Wang Debang

Wang was born on Jianghua County, Hunan as his father was a businessman around the area. He joined the Hunan Army in his early years to suppress the Taiping Rebellion.^[1] He later followed Zuo Zongtang to reclaim Xinjiang.^[1] In 1884, during the Sino-French War, he was transferred to Guangxi and recruited eight new battalions, known as the Dingbian Army. Together with Feng Zicai, he won at the Battle of Zhennan Pass in February 1885 and became a national hero;^[2] however, he was implicated in Li Hongzhang's political struggle with the Left, and his official career was suppressed by Li Hongzhang for nearly two years.^[3] He was promoted to a high-ranking official in Peking and died during his tenure.^[4]

• Zhao Erxun (1928). Draft History of Qing. Vol. 459. p. 246.