Fall of the Mughal Empire v2.c25.s6.7

v2.c25.s6.7

We may complete this episode of Delhi history by briefly describing the wazir's activities during the period.[*] When Shah Alam, abandoned by Vital Shivdev, entered the Hisār district, Imād decided to oppose him by arms. But his Maratha allies having left for the Deccan, the wazir was compelled to fight the prince out with his own resources. He dragged the Emperor along with himself in order to give validity to his acts and also to prevent the capture of the Emperor's person by his enemies during his absence. A long time was lost in making a start from Delhi, as nothing was ready for a campaign for want of money. At the end of July 1758, the Emperor reached Kot Kalān (4 miles from Jhajhar) and the wazir Bahādurgarh. But by that time their prey was already beyond the Jamunā. So, the wazir set himself to exacting tribute from the villages and fighting them in case of default. From 10th August his troops began to range through Jhajhar, Dādri, Kaliānā and other places on the Rohtak—Gurgaon border, and collected over two lakhs of Rupees, till they reached Hisār on 22nd September. In this region the sturdy villagers from behind their mud walls, frequently offered stout resistance, and fought the wazir; they could be subdued only by turning artillery upon them. On 19th September, when the Emperor and wazir were separated during their march by following two different routes, the people of Bhiwāni, matchlock in hand, shut their sovereign out of their village, while the local robber population carried off many of the carts laden with baggage from both divisions of the imperial army.