A
few
days
later,
when
the
rival
sides
calmed
down
a
little,
groups
of[Qizilbashs']
cavalry
and
infantry
troops
were
sent
to
raid
the
districts
of
Karabaghand
its
Russian
subject
neighboring
regions.
They
caused
severe
harms
and
destructions
tothe
regions,
set
on
fire
many
villages
revenging
for
the
misfortunes
they
suffered
becauseof
Karabagh
and
its
inhabitants
previously.
At
that
time,
word
spread
that
the
inhabitantsof
Shushi
were
coming
out
of
the
fortress
with
the
aim
of
getting
food
from
various
placesand
bringing
the
harvest
there.
(128a)
Therefore,
Mahdi-qoli
Khan
and
Amir
Khan
Sardar
tookcounsel
together
and
decided:
"Since
we
committed
an
error
and
lingered
in
theaffairs
of
Goris,
we
were
worthy
of
reproaches,
now
the
time
has
come
to
take
advantageand
serve.
Let's
take
a
regiment
of
the
glorious
army
and
make
an
ambush
at
nightnear
the
river
Khalifalu,
which
is
the
passage
from
the
impenetrable
fortress.
Thus,
we'll
try
in
a
way
to
capture
those,
who
are
going
to
bring
food
as
well
as
attackand
capture
the
fortress".
They
told
Abbas
Mirza
about
their
intentions
and
decided
thatafter
their
departure
for
the
ambush,
the
prince
would
draw
the
cannons
nearer
to
thefortress,
and
in
the
morning
they
will
attack
and
conquer
it.
Afterwards,
Amir
Khan
and
Mahdi-qoli
Khan
went
with
four
infantry
sarbaz
regiments
and
a
Karabagh
cavalry
of
two
thousand
men
and
laid
an
ambush
nearby
theKhalifalu
river
on
the
side
of
the
Khachen
gate.
Some
of
Abbas
Mirza's
retainers,
who
were
on
hostile
termswith
these
khans,
took
advantage
to
bring
false
ideas
home
after
their
departure.
Theytold
him
that
there
were
a
few
Russians
in
the
fortress
and
if
he
assisted
them
a
little,
by
sending
cannons
and
arms,
they
would
undoubtedly
occupy
the
fortress
and
the
soldierswould
rob
Aqa
Muhammad
Khan's
treasures
and
the
wealth
of
fortress
inhabitants.
Inaddition,
they
would
be
praised
and
glorified
by
Shah.
The
words
made
an
impression
upon
Abbas
Mirza.
He
changed
hismind
and
refused
to
send
infantry
and
cannons.
The
khans,
according
to
theiryesterday's
counsel
made
an
assault
in
the
same
morning
from
the
ambush
(128b)
uponthe
famishing
men
who
went
out
for
getting
food.
They
made
great
noise,
captured
andkilled
some
of
them,
then
they
attacked
the
fortress.
Gianjom
Agh
Khandamirov,
who
at
thattime
was
qalabeg
opened
the
fortified
gate
and
came
out
to
fight
with
two
groups
ofRussian
soldiers.
Those
in
search
of
food
took
the
occasion
to
enter
the
fortress.
ThenGianjom
Aqa
returned
to
the
fortress,
fortified
the
gate
and
began
to
fight
from
above
itswalls
and
towers.
Although
the
sarbazs
tried
to
ascend
the
fortress,
they
wereprevented
and
shot
down.
The
Armenians
of
the
fortress
also
fought
severely
being
unanimous
withthe
Russians.
They
were
given
arms
and
sent
to
protect
the
fortress
walls.
Since
no
aid
was
received
from
Abbas
Mirza
and
the
battlecontinued
from
sunrise
until
midday,
Abbas
Mirza
sent
a
messenger
ordering
them
tostop
the
battle
and
the
attacks
on
the
fortress
and
return
back.
The
khans,
unable
toattain
any
result
returned
to
their
camp.
