Although the glorious Nien Rebellion erupted in Anhwei, Honan, Kiangsu, and Shantung provinces, its principal center of operations was the northern section of Anhwei: Po, Meng-ch'eng, Su, Fu-yang, T'ai-ho, Ying-shang, Ling-pi, and Huai-yuan counties. The Kuo-yang County of today was created after the Nien Rebellion when the Ch'ing government, in order to strengthen its control, put together parts of the four contiguous counties of Po, Meng-ch'eng, Su and Fu-yang. The county seat of Kuo-yang today is none other than the famous birthplace of the Nien Army: Chih-ho-chi. The commander of the Nien, Chang Lo-hsing, came from the village of Chang-lao-chia, twelve li northwest of Kuo-yang (originally part of Po County), while many other Nien leaders also hailed from the counties of northern Anhwei.