History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v1.c19.68

v1.c19.68

During the invasion of Bijapur, Qutb Shah is asked to send a contingent of auxiliaries. “You have kept 12,000 horsemen inspite of your (pretended) poverty. Send me 5,000 of them quickly, as you promised. Do not delay in providing the arrears of tribute. Recall your men from Mir Jumla’s estates in the Karnatak.” A harsh and rude officer, Mir Ahmad Said, was sent as Mughal envoy to Golkonda to hustle the defaulting king and exact the arrears of tribute. When Aurangzib retreated from Bidar, he thus rebuked Qutb Shah: “I learn that on hearing of the march of the Imperial army from Bidar and the circulation of some false rumours (about Shah Jahan’s death) among the vulgar, you have changed your attitude of fidelity, and your silly ministers have given you improper counsels,—so that you are making delay in sending escort and despatching the collected arrears of tribute; you are trusting to a fox-like policy and are passing your time idly under a false hope……Relying on false news, you have ceased to keep your former promises!”*