Storia do Mogor 192.3

192.3

Aurangzeb, the cunning fox, concealed his intentions by causing the preparation of several caparisoned elephants, and many gifts, robes of honour, arms, and horses, and he let it be spread abroad that he was going back to Hindustan. He would leave his son, Shah 'Alam, as lord of the Dakhin, and he might then deal with the King of Gulkandah as he thought fit. All this he did in order not to displease his son, who was in low spirits. He also professed to be broken, as it were, by the marches and fatigues of so many campaigns, and meant at last to take repose, and leave what had yet to be done to his sons. Shah 'Alam was informed of his father's talk, and in a few days the camp was full of such rumours ; thus the prince remained satisfied, not knowing that he was on the edge of the abyss. For these purposes the army halted some days. One day Aurangzeb gave a secret order to Shahab-ud-din Khan and Asad Khan, the chief ministers, to remain in the council-chamber. When Shah 'Alam arrived, they were to disarm him. After this he sent at once for the prince, everybody imagining he was called inside to receive robes of honour and promotion.