The presence of the British in mid-nineteenth century China convinced certain Qing dynasty officials of the need to modernize the Chinese military. The immediate need to modernize came in response to the Taiping Rebellion, which lasted from 1850 until 1864. The weakened position of the Qing government due to the loss of the Opium Wars to the British in the 1840s, as well as the social upheaval created by foreign trade and influence, created fertile ground in which rebellion could flourish. Two provincial officials, Zeng Guofan and Li Hongzhang, who were aggressive in the suppression of the Taiping Rebellion, led the initial push towards modernization in response to British encroachment. The creation of three regional armies in particular exemplified the early efforts of Qing officials to reform the Chinese military for the purpose of maintaining sovereignty. Regional armies were forces based in provinces, staffed by individuals from their respective regions, which were not technically part of the official Qing Dynasty army, but which were sanctioned to exist by the emperor due to the grave internal threat posed by rebellion. Zeng Guofan led the Hunan Army, which was also called the Xiang Army, for the river that runs through Hunan province. Li Hongzhang led the Anhwei Army, which was also known as the Huai Army, named after the river that runs through Anhwei province. The British General Charles Gordon led the multinational Ever- Victorious Army in the final years of the Taiping Rebellion. The training, weapons, and tactics used by these armies became the model for modernization during this time period. What ensued was a quest for technology from the very people who formed the greatest long-term threat to Chinese sovereignty, the British. The relationship between Li Hongzhang and British representatives like General Gordon played a central role in the modernization process. Through his experience of working with British-led forces in 1