However, there are a total of four small banners in China: 2 in Inner Mongolia; 1 in Qinghai; and 1 in Jehol.
The airline had a "hub" in Hsinking and was linked by regular flight routes from Harbin, Shamussi (Kiamusze), Kirin, Mukden, Antung, Chinchow, Chengde, Tsitsihar, Hailar, and the Kwantung Leased Territory and Korea areas, for connections with Imperial Japanese Airways (Dai Nippon Koku KK) to Japan itself or foreign routes.
Chengde |
This was not at a very good time for China, since Britain and France had just invaded Beijing in the Second Opium War and the Xianfeng Emperor was still exiled in Chengde.
In spring 822, with Shen Prefecture in desperate straights, the imperial government capitulated and commissioned Wang the military governor of Chengde, sending the official Han Yu to announce the commission and to persuade Wang to allow Niu to leave.
He quickly captured De Prefecture, and with Henghai's capital Cang Prefecture (滄州) under attack by a general under imperial orders, Li Zaiyi the military governor of Lulong Circuit (盧龍, headquartered in modern Beijing), the De Prefecture soldiers fled to Zhen Prefecture (鎮州, in modern Shijiazhuang, Hebei), the headquarters of Li Tongjie's ally Wang Tingcou the military governor of Chengde Circuit (成德).
As foreign troops invaded Beijing during the Second Opium War and the Xianfeng emperor fled to Chengde, Wenxiang remained in the capital and took part in negotiating with the British and French.