التاريخ اليميني 32.2

32.2

The Sultan left Ghazna for Bust [in Jumādā al-Ūlā of the year four hundred and two], feigning an intention to march on Harāt, until the news of his purpose spread and talk of his apparent design became widespread. Then [181a] he galloped towards the region of Quṣdār with the most formidable of his men, a gallop that rolled up those rugged mountains and difficult paths, so that the ruler of Quṣdār knew nothing until the Sultan's ghulāms were around his palace, before he could see the light of his day or tie his waist-wrapper. He cried out, "Quarter, quarter!", came out and did homage to the Sultan. The Sultan imposed on him fifteen million dirhams out of the revenues of his province that he had withheld; he accepted it and paid most of it.