New History of the Marathas v1.c19.s1.19

v1.c19.s1.19

After 1703 a year or two passed in such wrangling without any definite move by the Emperor about Shāhu's future, when one more unsuccessful effort was made by the Emperor on his return journey from Surapur to Ahmadnagar in 1706. He made Shāhu write personal letters to some of the Maratha leaders inviting them to join him, gave Shāhu a *khilat* of farewell leave, actually released him from his own camp, and ordered him to go and rule his kingdom in obedience to Kam Baksh. Shahu’s residential tents were removed and pitched in Zulfiqar Khan’s quarters on February 6, 1706. But no Maratha Chief came to join Shāhu. It was evident to the Maratha leaders that this would prove a clear device for dividing Maratha ranks and starting a civil war among them. Though Shāhu was at large, he would not care to escape and incur the risk of either creating strife in the Maratha nation or being captured again by the Emperor, as Zulfiqar Khan was secretly instructed to watch his movements.