Battle of Surat from the first-person narrative.

January 05, 1664: Mughal general Shaista Khan has spent three years fighting the Marathas in the south (India). The financial condition of the latter has become dire.

Chhatrapati Raje plans to attack the Mughal port of Surat. Surat port is the hub of trade of the Arabian sea and it is generating a million rupees in taxes(in 1664).

The attack is so sudden, it has made Mughal Sardar Inayat Khan hide in the fort of Surat. Chhatrapati Raje assisted notable commanders along with a cavalry of 10000 has dominated Inayat Khan and his 1000 men.

The Maratha army has looted all the possible wealth from the Mughal and the Portuguese trading centres. The Maratha soldiers are taking away cash, gold, silver, pearls, rubies, diamonds and emeralds to the Rajgad fort. This wealth shall be used for developing & strengthening the Maratha state later.

The business of Mohan-das Parekh jee (deceased broker of the Dutch East India Company) is being spared by the Marathas as he is reputed as a charitable man. Raje has decided not to plunder the houses of the foreign missionaries.

Marathas plan to flee Surat before the Mughal Empire at Delhi is alerted and do not spend much time attacking the British warehouses. Consequently, Sir George Oxenden can successfully defend the British factory. However, one Englishman named Anthony Smith is captured by the Marathas and funds are demanded. But, when Raje comes to know that Smith is poor. He sets him free.

Three days after the attack, the Mughal army from Delhi reaches Surat. It is too late now and the Marathas have already eloped into the Deccan.

This ambush has affected the Mughal revenue and it has enraged the Alamgir Badshah (Aurangzeb). To take his revenge, Alamgir Badshah has ordered veteran Rajput general Jai Singh to march to the south.

This might later result in the battle of Purandar and the treaty of Purandar. But guess, that is the story for another day.