The Events of Mushtāqī 10.2

10.2

After his death, his son named Hoshang succeeded him. He became King, and assumed the style of royalty. The country of Mandú became prosperous, forts were built at different places, and armies were raised. A man by name Mahmúd Mughís Khiljí came to Hoshang, and entered his service. He advised him to confer eighteen places in jágír on his (the King's) eighteen sons, so that no stranger might obtain admission, and that they might acquire power during the King's lifetime. Hoshang acted accordingly. This Mahmud was a treacherous man, and aspired to sovereignty. He first separated the King's sons from him. Afterwards he became his minister, and gave his daughter in marriage to the King, in order to secure a position by this relationship. Thus he first became minister, and afterwards a relation of the King. Twelve years he cherished his schemes without imparting them to any one. He consulted only with himself. He had constructed a place in his house where he used to sit. When he came from the King's Court, he went into it, and there he talked to himself about what he had done, and what he must do if the result were as he expected. One day his father remarked that whenever Mahmud returned from the King's Court, he attended to nothing else, but went straight into that room. He was curious to know what his son did there. So when Mahmud went into that place, his father also secretly repaired thither, and listened to what he said. He heard him speaking of sovereignty.