The History of Shāhjahān (ʿInāyat Khān) 7: Advance of the Persians against Kandahar. — Despatch of an army thither.

7

On the 22nd of the month of Ramazan, when the standards of prosperity, after their return from Safidun, were planted at His Majesty's private hunting-seat, it reached the ear of royalty, through the representations of Daulat Khan, ruler of Kandahar, and Purdil Khan, governor of fort Bust, that Shah 'Abbas the Second, having come to the sacred city of Tus (Mashhad-i Mukaddas), with intent to rescue the kingdom of Kandahar, had proceeded towards the confines of Khurasan, with all his matchlockmen and pioneers. It was, besides, reported that he had despatched men to Farah, Sistan, and other places, to collect supplies of grain, and having sent on a party in advance to Hirat, was doing his utmost to block up the road on this side; being well aware that, during the winter, owing to the quantity of snow on the ground, the arrival of reinforcements from Hindustan by way of Kabul and Multan was impracticable, he proposed advancing in this direction during that inclement season, and had despatched Shah Kuli Beg, son of Maksud Beg, his wazir, as expeditiously as possible, with a letter to Court, and further that the individual in question had reached Kandahar, and, without halting more than three days, had resumed his journey to the august presence.
His Majesty, after hearing this intelligence, having summoned 'Allami Sa'du-lla Khan from the metropolis, commanded him to write farmans to all the nobles and mansabdars who were at their respective estates, jagirs, and homes, directing them to set out with all speed for Court. It was likewise ordered that the astrologers should determine the proper moment for the departure of the world-traversing camp from the metropolis to the capitals Lahore and Kabul.