Xiang Army The Xiang Army ( ) was a standing army organized by Zeng Guofan ( 曾國藩 ) from existing regional and village militia forces tuanlian ( 團練 ) to contain the Taiping rebellion in China ( 1850 to 1864 ) . The name is taken from the Hunan region where the Army was raised . The Army was financed through local nobles and gentry , as opposed to the centralized Manchu - led Qing Dynasty . Although it was raised specifically to address problems in Hunan , the Army formed the core of the new Qing military establishment , and as such , forever weakened the Manchu influence within the military . This devolution of centralized command is commonly pointed to as a major reason for the eventual downfall of the Qing dynasty and the emergence of regional warlordism in China during the first half of the twentieth century . The Xiang Army was one of two armies known as the Hunan Army . Another Hunan Army , called the Chu Army , was created by Zuo Zongtang to fight in the Dungan revolt ( 1862 – 1877 ) . Remnants of the Xiang Army which also fought in the war were then called the " Old Hunan Army " . Taiping Rebellion . The Taiping rebellion started in December 1850 in Guangxi Province , growing after a series of small victories over the local Qing forces . The revolt rapidly spread northward . In March 1853 , between 700 , 000 and 800 , 000 Taiping soldiers directed by commander - in - chief Yang Xiuqing took Nanjing , killing 30 , 000 Imperial soldiers and thousands of civilians . The city became the movement ' s capital and was renamed " Tianjing " ( " Heavenly Capital " ) . By this point the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom encompassed much of south and central China , centered on the Yangtze river valley . They continued in their attempts to expand northward , and sent two armies to take the upper Yangtze , while another two attempted to take the new Imperial capital , Beijing . The western drive met with some success , but the Beijing attack failed . Zeng Guofan was tasked with limiting the rebel ' s attempts to take control of Hunan . His lieutenants recovered the capital , Changsha , and then Zeng led the recapture of Wuchang and Hanyang , near Hankow , and was rewarded for his success by being appointed vice - president of the Board of War . His Army was so successful that the Qing leaders quickly started using it in place of their own troops , turning it into an Imperial force rather than the local force as it had been raised . In 1860 Zeng was called on to use the Xiang Army to clear Anhui , and was appointed Viceroy of Liangjiang ( 两江总督 , which consisted of the provinces of Jiangxi , Anhui , and Jiangsu ) . While Charles George Gordon and his " Ever - Victorious Army " were clearing the rebel heartland , Zeng took the opportunity to launch a campaign to retake Nanjing . The entire area around the city had been cleared of rebel forces in a series of battles starting in June 1863 . The battle for the city itself started on March 14 , 1864 when Zeng ' s forces attempted to force the city walls using ladders , but were beaten back . A second attempt used tunnels , but counter - digging and a second wall prevented a breakthrough . On July 3 the Xiang forces had their first victory , taking Dibao Castle . This position allowed them to dig new tunnels and pack them with explosives with the intention of destroying the city walls . A counterattack failed , and on July 19 the explosives were set off , collapsing a large portion of the wall . The city fell after a fierce three - day battle . The Xiang Army pillaged and robbed the city , killing 150 , 000 people and setting it on fire . The city burned until July 26 , 1864 . Zeng was promoted to Marquess ( of the First Class ) Yiyong ( 毅勇侯 ) ( Yiyong : 毅 = Endurance 勇 = Courage ) Viceroys . After the fall of the Qing Dynasty , in from 1860 to 1890 , over half of the viceroys in China were Xiang Army leaders . Total soldiers . In 1860 , the power of the Xiang Army was unsurpassed , totalling almost 360 , 000 soldiers . The large main group was led by Zeng Guofan with 130 , 000 troops . The Qing regular army , the Green Standard Army , totaled about 2 , 300 , 000 ( included the Xiang Army ) . Taiping Rebellion soldiers amounted to about 1 , 800 , 000 ( including 300 , 000 local gang members who repeatedly changed sides ) . Headquarters . Headquarters were located in Qimen County Anhui from 1853 to 1861 . After recovering Anqing in September 1861 , the headquarters was moved there because of its proximity to Nanjing . Salary . One of Zeng Guofan ' s priorities for the Xiang Army was finance , understanding that good pay was crucial for battlefield morale . As a result , a Xiang Army soldier ' s salary was four " tael " of silver every month , compared to a regular Green Standard soldier ' s salary of about 1 . 5 " tael " of silver per month . Main leaders . General Chen Ling - Shu , later Admiral Chen Ling - Shu , served under General Peng Yu - Ling . After the Taiping Rebellion was crushed , the Hunan armies petitioned to the Manchu Court to disband themselves , for fear of rumored rebellion against the Manchus as they had grown too powerful in the eyes of the Manchus . The Manchu Court only agreed to turn Peng Yu - Ling ' s army into a navy . Disarmament and revolution . Zeng Guofan began disarming the Xiang Army with the establishment of the Huai Army by Li Hongzhang , one of the most important commanders of the Xiang Army . In 1890 , part of the Xiang Army incorporated into a gang and anti - government movement . When the Xinhai Revolution ( Chinese Revolution ) began in 1911 , former comrades of Xiang Army turned against each other . The Republic of China was established on February 12 , 1912 .