The Cambridge History of India, Vol. III: Turks and Afghans v3.c21.35

v3.c21.35

Mubārak at length perceived that affairs in the north-western provinces of his kingdom demanded his personal attention, and marched to Sāmāna, where he was joined by Kamāl-ud-dīn and the other officers who had been sent to Etāwah and Gwalior, and advanced to Talwandī, where ‘Imād-ul-Mulk joined him from Bhātinda. The officers who still remained before that town were summoned to the royal camp, and Mubārak advanced to the Rāvī. Here Sikandar Tuhfa, who had escaped from Jasrat’s custody, appeared before him and received the ill-deserved title of Shams-ul-Mulk and a grant of the fiefs of Lahore, Dīpālpūr, and Jullundur. In the meantime Shaikh ‘Alī had retreated across the Chenāb, and, as Shams-ul-Mulk advanced to take possession of his new fiefs, fled precipitately, leaving most of his horses, and his baggage, camp equipage, and booty, which were already bestowed in boats for transport across the Chenāb, in his enemy’s hands. Mubārak crossed the Rāvī at Talamba and besieged Shorkot, which, after the lapse of a month, was surrendered to him by Amīr Muzaffar, Shaikh ‘Alī’s nephew, who secured his safety by large gifts, and by bestowing a daughter in marriage on Muhammad Khān, the nephew and adopted son of Mubārak. The king then retired towards Multān after dispatching Shams-ul-Mulk to Lahore, where the garrison left by Shaikh ‘Alī purchased for itself a safe retreat by the surrender of the town and citadel. Mubārak, after retiring to Dīpālpūr, wisely removed Shams-ul-Mulk from the important fiefs which he had recently bestowed upon him to Bayāna, and conferred Lahore, Dīpālpūr, and Jullundur on ‘Imād-ul-Mulk. On his return to Delhi he discovered that Sarvar-ul-Mulk had for some time past been remiss in the performance of his duties as minister of the kingdom, and appointed Kamāl-ud-dīn as his coadjutor in the hope that the two would work in harmony. He was disappointed, for the influence of the abler and more energetic Kamāl-ud-dīn soon eclipsed that of Sarvar-ul-Mulk, who, resenting his virtual supersession in office, formed a faction consisting of some discontented Khatrīs, Mīrān Sadr, the deputy muster-master-general, Qāzī ‘Abd-us-Samad Khān, a royal chamberlain, and others, and conspired against the king’s life.