The Akbarī Generations 31.1

31.1

It has been related in a former page how Mírzá Sulaimán led his army against Kábul, and how the Imperial forces were sent to the assistance of Mirza Muhammad Hakim. Mírzá Sulaimán, unable to resist, retreated to Badakhshán, and the Imperial nobles, having taken leave of Mírzá Muhammad Hakim, returned to Hindústán. Sulaimán being now informed of the return of the Emperor's forces, assembled his army in Badakhshán, and marched with his wife Khurram Begam to effect the conquest of Kábul. Mírzá Muhammad Hakim left Kábul in charge of Ma'sum Koka, who was in his confidence, and had a reputation for courage. He himself went with Khwája Hasan Nakshabandi and the army into the valley of the Ghorband. Mírzá Sulaimán advanced to Kábul, and invested the fortress. When he found that he was not likely to capture it, he took counsel, and sent his wife Khurram Begam into Ghorband to Mirza Muhammad Hakim, in order to delude him with a show of kindness and friendship, and to prevail over him by plausible representations. Khurram Begam accordingly left Mirza Sulaiman before Kabul, and went towards Ghorband. She sent forward some persons to assure Mirza Muhammad Hakim of her great affection for him, that having no son of her own, she looked upon him as her son, and that the great object of her journey was to bring about concord and unity.