attack on Sheberghan, this time with over 12,000 men. Ishan Uraq divided his forces, with 8,000 men likely under Hakim Khan were sent to Sheberghan while Ishan Uraq marched on Aqcha with the remaining 4,000 men, and laid siege to Muhammad Zaman Khan's forces there. This change of tactics caused issues for Wali Muhammad, who was now unable to call upon reinforcements from Aqcha. After three days of fighting, Wali Muhammad was forced to retreat into the citadel of Sheberghan, although his artillery kept the besiegers away from the citadel's walls. Wali Muhammad's force needed reinforcement, and as a result, Afzal Khan sent Abdur Rahman to relieve Wali Muhammad's force. However, after one encounter with Hakim Khan's force, the siege was unable to be broken. Faced with the possibility of losing Aqcha and Sheberghan, as well as being unable to defeat the rebels in the open field, Afzal Khan resorted to utilizing a policy of divide and rule. Sometime after the arrival of Ishan Uraq, one of the sons of Shuja'al-Din of Mazar-I-Sharif attempted to join the rebellion against the Afghans. However, he was arrested, imprisoned, and had his property confiscated. Afzal Khan brought him and promised to return the property alongside other incentives if he would go and sow dissent amongst the rebels, to which they agreed upon. He was released and sent to Sheberghan, where he pretended that he had escaped from prison. Within a short amount of time, he undermined the unity of Ishan Uraq's army, leading it to disintegrate. When Afzal Khan became aware that the rebels were in dispute amongst themselves, he immediately took advantage of this by ordering Abdur Rahman on the offensive. As he advanced on Sheberghan, Wali Muhammad led a Sortie and together, they routed Hakim Khan's force besieging the citadel. After relieving Sheberghan, the two princes marched north to relieve Muhammad Zaman Khan in Aqcha. Despite being overwhelmingly outnumbered, Ishan Uraq stood his ground for a battle, but was defeated. A large number of his followers was killed and he was captured along with other members of his family. Ishan Uraq was spared execution but sent to exile in Kabul, where he remained until the death of Dost Mohammad. Afzal Khan rewarded the son of Shuja-al-Din for his work in sowing dissent amongst the rebels. The capture of Ishan Uraq around the middle of April 1856, ended the second phase of