He thought of the arrangement that had been worked out. Jadar was to be kept in Burhanpur for another three weeks, delayed by any means possible. By then Malik Ambar would have the city surrounded, all access cut off. The Imperial troops would be isolated and demoralized. No troops would be forthcoming from the _mansabdars_. Only promises of troops. Cut off from Agra and provisions, Jadar would have no choice but to sign a treaty. The paper had already been prepared. Malik Ambar would rule the Deccan from his new capital at Ahmadnagar, and Ghulam Adl would be appointed governor of all provinces north from Ahmadnagar to the Narbada River. With their combined troops holding the borders, no Moghul army could ever again challenge the Deccan. Ghulam Adl knew the _mansabdars_ would support him, because he had offered to cut their taxes in half. He had neglected to specify for how long. "I respectfully submit the time for muster is premature, Highness. Crops are not yet in. The revenues of the _mansabdars'_ _jagir_ estates will suffer if men are called now." Ghulam Adl shifted uncomfortably. "They'll have no revenues at all if they don't muster immediately. I'll confiscate the _jagir_ of any _mansabdar_ who has not mustered his men and cavalry within seven days." Jadar watched Ghulam Adl's throat muscles tense, and he asked himself if a _jagir_ granted by the Moghul could be legally confiscated. Probably not. But the threat would serve to reveal loyalties, and reveal them quickly. "But there's no possible way to pay the men now, Highness." Ghulam Adl easily retained his poise. Hold firm and this aspiring young upstart will waver and then agree. Give him numbers. First make it sound hopeless, then show him a way he can still win. "There's not enough silver in all the Deccan. Let me give you some idea of the problem. Assume it would require a year's back pay to muster the troops, not unreasonable since most of the _mansabdars_ are at least two years behind now. The usual yearly allowance for cavalry here is three hundred rupees for a Muslim and two hundred and forty for a Hindu. You will certainly need to raise a minimum of thirty thousand men from the _mansabdars_. Assuming some loyal troops might possibly muster on notes of promise, you'd still need almost fifty _lakhs_ of rupees. An impossible sum. It's clear the _mansabdars_ won't have the revenues to pay their men until the fall crops are harvested." "Then I'll confiscate their _jagirs_ now and pay the troops myself. And deduct the sum from their next revenues."