Qifu Guoren had been a Xianbei tribal chief in the modern southern/southwestern Gansu region and founded the Chinese/Xianbei state Western Qin in 385.

(The Western Qin is entirely distinct from the ancient Qin Dynasty, the Former Qin, and the Later Qin.)

Dividing his domain into twelve prefectures, he had established his capital at Yongshicheng (in modern Lanzhou, Gansu).

Over the next two years, he had gradually drawn the Xianbei and other ethnic groups into his state.

In 387, however, contrary to his prior stance against Former Qin, Qifu Guoren had accepted the title of Prince Xuanlie of Wanchuan bestowed on him by the Former Qin emperor Fu Deng and nominally become a Former Qin vassal again, although he does not use the Former Qin era name.

Qifu Guoren dies in summer 388 and as his son Qifu Gongfu is still young, his subordinates support his brother Qifu Gangui to succeed him.

The locus of power shifts, after the final defeat of the Taiping at Nanking in 1864, from the Manchu to those Chinese who have played the main part in putting down the rebellions.

The Muslim rebels of Shensi, defeated by the Imperial army, flee to Kansu, which becomes the main theater of fighting.

...Kansu, using a combination of effective taxation, encouragement of economic production, and Western technology.

In 1873, Zuo finally succeeds in suppressing the rebellion, which has affected more than ten million people.