Xiang Army
Born in Hunan province to a minor prosperous family, Li Xubin enlisted in the Hunan militia in 1852 (later becoming known as the Xiang Army; "Xiang" was another name for Hunan). Within four years, Li Xubin became a veteran combat leader with a reputation as an aggressive and resourceful officer. After leading the Xiang Army in a successful assault against the Taiping rebels' stronghold of Wuchang in December 1856, he repelled several rebel counterattacks by using tactics such as the construction of a series of water-filled trenches.