When Zeng Guofan was ups and downs in officialdom when he was young, it was inevitable that he was upset, so he asked Mr. Tang Jian, a famous Neo-Confucianism minister, for advice. Tang Jian gave him a word-"quiet", and when he calmed down, he could handle all kinds of chaotic military events. Since then, Zeng Guofan has been sitting quietly for a while every day, and many experiences and methods of dealing with people, studying and politics have been gained from this. Especially when encountering major problems, he doesn't make a decision easily. He always comes up with an idea after several meditation and repeated weighing. In order to make the atmosphere more fragrant, a incense is often lit. Every time I see this situation, my family doesn't bother him no matter how big it is.

2. "In the past, such as death yesterday; In the future, such as being born today. "

On this day, Zeng Guofan took his diary and went to visit his teacher, Tang Jian. When Tang Jian read his diary, he was very satisfied when he saw that the paper was full of words that denounced himself as undeserving. Turn to the diary on the 22nd, and read it: "From today on, change the name and change the name. Those who wash it, take it to wash away the pollution of its old dyeing; The living, in the words of Yuan Lefan,' what happened in the past, such as yesterday's death, and what will happen in the future, such as today's birth'. " Tang Jian praised: "Have ambition! Wash your life, I hope you will wash the old and give birth to new ones in the future. "

3. "If you are not a sage, you are an animal. Just ask about cultivation, not about harvest. "

Interpretation: If you can't demand yourself by the moral standards of sages, you can only be controlled by desires like animals. I only care about how much I pay, not the result.

Tang Jian once gave Zeng Guofan a self-written book "Jifu Water Conservancy" and a handwritten regular script banner: "If you are not a sage, you are an animal. Ask only about cultivation, not about harvest. Be good at Tang Jian. "

after following Tang Jian for a period of time, especially after reading through his book "Jifu Water Conservancy", Zeng Guofan saw that this famous official of Neo-Confucianism was not a bookworm who buried himself in the old paper and talked about his mind, but a capable official who cared about the people, paid attention to the economy, learned a lot, and was also resourceful. Similarly, Tang Jian also knew that Zeng Guofan was a sophisticated and calculating talent. In the future, teachers and students of Tang Jian and Guo Fan often discussed less about Cheng Zhu's learning and more about the history of the rise and fall of chaos.

4. "If you use its awn lightly, you will get hurt when you move it. It is a murder weapon; If you hide it deeply, it depends on the opportunity. It is a sharp weapon. "

definition: whether dealing with the world or using troops, you can hide your sharp edge at ordinary times, and you can solve the problem by making a decisive move when it is critical.

Before Zeng Guofan sent troops to conquer the Taiping Army, someone gave Zeng Guofan a family heirloom Gu Jian, and his father-in-law Ouyang said, "Di Sheng (Zeng Guofan's word) is happy with his sword today, and so is the old lady. I like a Gu Jian inscription I read in the past very much. Now I give you this Gu Jian inscription. If you use it lightly, it will hurt you if you move it. It is a murder weapon. If you hide it deeply, it depends on the opportunity. It is a sharp weapon. "

after listening to this inscription on Gu Jian, Zeng Guofan understood his father-in-law's profound intention, stood up gratefully and said, "Guo Fan keeps it in mind."

5. "Yang is good at public court, but rules are too private"

Interpretation: praise others in public, and criticize others in private.

after Zeng Guofan led the Xiang army to capture Wuchang, his sixth brother, Ceng Guohua, led five hundred brave men recruited in Xiangxiang to Wuchang. Zeng Guofan was very happy to see this sixth brother who was caressed by his uncle. Of the four younger brothers, he thinks the most promising one is this charming and magnificent sixth brother. So I taught my sixth brother the experience of knowing people with courage.