Page 104 - Lohgarh

104 w Lohgarh : The World’s Largest Fort

(The non-Italic text is mine- Author).
On 20 May, 1710, when Bahadur Shah’s caravan stopped near
Bahasu, he got the news of the occupation of Sarhind by the Sikhs. 9
The Emperor was told that the Sikhs had killed Wazir Khan, the Governor
of Sarhind, and his son or son-in-law also has either been killed or
arrested. The informer told the Emperor that this news still needed
confirmation.
On 24 May 1710, Bahadur Shah reached Toda. Here, he got confirmation
of the fall of Sarhind to the Sikhs as well as the killing of Wazir Khan;
Bahadur Shah immediately sent a letter to the officials at Shahjahanabad
(Delhi) asking them to send eight lakh rupees to Khan Jahan, the
Governor of Allahabad and Ubaid Khan (for the campaign against the
Sikhs). He also sent Afzal Khan to Shahjahanabad to convey the orders
of the Emperor to Khan Bahadur, Shamsher Khan, Chet Singh Kumaon,
Anup Singh and Issa Khan lead forces against the Guru (Banda Singh). 10
Banda Singh’s victories compelled Bahadur Shah to change his
strategy. He realized that he could not fight on two fronts: the Rajputs
and the Sikhs. So, he decided to make a deal with the Rajput rulers (as
earlier said). He sent letters of ‘forgiveness’ to the three Rajput chiefs
(Amber/Jaipur, Ajmer, and Jodhpur) and also granted them new rights
and grants. He also sent them messages to join him in his crusade against
the Sikhs. Besides, the Emperor announced that he himself would march
to the Punjab to lead the expedition against the Sikhs.
On 27 May 1710, Shafshikan Khan sent a request to Bahadur Shah,
saying: “If Your Majesty grants me the Governorship of Sarhind, I shall
crush that Guru who has created turbulence.” Bakhshi-Ul-Mulk Zulfikar
Khan conveyed his request to the Emperor, but the latter did not accept
his request. 11
On 28 May, Bahadur Shah was told that the Guru (Banda Singh) had
sent letters to the Rajput rulers Ajit Singh (of Jodhpur) and Jai Singh
Swai (Amber/Jaipur) and they had sent their replies (to Banda Singh).
Bahadur Shah also got the news that both of the Rajas had left Sambhar
for Manoharpur. 12 On June 5, at the request of Munaim Khan Khan
Khanan, the Emperor sent Mahabat Khan (son of Munaim Khan) to