Li Hongzhang, who has joined Zeng Guofan's…

Li Hongzhang, who has joined Zeng Guofan's staff, organizes the Huai Braves (later called the Huai Army).

This army, like previous pro-imperial irregular militia, is composed of Confucianist village farmers.

In 1862 Li is made acting governor of Kiangsu Province and travels to Shanghai with his own troops in rented steamers.

Hitherto, steamers had given the West a great advantage in the two opium wars with China from which came the so-called unequal treaties, whereby China unilaterally surrendered such things as tariff autonomy and extraterritorial jurisdiction.

At just under 40 years of age, Li enjoys high civil provincial rank and independent military power, a combination that has been forced on the central government by the exigencies of the rebellion.