The Book of Akbar 163: March of His Majesty Jahanbani Jannat-ashiyani to subdue Bengal; his conquest of that country and return to the Capital, and what happened in the meanwhile.

163

When the world-adorning mind had finished the affairs of those regions, (i.e., Agra and the territories referred to at end of last chapter) his princely genius addressed itself to the arrangements for an expedition to Gujrat, so that he might again turn the reins of his intent towards that province and might, contrary to former dispositions, make over its management to men whose behaviour should show steadiness in administration, and whose proceedings should not be characterised by mutability and confusion. He purposed that when his mind was at ease with regard to the settlement of the province, he would return to the capital. Meanwhile news came of the emergence of Sher Khan and of his commotions in the eastern provinces. Hence the design of subduing Bengal, which had entered his Majesty’s heart before the affairs of Gujrat and had been put off on account of the latter now revived, and orders were issued to make preparations for an expedition to Bengal. It was decided that Sher Khan should be put down and the territories of Bengal subdued.