Hong Tianguifu

Hong Tianguifu (23 November 1849 – 18 November 1864) was the second and last king of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom. He is popularly referred to as the Junior Lord. Officially, like his father Hong Xiuquan, he was the King of Heaven. To differentiate, he is also called the Junior King of Heaven. History Hong succeeded his father at fourteen and was not respected like his father by the princes, and he was spoken of poorly. Li Xiucheng wrote in his autobiography, which was written shortly before Li's execution, Hong Tianguifu was described as "inexperienced", "spoiled" and "incapable". Also, Hong Tianguifu never rode a horse, which was essential for leaders and commanders in wars. Four months after his coronation, Tianjing, the capital of the Taiping rebels, was captured by the Qing dynasty. Hong Tianguifu escaped to Dongba, Jiangsu in July 1864, rendezvoused with his uncle, Hong Rengan. After going to Guangde County, Anhui first, they went to the town of Huzhou, Zhejiang on 13 August 1864 to rendezvous with the local Taiping Army commander Huang Wenjin. The Qing dynasty sent Zuo Zongtang and Li Hongzhang to attack the city, and Chen Xueming, the Taiping army commander in charge of defending the southern gate of the town, surrendered on 26 August 1864. Hong Tianguifu, Hong Rengan and Huang Wenjin were forced to flee from the town next day, under the cover of night, and Huang Wenjin soon died of his wounds. The rest of the survivors attempted to escape to the border region of Jiangxi, Guangdong and Fujian to join the remnant Taiping forces led by Li Shixian, but on 9 October 1864, they were ambushed by the Qing army at Shicheng. Hong Tianguifu escaped to the mountains near Shicheng after his token force was wiped out, but he was caught on 25 October 1864 by Qing soldiers searching for him. Hong Rengan was captured and subsequently executed on 23 November 1864 at Nanchang, Jiangxi. While being escorted under guard, Hong Tianguifu and a Qing army soldier named Tang Jiatong had a conversation. Hong first talked about his relationship with his father and others. He said that the old things of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom were done by his father and Hong Renxuan. "It has nothing to do with me, even after stepping on the road, I did nothing that is unfavorable to the Qing dynasty.