National Institute of Informatics - Digital Silk Road Project
Digital Archive of Toyo Bunko Rare Books

( 212 )

Buzurg now no longer concealed his jealousy and displeasure, and with the P. aid of Sadie Beg and his Kirghiz formed a rival party. Yâkûb Beg on his own part, ever on the watch, forthwith secretly despatched Abdulla with only 20 men, all chosen adherents, to go and secure the city for him against surprise. He then appointed Nar Muhammad Parwcinc/i to the command of Abdulla's contingent, and set to win over the Tungani in Yângishahr who were already intriguing with Buzurg.

They met his advances promptly and with equal cunning, and on the suggestion of the go-betweens sent some messengers with offerings to express their contrition for past deeds, to beg forgiveness, and offer faithful service for the future. Yâkûb Beg received their deputies with marked attention, and assuring them of his good-will and clemency, robed and dismissed them to bring in their leaders. These very shortly arrived in his camp, and vowing all sorts of fidelity and service, took their leave with profuse expressions of gratitude for their very handsome reception. But they no sooner returned to their own fort, than they set to plot treachery with the rival party in camp.

A day or two later, they moved out of Yângishahr to the shrine of Hazrât Muhammad Sharif, and pitching tents and spreading carpets invited Yakub Beg to a feast there to ratify their compact of fidelity and service. Fully aware of the risk of assassination, Yâkûb Beg saw no way of escape ; so he adopted the bold course, and committing himself to God's keeping and the protection of his prophet, set out with 20 attendants to meet his hosts, who received him with every mark of honour and presented a rich array of gifts. Buzurg Khan now seized the opportunity of Yak ûb Beg's absence to carry out his own designs, and as he left the camp secretly summoned Sadie Beg to his own tent. He arranged with him that he was to stay behind so as to check or impede the progress of Yakûb Beg in case he pursued, whilst he himself with Beg Muhammad Mingbdshi and 2,000 Kirghiz and Kapchak at once set out for Kâshghar.

His flight was immediately reported secretly to Yakûb Beg just as he rose from his devotions at the shrine of the saint, and he maintaining his composure took the first opportunity to leave his hosts and hurry back to camp. Here he collected and reassured the remaining troops, and despatched Nar Muhammad with Abdulla's contingent in pursuit of the deserters. He overtook them at Tâzghûn and captured some stragglers, but Buzurg and Beg Muhammad with most of their force escaped him, and seizing the Yângishahr of Kâshghar established themselves in Yakûb Beg's quarters there. These from the first had been a source of menace and displeasure to Buzurg who, on their capture, now assumed the direction of the government himself, and denouncing Yâkûb Beg as a rebel, appointed Beg Muhammad as General in his place. And now the rupture between the Khoja and the Koskbegi became complete.

Meanwhile the Tungâni at Yarkand hearing of the flight of Buzurg, with whom they were in secret treaty for the surrender of Yarkand, and being assured by Yâkûb Beg that he had returned to Andijaan, forthwith tendered submission, and representing that they had been duped and were now without a head, begged he would appoint a Khoja to rule over them. Accordingly, Yâkûb Beg appointed Kichik Khan Tora their ruler with Mir Baba as Dc''►?kkwâk, and establishing them in the city with a small garrison set out to recover his position at Kâshghar.

At Kizili he left his principal chiefs, such as the Tora Kalin, Sadie Beg, Syad Beg, Hydar Cull, Mulla Turdi Cull, and Nabbi Bakhsh, to follow with the main army; whilst he pushed on with a small party to throw himself into the city of Kâshghar held for him by Abdulla.

The defected Kirghiz and Kapchâk had meanwhile proclaimed Buzurg in the Yângishahr as Pâdshah, and called ou the people to join his standard as muridi-mukklis, or " true disciples ;" and the Khoja on hearing of the approach of the rebel himself issued from the fort, and riding up to the city walls with a crowd of his followers appealed with loud cries to the citizens to come out and join him as their lawful