After Ásaf Khán had joined the Emperor and shown his forces, Muzaffar Khán showed hostility towards him, and induced some persons to bring charges against him in respect of the plunder of Garha. He himself also alarmed Ásaf Khán with some significant observations. This filled the heart of Ásaf Khán with suspicion and anxiety. When he was made commander of the forces, and was sent against 'Alí Kulí Khán, he seized the opportunity, and at midnight went off with his brother Wazír Khán, and his party, towards Karra. Next day the chief nobles, without delay, communicated the fact of his flight to the Emperor, and the Emperor appointed Mu'nim Khán to succeed him in the command. He also sent Shujá'at Khán with a detachment in pursuit of Ásaf Khán, to chastise him for his conduct. When Shujá'at Khán reached Mánikpúr, he found that Ásaf Khán had gone to Karra, and intended to proceed from thence to Garha-Katanka.* Shujá'at Khán embarked his men in boats, intending to cross the river, and Ásaf Khán, being informed of this, turned back to the river-bank, and reached it as the boats arrived. A great struggle ensued, in which Ásaf Khán succeeded in preventing the landing of Shujá'at Khán, who was obliged to return to his own side at nightfall. In the course of the night, Ásaf Khán resumed his flight, and next morning Shujá'at Khán crossed the river in pursuit; but finding the attempt to overtake him hopeless, he fell back and rejoined the Emperor at Jaunpúr.
This fort is situated in Bihár, and in height and strength excels all the fortresses of Hindústán. The surface of the hill upon which the fort is built is more than fourteen kos in length, and its width is three kos, and the height from the plain to the battlements is about half a kos.* From the time of Sher Khán Afghán it remained in the hands of the Afgháns, until the time when Sulaimán Kirání became ruler of Bengal. Fath Khán Tibatí then seized upon it, and refused to submit to Sulaimán. In the year 972 H., Sulaimán collected an army, and in the expectation of the help of 'Alí Kulí Khán marched against Rohtás, and laid siege to it.
When the Imperial forces marched in that direction against Khán-zamán, Fath Khán, seizing upon this favourable chance,* sent his brother Husain Khán to the Emperor with rich presents, and with a message in which he said that the fort belonged to the Emperor, and that he would send him the keys as soon as the Imperial camp was pitched at Jaunpúr. Sulaimán, on being informed of the approach of the Imperial forces, raised the siege. Fath Khán being thus relieved of his adversary, brought into the fort all the provisions he could collect. Repenting of having sent his brother on the mission, he now wrote to him directions to make his escape, and come into the fort, which was well stored. When the Emperor encamped at Jaunpúr, Husain Khán requested that some one might be sent with him to receive the keys of the fort. Kalíj Khán was accordingly sent to receive the keys from Fath Khán, and bring them to the Emperor. But when Kalíj Khán reached Rohtás, Fath Khán affected to comply, and detained him some days. Kalíj Khán at length discovered the duplicity of Fath Khán, and returned to Court unsuccessful.
When 'Alí Kulí Khán faced the Imperial forces at the ferry of Narhan, he sent his brother Bahádur Khán, in company with Sikandar Khán, to the country of Sarwár,* in order to stir up a rebellion in that country. When this news reached His Majesty's ears, he issued orders for several of the chief nobles, such as Sháh Bidágh Khán and his son 'Abdu-l Matlab Khán Kiyá Khán and * * * to march against Sikandar and Bahádur Khán, under the command of Mír Mu'izu-l Mulk, who was a descendant of the Saiyids of Meshhed, and was renowned for his valour.*
It has been already mentioned that Khán-khánán (Mu'nim Khán) was sent to take the place of Ásaf Khán in command of the army, which confronted Khán-zamán at the ferry of Narhan. Between Khán-khánán and Khán-zamán there was an old and warm friendship, and when they were thus opposed to each other, a correspondence was opened, and it was agreed that Khán-zamán should wait upon Khán-khánán to discuss the terms of peace. The negociations lingered on for four or five months, and warlike operations were suspended.
The Emperor then sent Khwája-jahán and Darbár Khán to
the army, to ascertain and report if this cessation of hostilities
were advisable, and if not to order an immediate advance of the
Imperial forces over the river against the rebels. When Khwája-