The Akbarī Generations 30: March of Mahdi Kasim Khan to Garha, and Flight of Asaf Khan to Khan-zaman.

30

The Emperor's mind being now relieved from all anxiety in respect of 'Ali Kuli Khan and other rebels, Mahdi Kasim Khan, one of the old nobles of the Imperial house, was sent with 3000 or 4000 men to Garha to settle the affairs of that country, and to capture Asaf Khan. Before Mahdi Kasim Khan arrived, Asaf Khan quitted the fort of Chauragarh, and went off into the jungles. He wrote a letter, full of humility and repentance, to the Emperor, asking permission to go on the pilgrimage. Mahdi Kasim Khan, on arriving in Garha, secured all the country, and went in pursuit of Asaf Khan, who then wrote letters to Khan-zaman, proposing to go and join him. Khan-zaman wrote in reply, inviting him to come to him. Asaf Khan, deceived by this, went to Jaunpur, along with his brother Wazir Khan; but at the very first audience he beheld the arrogance of Khan-zaman, and was sorry that he had come. Mahdi Kasim Khan, being in despair of capturing the fugitive, returned to Garha, and he sent back to Court the men who had been despatched to reinforce him.
Khan-zaman sent Asaf Khan along with Bahadur Khan to seize upon some territories which were in the hands of the Afghans; but he kept Wazir Khan near himself, and appointed men to watch him. Wazir Khan sent a person to Asaf Khan to say, "I intend to fly from this place at such and such a time: do you also in some way or other get away from Bahadur Khan." Asaf Khan accordingly, leaving all his baggage and property behind, went off in the night, and took the road to Karra-Manikpur. In the course of the night he travelled thirty kos, but Bahadur Khan pursued him, and overtook him between Jaunpur and Mánikpur. A fight ensued, in which Asaf Khán was defeated and taken prisoner. Bahádur Khan threw him into a howda on an elephant, and went on his way, when Wazir Khán, who had got away from Khan-zamán, came up. Bahadur Khan, feeling that he was unable to cope with Wazir Khan, gave orders for putting Asaf Khan to death at once in the howda. Sword-cuts were aimed at Asaf Khan, three of his fingers were cut off, and he received a wound also in the nose; but Wazir Khan fought his way through, and rescued his brother. The two brothers then went to Karra, and Bahadur Khan returned without accomplishing his object. Wazir Khan proceeded to Court, and, through the intervention of Muzaffar Khán, he was admitted to an audience, and received pardon for his own and his brother's offences, while His Majesty was near Lahore, engaged in the pursuit of Mirza Muhammad Hakim and in hunting, as will be related in their appropriate place. A farmán of favour and conciliation was sent to Asaf Khán.