for chinese new year 1865, the hui leaders of tacheng (chuguchak) invited the local qing authorities and kalmyk nobles to assemble in the hui mosque, in order to swear a mutual oath of peace. however, once the manchus and kalmyks were in the mosque, the hui rebels seized the city armory, and started killing the manchus. after two days of fighting, the muslims gained control of the town, while the manchus were besieged in the fortress. nevertheless, with the help of the kalmyks the manchus were able to retake the tacheng area by the fall of 1865. this time, it was the hui rebels who were locked up in the mosque. the fighting resulted in the destruction of tacheng and the surviving residents fleeing the town.