Early Life
Ding was a native of what is now part of Chaohu City in Anhui Province, China. He joined the Taiping Rebellion in 1854, but he later surrendered with Cheng Xuechi in the Battle of Anqing in 1861, and defected to the imperial cause. He joined Li Hongzhang’s Huai Army as a cavalryman to help suppress the Taiping Rebellion, serving with Liu Mingchuan. Afterwards, he was active in helping suppress the Nien Rebellion, and was awarded with the equivalent in rank to colonel. In 1874, he protested against the Qing Dynasty government's decision about reduction of the army size. He went back to his hometown to avoid being killed.
Read more about this topic: Ding Ruchang
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