Cause & Context
In the 1860s, Central Asian adventurer Yakub Beg invaded Xinjiang with Anglo-Russian backing, while Tsarist Russia occupied Ili; Beijing erupted into the fierce 'Maritime vs. Frontier Defense' debate.
Epochal Overview
Viceroy Zuo Zongtang carried his coffin westward, commanding modernized forces in a rapid campaign that annihilated Yakub Beg's regime and recaptured the entire Xinjiang region, followed by Zeng Jize's diplomatic recovery of Ili.
Key Figures
Zuo Zongtang led the campaign with iron resolve alongside vanguard general Liu Jintang and diplomat Zeng Jize.
Civilizational Impact
The campaign safeguarded 1.66 million square kilometers of Chinese sovereign territory, halted imperialist partitioning of the northwest, and culminated in the formal establishment of Xinjiang Province in 1884.