ABSTRACT
Tan Qi was a bit perplexed by the force fulness of her reaction. It was just half a year since the Small Sword Society had occupied Shanghai, and three times in that interval Tan Qi had traveled back and forth between Nanjing and Shanghai. On each trip to Shanghai, he brought Xinmei and Liwen up to date on news from Nanjing. The Taipings strictly segregated men and women. After they had left Guangxi province and set out to conquer the realm, separate men's and women's barracks had been set up. Although there were many entire family groups that had joined the Taiping forces, even husbands and wives were required to live in separate quarters. In the circulation of commodities was reflected the fact that the upper stratum of the Taiping movement had become extravagant in their lifestyles following the seizure of Nanjing. They seemed ever more isolated from the general Taiping populace.
