The Nāṣirī Generations 287.1.7

287.1.7

All things being prepared, and the different Shāh-zādahs and Nu-yīns, and the Hazārahs, and Sadahs [leaders of thousands, and hundreds], having been nominated, the Nu-yīn, Kaibūḳā, the Nāeman, was sent at the head of 12,000 horse, as the advance or van of Hulākū's forces, in Jamādī-ul-Ākhir, 650 H. Kaibūḳā—Kitubuka is not correct—crossed the Āmūīah in the beginning of Muharram, 651 H. [early in March, 1253 A.D.], entered Khurāsān, which he reached in Rabī'-ul-Awwal, and occupied himself in the reduction of the Ḳuhistān. His first attempt, with 5000 horse and 5000 foot [Tājzīk levies from the conquered states], was against the strong fortress of Gird-Koh, already referred to, but he found it a much more difficult matter than he expected. He surrounded it with a wall, furnished with a ditch inside, towards the fortress, and raised another wall, with a ditch outside, and between these two walls placed his forces, more like one besieged than a besieger, to guard his force from the sallies of the Fidā-īs. All his efforts were useless, so he left a force there under Būrī, to watch that fortress, and moved himself towards Mihrīn-dujz—another stronghold of the sect.