Fall of the Mughal Empire v3.c36.s9.2

v3.c36.s9.2

Early in November 1779, Abdul Ahad Khan returned to the capital, a bankrupt in finance, a bankrupt in military strength, and a bankrupt in prestige. The Emperor was naturally angry at this result of an enterprise by sanctioning which he had alienated Najaf Khan. But the smooth-tongued Kashmiri quickly recovered his lost ground; he made much of having saved his master's son and brought his army back, and he whispered into the weak Shah Alam's ears the old tale of Mirzā Najaf's ambition and irresistible power which would enable him to set up and depose Emperors like the Sayyid brothers if he was given control over the capital and the Emperor's person. So, at Ahad's dictation the Emperor now wrote to Najaf Khan countermanding the first order to come to Delhi. But that general, disregarding this letter (received only two days' march from the capital), pushed on and encamped, on 12th November, in the southern suburbs at the Kishandas Tank.