History of the Khaljis, A.D. 1290–1320 c11.76

c11.76

On the right, however, Zafar Khan was hard pressed by the Mughal veteran Hajlak. He had not received any reinforcement from the king nor had he received any orders of withdrawl; and the enemy all the while was gaining ground. Ulugh Khan, who kept an ill-will against Zafar Khan on account of the latter's popularity, did not move to help him in distress.⁴⁸ At last Zafar Khan, left to himself, ordered his men to make a desparate charge upon the enemy. Hajlak could not withstand it and hurriedly retreated. Zafar Khan killed a large number of Mughals while pursuing the flying enemy for eighteen *kos*.⁴⁹ But the pursuit of the vanquished army was imprudent, or at least unfortunate. During their retreat about 10,000 Mughals had fallen in ambush under the leadership of Targhī. They now determined to cut down the royal troops on their way back from the pursuit. As soon, therefore, as they saw Zafar Khan returning, they left the ambuscade and stood arrayed for battle. The valiant Zafar found himself at bay, his wits all at an end. He had about a thousand horsemen with him, while the Mughals were ten times more. He held an emergent consultation with some of his officers like 'Uśmān, the Ākhūrbēg, and 'Alī Shāh, the Rānā-i-Pīl. All of them unanimously decided to give a last desperate battle thinking that even if they escaped alive from the clutches of the Mughals by not giving them a battle, they would surely be punished by the sultan for their cowardice.