In 1876–77 Qing forces defeated Yaqub Beg's regime and recovered most of Xinjiang; Liu Jintang commanded in the field while Zuo Zongtang directed strategy, finance, and supply.
▲Zuo Zongtang Reconquering Xinjiang · 1876 CE - 1878 CE
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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.
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Epochal Overview
Viceroy 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 's diplomatic recovery of Ili.
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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.
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Key Figures
led the campaign with iron resolve alongside vanguard general Liu Jintang and diplomat .
