My friend got married, and everyone came from all over the country to congratulate her. After lunch, we visited the former residence of Zuo Zongtang, a well-known local fellow.
Zuo Zongtang is no stranger to everyone. He was a feudal official in the late Qing Dynasty and the only general in world history who regained lost territory when national sovereignty was shattered (Ili area covers an area of ??more than 1.6 million square kilometers. Approximately one-eighth of the total area of ??China), and is therefore rated as one of the four undefeated generals in Chinese history, namely Han Xin of the Han Dynasty, Li Jing of the Tang Dynasty, Yue Fei of the Song Dynasty, and Zuo of the Qing Dynasty. Zongtang.
Zuo Zongtang, who was famous as a military general, was indeed a real scholar in his early years. In his early years, he led his family to move from Xiangtan to Liuzhuang, Xiangyin, where he bought 70 acres of land and built a farmhouse and garden. He would also personally cultivate the fields, conduct in-depth research, and write the "Pu Cunge Farming Book" Agricultural works represented by this book summarize the techniques and laws of farming and the manufacture of farming tools. Later, I saw that some local children were idle and idle, so I used the empty hall on the right side of my home to set up a persuasive school, where I personally taught classic textbooks such as The Analects of Confucius, the Four Books, and the Five Classics. Later, there was flooding in the Xiangyin area, and many people were infected and displaced. Zuo Zongtang and his wife studied medicine and made decoctions to help the people tide over the difficulties, and accumulated a certain influence in the local area.
This was the general life of Zuo Zongtang before he entered officialdom. Of course, there was also a period of time when he taught at Lujiang Academy and served as a staff member. Zuo Zongtang went to Beijing for exams three times, but failed each time. This experience was a bit like Zeng Guofan, another minister of the Zhongxing Dynasty in the late Qing Dynasty. Zeng Guofan's previous exams in Beijing did not go well, but Zeng Guofan repeatedly failed and fought hard to study. In the end, he won the first place in the imperial examination, won the top 42 in the imperial examination, was awarded the Jinshi, and officially entered the official career. In comparison, Zuo Zongtang was a late bloomer. In the 15 years from his failure in 1835 to 1850, his main experience was teaching and educating people, and farming and studying in the countryside. It was not until January 1850 (the 29th year of Daoguang in the lunar calendar) that Lin Zexu returned to his hometown and asked Zuo Zongtang to meet him in a boat in Changsha. According to legend, the two talked all night long, covering ancient and modern situations, personal criticism, and "current affairs in the Western Regions." (such as village administration, water conservancy), etc. Later, Lin Zexu also talked about this meeting with others, praising Zuo Zongtang as an "extraordinary talent" and "unparalleled genius" and having great expectations. Then from cooperating with Zeng Guofan to recruit and manage the "Hunan Army", suppressing the Taiping Army, and then to pacify Nian Hui and recover Yili and other super gods!
Zuo Zongtang’s life was a life of accumulation. During the more than ten years he served as a teacher, he did not feel depressed. Instead, he studied extensively and read widely. He not only studied Confucian classics, but also dabbled in the study of world management and practical application. He regarded masterpieces on science, economics, water conservancy and other contents as treasures, which played a great role in his later leadership of troops in war, policy management and financial management.
In Zuo Zongtang's former residence, there are four words "Heaven and Earth are righteous" written on many doors. It is said that these four words were Zuo Zongtang's favorite in his life. He wrote them in his own hand many times and gave them to his friends, " The short four words "Heaven and Earth are righteous" sonorously and powerfully convey this famous hero's ambitious, brave and enterprising life attitude when he was young.
In addition, in the former residence of Zuo Zongtang, there are many references to the proposition of "knowing people and making friends carefully", "make friends carefully, study diligently, stick to the fundamentals, and get rid of the flashy", "employing people is difficult, knowing people is not easy , investigate carefully." "The most taboo thing in creation is cleverness, and all kinds of people can appreciate each other with sincerity." These cultural relics that can be seen everywhere in Zuo Zongtang's former residence vividly illustrate Zuo Zongtang's stance and values ??in choosing friends.
Zuo Zongtang had very few friends because of his upright character and quick temper. However, the following four people were nothing more than the most important mentors and friends around Zuo Zongtang. They were: Peng Shu, the governor of Liangjiang, and the national hero Lin Zexu. , his lifelong best friend Hu Linyi, fell in love with and killed Zeng Guofan, these people are the most important noble people in Zuo Zongtang's life, and they are the comrades around Zuo Zongtang. Without these confidants, Zuo Zongtang's magnificent life would not have been possible!
After visiting Zuo Zongtang’s former residence, I was deeply moved. Everyone lives in the torrent of history, is pushed by the torrent, and also pushes the torrent. Only a few people can turn the tide in the torrent.
In history, outstanding figures often appear in the form of groups, producing a series of admirable stories! Just like Zuo Zongtang and his friends. My thinking is: How should we create a community of common progress around us, so that everyone can promote each other and move forward!
In this life, people are either influencing others or being influenced by others. As the saying goes, those who are close to vermilion are red, and those who are close to ink are black. Although there is no need to be serious as Confucius said: Those who do not have friends are not as good as themselves! But it is also necessary to seriously think about the few friends you associate with most. Although they do not insist on fame, wealth, glory, but if they can all appreciate each other sincerely, encourage each other, and cultivate a noble spirit, wouldn't it be wonderful! !