Yang, as eastern king, has attempted to…

Yang, as eastern king, has attempted to usurp much of the T'ien-wang's power prerogatives as Heavenly King, and in 1856 the resentful Hong orders Yang's execution.

Shi Dakai plots with the northern king Wei Changhui to kill Yang.

Not only is Yang put to death on September 2, 1856, but also his entire family and thousands of his adherents are destroyed.

When Shi objects to the slaughter, the northern king plots to kill him, but Shi discovers the plot and escapes, taking with him a large personal following and some of the most able Taiping commanders.