Elphinstone to allow his men to escort British troops from the Bala Hissar to the cantonment, Elphinstone accepted unaware of Akbar Khan's scheme. While the evacuation was ongoing, Muhammad Shah Laghmani's Ghilzais tried to force their way into the citadel. However, Shah Shuja, possibly having learned of Akbar Khan's scheme, opened fire with the citadel's artillery, killing and maiming dozens of the enemy, and plenty of Indian sepoys. As a result, Akbar Khan had to abandon his attempt to seize the Bala Hissar. The arrival of more troops and camp followers further worsened the already critical supply issue for the supply situation in the cantonment for the British. Three days later the weather also worsened, with heavy snow falling throughout the night and all the following day, with the worse winter Afghanistan would see in decades. By this time, the date for British withdrawal had already expired and Macnaghten had to try and justify delays in hope for securing more supplies to complete the journey, as well as cut a deal with factions more willing to compromise. Akbar Khan's attack on the Bala Hissar did not go well with other tribal leaders and as a result other factions alongside his rivals has begun opening discussion with Macnaghten. On 21 December, Macnaghten informed Lal that several Ghilzai chiefs were prepared to supply food to the British troops during the night of 21/22 December in exchange for over 200,000 rupees, where in return the tribal leaders would then open an audience with Shah Shuja and declare fealty to him. This agreement however, was a double-cross and as soon as the Ghilzai chieftains had sworn fealty to Shah Shuja, Lal was to inform Macnaghten, and then sending a message to Akbar Khan, breaking the December 11 agreement, with the British forces aiming to attack Akbar Khan in the Shah Bagh, while the Ghilzais, Khan Shirin Khan's Jawanshir forces, and Royalist armies would attack from the south. What Macnaghten however did not realize was that Hamza Khan of Tezin and 'Aminullah Khan Logari had influence in both camps, and actively informed Akbar Khan of the coming betrayal from Macnaghten. When Akbar Khan fully learned of the machination, he decided to set a trap that would expose the envoy's treachery to all his rivals. On the evening of 21 December, Sadar Muhammad Saddiq Khan, Akbar Khan's nephew, arrived at the cantonment and entered a private