In the Heavenly capital of Nanjing, a government that’s now mostly murdered has to be restaffed… somehow. And so their old titles are simply dusted off and re-distributed who whoever’s still left standing. Meanwhile, the men out actually running the war have learned that there’s no use in waiting for the paperwork or permission… neither are coming. They hold their own conference, swear their own oath, and decide to prosecute the war on their own from here on out, regardless of what Nanjing might think about that arrangement.

Time Period Covered:
1857–1858 CE

Major Historical Figures:
Taiping Heavenly Kingdom:

Hong Xiuquan, the Heavenly King [1814–1864]
Chen Yucheng [1837–1862]
Li Xiucheng [1823–1864]
Shi Dakai, the Wing King [1831–1863]
Meng De'en, Chief of Staff [d. 1861]
Li Shixian [1834–1865]
Yang Fuqing
Wei Jun
Lin Qirong, commander of Jiujiang garrison [d. 1858]
Wu Dinggui, commander of Sanhe garrison

Great Qing:

The Xianfeng Emperor (Aisin-Gioro Yizhu) [r. 1850–1861]
Zeng Guofan [1811–1872]
Zeng Guohua [1822–1858]
Zeng Guobao
Hu Linyi [1812–1861]
Zhang Guoliang [1810–1860]
Hechun [d. 1860]
Dexing'e (Duxing'a)
Li Xubin [1818–1858]

Major Works Cited:
Kuhn, Philip A. "The Taiping Rebellion" in The Cambridge History of China, Vol. 10.
Michael, Franz, and Chung-li Chang. The Taiping Rebellion: History and Documents, Vols. I & II.
Platt, Stephen R. Autumn in the Heavenly Kingdom: China, the West, and the Epic Story of the Taiping Civil War.
Spence, Jonathan D. God's Chinese Son: The Taiping Heavenly Kingdom of Hong Xiuquan.

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