Fall of the Mughal Empire v1.c14.s2.8

v1.c14.s2.8

The population of Farrukhabad was ready for an explosion; it only required a leader to supply the spark. Bibi Sāhiba wisely formed an alliance with her step-son Ahmad and he was accepted as the leader of the Afghān rising, though without money, arms or men. Rustam Khan Afridi raised Rs. 5,000 by selling his household goods and lent the money to Ahmad. With part of this sum four hundred men were secretly enlisted and armed. Then they committed a night robbery on a rich Hindu banker in a village 32 miles from Mau, killed him and his servants, and carried off his wealth, which enabled more Afghāns to be enlisted and fed. Eight days after this feat, Ahmad at the head of 6,000 men recovered Farrukhabad and set off southwards to expel Safdar Jang's men from the rest of his father's jāgir.