Later Mughals v1.c9.s25.8

v1.c9.s25.8

For twenty days neither the Wazir nor the Rajah reappeared at darbar. In this interval the Rajah visited Qutb-ul-mulk only once or twice, and the Nawab went once to him. But secret agents were constantly passing to and fro between them, and these men used every effort to strengthen the alliance. As the differences between the Emperor and his minister had now become public, Farrukh-siyar, instigated by Itiqad Khan, took what measures he could to win the day. On his side, too, Qutb-ul-mulk drew aside the veil, and refused to appear in audience. As soon as he found that the Nawab and the Rajah were one, Farrukh-siyar returned to the idea of a reconciliation. For several days in succession Itiqad Khan (Muhammad Murad) visited them with proposals for peace and concord. It leaked out, however, that Qutb-ul-mulk placed no reliance on Itiqad Khan's word, holding him to be a stirrer-up of strife. The negotiations were therefore transferred to Afzal Khan, the Sadar-us-sadur, but with equal want of good result. Sarbuland Khan and Samsam-ud-daulah's services were next enlisted (22nd Shawwal, 17th September 1718), although they were suspected of infidelity to the Emperor. But the final destruction of Qutb-ul-mulk was as firmly resolved on as ever. The command of the artillery, of which the assistance would be absolutely necessary, was in the hands of Sayyid Salabat Khan, a man well affected to Samsam-ud-daulah, whose loyalty was now doubted. This command was taken away, and given on the 22nd Shawwal (17th September, 1718) to Ghazi-ud-din Khan Ghalib Jang, who could be relied on as having no sort of connection with the Sayyids or Samsam-ud-daulah; nay, he might be accounted their enemy, for owing to the scanty favour that they had shown him, he was living in poverty, in spite of his mansab of 7,000 zat. [M. M. 390, Kamwar 181.]