Fall of the Mughal Empire v1.c15.s12.14

v1.c15.s12.14

But peace could not be so easily made. The Emperor's secret plan of coming to terms with Safdar Jang behind Imād's back was betrayed. On 23rd October, Safdar Jang gave to Aqibat Mahmud copies of the letters formerly written to him by the Emperor asking him to make peace through the wazir. Aqibat showed these to Imād who sent them to the Emperor. But Ahmad Shah in fear and trembling wrote to Imād to say that these letters were forged by Safdar Jang! "The wazir tried his best to make peace with Safdar Jang and thus rob Imad of the fruits of his recent great exertions and expenditure. Owing to this disagreement between Intizam and Imad, the Emperor's affairs were ruined. Seeing the Emperor so bent on peace, Imād himself opened negotiations. Then the wazir, in order to spoil Imād's plan, arranged that the Emperor should go on a visit to the garden of Khizirabad and Madho Singh should bring Suraj Mal there to secure his pardon. This was done on 25th October, Suraj Mal being represented by his agent. The wazir rejoiced that the peace was not made by Imād. Suraj Mal from his camp south of Ballamgarh came with a few men to Mādho Singh's tent and saw him as well as the wazir who was waiting there by previous arrangement. In the evening the wazir returned to his own mansion; Suraj Mal remained in Mādho Singh’s camp for that night and the next five days. [TAh. 81b-83a.]