fellow-tribesmen.
The influence thus gained and his boldness and ruthlessness completed
the work he had in mind. The ruling khan was deposed, all members of his
family whose hostility was feared by Galdan were slain, and he found
himself at the head of the tribe, whose members were terrified into
submission.

His thirst for power now showed itself in encroachments upon the lands
of neighboring clans. The Manchus were at that time embarrassed by the
rebellion of Wou Sankwei, and the opportunity seemed excellent for an
invasion of the district of the Khalkas, firm friends of the Manchu
power. He also sent troops towards the Chinese frontier, fear of whom
forced many of the tribesmen to cross the border and seek the emperor's
aid. Kanghi could then only give them lands within his realm, being too
much occupied at home to be able to do more than send spies into the
steppes. From these he learned that Galdan had built up a formidable
power and that he evidently had in view the subjection of all the
tribes.

Kanghi, anxious to settle these difficulties amicably, spent a number
of years in negotiations, but his rival showed as much ability in
diplomacy as in the field, and succeeded in masking his designs while he
was strengthening his position and preparing for open hostilities.
Finally, with an army of thirty thousand men, he invaded the country of
the Khalkas, and in 1690 took his first open step of hostility against
China, by arresting the envoys who had been sent to his camp. This
insult put an end to all Kanghi's efforts to maintain peace. The
diplomatic movements were followed by a display of military energy and
activity, and the whole northern army, consisting of the eight Manchu
Banners, the forty-nine Mongol Banners, and a large force of Chinese
auxiliaries, was set in motion across the steppes.

Meanwhile Galdan, alarmed by the hostility he had provoked, sought to
make an alliance with the Russians, an effort which brought him hollow
promises but no assistance. Without waiting for the coming of all his
foes, he made a vigorous attack on the Chinese advance force and drove
it back in defeat, remaining master of the field. Yet, recognizing that
the enemy was far too strong for him, he sent an envoy to Peking,
offering concessions and asking for peace. The emperor listened, but the
army pushed on, and an attack in force was made upon the Eleuth camp,
which was located at the foot of a mountain, between a wood and