In November of 1578,Ali Quli Khan arrived in Tavriz.He immediately rode his horse towards the palace.At the gate,guards halted him.Ali Quli showed them his token and the wardens allowed him to enter inside the palace yard.Ali Quli got off from his horse and entered in the palace.He went to the Shah's chamber and announced himself aloud:
-Your majesty!It's me,Ali Quli Khan!I am imploring you to meet me in your room at once!
Mohammad Khodabanda was speechless.He didn't expect his presence in the capital.
-Enter!
The bodyguards opened the door and Ali Quli entered inside.Mohammad Khodabanda was sitting on his sofa with his another advisor called Reza.
-What are you doing here,Ali Quli?Didn't I command you to keep an eye on Simon?-Mohammad Khodabanda almost shouted at out of extreme anger.
-I am aware of my mission in Kartli,but something totally unanticipated occurred when we arrived there.
-What it is it?
-At night,when all of us were sleeping,Ottomans ambushed us.They killed guards of 22 tents and all of the soldiers inside those tents.Those soldiers were slit their throats.
-How are you so sure,that they were indeed Ottomans?
-I have no doubt about it,because inside each tent where our soldiers were killed Ottoman janissaries' hats were left.
-I see now.
-I am pleading you,your majesty,to give me 4500 soldiers.
-What?4500 soldiers?How many of them were murdered?
-Exactly 4500 soldiers were assassinated,your majesty!
-Okay,I will give you them.But,promise me,that you will do everything in your power to avoid such incident.Did you comprehend,Ali Quli?
-Yes,your majesty!I will be extremely cautious.
-Reza,accompany Ali Quli to the soldiers' residence.You will report me about this.
Ali Quli Khan and the Shah's advisor went out together.They directly headed to the soldiers' residence.Ali Quli saluted the soldiers and reported them about Mohammad Khodabanda's order.The soldiers bent down when Ali Quli started speaking.After he was done talking to them,all of the soldiers got up.2000 of them got on their horses,others only followed them on foot.All of them went towards Kartli except for Reza.He returned to the palace and reported the Shah,that his soldiers went with Ali Quli Khan.