The Mongols wanted to conserve their energy for the battle to conquer Delhi, and avoided confrontations with these generals.[3] Alauddin's general Zafar Khan, who was at a place called Kuhram, sent a messenger and invited Qutlugh Khwaja to a battle. However, the invader refused the offer, declaring that "kings only fight kings". He asked Zafar to fight under the banner of his master Alauddin at Delhi.[2]