Fall of the Mughal Empire v1.c15.s1.7

v1.c15.s1.7

At the same time Safdar Jang had planted another thorn in the sides of Muin. He had found a useful tool for this purpose in Shahnawaz Khan (Hizbar Jang, the second son of Zakariya Khan), who, though a Turk by birth, had become a Shia like Safdar Jang and sought his patronage. The wazir told him, “The subahdāri of Lahor is your rightful heritage. Prepare yourself to win it by all means. Go to Multan, there increase your army, and expel Muin from Lāhor by force.” The wazir sent Shahnawaz to Multan (c. May 1749), with an imperial letter of appointment as subahdar of that province and some money and equipment of his own. This noble, on arrival at Multan, began to increase his army by seducing Muin’s soldiers with offers of higher pay, and in this way gathered 15,000 men, horse and foot, round his banners with some pieces of artillery.