#344 - Taiping 21: Borrowed Things

The stealth troops successfully sneak past the enemy lines in dead men's

coats. The false flags planted on the hillside fool the city guard. The front gate assault diverts, while the sappers around back bring the walls down. I love it when a plan comes together, every single piece locking in like perfect clockwork...

Except… it wasn't really the plan. The city that fell was never the objective – it was merely a diversion… a diversion that would leave 60,000 dead within a week.

Time Period Covered:

1860 CE

Major Historical Figures:

The Taiping Heavenly Kingdom:

Hong Xiuquan, the Heavenly King [1814–1864]

Hong Rengan, the Shield King (Gan Wang), Prime Minister [1822–1864]

Li Xiucheng, the Loyal King (Zhong Wang) [1823–1864]

Li Shixian, the Attending King (Shi Wang) [1834–1865]

Chen Yucheng, the Brave King (Ying Wang) [1837–1862]