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* Gordon had established his military reputation as a young colonel in command of the European-officered Chinese "Ever-Victorious Army" against the "Taiping" Rebellion. The rebel leader, Hung Hsiu-chuan, who declared himself brother of Christ, had revolted against the Manchu Dynasty to win Taiping—the Rule of Peace. Gordon, who characteristically went to battle armed only with a light cane, crushed the rebel, lion in two years of bloody fighting.