The
infantry
troops
of
Azerbaijan,
that
were
under
the
Crown
princeAbbas
Mirza's
command,
were
termed
sarbaz,
whereas
the
infantry
troopsof
Araq,
serving
to
the
shah
-
janbaz.
(123b)
In
short,
after
Heidar
Ali
Khan's
return
from
Tehranand
the
reception
of
the
urgent
news
with
[shah's]
decree,
Abbas
Mirza
finishedthe
military
preparations,
arranged
the
troops
and
sent
them
to
the
borders
of
Caucasianprovince
to
invade
it
from
several
sides.
First
of
all,
Abbas
Mirza
himself
took
the
foot
and
mountedregiments
of
Azerbaijan
and
moved
with
an
army
60000
strong
through
Karadagh
and
the
yaylaqs
of
Mushkambar
and
Golambar
towards
Karabagh.
Another
regiment
of
the
infantry
and
cavalry
troops
of
Khoy,
Salmas,
and
Afshar
of
Urmia
was
led
by
Amir
Khan
Sardar
and
Mahdi-qoli
Khan
of
Karabagh
tothe
Shushi
fortress
through
Nakhichevan
and
the
Sisian
mountains.
The
infantry
of
Araq
and
the
Chaharduli
cavalry
under
the
command
ofQajar
high
nobleman
Ibrahim
Khan
Sardar
and
Mustoufi
Khan
of
Shirvan,
advancedtowards
Shirvan.
Hoseyn
Khan
Sardar
of
Erevan
and
his
brother
Hasan
Khan
calledSaru
Aslan
were
sent
to
Georgia
with
Alexander
Mirza
-
son
of
the
Vali
ofGeorgia,
and
waged
war
against
Prince
Sevarzamidze
at
Qara
Kilisa
in
the
region
of
Pambakand
Shoragial.
Mir
Hasan
Khan
of
Talish
moved
with
his
troops
to
Lenkoran
and
Argevan,
Hoseyn
Khan
the
son
of
Shaki's
Selim
Khan,
moved
to
Ganje
with
his
brother
Haji
Khan.
Thus,
the
sons
of
khans
with
their
troops
of
ten-fifteen
thousand
soldiers
stretched
thebanner
of
war
and
set
out
to
conquer
the
regions.
In
spite
of
(124a)
the
rumors,
the
Russian
government
believed
in
noway
that
Qizilbashs
would
violate
the
peace
and
start
war
without
any
real
cause.
At
that
time,
the
ambassador
Prince
Menshikov
(Meshchikov)
had
been
sent
to
Tehran
withhis
interpreter
Shahamir
Beglarov
to
proclaim
about
the
accession
of
the
new
sovereign
andto
strengthen
friendly
relations.
He
brought
to
Fath
Ali
Shah
a
crystal
throne
as
apresent
from
His
Imperial
Majesty.
When
the
ambassador
arrived
at
Ujan,
he
saw
the
innumerable
troops
andmilitary
preparations
and
could
not
inform
the
Russian
State
about
that.
Meanwhile,
theRussians
sighed
with
relief
by
ambassador's
diplomatic
mission:
they
were
engaged
intheir
affairs
without
making
any
military
preparation.
The
ambassador
was
not
given
anydistinct
answer
and
arrested.
First
Amir
Khan
Sardar,
with
Mahdi-qoli
Khan,
advanced
from
Khoyto
Nakhichevan
and
stopped
on
the
bank
of
the
Arax.
They
had
consultation
with
one
anotherand
concluded
that
if
they,
according
to
the
given
order,
proceed
straightly
to
the
Shushifortress,
its
inhabitants,
most
likely,
would
not
open
the
gates
and
join
them.
Then
theywould
suffer
a
major
set-back
and
the
army
would
disperse.
Therefore,
they
decided
towrite
an
application
to
Abbas
Mirza
and
ask
him
to
send
two
infantry
sarbaz
regiments
and
two
cannons,
so
that
they
could
defend
themselves
in
case
of
need.
Abbas
Mirza
answered
them
following:
"
There
are
no
infantry
and
cannons
for
you.
The
begs
ofKarabagh
have
written
to
me,
that
they
will
open
the
Khalifalu
gates
and
swear
loyalty
toour
state
as
soon
as
our
troops
reach
to
the
fortress.
We
order
you
to
hurry
straightly
tothe
fortress
of
Shushi
through
Nakhichevan
and
Sisian
Mountains
without
lingering
at
anyplace,
because
they
are
waiting
for
our
arrival
ready
to
serve
us.
If
you
take
infantrytroops
and
cannons
you
won't
be
able
to
move
quickly,
and,
besides,
it
is
toodifficult
to
transport
the
cannons
through
mountains.
I've
to
fight
a
great
battleagainst
the
Russian
troops,
and
if
I
give
the
infantry
and
artillery
to
you
I
will
beunable
to
overcome
them
".
He
also
wrote:
"
Sardar,
we
have
undertaken
a
great
venture.
As
there
are
seasof
fire
in
front,
we
have
to
strike
and
advance.
If
we
strike
them
a
hard
blow,
we'llrest
for
long,
or
else
we'll
suffer
hardships
and
losses.
Willed
by
God,
on
Thursday
we'll
march
accompanied
withShah's
good
fortune,
pass
the
Khoda-Aferin
Bridge
and
stop
in
the
gardens
of
Jebrail.
On
Friday
we'll
be
at
Amaras,
and
on
Saturday
-
attack
the
Russian
army
(125a)
inAvetaranots.
We'll
fight
against
them
and
do
away
with
both
the
affairs
of
thefortress
and
the
Russians
".
The
khans,
who
had
experienced
the
fight
of
the
Russians
frequentlyafter
acquaintance
with
the
letter,
lost
hope
of
receiving
infantry
troops
and
cannons.
They
grew
anxious
with
Abbas
Mirza's
thoughts
and
ideas.
At
that
time
word
spread
about
the
existence
of
a
batallion
ofyegerski
saldats',
renowned
for
their
courage,
in
the
village
of
Goris
to
defend
theCapan
and
Zangezur
districts.
Therefore,
contrary
to
Abbas
Mirza's
intentionsand
commands,
Amir
Khan
Sardar
and
Mahdi-qoli
Khan
moved
very
slowly,
passing
a
daydistance
from
Nakhichevan
to
Sarkoduk
of
Sisian
in
three-four
days.
There
they
wereinformed
that
fifty
Cossacks,
who
had
come
to
the
Bazar-chay
River
to
fish
and
wash,
werecaptured.
This
encouraged
them
a
little
and
they
began
to
move
more
bravely.
They
passedthe
mountain
and
stopped
in
the
village
Qara
Kilisa
at
the
bank
of
the
Bazar-chay.
In
thenight
a
messenger
arrived
from
Haji
Aqalar
Beg
of
Karabagh,
who
had
traitorouslyjoined
the
Qizilbashs,
with
the
news
that
the
Russians
of
Goris
had
left
the
village
atnight
and
moved
in
an
unknown
direction.
The
Qizilbash
army
became
panic
stricken
and
inthe
same
night
marched
to
the
nearby
Parsang
hill.
There,
they
made
fortifications
and
gotready
to
fight
and
flee.
In
the
morning
they
got
the
news
that
the
Russians
had
wendedtheir
way
to
the
Shushi
fortress
(125b)
with
the
aim
of
joining
the
other
[Russian]regiment.
At
midnight
Amir
Khan
Sardar
sent
his
nephew
Muhammad
Zaman
Khan
with
athousand
cavalrymen
to
pursue
the
Russians
and
attack
them,
before
he
could
reach
themwith
Mahdi-qoli
Khan.
Muhammad
Zaman
Khan,
a
drunkard,
put
the
battle
aside,
stopped
at
aplace
and
sent
a
man
to
the
nearby
village
Shnher
for
some
wine
and
getting
the
wine
hearranged
a
feast.
At
that
time
Haji
Aqalar
sent
the
news
to
Abbas
Mirza,
havingstopped
with
his
forces
near
to
the
Khoda-Aferin
bridge.
Thence,
Kazem
Khan
Qollar
aqasi
was
sent
with
the
troops
called
Ghulam-e
Tofangchi
and
two
cannons
throughQara-Aghach.
[The
latter]
reached
the
Russian
regiment
at
the
river
Hagari
and
attacked
itfrom
every
side.
One
side
was
the
Qizilbash
regiment,
the
other-
the
Haji-Samlu
Kurds
andTurkish
tribes,
the
third
-
the
heat
and
the
difficulties
of
the
lane
hindered
the[Russian]
regiment
reach
the
fortress
and
they
scattered
before
getting
to
the
river.
Someof
them
were
killed,
some
captured,
and
the
rest
escaped
to
the
neighboring
woods.
There,
with
the
help
of
the
Armenian
villagers,
they
saved
their
lives.
Abbas
Mirzalearning
of
the
cheerful
news,
left
his
camp
and
on
the
next
day
arrived
at
the
vicinityof
village
Kornidzor
(Korunzur).
There,
the
heads
of
the
murdered
Russian
soldiers
andprisoners,
several
high-rank
officers
among
them,
were
brought
to
his
presence
(126a).
After
that
[Abbas
Mirza],
with
the
group
[of
prisoners],
visited
Haji
Aqalar
inKornidzor.
There
Amir
Khan
Sardar
and
Mahdi-qoli
Khan
turned
up
before
hispresence,
expressed
their
delight
and
enthusiasm
about
the
success,
praised
andcongratulated
him.
Amir
Khan
was
Abbas
Mirza's
uncle,
and
Mahdi-qoli,
thebrother
of
Aqa
Bike,
one
of
Fath
Ali
Shah's
wives,
was
also
his
uncle.
Abbas
Mirza
grew
angry
and
reproached
them:
-Why
did
you
behave
yourself
so
weakly.
All
these
chasing
and
pursuingwere
because
of
your
fault.
If
these
soldiers
reached
the
fortress
of
Shushi
safe
andsound,
joined
their
friends,
even
if
the
whole
world
took
up
arms
against
them,
they
wouldnot
be
overcome.
Amir
Khan
made
excuses
explaining:
-As
it
was
the
beginning
of
the
war
and
no
victory
was
gained
anywhere,
we
feared
that,
God
forbid,
we
would
cause
an
ill
omen
to
appear
on
the
fate
of
theglorious
army.
Thank
God!
The
troops
won
a
victory,
so
hence
the
triumph
will
be
ourleader
and
the
success-
our
guide.
The
words
made
the
prince
furious.
The
prince
took
the
troops
being
at
their
disposal
and
deprived
them
oftheir
commissions.
He
said
[to
Amir
Khan],
"You
are
already
old
and
cannot
servewell,
so
You
must
retire
and
start
teaching
young
men
how
to
serve
me
and
fulfill
my
will.
Then
the
heads
of
the
murdered
Russians
and
prisoners
were
sent
(126b)to
Fath
Ali
Shah
who
had
at
that
time
arrived
in
Karadagh
and
stopped
at
TavilaSham.
As
soon
as
Abbas
Mirza
conquered
the
Shushi
fortress,
he
would
come
and
settlethere.
Qizilbashs,
thence,
advanced
with
their
army
and
artillery
throughAmaras
towards
Shushi.
Abbas
Mirza
himself
picked
the
way
to
Avetaranots
through
theKirs
mountain
with
the
purpose
of
fighting
with
the
Russians.
Meanwhile
Colonel
Reut,
theCommander
of
the
Russian
troops
hurriedly
took
his
forces
to
the
Shushi
fortress.
Theirtransport
and
carriages
were
left
there
and
plundered
by
the
Zargar,
Delaqarde,
andJevanshir
tribes.
Prince
Abbas
Mirza
came
and
stopped
at
the
place
calledNabat-Khan,
which
was
at
a
farsakh
distance
from
Shushi.
Once
it
was
Aqa
MuhammadKhan's
camp.
Afterwards,
he
put
his
troops
in
order
and
arranged
its
quarters
atthree
places.
Its
biggest
detachment
was
placed
at
Nabat-Khan.
The
troops
of
Amir
Khan,
Mahdi-qoli
Khan,
and
Karabagh
inhabitants,
who
had
joined
them
were
set
in
the
woods
ofthe
slope
of
the
Sqnaq
mountain,
above
the
first
camp.
The
regiment
of
Sheikh
AliKhan,
the
brother
of
Abbas
Mirza
encamped
in
Khojalu
near
to
Askeran.
