Table of Contents
The betrayer has announced the death of MullĂĄ Husayn to âAbbĂĄs-QulĂ KhĂĄn. Emboldened by his removal, he is now determined to storm our stronghold and to secure for himself the honour of being its sole conqueror. Sally out and, with the aid of eighteen men marching at your side, administer a befitting chastisement upon the aggressor and his host. Let him realise that though MullĂĄ Husayn be no more, Godâs invincible power still continues to sustain his companions and enable them to triumph over the forces of their enemies.52_ACT9
NabĂl recounts what happened:
No sooner had MĂrzĂĄ Muhammad-BĂĄqir selected his companions than he ordered that the gate of the fort be flung open. Leaping upon their chargers and raising the cry of âYĂĄ SĂĄhibuâz-ZamĂĄn!â they plunged headlong into the camp of the enemy. The whole army fled in confusion before so terrific a charge. All but a few were able to escape. They reached BĂĄrfurĂșsh utterly demoralised and laden with shame. âAbbĂĄs-QulĂ KhĂĄn was so shaken with fear that he fell from his horse. Leaving, in his distress, one of his boots hanging from the stirrup, he ran away, half shod and bewildered, in the direction which the army had taken. Filled with despair, he hastened to the Prince and confessed the ignominious reverse he had sustained. MĂrzĂĄ Muhammad-BĂĄqir, on his part, emerging together with his eighteen companions unscathed from that encounter, and holding in his hand the standard [flag] which an affrighted enemy had abandoned, repaired with exultation to the fort and submitted to his chief [QuddĂșs], who had inspired him with such courage, this evidence of his victory.53_ACT9
Attacking forces are reinforced
Prince MihdĂ-QulĂ MĂrzĂĄ was quite pleased that âAbbĂĄs-QulĂ KhĂĄn had been defeated in this battle, because this meant he wasnât the only one who had been defeated by the BĂĄbĂs at Fort Shaykh TabarsĂ.54_ACT9 He asked âAbbĂĄs-QulĂ KhĂĄn to reassemble his forces, and to these were added additional infantry and cavalry regiments led by senior captains SulaymĂĄn KhĂĄn-i-AfshĂĄr and Jaâfar-QulĂ KhĂĄn. They dug trenches to be bunkers for those with guns and set up additional barricades around the fort, fortifying the siege. Additional ammunition including cannons, mortars and
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