More than once the Grand Vizier sent fleet runners to the Aga of the
Janissaries to inquire what was the meaning of all that noise in the
camp. Hassan replied that he himself did not understand why they were so
unruly after they had heard the arrival of the Sultan and the sacred
banner everywhere proclaimed.
Shortly afterwards Ibrahim commanded him to seize all those who would
not remain quiet. Hassan accordingly laid his hands on sundry who came
conveniently in his way; but, for all that, the rest would pay no heed
to him, and the tumult began to extend in the direction of Stambul also.
Towards midnight a ciaus reached the Kiaja with the intelligence that a
number of soldiers were coming along from the direction of Tebrif,
crying as they came that the army of Kueprilizade had been scattered to
the winds by Shah Tamasip, and that they themselves were the sole
survivors of the carnage--that was why the army round Stambul was
chafing and murmuring.
The Kiaja went at once in search of the Grand Vizier and told him of
this terrible rumour.
"Impossible!" exclaimed Ibrahim. "Kueprilizade would not allow himself to
be beaten. Only a few days ago I sent him arms and reinforcements which
were more than enough to enable him to hold his own until the main army
should arrive.
"And even if it were true. If, in consequence of the Sultan's
procrastination, we were to arrive too late and the whole of the
provinces of Hamadan and Kermanshan were to be lost--even then we should
all be in the hands of Allah.
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