Fall of the Mughal Empire v1.c15.s12.9

v1.c15.s12.9

But though the imperialists repulsed every attack of Safdar Jang and steadily pushed him further away from the capital, they gained no decisive victory. Of this failure to reap the utmost fruits of their military superiority, the Emperor's cowardice was the sole cause. Imād, Najib, and other generals again and again urged him to order an attack in full force and to ride out to the field to personally hearten his troops. Such a bold offensive, they argued, would end the war at one blow, while the protracted and desultory struggle which a purely defensive strategy entailed was exhausting his treasury, damping the ardour of his army and leading to daily mutiny and abandonment of the trenches by his starving troops. But Ahmad Shah had not the heart to join a battle even from the safety of the rear. On 29th June Imād had come from his tent in the Idgāh trenches and told the Emperor and the Queen-mother, "I have spent all the accumulated hoards of my father and grandfather in paying my soldiers and they are now pressing me for their remaining dues. If the Emperor wishes to fight he must delay no longer. If he has decided on peace, let me disband my troops." He urged the Emperor to ride to his army; Ahmad Shah ordered his own escort to get ready and even put his armour on; the imperial generals stood all day under arms in their trenches in expectation, but the Emperor did not issue from the palace! [*TAh.* 60*b*-61*a*.] On 11th July Najib Khan Ruhela and Bahadur Kh. Baluch told Ahmad that a large army had gathered under his banners by that time and that trench warfare would greatly delay a decision and increase the cost of feeding the troops, and therefore a battle in the open was the best policy. As the result of the discussion, the 16th of July was fixed for such an attack. On that day Imad came to the palace and repeatedly entreated the Emperor to ride forth lest shame and loss should fall upon his arms; but Ahmad gave no reply up to noon, and thereafter dismissed the generals and soldiers so long standing ready armed! At this Imad taunted the new wazir with cowardice in wishing to remain in the safe shelter of the palace with the Emperor, while sending him (Imad) to fight unsupported. They took oaths to go into battle on 19th July without fail, but nothing was done even on that day. Again, on 26th July Imad came from the fighting front and urged the Emperor to the extreme to order a pitched battle and to join it himself. But the Emperor by advice of the wazir declined and "the Queen-mother sent Imād to his home with smooth speeches"! [*TAh.* 63*a*-66*b*.]