The Honan authorities do not appear to have been successful in maintaining order and suppressing brigandage. Amongst the innumerable acts of lawlessness reported, one of the most daring occurred in the early part of December when a band of 500 mounted robbers attacked the district city of Hsi-hua Hsien, and after looting the town departed unmolested, taking with them some of the leading inhabitants for whose release they demanded a ransom.
Source: wiktionary