Fall of the Mughal Empire v1.c13.s5.13

v1.c13.s5.13

Next, by a shrewd stroke of policy, Jāvid Khan caused the Chief Paymastership to be given to Ghāzi-ud-din Khan, with the title of Amir-ul-umara and the subahdari of Agra, while his brother-in-law Intizām-ud-daulah was appointed subahdār of Ajmir with the title of Khan-i-Khānān, (7th June 1751.) Thus the two heads of the Turāni party were promoted to the highest positions in the State next to the wazir’s, to serve as a check on Safdar Jang, at the same time that the wazir’s strongest ally was effectually crushed. Jāvid Khan had killed two birds with one shot. The news of the murder of Nāsir Jang (on 5th December, 1750) had reached Delhi on 16th January 1751, and five days later his eldest brother Ghāzi-ud-din Khan Firuz Jang had been nominated subahdār of the Deccan with the title of Nizām-ul-mulk. But when he began his southward march, at the first stage, Sarāi Qāzi, 6 miles outside Delhi, his soldiers in a body refused to follow him unless their long outstanding salaries were paid up to date. He paid them, and for the future offered them a reduction of salary to Rs. 30 a month for each trooper or dismissal. Most of his men, being inhabitants of Delhi, preferred to resign and stay at home. This so fully depleted his strength that he was forced to give up his march and stop there. [TAh. 29, 36b; Siyar ii. 43; D. C. But Imād 61 differs.]