History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v4.c65.s8.2

v4.c65.s8.2

(Ishwardas, 98a.) But discord and mutual jealousy broke out among their commanders. The Bijapuris, undismayed by the immense superiority of the Mughal armaments and the confusion and faction fights in their own Government, continued to offer a stubborn opposition, destroying the siege trenches and driving the Mughals back from the walls. (B.S. 537.) The Emperor realized that unless he took the command in person, the fort would not fall. As he told a holy Shaikh of Sarhind, "I had hoped that one of my sons would take the fort; but it is not to be. So, I want to go there myself and see what kind of barrier this Bijapur is that it has not been forced so long." On 14th June 1686 he left Sholapur and on 3rd July reached Rasulpur, a suburb west of the fort. (M.A. 276-'7.) Orders were at once issued to press the siege vigorously. "He ordered Firuz Jang and the Chief of Artillery to work even harder at night than in the day and advance the trenches. The circumference of the fort was divided into sections and distributed among his generals for investment." (B.S. 539.) Working under their master's eyes the sappers carried the galleries to the edge of the moat in a short time and the city was completely beleaguered. But even then it took him 70 days more to capture it.