Late in 1754, in an attempt to definitively settle the 60-year-old Dzungaria problem, Qianlong gave orders for a final advance on Ili.
Amursana was made Border Pacification Vice-general of the Left of the Northern Route Army.
General Ban Di took command of the army, which set out from Uliastai in March 1755 and linked up with the Western Route Army under Yong Chang and Salar (薩喇勒) three months later.
The combined forces reached Bortala, in June 1755.

Qing forces captured Ili without a fight and Dawachi withdrew south-west to the Gedeng Mountains where he made a last stand with his 10,000 men.
Dawachi's army was routed and he was captured and dispatched to Beijing.
Amursana had hoped to usurp Dawachi's position as head of the Dzungars but Qianlong had already pre-empted such a move.
Before the expedition to Ili had set out and fearing the rise of a new Mongolian empire, Qianlong had proclaimed that the four Oirat clans of Dzungaria would be resettled in their own territory each with their own Khan appointed directly by Beijing.
Amursana spurned the offer of Khan over the Khoits and demanded to be khan of all Oirats.
Amursana was instructed to return to Beijing but sensing danger, he escaped from his escort en route to the Qing imperial resort of Chengde on 24 September 1755.
Late in 1754, in an attempt to definitively settle the 60-year-old Dzungaria problem, Qianlong gave orders for a final advance on Ili. Amursana was made Border Pacification Vice-general of the Left of the Northern Route Army. General Ban Di took command of the army, which set out from Uliastai in March 1755 and linked up with the Western Route Army under Yong Chang and Salar (薩喇勒) three months later. The combined forces reached Bortala, in June 1755.
Qing forces captured Ili without a fight and Dawachi withdrew south-west to the Gedeng Mountains where he made a last stand with his 10,000 men. Dawachi's army was routed and he was captured and dispatched to Beijing. Amursana had hoped to usurp Dawachi's position as head of the Dzungars but Qianlong had already pre-empted such a move. Before the expedition to Ili had set out and fearing the rise of a new Mongolian empire, Qianlong had proclaimed that the four Oirat clans of Dzungaria would be resettled in their own territory each with their own Khan appointed directly by Beijing. Amursana spurned the offer of Khan over the Khoits and demanded to be khan of all Oirats. Amursana was instructed to return to Beijing but sensing danger, he escaped from his escort en route to the Qing imperial resort of Chengde on 24 September 1755.
Amursana