Zeng Guofan, a Chinese official of the…

Zeng Guofan, a Chinese official of the Manchu government who in 1860 is governor-general of the Liangkiang provinces of central China, organizes irregular anti-Taiping forces.

The gentry, who usually rally to support a successful rebellion, have been alienated by the radical anti-Confucianism of the Taipings, and they organize under Zeng's leadership.

Zeng's Hunan army, created and paid for by local taxes, becomes a powerful new fighting force under the command of eminent scholar-generals.

Zeng's success gives new power to an emerging Han Chinese elite and erodes Qing authority.

Simultaneous uprisings in north China (the Nian Rebellion) and southwest China (the Panthay Rebellion) further demonstrate Qing weakness.