When confusion cleared Moguls realised that Shivaji had struck and escaped. They regrouped to chase the marauders. Hundreds of soldiers raced out on their horses. They saw a trail of hundreds of torches moving southwards on the hilly track. Taking it for Shivaji’s escaping group they went in chase. Hours of galloping their horses brought them close to the torches. They were in for a shock. Shivaji had again fooled them. It turned out to be a large herd of cattle with lighted torches tied to their horns. Shivaji and his men had gone in the opposite direction towards Singhgarh.
Shaista Khan’s failure angered Aurangzeb. He banished his uncle to Bengal.
Battling on
Swarajya was in bad shape now. Shaista Khan had played havoc for three years. Agriculture and trade were in ruins. There was no money in the treasury. Shivaji needed money badly.
It was the time when Surat was a great port and trading centre. The town was prosperous with plenty of money all around. It was Mogul town. Shivaji and his army entered the city in the guise of Mogul army and plundered the town. Shivaji got all the money he needed to rebuild Swarajya.
Bijapur sent another army under Khwas Khan to confront Shivaji. Shivaji’s step brother Koji Raje was also in this army. It was the tragedy of that period. All the relatives who were jealous of Shivaji’s rise had joined his enemies. Another such person was Baji Gorpade who had troubled Shahaji all his life. It was he who had chained Shahaji at Bangalore when he was taken prisoner. Baji was moving to join the force of Khwas Khan with his army against Shivaji.
Shivaji learnt about it and he intercepted him at Magol. Baji Gorpade fought back but Shivaji’s attack was carefully planned and executed. Shivaji pounced on his enemy and beheaded him and his family members. Thus, he paid tribute to his father who had passed away some time ago.
Khwas Khan also was handed a crushing defeat by Shivaji. Shivaji pressed on and captured the fort of Fonda after a battle.
Like a raging storm he and his army swept though Goa, Rikt Island, Khudawandpur, Hubli, Benguli and Surat vanquishing every force that stood in its way. This campaign also produced vast funds and treasures for Swarajya.
