The Mongols opened the battle, and according to the "Yuan Ch'ao Di Shih," their vanguard forced the Naimans back to the mountain itself. The T'ai yang then turned to Jamukha who was beside him and said: "Who are those that pursue our men in the manner of wolves pursuing a flock of sheep into their very pens?" "They," replied Jamukha, "are the four hounds of Temuchin, fed on human flesh: he keeps them leashed on an iron chain; their skulls are of brass, their teeth like chisels; their tongues are like bodkin, their hearts of iron. Instead of horse whips, they carry curved swords. They drink the dew and ride upon the wind; in battle they devour human flesh. Now they have been unleashed; their spittle runs; they are full of joy. These hounds are Jebe, Kubilia, Jemli, and Sabutai."
At these words the T'ai yang trembled and gave orders to withdraw from the flanks of the mountains; whereupon the Mongols began to envelop his army. Seeing this Bai Bukha said: "And who are those warriors, like young horses loosened at daybreak, gorged with mare's milk and gamboling about their mother, who hurl themselves forward to outflank us?" "They," rejoined the Jajirad, "are the soldiers of the Uruds and Mauguds. They pursue men like game, they tear from them their blood-stained weapons, they slay them and take from them everything."
Again the Naimans were ordered to retire, this time up the mountain and the T'ai yang once more addressed Jamukha. "Who is that behind them like a hungry falcon impatient to advance?" "That," replied Jamukha, "is my sworn blood brother Temuchin, clad from head to foot in iron armor; he has flown hither like a hungry vulture; do you see him? You used to say that as soon as the Mongol comes he will fare like the lamb and not even his hoofs or his hide will remain. But Behold!"
A fourth time the Naimans were forced to withdraw and the T'ai yang said: "Who is that other chief that advances against us?" "That," answered Jamukha, "is one of the sons of Oelun, fed on human flesh. He is over eighteen feet tall. At a single meal he devours a sheep of three years. He wears a triple cuirass; he is more powerful than three bulls. He can swallow a man entire with his quiver without choking or even losing his appetite. When the fury of battle comes over him and he loosens his irresistible arrows, he transfixes ten and twenty men at a shot though they can be on the further side of the mountain. His arrows overwhelm an enemy at more than sixteen thousand feet. It is Juchi Khasser."
Then espying Temuchin's youngest brother, the T'ai yang again questioned the Jajirad. "That," Jamukha informed him, "is Temuge Ochigin, the youngest son of Oelun. Some call him indolent because he likes to take to his couch early and to lie there late, but in the hour of battle he is never backward."
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