The Akbarī Generations 1.1.8

1.1.8

When the Emperor heard this, he marched forward, and the two armies faced each other at Mandisor, one of the dependencies of Málwa. The tents were hardly pitched, when Saiyid 'Alí Khán and Khurásán Khán, who commanded Sultán Bahádur's advanced guard, were defeated by the royal forces, and fell back upon their main body. The army of Gujarát was greatly dispirited, and the Sultán called a council of war. Sadr Khán advised giving battle on the morrow, as the troops were elated by the conquest of Chitor, and their eyes had not yet been seared by the sight of the Mughals. Rúmí Khán, who commanded the artillery, was adverse to a pitched battle, because the guns [top) and rockets (tufang) were of little use (in the field). They were very strong in artillery, and except the Emperor of Rúm, no other potentate could equal them. He therefore counselled the entrenching of the army and the carrying on of warfare daily. If the Mughals advanced, they might be met with a discharge of the guns and rockets and a large number of them would be killed. Sultán Bahádur acquiesced in this view, and ordered an entrenchment to be formed round his camp.