History of the Qaraunah Turks in India c6.226

c6.226

The military organisation was as efficient as the civil organisation. The spirit of greed and rapine which the army had displayed during the regime of Khusrau was effectively curbed, and out of the sums the soldiers had received from Khusrau as the price of their support, they were allowed to keep for their use an amount equal to one year's pay, and the balance was entered in the registers of the state against their names and was to be gradually recovered from them. Sirāj-al-Mulk Khwajah Hajji was appointed general of the forces and exercised a vigilant supervision over the military department. Himself an old soldier of no mean repute, the Sultan cared for his army like a father and personally examined the accounts of the war-office. He treated the generals of his army with his old Camaraderie and his simple and lovable nature won him the attachment of the humblest man in the ranks. The pay of the army was disbursed in his presence and not a pie was withheld or mis-appropriated by any one. In the actual organisation of the army the methods of 'Ala-al-Din were adopted. The cowards and the disloyal were cashiered, and vigorous measures were undertaken to introduce discipline in the army and to render it well-armed and well-accoutred. Thousands of well-equipped horsemen were enrolled and placed under the command of tried and skilled captains of war. The horses were examined minutely and branded as in the days of 'Ala-al-Din, their prices were ascertained and suitable provision was made for the maintenance of retainers. The army became strong and powerful; its morale improved and as long as the Sultan lived, the armies of Dihli were successful wherever they penetrated, and the Mughals were so frightened that they never ventured to ravage the fertile plains of Hindustan.