The Rashīdī History 84: CHAPTER LVII. · THE WAR THAT AROSE OUT OF A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN YUNUS KHAN AND MUHAMMAD HAIDAR MIRZA IN AKSU.
The Tarikh-i-Rashidi (Elias, Ross) 84
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CHAPTER LVII. · THE WAR THAT AROSE OUT OF A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN YUNUS KHAN AND MUHAMMAD HAIDAR MIRZA IN AKSU.
84.1
That winter the Khan went to Aksu. Aksu is situated on the edge of a ravine. It has two forts, one of which the Khan gave to Muhammad Haidar Mirza, while he established himself in the other. That winter passed peacefully. On the setting in of spring, Yunus Khan wished to move into Moghulistan. He therefore said to Muhammad Haidar Mirza: "Now that the first spring has come I am going into Moghulistan. You stay here and make your men cultivate the land. I bestow the country of Aksu on you. When harvest-time comes round, it will also be the end of the season for summer quarters in Moghulistan. The horses will be in good condition, and we will then go to Kashghar and settle scores with Mirza Aba Bakr. I shall march from Moghulistan and you from here. We will meet in Kashghar, and there make all final arrangements."
84.2
Having agreed upon this plan of action, the Khan appointed people to go to Moghulistan with the flocks. He [also] sent to collect the flocks destined for Moghulistan. But some rebellious men tried to instil into the mind of Muhammad Haidar Mirza, that when the Khan arrived in Moghulistan he would plunder the Mirza's people; and many like impossibilities did they suggest, such as could only proceed from Satan; but the Mirza, in his simplicity, gave ear to all they said, and began to consider how he might avert these evils. Those devils [Shiatin] said to him: "When the flocks reach the Khan, and he is able to make a start, we will influence his younger son, Ahmad Khan, who is accompanying his father, to separate himself from him. We will then fortify ourselves in this citadel and defy the Khan. When the hour of the Khan's departure comes he will suspect nothing, and will march into Moghulistan, while we shall remain established in Aksu." This base and senseless plan was acceptable in the sight of Muhammad Haidar Mirza. Just as the Khan was about to start, they suddenly closed the gates of Aksu. Sultan Ahmad Khan fled to Muhammad Haidar Mirza; and they all rose in rebellion. Yunus Khan sent a messenger to the Mirza, to treat with him, but to no purpose. So the Khan finally abandoned his march, and entering the other fort, put it into a state of defence. He then despatched a messenger to Sultan Mahmud Khan, who after seventeen days arrived with a force of 30,000 men.
84.3
Conflicts took place daily, till at the end of forty days a famine broke out in the fort of the Mirza. The promoters of the rebellion began to desert nightly. Sultán Ahmad Khán, alarmed at his own want of filial piety, came to his parents with apologies and prayers for forgiveness, but the Mirza stood out. Suddenly the fort was taken by a general assault. The Khán immediately sent some Amirs to prevent it from being plundered. The Amirs went, but their efforts were of no avail, for the men who had made the assault were not of the sort that could be withheld. After a hundred struggles they seized the Mirzá and brought him before the Khan. As they approached, they were beginning to bind the Mirzá's hands, but Yunus Khan cried out to prevent them. So they brought the Mirza forward just as he was. The Khán called him to him, and having upbraided and rebuked him severely, said: "Why did you do this? Abandon your rebellious intentions, so that I may depart. Remain here. [But if] again you rebel [think] what will happen."
84.4
Muhammad Haidar Mirza was ashamed, and stood with bowed head, at the thought of his ill-advised actions. The Khan then said: "All is well now, I have given you Aksu, and you should stay there." The Mirza replied: "How can I remain now in Aksu, since so many of my men have gone away?" The Khan, thereupon, gave the Mirza 3000 horses, and said: "Accompany me into Moghulistan; I think, too, the wisest plan will be for me to go to Kashghar, as soon as the corn is high, and try and take that town for you...." In short, Muhammad Haidar Mirza accompanied Yunus Khán into Moghulistán. When the spring came to an end, the Khan turned his thoughts to Kashghar. At the same time Sultan Ahmad Mirza was planning an expedition from Samarkand, against Farghana, from which country he wished to expel his brother Omar Shaikh Mirza. As soon as Omar Shaikh Mirzá heard of his brother's intention, he sent in great haste to Yunus Khán, begging assistance; for by this means he had frequently (as has been mentioned above) been delivered from the cruelty and violence of his brother Sultán Ahmad Mirzá. On the arrival of the news, the Khán set out for Andiján. Now the Khán did not wish that there should be any strife between his two sons-in-law, and had always tried to keep them at peace with each other. On the Khan's entry into Andijan, he was received by Omar Shaikh Mirza; he was shown great honour, and the province of Ush was given to him. The Khán spent that winter in Ush.
84.5
Entrusting the rest of the Moghuls to the care of Sultan Mahmud Khan, he sent them back to Moghulistan, while he himself made his winter quarters in Ush, and appointed Muhammad Haidar Mirza as administrator [rdli]. When Sultan Ahmad Mirza heard of the arrival of the Khan, he abandoned his project. And thus Omar Shaikh was rendered safe from his brother. When winter had passed, the Khan came again to Moghulistan. [On the eve of his departure] the Khan said to the Mirza : "You have always suffered great annoyance in Moghulistan. I have now given you this country of Ush. Stay here till next winter, when I will return. [In the meanwhile] govern the country, as my deputy." He then left for Moghulistan, while Muhammad Haidar Mirza remained in Ush. The Mirza begged his own son, Muhammad Husain Mirza, of the Khan, and kept him at his side.