History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v5.c74.s9: § 11. Mughal besiegers hard pressed, 1691.
History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v5.c74.s9
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§ 11. Mughal besiegers hard pressed, 1691.
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The military superiority of the Mughals was rapidly lost after April, while the activity of the Maratha bands roving around stopped the supply of grain to Zulfiqar's camp. "Many Deccani mansabdars who had accompanied him now deserted to the enemy." Sayyid Lashkar Khan brought in a welcome supply of money from the Emperor and grain from the Kadapa district, which gave the besiegers some relief. "Zulfiqar reported to the Emperor that the enemy were hemming him round, stopping his supply of provisions, and that he needed reinforcements urgently." [Dil. ii. 99b, M. A. 352.]
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This general's father Asad Khan, the wazir, who had been sent from the Court in November 1690 into the country south of the Krishna, had after many successes encamped at Kadapa. He now received orders to hasten to his son's aid. Prince Kam Bakhsh, then at Wagingera,[*] was ordered by the Emperor (20th July, 1691) to proceed to the Karnatak and support the wazir from behind. But Asad Khan wasted months without moving. He had often expressed an eager desire to see his son, but now that the son was in sore straits he was in no hurry to go to his side. He had also frequently taunted the other imperial generals with failure against the Marathas and bragged of what he could have done, saying, "His Majesty has not charged me with any enterprise. When he does so, he will see what 'Turk' means." This speech had been reported to the Emperor, and now on hearing of Asad Khan's supine inactivity, Aurangzib turned to his librarian and said, "His Turkship is over. How runs the proverb?" And then they both recited it,—'Don't brag again, as your boast (Turki) has come to an end!' This verse was embodied in a despatch now sent to Asad Khan. [M. A. 353, letter in Ruqaat No. 153.]
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∗ M. A. 339 corrected by reference to 355 and 344; Dil. 103a.
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On receiving this stinging letter, Asad Khan made active preparations for an advance. The prince reached Kadapa on 4th October, and the two marched to Jinji, which was reached on 16th December, 1691.*
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In the meantime, Zulfiqar had abandoned his futile attacks on Jinji and turned to the more profitable work of levying contributions from the zamindars of South Karnatak. "The Khan Bahadur summoned to himself Ali Mardan Khan, the faujdar of Conjeveram, strengthened his camp, then started [with a mobile field force] against the kingdoms of Tanjore and Trichinopoly, and returned after collecting tributes from the zamindars of this tract. He fought many battles, but was victorious in them all." [Dil. 99b.] At the end of August we find him passing by way of Cuddalore towards Tanjore. [Madras Diary.] At the end of this year he captured Trinomali* (23 m. w. of Jinji), for which he was promoted on 16th Jan. 1692. He had asked the French in October to take Valdaur for him, but they had wisely declined. [Kaep. 292.] Thus the year 1691 passed without any decisive success for the imperialists.
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∗ M. A. 355. 344; his march from Wagingera described in Dil. 103a.—105b.