History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v4.c62.s8: § 11. Civil war between Masaud and Sharza Khan.
History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v4.c62.s8
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§ 11. Civil war between Masaud and Sharza Khan.
v4.c62.s8.1
The Mughal general followed this message by crossing the Bhima at Dhulkhed (40 m.n. of Bijapur) with his artillery and marching to Halsangi, only 35 miles north of Bijapur. The Adil-Shahi Government was in no position to offer resistance. Indeed, the Government had been dissolved and there was utter anarchy in the country and capital in consequence of the feud between Masaud and Sharza Khan.
v4.c62.s8.2
“All the works of Masaud came to a standstill through the opposition of Sharza. Great disorder prevailed. Every day Sharza Khan sat armed and ready for battle in his own quarters, while his soldiers kept their horses saddled day and night in the Bahlolpura and Mahdavipura wards.” The regent sent a force of his own with a body of Mughal horse and artillery to destroy Sharza Khan, and issued a proclamation inviting the ruffians of the city to plunder Sharza’s property with impunity. Even the guns on the fort walls were trained on his house. But the grim and silent determination of this hereditary warrior to sell his life dear cowed Masaud’s party and they shrank back without venturing to deliver an attack. (B.S. 479-480.)
v4.c62.s8.3
Sharza Khan, knowing Masaud to be his deadly enemy, appealed to Dilir Khan to do justice between them, and offered to enter the Mughal service. Dilir seized this opportunity of getting control over the bravest living general of Bijapur. By a shameful breach of faith he arrested Sharza’s wife and children who had come to his camp at Dhulkhed under his solemn promise of protection and then sent them to Aurangabad to be held as hostages for the blind obedience of Sharza Khan.
v4.c62.s8.4
The Mughal viceroy of the Deccan had now become the sole arbiter among the warring factions of Bijapur. Even Masaud sent his son and 5,000 troopers,—all the force left at Bijapur,—to his side at Dhulkhed. Finding all the Bijapuri nobles assembled in his camp, Dilir planned to arrest them by treachery and then swoop down upon the city of Bijapur and capture it without a blow as it was now utterly denuded of its troops and leaders. But the Afghan was a bungler in conspiracy; the secret leaked out, the Deccani chiefs became alert, Sharza Khan got ready for battle and sent him a challenge. Dilir was covered with shame; he abandoned his infamous plan and begged Sharza’s pardon. He then paid large bribes to Sharza and Venkatadri (the chief adviser and agent of Masaud), and through them seduced many of the Bijapuri nobles. "About 10,000 troopers of Adil Shah, consisting of Deccani Muslims, Afghans and Marathas, entered the Mughal service and gathered round Dilir, while only three or four thousand starving men remained with Masaud in Bijapur, and even these hankered for Mughal pay." (B.S. 481—486.)