The Chachnāma (Fatḥnāma-yi Sind) 17.3

17.3

The wazir replied: "Long life to the king! If you think you are able to stand against him and fight with him in point of strength and bravery, prepare yourself for the battle, advance to meet him, smite with your sword to win name and fame, and repulse the enemy; otherwise you should sue for peace and submit and do him homage. If wealth has to be given away, (remember) it is for a day like this that kings collect treasures and bury them under ground, for, by means of gold, troops are collected, and, by means of troops, war is carried on with the enemy, in which they sacrifice their lives, for the sake of their country and their good name. In other ways (also), by means of gold, an enemy can easily be made to retreat. With the help of gold, a man can settle all the affairs of this world satisfactorily, repulse an enemy, and satisfy his vengeance. At the same time, with its help, he can make the necessary provision for his journey to the next world." Dahar said: "I would rather die than submissively bend my head before a kinsman. How is it possible for me to bear such shame?" Now there was a man, an Alafi Arab, of the tribe of Banu Asamah (or the children of Asamah) who had killed Abdur-rahman son of Ash-as for running away from a battle, and out of fear (of the Khalifah’s punishment), had come and joined Dahar with 500 Arab warriors to serve under him. Wazir Budhiman made a proposal to the king, saying: “No one knows the art of war so well as the Arab nation.