At this point, Rukn al-Dawla ordered 'Adud al-Dawla to march on Wasit and relieve Izz al-Dawla. The choice of 'Adud al-Dawla was somewhat curious: he had earlier advocated the removal of Izz al-Dawla due to the latter's perceived incompetence, and had granted asylum to a brother of the Iraqi amir that had launched a failed rebellion in Basra. Despite this, 'Adud al-Dawla complied with the order, although he traveled as slowly as possible in order to give Sebük-Tegin the chance to overpower Wasit.