A Fateful Morning in Jiangning

On the morning of July 26, 1870, the humid summer air hung heavy over Jiangning as provincial officials prepared for a routine military inspection. This was no ordinary day in the Qing dynasty’s recent history—it would become remembered as the moment when a high-ranking official fell victim to an unprecedented act of violence that would reverberate through the imperial court and shape political alliances for years to come.

The scheduled military review had been delayed by one day due to rainfall, following the established pattern of twice-daily drills that Governor-General Ma Xinyi had implemented for his four newly trained battalions. These units represented the Qing government’s tentative steps toward military modernization, specializing in Western firearms, artillery, and traditional spears. Ma took particular interest in marksmanship training, personally attending the monthly evaluations held on the twenty-fifth day of each month at the archery ground west of the temporary governor’s headquarters.

The Modernizing Governor and His Reforms

Ma Xinyi had risen through the Qing bureaucracy to become Governor-General of Liangjiang, overseeing Jiangsu, Jiangxi, and Anhui provinces—one of the most powerful regional positions in the empire. His background as a native of Heze, Shandong Province, from a Muslim family that had settled in the region generations earlier, gave him particular insight into the diverse challenges facing the Qing state.

His military reforms reflected broader attempts within the Qing administration to adopt Western technology while maintaining traditional structures. The specialized battalions he created represented a significant departure from conventional Qing military organization, focusing on firearms proficiency that Ma personally supervised. This hands-on approach demonstrated his commitment to creating effective military units capable of defending Qing interests amid growing internal and external pressures.

The Assassination Scene

As the morning drills concluded around nine o’clock, Ma began his short walk back to his headquarters through the side gate that connected the training ground to the administrative compound. He was accompanied by his standard security detail: Deputy Commander Yu Jisan, military adjutant Ye Hualong, and several guards.

The routine procession was interrupted when a man speaking the distinctive Heze dialect of Shandong—Ma’s own regional accent—called out “Great General!” and knelt before him, presenting a letter with both hands raised above his head. Governor Ma recognized the petitioner and expressed irritation that the man had returned after having received financial assistance twice previously.

During this exchange, another voice shouted “Great General, redress my wrongs!” from the right side. As Ma turned toward this second petitioner, the man produced a gleaming dagger from beneath his clothing, grabbed the governor’s arm, and thrust the blade upward into his right chest.

“Stabbed!” Ma cried out as he collapsed to the ground.

His guards immediately apprehended both the assailant and the initial petitioner while rushing the wounded governor back to his residence for medical attention. Despite efforts by physicians, the wound proved fatal, and Ma Xinyi died the following afternoon.

Immediate Aftermath and Political Tensions

News of the assassination spread rapidly throughout Jiangning, creating widespread shock and speculation. Senior officials including General Kui Yu, acting administrative commissioner Sun Yiyan, judicial commissioner Mei Qizhao, and education commissioner Yin Zhaoyong rushed to the governor’s residence.

The scene they encountered was one of chaos and grief. Ma’s two middle-aged concubines wept uncontrollably and knelt before General Kui, begging him to bring the true culprits to justice. Their plea for justice specifically implied that they believed someone had orchestrated the attack rather than it being the work of a lone individual.

Kui Yu faced a delicate political situation. His private suspicions fell upon disbanded Xiang Army soldiers who remained in the region—many of whom might hold grudges against Qing officials. Publicly acknowledging this suspicion, however, could provoke further violence against officials, including himself. He therefore offered condolences but avoided making specific commitments about investigation.

The Investigation and the Assassin’s Testimony

Local magistrates immediately began interrogating the captured assassin, identified as Zhang Wenxiang from Ruyang, Henan Province. Investigation revealed that Zhang had previously served as a subordinate commander under Li Shixian, a military leader associated with the Taiping Rebellion.

Zhang’s testimony proved inconsistent and ultimately unsatisfactory to officials. He offered varying accounts of his motives, at one point claiming he had “rid the world of a rebel who colluded with Muslim insurgents”—a particularly damaging accusation given Ma Xinyi’s Muslim heritage, though his family had lived in Shandong for eighteen generations since originally relocating from Wuchang during the Ming Dynasty and had no connection to the ongoing Muslim rebellions in northwest China.

Most significantly, during interrogation Zhang let slip the phrase “feed a soldier for a thousand days to use him for one morning”—a clear suggestion that he had been prepared and supported for this specific mission over an extended period. This statement convinced many officials that the assassination represented a conspiracy rather than spontaneous violence.

Political Ramifications in the Imperial Court

News of the assassination reached the imperial court in Beijing on August 2, creating shock among officials accustomed to the respect and security traditionally afforded high-ranking governors. The idea that a governor-general could be murdered in broad daylight during military exercises challenged fundamental assumptions about Qing authority.

Prince Gong, serving as advisor to the imperial court, recognized the broader implications. The Empress Dowager Cixi, then mourning her mother’s recent death and in poor health herself, nevertheless attended to state affairs. Prince Gong carefully framed the incident to avoid alarming the regents while emphasizing the need for experienced leadership in the volatile region.

The discussion naturally turned to personnel assignments. With Ma’s position vacant, Prince Gong argued that only Zeng Guofan could adequately stabilize the situation. Zeng had previously served as Governor-General of Liangjiang and maintained respect among military forces in the region. His return would serve both public and private interests: officially, he could manage regional security; personally, it offered him respite from the difficult Tianjin Missionary Case that had damaged his reputation.

Reshaping National Leadership

Zeng Guofan’s reassignment to Liangjiang created a domino effect in Qing leadership appointments. Li Hongzhang, Zeng’s protégé and commander of the modernized Huai Army, naturally succeeded him as Governor-General of Zhili, the crucial position responsible for defending the capital region.

This appointment recognized Li’s military capabilities and diplomatic skills, particularly important as the Qing government continued navigating complex relationships with foreign powers. His expertise in Western affairs made him ideally suited to handle the unresolved issues from the Tianjin Missionary Case that had challenged Zeng.

The political reshuffling additionally benefited Li Hongzhang’s elder brother, Li Hanzhang, who transitioned from acting to permanent Governor-General of Huguang. This appointment ensured continued financial support for the Huai Army through provincial resources while avoiding disruption to funding for Zuo Zongtang’s ongoing military campaigns in the northwest.

Cultural and Social Impact

The assassination of Ma Xinyi resonated beyond political circles, affecting public perceptions of security and authority throughout the Qing empire. The brazen nature of the attack—occurring during official military exercises with the governor surrounded by guards—undermined confidence in governmental protection and control.

The case also highlighted regional tensions and the ongoing challenges of integrating former Taiping rebels into society. Zhang Wenxiang’s background as a former Taiping military officer reinforced concerns about lingering loyalties and resentments among those who had fought against the Qing government.

Muslim communities throughout China watched the case with particular interest given the attempted characterization of Ma as sympathetic to Muslim rebels. The clear rejection of these allegations by investigating officials helped prevent broader sectarian tensions, but the case nevertheless highlighted the complex intersection of ethnic and religious identity with political authority.

Historical Legacy and Modern Relevance

The Ma Xinyi assassination case remains one of the most intriguing political mysteries of the late Qing period. Despite extensive investigations and multiple theories proposed over subsequent years, the full truth behind the assassination never emerged conclusively.

The event highlighted the weakening of central authority and the growing boldness of anti-government elements during the late nineteenth century. It demonstrated the ongoing challenges of military modernization and the persistent tensions between regional power centers and the imperial court.

From a broader historical perspective, the political reshuffling that followed Ma’s death significantly influenced China’s development during the late nineteenth century. Li Hongzhang’s appointment to Zhili positioned him to become one of China’s most influential statesmen during the challenging decades that followed, while Zeng Guofan’s return to Liangjiang allowed him to continue his work on military and administrative reforms.

The case also illustrates the complex interplay between personal relationships, regional interests, and national policy in Qing governance. The careful balancing of appointments to maintain funding for both Zuo Zongtang’s western campaigns and Li Hongzhang’s forces demonstrated the intricate financial and political calculations required to maintain stability.

Ultimately, the assassination of Ma Xinyi represents more than a single political murder—it serves as a window into the transitional period of late Qing history, when traditional governance structures struggled to adapt to internal challenges and external pressures while maintaining authority across a vast and diverse empire. The unresolved nature of the case continues to captivate historians and serves as a reminder of the complex political currents that would eventually lead to the collapse of the imperial system just four decades later.