History of the Khaljis, A.D. 1290–1320 c11.58

c11.58

The moment 'Alāuddīn was informed of the invasion he issued urgent instructions to the provincial governors to send reinforcements to the capital. Without waiting to ponder over the gigantic task that lay ahead of him, he began feverish preparation to encounter the invader. Malik 'Alāulmulk, the Kotval of Delhi, who had full knowledge of the vast equipment of the Mughals and their objective, dissuaded the sultan from any hurried action. "Ancient monarchs", said he, "have invariably abstained from hazardous conflicts in which it is impossible to say as to which side victory is likely to incline. In case of conflicts between equally powerful chiefs, when the kingdom is staked on a single throw of the dice, monarchs have exercised their utmost discretion and have warded off the event as long as they could...Why does Your Majesty then purposely and wilfully, and without paying any heed or attention enter a perilous crisis? You may delay in engaging these Mughals....Our army is composed principally of the soldiery of Hindustan, who have spent their lives in warfare with the Hindus only, and have never yet joined in battle with the Mughals, and are consequently ignorant of their cunning system of tactics, their sallies their ambuscades and other strategems"²⁸. Malik 'Alāulmulk continued his harangue in which he tried to impress upon the mind of the king the benefits of delaying an engagement until the enemy fell short of provisions and then pursuing him when he went about searching for food and fodder. The peroration of the Kotvāl betrays the seriousness of the situation. Not only had the Mughals come determined to capture Delhi, they had even brought with them fodder and provisions to last for some time, lest they should waste their strength in securing them. Hence, they did not plunder even in the environs of Delhi. Without detaching even a dozen warriors from their main army they stood with their united strength before the capital of Hindustan ready for an encounter.