I have divided the history of the Nien into roughly six phases. Each stage has its unique characteristics. The first phase was the birth of the Nien, marked by disorganization. At that time the Nien were simply separate groups of three or five persons, "scattered, with no communication among them." The various nien groups did not have any leaders. During the second stage, the Nien developed an organization and were able to establish a name among the populace. At this stage, every Nien had its leader. The third stage began when the Nien, responding to the Taiping Rebellion, started their own uprising north of the Yangtze River. This period was marked by the amalgamation of small Nien into larger units, so that the movement developed a strong organization. Even at this stage, however, the Nien carried out independent uprisings and were not united under any one leader. The fourth phase was the unification of the Nien Society under a single leader and the establishment of the "Great Han" reign. In this period the Nien controlled territory and people, and bestowed ranks and titles. They farmed and fought simultaneously, hoping to found a revolutionary regime. The fifth stage was the merging of the Great Han Army into the Taiping Rebellion. It was marked by abandonment of the "Great Han" reign title and adoption of Taiping titles. Much military experience was gained in the battles of this period. The sixth phase saw the movement lose the quality of a local uprising. After the fall of the Heavenly Capital [Nanking], the Nien became the Taipings' regular army. Under the leadership of Lai Wen-kuang, they continued their revolutionary struggle north of the Yangtze River. During the previous (fifth) stage, the Nien had preserved the basic character of the Great Han uprising - doubling as peasants and as soldiers. During the sixth stage, by contrast, they became full-time soldiers and participated in long -distance expeditions. They constituted a new center of resistance against the Ch'ing after the loss of the Heavenly Capital.