Li Hsu-pin

Who was Li Hsu-pin?

Li Hsu-pin [Li Xubin] was a Chinese general as commander of the Hunan Braves during the Taiping Rebellion, his younger brother Li Xuyi was a Qing's general, too.

Born in Hunan Provence to a minor prosperous family, Li Hsu-pin enlisted in the Hunan militia in 1852. Within four years, Li Hsu-pin would become a veteran combat leader with a reputation as an aggressive and resourceful officer. After leading the Hunan Braves in a successful assault against the Taiping stronghold of Wuchang in December 1856, he would repulse several Taiping couterattacks by using tactics including the construction of a series of water-filled trenches.

Advancing down the Yangtze Valley in early-1858, Li Hsu-pin's forces occupied the surrounding area of Kiukiang before capturing the city on May 19. In an offensive to capture the Anhui Provence, Li Hsu-pin would eventually be forced suicided while leading a charge against the Taiping fortress of Three Rivers Town on November 16, 1858.