Fall of the Mughal Empire v2.c27.s3.10

v2.c27.s3.10

Dattaji turned to securing allies. A Jat force of 5,000 men sent by Suraj Mal (under Rupram Kothari) joined him on 8th November. Ahmad Bangash, the Nawab of Farrukhabad, too, arrived about the same time. Fast camel-riders were sent to hasten the coming of Malhar from Rajputana. Envoys were despatched to Delhi to urge the wazir to go to the siege-camp and join in the attack on Najib, their common enemy. Dattaji wrote to Imad, "In what sleep of negligence are you sunk ?... I am engaged here in fighting at your request, and you are planning to flee away to Bharatpur !" His envoy was authorized to offer the wazir two lakhs for his travelling expenses if he would start for the Maratha camp. On 16th November, Imād took formal leave of the Emperor and went to Murādnagar on the eastern side of the Hindan, *en route* to Shukartal. Here he received definite news of the Afghan invaders having taken possession of the entire Panjab up to Sarhind and of the Marathas having everywhere fled away before them without striking a blow.