The Heavenly Host marches north out of Hunan. Ahead of them lies the spine of China itself – the mighty Yangtze; maker and breaker of dynasties. The trading capitals strung along its southern bank glimmer like beads on a thread. They have and continue to transform, to build a fleet, a state. Now they will find out what it’s all been leading toward. This is the story of the Kingdom In Motion, and the river that carried it east.

Time Period Covered:
Nov. 1852 – Mar. 1853

Major Historical Figures:
Taiping Heavenly Kingdom:
Hong Xiuquan, Heavenly King, Second Son of God [1814–1864]
Yang Xiuqing, East King, Voice of God the Father [d. 1856]
Shi Dakai, Wing King [1831–1863]
Li Xiucheng, future Loyal King [1823–1864]

Qing Dynasty:The Xianfeng Emperor, Aisin Gioro Yizhu [1831–1861]
Chang Liangji, Governor of Hubei
Qian Jiang, the jiansheng from Zhejiang who pitched reform and walked

Major Sources Cited:
Michael, Franz, and Chang Chung-li. The Taiping Rebellion: History and Documents, Vol. I.
Kuhn, Philip A. "Ch. 6, The Taiping Rebellion" in The Cambridge History of China, Vol. 10.
Spence, Jonathan D. God's Chinese Son: The Taiping Heavenly Kingdom of Hong Xiuquan.
Hamberg, Theodore. The Visions of Hung-Siu-tshuen, and Origin of the Kwang-si Insurrection.

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