Riyaz al-salatin 109.2.7

109.2.7

and the Triumvirate now waited for the development of their conspiracy. Shuja'u-d-daulah, by the advice of the Triumvirate, was induced not to entrust the control of any affair to Sarfaraz Khan. When the fibres of mistrust thus sown took root in the soil of the hearts of the son and the father, as well as of the two brothers, and these were about to germinate, Muhammad Taqi Khan, ascertaining the real origin of this misunderstanding, proceeded from Orissa to Bengal, to personally interview his father and brother. The Councillors of Shuja'u-d-daulah, finding the odds of the times evenly balanced, fanned strifes and fomented jealousies between the two brothers, so much so that both the latter prepared to fight. Muhammad Taqi Khan with his army rode out, and arrayed his force on a sandy plain, opposite to the Murshidabad Fort, on the other side of the river Bhagirati. Thence he advanced to interview his father, but did not plunder the City. And the army of Sarfaraz Khan was arranged in battle-array from Naktakhali to Shahnagar, and was ready to kindle the fire of war and slaughter. Secretly tempting by offers of bribe the commanders and officers of Muhammad Taqi's army, Sarfaraz Khan won them over to his side, and sending messages for Muhammad Taqi's capture, waited for the enemy, in the hope that when the two contending hosts would face each other in battle-array, his own officers would capture Muhammad Taqi and bring him in.