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-28- As soon as Shah Mahmud proclamed himself as king at Bala Hisar; immediately Shahshuja unfurled his banner at Peshawar styling him as king. The ruler, of course, was that person who was on the throne of Kabul at the time, and Shahshuja-with all that could be said about it, was still merely a prince albiet a rival to the throne; who was out to drive conolusions with his rival. This animosity of Shah Mahmud and Shahshuja increased daily. The nobles of the clans, according to the drift of events of the time, looking to their own personal interests, allied themselves with the stronger party of the rivals. Mehr Ali Khan, Mir Akhur Bashi, who during the last days of Zaman Khan hah deserted his master (Zaman Shah), and was under arrest at Jalalabad came to Shahshuja's camp; and in the like manner men of the type of Mohamed Akram Khan Bamyazai, known as Aminul Mulk; and Mohamed Khan Nasaqchi Bashi left Shah Mahmud to join Shahshuja, in Peshawar. Slowly Shahshuja was persuaded to think that he was strong enough to attack Shah Mahmud at Kabul. During the reign of four years, Shah Mahmud, (1216.A.H. to 1219.A.H.) was compelled to fight a number of battles either against the princes, or the nobles sent by them; and these battles are divided into two classes: those fought at Jalalabad and those of Arghistan. The first battle was fought between the King's Guards and the troops of the prince at Basaul. In this battle, from the side of Shah Mahmud, Abdul Wahid Khan Barak Zai, Ataullah Khan Alizai and Bluch Khan Achaqzai took on the battle against Mihr Ali Khan with five hundred horsemen from Shahshuja. The result was the victory of Shahshuja, and the leaders sent out by Shah Mahmud were repulsed. Mihr Ali Khan as a victor remained at Jalalabad, awaiting the orders of Shahshuja. Meantime, both Shahshuja from Peshawar and Shah Mahmud from Kabul moved up agaist each other. Each was moving rapidly towards the other so that each may arrive earlier, prior to the arrival of reenforcement at the critical location; especially Shahshuja was keen to get to Jalalabad to consolidate the position which his commander had acquired, The forces of Shah Shuja accompanied by their leaders and Shahshuja arrived at Ashpan; and when they were