Of 50,000 inhabitants 30,000 were butchered.

After the massacre twenty-four panniers of human ears were sent to Yunnan city to convince the people of the capital that they had nothing more to fear from the rebellion.
In March, 1873, Yang was appointed _Titai_ or Commander-in-chief of Yunnan Province, with his headquarters in Tali, not in the capital, and Tali has ever since been the seat of the most important military command in the province.
The subsequent history of Yang may be told in a few words.

He assumed despotic power over the country he had conquered, and grew in power till his authority became a menace to the Imperial Government.

They feared that he aspired to found a kingdom of his own in Western China, and recalled him to Peking--to do him honour.

He was not to be permitted to return to Yunnan.