Padshah-namah 67: Campaign against Balkh and Badakhshan.

67

[Text, vol. ii. p. 482.] Ever since the beginning of his reign, the Emperor's heart had been set upon the conquest of Balkh and Badakhshan, which were hereditary territories of his house, and were the keys to the acquisition of Samarkand, the home and capital of his great ancestor Timur Sahib-Kiran. He was more especially intent on this because Nazar Muhammad Khan had had the presumption to attack Kabul, from whence he had been driven back in disgrace. The prosecution of the Emperor's cherished enterprise had been hitherto prevented by various obstacles; * * but now the foundations of the authority of Nazar Muhammad were shaken, and his authority in Balkh was precarious. * * So the Emperor determined to send his son Murad Bakhsh with fifty thousand horse, and ten thousand musketeers, rocket-men and gunners, to effect the conquest of that country. * * On the last day of Zi-l hijja, 1055 H., the Emperor gave his farewell to Prince Murad Bakhsh, to Amiru-l Umara ('Ali Mardan Khan), and the other officers sent on this service. [Plan of campaign. * * Progress of the Emperor to Kabul. — Details of the campaign. — Capture of the fort of Kahmard and the stronghold of Ghori. — Conquest of Kunduz and Balkh, and flight of Nazar Muhammad. — Revenues of Nazar Muhammad.]