Jawamiʿ al-hikayat wa lawamiʿ al-riwayat 18: Bravery of Amir Subuktigin. [I. liii. 24.]

18

When Bilkátigín went towards Ghaznin, the Sámánians were informed that the Turks were coming from Khurasan. He (the king) sent his minister, Abu Is'hak, with a large body of men, and another force also to stop the advance of the enemy. When information of this design reached Bilkátigín, he despatched Subuktigín with his followers to frustrate it. Subuktigín observed that the passes were narrow and difficult, and that his enemies were acquainted with them, while he was a stranger. He therefore considered it advisable to employ stratagem in resisting them. So he proceeded to the head of one of the passes and there formed three ambuscades, in which he placed some of his men, while he with another party advanced into the pass. When the enemy saw the smallness of his force they came out and attacked him. Subuktigín pretending to fly from before them, induced them to leave the passes in which they were posted, and they were thus drawn out into the open plain. Amir Subuktigín then made such an attack on them that the earth shook, and the enemy fled with precipitation to seek safety among the passes.
Subuktigín then let loose his three ambuscades, and these falling on the foe ere they reached the defiles, not one of them escaped. Subuktigín then cleared the passes of the enemy's men, and he (Bilkatigín) having witnessed the dauntless courage of Subuktigín, spoke of him in terms of admiration. He went through the passes in safety, so that not a single camel was missing; and this was solely attributable to the judgment of Subuktigín.