Zhang Lexing

Zhang Lexing (Chinese: 張樂行; Wade–Giles: Chang Lo-hsing, 1810 – 1863) was a Chinese guerrilla leader during the Nian Rebellion in China.

Zhang was originally a landlord and a member of a powerful lineage involved in salt-smuggling. In 1852 he was chosen to lead the Nian, and in 1856 was bestowed with the title "Lord of the Alliance" when the Nian organised themselves under a banner system inspired by the Eight Banners of the ruling Qing Dynasty. Zhang also at this time claimed the title of "Great Han Prince with the Mandate of Heaven".^[1] He later joined forces with the Taiping Rebellion and became the "Commander of the Northern Expedition".^[2]

In 1863 he was defeated and captured along with his son and adopted son by Mongol cavalry general Sengge Rinchen. Prior to being executed, he confessed that he could no longer remember how many places he had plundered; he also claimed to not know the whereabouts of his wife, who had been chased off by government troops, or his brother Zhang Minxing, who had left for the southwest along with several thousand men, and that other Nian leaders had already been killed.^[3]

Despite the apparent loss of leadership, the Nian rebellion would continue for another five years. Zhang's nephew Zhang Zongyu succeeded him in command of the Nian armies, with Sengge Richen being killed in a Nian ambush only two years after Zhang's death.^[4]

References

^ Schoppa, R. Keith: Revolution and its Past, page 77. Prentice Hall, 2002
^ The Historical Development of the Nien—Some Tentative Thoughts on Terminology. By Lo Erh- Kang
^ Perry, Elizabeth J.: Rebels and Revolutionaries in North China, 1845-1945, page 336
^ Schoppa, page 78.

Other sources

Chiang, Siang-tseh. The Nien Rebellion, Seattle, 1954.
Teng, Ssu-yu. The Nien Rebellion and Their Guerilla Warfare, 1851–1868, Paris, 1961.

[1] Schoppa, R. Keith: Revolution and its Past, page 77. Prentice Hall, 2002

[2] The Historical Development of the Nien—Some Tentative Thoughts on Terminology. By Lo Erh- Kang

[3] Perry, Elizabeth J.: Rebels and Revolutionaries in North China, 1845-1945, page 336

[4] Schoppa, page 78.

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[2]

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v t e Taiping Rebellion
Battles and campaigns	Jintian Changsha Wuchang 1st Nanjing Western Expedition Northern Expedition Eastern Expedition 1st Jiangnan Tianjing incident Sanhe 2nd Jiangnan Ningbo Anqing Shanghai Guanzhong Cixi Changzhou 3rd Nanking Hubei Fujian
Taiping Heavenly Kingdom leaders	Hong Xiuquan Hong Tianguifu Hong Xuanjiao Yang Xiuqing † Feng Yunshan † Xiao Chaogui † Wei Changhui † Hong Rengan Shi Dakai Li Xiucheng Chen Yucheng Li Shixian † Qin Rigang
Other rebel leaders	Zhang Lexing † (Nian Rebels) Su Sanniang Qiu Ersao † (Red Turban rebels)
Qing dynasty leaders and personnel	Xianfeng Emperor Empress Dowager Cixi Zeng Guofan Sengge Rinchen Guanwen Li Hongzhang Luo Bingzhang Jirhangga † Zuo Zongtang Zhang Guoliang † He Chun † Xiang Rong † Frederick Townsend Ward † Auguste Protet †
Other notable figures	Fu Shanxiang Hu Jiumei Yang Fuqing †
Miscellaneous topics	Noble ranks
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