The Book of Akbar 43: Affairs of Bengal.
Akbar-náma, of Shaikh Abu-l Fazl (Elliot & Dowson, extracts) 43
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Affairs of Bengal.
43.1
When the death of Sulaiman Kirani became known, Khan-khanan Mun’im Khan marched from the fort of Chunar against the province of Bihar. Sikandar Uzbek died about the same time. Khan-khanan then sent Tangri Kuli with a force against Hajipur, and Talibi with another detachment against Patna. Gujar, unable to resist, sent presents and propositions of submission. He offered to enter the Imperial service, and to assist in the conquest of Bengal, upon condition of receiving Gorakpur for the support of himself and family, and of the province of Bihar being allotted in jagir to the Imperial nobles; or that the sarkar of Hajipur and Bihar should be assigned to him for that year, he being responsible to the Imperial treasury for the revenue, and that in the next year he should receive a jagir in Bengal. Mun’im Khan accepted this proposition, and was about to make Gorakpur over to him, when Lodi, whose craft appeared in all the matters of that country, conspired with Hashim Khan, and upset the arrangement. Gujar, finding that he had nothing to expect from Mun’im Khan, was obliged to side with Lodi. Mun’im Khan, having received tribute from Lodi, started on his return, when intelligence arrived that Yusuf Muhammad had taken possession of Gorakpur. Mun’im Khan had taken this Yusuf Muhammad, son of Sulaiman Uzbek, to Court, and had brought his misconduct to the notice of the Emperor, who deemed it prudent to put him in confinement.
43.2
But when His Majesty went on his campaign in Gujarat, Yusuf escaped from his prison in Agra, and wrested Gorakpur from the hands of the men of Payinda Muhammad Bangash. When Mun’im Khan was informed of this, he immediately ordered Khan Muhammad Basudi and Payinda Muhammad Bangash to repress the revolt. He himself also marched from the town of Muhammadabad along with Muhammad Kuli Khan Birlas, Majnun Khan Kakshal, and some other nobles. But on the march Majnun Khan, with all the Kakshals, parted from him. The reason of this defection was, that false statements had been made to Majnun Khan, that Baba Khan Jabbari, Mirza Muhammad Shah, and the other Kakshals who had accompanied the Emperor on the campaign in Gujarat, had killed Shahbaz Khan, and had gone over to join the Mirzas. In consequence of this, it was asserted that an order had arrived for the arrest of Majnun Khan. The Khan-khanan sent officers to re-assure Majnun Khan, and to bring him with them. But their efforts were in vain, until letters arrived from Baba Khan detailing the favours received from His Majesty, and the services he had rendered in the campaign. Ashamed of his suspicions, Majnun Khan returned and rejoined the army of Khan-khanan; but before he arrived, Khan-khanan had accomplished the reduction of Gorakpur.
43.3
Meanwhile Daud, puffed up with pride, had marched against Jaunpur, having sent on Lodi in advance with a select force and the elephants. He obtained possession of Zamaniya by the capitulation of Muhammad Kasim, the muhr-dar (seal-bearer). Khan-khanan collected the amirs under his command, and sent forward a strong force against Daud, he himself following more leisurely. * * Lodi was greatly elated with the capture of Zamaniya, and he sent 5000 or 6000 men across the Ganges, under the command of Yusuf Muhammad, who had escaped from Gorakpur and joined the Afghans. After he had crossed the Ganges, Mirza Husain Khan and Raja Gajpati attacked and defeated him, inflicting heavy loss. Muhammad Kuli Khan Birlas and other amirs joined the victors, with considerable reinforcements, at Ghazipur. Khan-khanan also arrived with a strong force. Lodi threw up fortifications between the rivers Sah (Sye) and Ganges, and there held his ground. Combats took place every day between the bold spirits of the two armies. But although the Imperial forces maintained a bold attitude, they were inferior in men, elephants, and guns. The Emperor was at the time engaged in the siege of Surat: so Mun’im Khan offered terms of peace; but Lodi haughtily rejected them. The amirs in the royal army were in a depressed condition, and were neither inclined to fight nor retire. But the Imperial good fortune attended them, and Lodi accepted terms of peace and withdrew.
43.4
The reason of this was, that when Daud came to Mongir from Bengal, he made away with Yusuf, the son of Taj, and nephew to himself, in the apprehension that Lodi might support him. Lodi had been an old servant of Taj, and he had given his own daughter in marriage to Yusuf; but his intercessions for him were of no avail. When Lodi became acquainted with the fact, he deserted Daud, and joined Mun’im Khan, sending suitable tribute to the Emperor. Daud, on ascertaining this defection, fell back, and shut himself up in the fort of Garhi, where he scattered the treasure of his father among his soldiers. Jalal Khan, Saiyid Huri, and Kala Pahar, whose name was Raju, now separated from Lodi, and divisions arose in Lodi's forces. Lodi was thereby compelled to abandon his design of attacking Daud, and to take refuge in the fort of Rohtas. He wrote from thence to assure Mun’im Khan of his fidelity to the Emperor, and calling for his support. The Khan sent him aid, and looked anxiously for the return of the Emperor.