Jawamiʿ al-hikayat wa lawamiʿ al-riwayat 16.1

16.1

[I. xiii. 21.] Almighty God endowed Ya'kub Lais with a very lofty mind so that he rose from the most abject position to the highest pitch of glory and prosperity. He encountered many dangers and passed through great difficulties, till at length he aspired to the acquisition of dominion. When Salih Nasr fled from before him, he went and joined Rúsal, and excited him to collect his troops and march against Ya'kub Lais. Rúsal assembled his armies, and placed Sálih Nasr at the head of the foremost division. Ya'kub Lais on receiving the intelligence, called together some old and experienced men and asked their advice as to the means of repelling the invasion of Rusal. They advised him to oppose the enemy, and represented that although he had a small force, yet he ought to trust in the help of God, and resort to every wile and stratagem to harass his opponent, but not to engage in a pitched battle. When Ya'kub reviewed his army, it was found not to consist of more than three thousand horse. However, he proceeded to oppose Rusal, and when he reached Bust, people derided him, saying, "How can he fight against Rusal with this small number of horse." Ya'kub Lais now had recourse to stratagem and deception. He sent one of his confidential servants to Rusal with a message to say that, he wished to come and meet him, and render him homage ;