ABSTRACT
After she reached Shanghai, Li Xinmei seemed to regain consciousness. Everyday she lightheartedly went out somewhere or other to do this or that. Even if it was only to go sightseeing, she would have occasion to meet people. It was reassuring to her that so many of her fellow provincials were now living in Shanghai. Having seized the city of Shanghai, they would link up with the Taipings in Nanjing and overthrow the Qing government. The Taipings occupied Nanjing, and Shanghai now had to fortify itself in a variety of ways in response to this occurrence. The strongest organization within Shanghai of an antiestablishment bent was the Small Sword Society, and Zhou naturally was eager to forge contacts with the Small Swords. The peasants in Qingpu, still hanging in the balance, hoped that the Small Sword Society of Shanghai would rise in rebellion as soon as possible.
