A letter at this time arrived from Khán-khánán, which made them hesitate in their movements. It brought the information that Junaid was hastening by way of Jhárkand to Bihár, and urged the necessity of overpowering him before he could obtain reinforcements. Muzaffar Khán took a bold view of the matter, and resolved that the proper course was to crush the rebel Afgháns before Junaid could join them. There was no knowing whether Junaid would reach the neighbourhood in less than ten days, and it was to be hoped that the enemy before them might be routed in one day, after which the Imperial forces would be in a better condition to meet the intruder. It was accordingly determined that a detachment should proceed with all speed and caution, and get close in to the rear of the enemy, while the main force prepared for battle in front. Muzaffar Khán com­manded the centre, Farhat Khán the right, and ^{* * *} Khwája Shamsu-d dín was placed in command of the force which was to gain the enemy's rear.

The enemy was posted on a hill, full of confidence in their numbers, and in the strength of their position. When they found themselves suddenly threatened both in front and rear, they were seized with dismay and fled. The Imperial troops achieved a victory, and secured much spoil. They followed in pursuit until they reached a hill near Rámpúr, in Jhárkand, where the enemy made a stand. ^{* *} Muzaffar Khán made his dispositions in front, and Khwája Shamsu-d dín, as before, got to the rear of the enemy, and attacked bravely. Husain Khán and ^{* *} several leaders of the enemy having fallen, the rebels fled, and the Imperial troops gained a decisive victory. After returning thanks for their success, they withdrew, and repaired to their respective cantonments.

The news of this victory arrested Junaid for a time in his contemplated attack upon Bihár. But a few days afterwards he found the means of reaching Nuzhatábád in that province, and there raised a revolt. The amírs of the province withdrew into Patna, and in their distress again applied to Muzaffar Khán for help. He accordingly moved to their assistance. On his march, he was met by letters from the Emperor, acknowledging and eulogizing his services, and conferring upon him the jágír of Hájípúr previously held by Muhammad Kulí Khán Birlás. This stimulated him to further exertions. He effected a junction with the other amírs, and began operations against the insurgents. He erected a bridge by which he passed over the Punpun river. But instructions now arrived from Khán-khánán, directing caution in attacking Junaid, as he himself intended to march against him. The amírs concurred in this policy of procrastina­tion, and although Muzaffar Khán advised a bolder course, his counsels were of no avail. He was adverse to remaining quiet or retreating, and was about to attack Junaid, when great alarm was raised by disturbances which had broken out at Hájípúr, and he was obliged to repair thither.

Táj Khán Panwár and others had attacked Mír Mahmúd Shaukiti, who held Hájípúr for Muzaffar Khán, and had killed him and about a hundred of his people. So Muzaffar Khán was constrained to relinquish his designs against Junaid, and he proceeded with Khudádád Birlás and others to Hájípúr. Not­withstanding the numbers of his opponents, he determined to attack them. As a direct advance against them was imprac­ticable, he crossed the Ganges, and came to the town of Sawánih, between which place and Hájípúr the river Gandak runs with a strong current. The Afgháns were confident in their numbers, and in the weakness of their foes. But Muzaffar had resolution, which is the key of success and of victory. He was joined by Udí Karan, the zamíndár of Champáran.

While the enemy was on one side of the river, and Muzaffar was on the other, seeking some way of getting over, the zamín­dár suggested a way of accomplishing this difficult operation. He said that higher up the river his people had some strong boats, in which the troops might be conveyed over. ^{* *} Three hundred men under Kásim 'Alí Sístání, etc., were sent over the river by night, attended by messengers, who were to bring intelli­gence of the passage having been safely effected. When the information was brought that this detachment had crossed over and were approaching the enemy, Muzaffar Khán sent some boats full of men over the river, under the command of Khwája Shamsu-d dín and Khudádád Birlás, to attack the enemy in front. The Afgháns received them with the fire of matchlocks, and showers of arrows; but in the midst of the fight, the drums of the force which had been sent to their rear spread a panic among the Afgháns, and they took flight. Many of them were slain. Hájípúr was delivered from them, and great spoil fell into the hands of the victors. The inhabitants of Patna had watched the proceedings with malicious interest, but refrained from render­ing the rebels any assistance, though they were filled with disappointment.