Zeng Guofan, Li Hongzhang's teacher, is called "the last moral idol of feudal society". Zeng Guofan's morality, knowledge, being an official and being a man have great influence on later generations' thoughts. He was regarded as a model not only in China in the late Qing Dynasty, but also in a long historical background. What is the important influence of such a teacher's teaching and clever talent on Li Hongzhang's life?
It was the darkest time in his life before Li Hongzhang went to his teacher Zeng Guofan. After his father died, he was chased by Chen Yucheng, and even his ancestral home was burned down. Li Hongzhang, who has reached middle age, is faced with difficulties and failures again and again, which is very difficult. /kloc-in the winter of 0/858, Li Hongzhang went to his mentor Zeng Guofan. Before that, around 1846, after he failed in the first exam, he wrote a post under Zeng Guofan's door as a "teenager", learning to apply what he learned, which laid the foundation for his career and thought.
When Li Hongzhang arrived at Zeng Guofan's shogunate, he was brilliant and soon became a pivotal figure in the shogunate.
Because of his excellent literary talent, he often helped his teacher Zeng Guofan write down the paper with a stroke of a pen. Sometimes the passbook he wrote was so brilliant that the teacher Zeng Guofan was very satisfied and even reported it to the court word for word. The court was also very satisfied and immediately called. Under such excellent performance, Zeng Guofan took the opportunity to give full play to the court's permission for Li Hongzhang to participate in the discussion of confidential affairs, so he quickly found an accurate position in life and embarked on a new height. It can be said that Ceng Laoshi is the most important figure in Li Hongzhang's official career. Compared with the previous period, he repeatedly hit a wall on the battlefield. After he defected to Zeng Guofan, the teacher's attention, training and support gave Li Hongzhang a platform and space to play his extraordinary talents.
Ceng Laoshi not only appreciates Li Hongzhang's talent, but also is willing to give the high flyers great tolerance and patience. Zeng Guofan once took Li Hongzhang to see Hu Linyi, who was also the leader of ZTE. Ceng Laoshi and Hu argued because of their different views on the strategic layout. As an aide, Li Hongzhang just listened, but as the dispute between the teacher and Mr. Hu deepened, the more he listened, the more annoyed he became, and he couldn't help yelling: Isn't this simple? Don't argue, listen to me ... "Li Hongzhang clearly analyzed the situation and its advantages and disadvantages. After listening to his strategic analysis, Hu Linyi and Zeng Guofan were both amazed at Li Hongzhang's strategy. Hu Linyi even urged Zeng Guofan to give Li Hongzhang a chance to undertake more important tasks on the spot, which made Zeng Guofan both happy and embarrassed.
Li Hongzhang and Zeng Guofan not only "obeyed day and night, but also stressed the knowledge of justice and reason", but also ordered the editing and collation of miscellaneous notes on classics and history according to the new purpose of academic research. Zeng Guofan called it "the great use of talents" many times, and called it "the four gentlemen of Ding Wei" with contemporary scholars Guo Songtao, Chen Nai and Shuai Yuanduo. Zeng Guofan also told Li Hongzhang about his experience in training Xiang Army, which shows his expectation. With the cultivation of teachers, constant opportunities, and cleverness and eagerness to learn, Li Hongzhang made great achievements in his life, and he was therefore grateful to Zeng Guofan.
However, the feud between Li Hongzhang and his mentor Zeng Guofan made him take a lot of detours. Zeng Guofan sent him to train cavalry in northern Anhui. If Li Hongzhang doesn't like it, just say it and not do it. Zeng Guofan thought he was self-reliant, so he put his brother Ceng Guoquan in an important position. Feeling that there was no important opportunity, Li Hongzhang suddenly became disheartened. So he submitted his resignation to Zeng Guofan. However, Zeng Guofan took over Li Hongzhang's resignation and showed him the imperial edict, which must remain valid under his hand. Li Hongzhang was so angry that he simply broke the jar and broke it, causing trouble and fighting. If you don't agree with Peng Yulin, you will add up your fists and Peng Li will be an enemy from now on. However, even if Li Hongzhang fought and made trouble, Zeng Guofan still asked Li Hongzhang to stay on the grounds of helping the poor. Later, Zeng Guofan moved to Qimen, and the military commander was a Jedi. Zeng Guofan was very clear about what the students were thinking, so he quickly went to the hydrophobic, guaranteed Li Hongzhang to be a salt carrier in Huaibei, and embarrassed Li Hongzhang to make trouble again. Unexpectedly, Zeng Guofan, who had to play every time, did not get the approval of the court this time. But in Li Hongzhang's view, Ceng Laoshi is sure to play this book, and this time the court just rejected it, so he has a great resentment against Ceng Laoshi. After the Li incident, Li Hongzhang and his mentor Zeng Guofan completely turned against each other and parted ways.
After falling out with the teacher, Li Hongzhang took a detour for some time. The ups and downs of life are related to his personality and his life orientation in different periods. Li Hongzhang is very clever in dealing with Li Duyuan's incident. In the early stage, he not only showed his loyalty to Zeng Guofan, but also created conditions for him to leave Qimen temporarily. He even left room for returning to Zeng Guofan in the future. This shows that Li Hongzhang's political talent is very prominent. After Li Hongzhang left Qimen, teachers and students really realized the importance of each other again. Under the mediation of Hu Linyi and Guo Songtao (friends of Zeng and Li), teachers and students made up. A year later, Zeng Guofan invited Li Hongzhang to return to his side. This incident, on the one hand, shows Li Hongzhang's talent and ability to deal with problems, but it also shows Zeng Guofan's broad-minded and selfless.
1865, the Qing court appointed Zeng Guofan as an imperial envoy and went to the northern DuShi, with Li Hongzhang acting as the governor of Liangjiang. Because most of the Xiang Army under Zeng Guofan has been abolished, facing the new situation of Huai Army, Zeng Guofan could not command effectively. A year and a half later, the inspector failed. 1866, the Qing court changed Li Hongzhang to an imperial envoy and took over the affairs of twisting suppression, so that Zeng Guofan still returned to the position of governor of Liangjiang. What happened after Li Hongzhang took over this time also became Zeng Guofan's heart disease in his later years. One is to suppress the Nian army, and the other is to deal with the Tianjin religious plan against one's will and lose the governor of Zhili. The two major events were replaced by his student Li Hongzhang.
Although there were many bad feelings between them, Zeng Guofan adopted the policies formulated by Li Hongzhang as soon as he arrived at the front. After Li Hongzhang arrived in Shandong, he first expanded the Huai army and then adjusted his strategic policy. Although he still insists on the teacher's strategic policy of "static braking". However, when France joined forces with the United States, Britain, Russia, Germany and other countries to protest against the Qing government, warships from various countries gathered in Tianjin and Yantai to intimidate by force, and the Tianjin religious incident occurred. The Qing court still asked Zeng Guofan, then governor of Zhili and minister of Beiyang, to handle the Tianjin religious plan. As a result, Zeng and Li once again triggered a new story because of their different working methods.
Zeng Guofan had to ask the court for help because of improper methods when handling Tianjin religious plans. The court immediately ordered Li Hongzhang to lead troops from the south to prepare for the war in Gyeonggi, and appointed him as the governor of Zhili to succeed Zeng Guofan.
It is said that Li Hongzhang went to see his teacher after he arrived in Tianjin. Zeng Guofan said with a sad face, "I am in trouble, and you are the best." I explain myself. You were recommended by me. "
Li Hongzhang said quickly, dare not, dare not.
Zeng Guofan asked again, how do you deal with foreigners? Li Hongzhang replied, "My protege has no plans either. I think, in any case, I will only play hooligans with foreigners when dealing with them. "
Zeng Guofan listened and stroked his beard with five fingers. After a long silence, he said slowly, "Oh, rascal, rascal, I don't know how to play. Try playing with me. "
Hearing the teacher's dissatisfaction with the answer, Li Hongzhang quickly changed his tune and said, "My protege is talking nonsense. If he is wrong, ask the teacher for advice. "
Zeng Guofan smoothed his beard again, looked at Li Hongzhang for a long time and said, "In my opinion, we should still use the word' sincerity' to treat livestock sincerely. I think foreigners also understand this. Let's be honest with each other. I think this is more reliable than the scorpion cavity. "
Zeng Guofan, who was honest and strict all his life, was not a gentleman when he encountered this matter. Compared with his teacher, his handling of foreigner Li Hongzhang is obviously more grounded and successful, and therefore more respected by the media.
1February 872, Zeng Guofan died. Before he died, he regretted the handling of the "Tianjin religious plan" and blamed himself. Zeng Guofan paid attention to the principle of being a man and doing things all his life, and paid attention to the importance of morality and practice. He didn't expect that his old age was not smooth, and the pain in his heart could be imagined. Li Hongzhang's eyes were filled with sorrow and tears when he heard the news. He began to write elegiac couplet:
I have been a teacher for nearly 30 years, and my salary is all over the world, which has built a space for the growth of the school;
Wan Li's fame and fortune have rocked nine places, and talents in the world are hard to meet.
Some people say that without Zeng Guofan, there would be no Li Hongzhang, and without Zeng Guofan and Li Hongzhang, there would be no Qing Dynasty at that time, which shows that the achievements of mentoring and mentoring are against each other in the background of the times. Zeng Guofan and Li Hongzhang, both apprentices and colleagues, can support each other in the face of internal and external troubles, and both can focus on the overall situation, which shows their pattern.
After the Tianjin religious plan, Li Hongzhang began to serve as governor of Zhili and minister of Beiyang trade. In the next twenty-five years, Li Hongzhang began an important achievement in his life. As a famous minister in the late Qing Dynasty and one of the main leaders of the Westernization Movement, he was the leader of the Westernization Movement, the founder and commander-in-chief of Huai Army and Beiyang Navy, and was awarded a bachelor's degree in Wenhua Hall.
But because of his high position, he signed the Vietnam Treaty, the treaty of shimonoseki and the Concise Treaty between China and France on behalf of the Qing government. After the signing of treaty of shimonoseki, it aroused strong repercussions throughout the country. Kang Youwei and others launched a bus to write a letter, which set off the climax of the reform and reform. Although Li Hongzhang also regarded the signing of Shimonoseki as a great shame, he vowed never to set foot on the land again and tended to reform. However, because "treaty of shimonoseki" caused public outrage in China, the Qing government was hard to blame, so it pointed the finger at Li Hongzhang, who took the blame for the Qing government's loss of power and humiliation of the country.
After the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895, Li Hongzhang was removed from his post as governor of Zhili and minister of Beiyang, and remained idle for 25 years. As a scholar, Li Hongzhang is outstanding; As a soldier, he made valuable contributions to the country in important battles; As a politician who has been in politics for 30 years, he has made many recognized achievements in social facilities during his tenure; As a diplomat, his achievements made him one of the best in diplomatic history.
The famous Li Hongzhang, in addition to pursuing Taiping Army, running Westernization and supervising water conservancy, has also created personal brand influence in overseas world and become a super advertising spokesperson sought after by major brands. Li Hongzhang chop suey has become a popular traditional dish. Li Hongzhang's humorous speeches and speeches, which are proficient in western diplomatic etiquette, often cause humorous imitation by the American people. His words "Farewell to my brother" at the grave of General Grant deeply touched the American people and were regarded as bosom friends ... As a controversial historical figure, besides his scenery and wandering, there is another side we know. Li has become the preferred spokesman for many western commercial products. In Britain, the name "Li Hongzhang" frequently appears in the pages of major newspapers, and its brand effect is internationally renowned.
As a diplomatic envoy of the Qing government, Li Hongzhang's treaty of shimonoseki and the Treaty of Shame and Ugliness have been criticized, which makes it difficult for people to comment on Li Hongzhang's fault in national destiny. However, in Li Hongzhang's foreign affairs, he always focused on the overall situation of the country. Most of his merits and demerits are due to the current situation, and many of them are not from his original intention. Throughout his life, Li has made outstanding contributions to the current situation and made many mistakes for the people.
Liang Qichao commented on him like this: "I respect Li Hongzhang's talent, I cherish Li Hongzhang's knowledge, and I feel sad for Li Hongzhang's experience."