Tang Zhengcai

King of Hang

Tang Zhengcai
King of Hang; Tang Zhengcai
Born	1816; Qiyang County, Hunan, Qing China
Died	1863; Wuxi, Jiangsu, Qing China
Allegiance	Taiping Heavenly Kingdom
Service/branch	Navy
Battles/wars	Taiping Rebellion Battle of Wuchang; Battle of Shanghai (1861);

Tang Zhengcai (Chinese: 唐正才, 1816–1863, born in Qiyang County, Hunan) was an eminent navy leader of the Taiping Rebellion, known during his tenure as the King of Hang (航王).^[1] He led the Taiping fleet in many battles, nearly destroying the Xiang Army. He trained other naval officers, including Li Rongfa and Li Xiucheng. Tang was killed in action in 1863.

Tang Zhengcai employed wooden bridges similar in design to the Bailey bridge later developed by Donald Bailey.^{[citation needed]}

Battles

In the a battle near Nanjing on March 10, 1853, Tang commanded the first offensive, successfully cutting off every river pass that could reinforce Nanjing. In 1854, at Lake Dongting, Tang's fleet surrounded the Xiang Army's fleet and destroyed much of it. Tang's fleet later transported 30,000 of Shi Dakai's troops along the Yangtze in a swift surprise attack.

In 1857, Tang's fleet moved to Wuhu, between Wuhan and Nanjing; it remained there to defend the location until 1861, when a Xiang counterattack forced Tang to retreat to Nanjing.

In 1863, he was killed in action – shot by the Huai Army in Wuxi.

References

^ Gray, Jack (2002). Rebellions and Revolutions: China from the 1800s to 2000. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-821576-9.

[1] Gray, Jack (2002). Rebellions and Revolutions: China from the 1800s to 2000. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-821576-9.

[1]

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
See also: