History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v4.c66.s6.5

v4.c66.s6.5

The flight of the commander-in-chief paralysed the defence of Haidarabad. Though more than half the army and several generals were still loyal, Qutb Shah did not know whom to trust. Shaikh Minhaj told him that as Mir Ibrahim was Madanna’s protege the desertion of the general must have taken place with the consent of the prime minister, who also would take the same step soon. Losing faith in his long accustomed guide and all-powerful minister, the weak imbecile king thought only of securing his own safety. He fled to Golkonda, an impregnable fort, which had baffled Aurangzib thirty years ago and might do so now. Madanna very wisely advised him not to shut himself up in Golkonda, but to go to Warangal or some other distant fort, so that, in the event of Golkonda being besieged by the Mughals, he would be free to move about and reinforce its defenders. But this advice only deepened the king's suspicion of his wazir's sinister design as suggested by Shaikh Minhaj. (Dil. 190.)