Abul Khair himself well understood the true essence of this “famous” friendship, but he mistakenly considered the main reason for the rapprochement between the Orenburg governor and his ill-wisher to be the intrigues of Barak himself.

[2] Subtly playing for several years on Abul Khair’s heightened pride, political ambitions and temper, Ivan Neplyuyev demonstratively showed signs of attention to his main opponent, calling him his “buddy and friend” in his personal letters, sending him gifts from Orenburg and giving the Sultan praise on various occasions and reasons (issued both on behalf of Empress Elizabeth and personally on behalf of herself).

From 1743 to 1744, he organized several major raids on the border fortifications and settlements of the Yaik Cossacks, which culminated in "the defeat and capture of several Cherkas and Russian people."

Abul Khair intended to use this attack as a show of force against Governor Neplyuyev, with the aim of securing the release of his son Qoja-Akhmed and satisfying his main demand.

[6] In January 1747, at Abul Khair's initiative, a large detachment of 500 Kazakhs from the Junior Jüz, bypassing the Yaik fortifications, once again crossed the ice through Yaik River past Guryev, and then traversed the steppe to the Volga, attacking the Kalmyk Uluses and settled agricultural settlements from which they drove off a large number of livestock.