 With an army that included elephants, Husayn defeated Khalaf in battle and reoccupied Zarang.A further setback for Khalaf occurred when the Samanids decided to get involved in the conflict.Khalaf had neglected to send the customary tribute to the Samanid amir at Bukhara, and Husayn took advantage of the amir's interest in the conflict by leaving Zarang and travelling to Bukhara to seek assistance (Khalaf, for his part, seems to have been more friendly to the Buyids, even including the name of the Buyid amir 'Adud al-Dawla in the khutba at one point, perhaps in an attempt to receive military aid.