meanwhile, qing forces in the ili valley did not fare well. in april 1865, the huining (惠宁) fortress (today's , located between yining and huiyuan), fell to the rebels after a three-month siege. its 8,000 manchu, xibe, and solon defenders were massacred, and two survivors with their ears and noses cut off were sent to huiyuanthe qing's last stronghold in the valleyto tell the governor-general the fate of huining.