Muntakhab al-tawarikh 61.1.7

61.1.7

Accordingly he devised an artifice, and wrote fictitious letters purporting to emanate from the generals of Maldeo’s army, to himself, couched in enigmatical language, the substance of them being that there would be no need for the king in person to superintend the fighting, when the armies were drawn up for battle, because they themselves would take Maldeo alive and deliver him up, upon the condition that such and such places should be given them as a reward. Having done this he so arranged that these letters fell into Maldeo’s hands, with the result that Maldeo became utterly suspicious of all his generals, and, in the dead of night fled alone without looking behind him; and, notwithstanding that his generals denied their complicity with oath upon oath, saying that they never could have been guilty of such dastardly conduct, and that this was all the handiwork of Shir Shah in his desire to raise dissensions between them, it was of no use, and had no effect upon Maldeo’s mind. Kanhaiya, who was his minister and agent, abused Maldeo in violent terms, and taking four thousand resolute men devoted to death, or even more than this number, came down upon the army of Shir Shah, with the intention of surprising them by night, but missed his way, and after marching the whole night, when morning broke became aware that he had left the camp far in rear.