After reading the series of letters from home all the way, I deeply discussed and summarized Lao Zeng from all aspects. I believe I have the answer to how Lao Zeng grew from a scholar who can only read sage books to a perfect generation step by step. So what is the idea he insists on in the officialdom? First of all, Lao has read a lot of books, claiming to be familiar with the orthodox history books of past dynasties, so he pretends to be lofty, and often he is not used to all kinds of bad habits in officialdom, and even hates it. Secondly, Lao used to be a man who was loyal to the world and patriotic. He understood that loyalty to the king and patriotism was the place where every scholar settled down and was the ideal and goal of life for all scholars in the world to unite and advance.
Lao used to be a person who respected "Ming Qiang", "fortitude" and "self-reliance". In his view, it is better to ask for help than to ask for help, and self-reliance is the foundation of settling down. Anyone who does great things can succeed in the end only in two ways: first, he has a fixed mind, gives birth to stubbornness, and then acts boldly; Second, there is a constant heart, moving forward step by step, not only day by day, but also due. These principles seem very simple and clear today. You won't hesitate if you have a fixed mind, you won't see difficulties as mountains if you are bold, and you won't give up halfway if you have a constant mind. All these reflect Lao Zeng's lofty spirit, self-reliance and self-improvement, and they are also the foundation of being a man and doing things! Worth learning!
1. Being concerned about the country, I speak frankly. coachable
In May of the first year of Xianfeng, Lao mentioned in his letter to his younger brother: On the 26th, he made another remonstrance, honoring Chen Shengde and preventing abuses. At present, I and my family are deeply grateful to the emperor. At this time, if you don't be loyal and outspoken, when are you waiting for advice? Therefore, taking advantage of the opportunity to implement the New Deal in the first year of Xianfeng, telling the truth about coachable made the emperor conscientious day by day and cut off the seeds of self-righteous thoughts. This is his little intention. At present, the talents of the country are not refreshed, and they are all cautious in small places, while they are negligent in big places. Everyone is used to being passive and flattering to Nuo Nuo. I hope to reverse the bad atmosphere in the DPRK through this remonstrance.
When the passbook was first presented, Lao Zeng thought it might violate his majesty, but his resolute and stubborn temperament also made Lao Zeng ignore the gains and losses. The final result is that Xianfeng said nothing about this suggestion. In this regard, Lao Zeng continued to talk about it in his family letter: from now on, he should be loyal to serving the country and no longer worry about personal matters such as personal life. Every time my father wrote home, he taught himself to be loyal to his country and not to worry about his family. Therefore, in the future, he still forgot his personal interests and his family because of his country. The manuscript of this letter might as well be copied to Ouyang's family, Wang's family and other relatives and clansmen, so that they can know that they are ashamed to steal high positions and want to serve the country faithfully, and dare not be sycophantic, otherwise they will disgrace the clan and live up to the expectations of their ancestors.
advice that is hard to listen to is good for action, and good medicine that tastes bitter is good for illness. It takes a lot of boldness and courage to speak frankly about coachable. As a cautious man, Lao Zeng can do this, which shows that he is loyal to the country. On the other hand, it also reflects the courageous and strong side of Lao Zeng. Lao Zeng studied a book without finishing reading the next one until he read a lot of books, wrote a diary to reflect on his persistence all his life, and led troops to fight with a hard house until he finally won. Although Lao Zeng looks like a weak scholar, he has a stubborn and tenacious spirit in his heart, which is what the saying goes. Compared to doing things hard, you still win!
From the 21st year of Daoguang to Tongzhi, Lao Zeng experienced three dynasties during his political career, and he was a proper elder of three dynasties. Roughly calculated, starting from the Imperial Academy, to the Ministry of Rites, the Ministry of Official Affairs, Hubei, Jiangxi, Liangjiang, Zhili, etc., Lao Zeng is equivalent to doing more than half of the official positions in the court at that time, and it is no exaggeration to say that he is an official. But in fact, Lao used to be a down-to-earth person, doing things and being an official. In modern words, he is called a "doer". No matter what position he holds, he can keep a correct attitude and work hard. He pays attention to both execution and efficiency in doing things. He can not only think from a strategic perspective, but also pay attention to details and grasp the micro. He is really good at being an official.
2. Do things in a solid way, be diligent and love the people
In the first year of Tongzhi, Lao mentioned the establishment of Lijin checkpoints in his letter to his younger brother: there are too many Lijin checkpoints within a few hundred miles of the Yangtze River. If Chase collects the shipping fees again, I am afraid that businessmen will not dare to walk, which will hinder the overall situation, so they are not prepared to approve the establishment themselves. There are not many branches of the Hong Kong Legislative Council, so I consider setting up a branch in Huayang Town myself. My brother's income is relatively rich, and it is more appropriate for the foreign navy division not to be suspected of fighting for power and profit. Another most important thing is that Jinzhuguan can set up a monthly income of 5, to 6, yuan; Dongba can set up a Li card and earn 5, to 6, yuan a month. Both places are at the junction of Jiangsu and Anhui. It is justified for my brother to take the tax of this province as a vassal of this province.
In July of the tenth year of Xianfeng, Lao Zeng wrote to several younger brothers: It seems that there is no fixed truth in the world to secretly observe the management methods of these officials, the movements of the people, and the actions of governors and generals in various provinces. Only repay with one diligent word, and repay your parents with the word love for the people. It's hard to make meritorious deeds because you can only see things yourself, but you have to work hard all day long to keep a diligent word. Marching was originally a matter of harassing the people, but we always have a heart of loving the people and not letting the virtues accumulated by our ancestors run out. Yuan Di's words of "setting more good officials and selecting general talents" are extremely brief. However, good people are hard to get, and his younger brothers also pay attention to them. Anyone who has a skill will never dare to despise it.
Lao Zeng was an official, neither cheating nor flattering, but more upright and upright. He is a very diligent person, and there is nothing difficult in the world. Lao Zeng, who is diligent in reading and doing things, also brought this fine style to the officialdom. Many things are hands-on and unremitting. It can be said that his hard work is a clean stream of officialdom at that time. In the late Qing Dynasty, the bureaucracy was corrupt and local problems piled up. Lao Zeng had seen these problems long ago, and often proposed to the DPRK to rectify the bureaucracy, and vigorously rectified the bureaucracy in Hubei, Liangjiang, Zhili and other places where he successively lived as an official. After his drastic put in order, the local bureaucracy and folk customs were all refreshed.
As the saying goes, "Fighting tigers and brothers, fighting fathers and sons", Lao Zeng valued not only his own ambition, but also the rise and fall of the Zeng family. Lao Zeng has been paying close attention to your younger brothers' academic future since he entered Beijing as an official, and has received personal counseling from his younger brothers several times. During the Xianfeng period, Lao Zeng founded the Xiang Army against the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom and brought his younger brothers into the army. On the one hand, he continued to temper their growth ability and knowledge, on the other hand, his brothers were ministers and took care of each other. As the leader of the family, Lao Zeng always cares about helping his brothers, giving everything he has in politics and helping his brothers hand in hand, which really plays an exemplary role.
3. Give advice to brothers and give them political experience.
In the first month of the eighth year of Xianfeng, Lao once said in a letter to his ninth brother, Ceng Guoquan, that his life's fault was that he was ambitious, but he lacked strength, so he accomplished nothing. My younger brother is young and energetic. At this time, it is most suitable to go all out to rectify day and night. In the past, sages said to cook with strong fire, but now it is time to cook with strong fire. My younger brother is now focusing on camp affairs, so it is not suitable for reading books often. However, if you do one thing only with specificity, you will not be sloppy. Xunzi said, "If you don't listen to two things at the same time, you will be alert, and if you don't look at two places at the same time, you will understand." Zhuangzi said, "If you concentrate your mind and don't disperse it, you will concentrate your wisdom." All words of wisdom!
In May of the same year, Lao Zeng sent a letter home to his ninth brother Ceng Guoquan: Last time, he said that his brother's duty was to be able to fight as the first priority, to love the people as the second priority, and to contact soldiers in various battalions and officials and gentry in various provinces as the third. My brother has always been weak. If he can't take care of both, let's put these two points aside, but he can fight but he can't relax at all times. My younger brother recommended Tongzhi Hualing, and in the future, Fufu City will naturally be promoted to the position of prefect. I'm not happy because my brother got the rank, but because my brother's ability to be an official is better than his ability to lead troops. In the future, I may be an upright and honest official and do some practical things for the people. That's the glory of Zeng's family and my brother's luck!
Lao Zeng's brothers who joined the army, except his ninth brother Ceng Guoquan, the other two died in battle or died of illness. Wuchang, Hubei, Anqing, Anhui, Jiujiang, Jiangxi and Jinling, Jiangsu were all conquered by this "Zeng Tietong" Ceng Guoquan. According to Lao Zeng, "From Anqing to Jinling, 6 miles along the Yangtze River, all the passes of cities and towns were captured by Yuan Di, and Yu was fortunate to have a name, all of which was given by Yuan Di." Lao Zeng said his fame, including the sealed marquis, and all of them relied on Ceng Guoquan, the ninth brother, to cut off the pass and win the balance of heaven. Of course, this is Lao Zeng's modest statement. It is obviously the result of Lao Zeng's painstaking cultivation that Ceng Guoquan can make contributions continuously.
Have a fixed mind, be stubborn by nature, and act boldly; Judge the situation and be brave enough to speak out about coachable at critical moments; No matter what position you are in, you can have a correct attitude and work hard, paying attention to both execution and efficiency, and you can not only think from a strategic perspective, but also pay attention to details and grasp the micro; Forget the private for the public, forget the home for the country, be loyal to the country, and be innocent of your ancestors; Seriously analyze and summarize the way of being an official of provincial governors and generals, and finally establish diligence and love for the people as the foundation; Always care for and help your younger brother, give everything you have in politics, and make sure that Zeng's parents are prosperous ... Lao Zeng's ways of being an official are still very clever even today! Study again! Line up!
< End of Chapter 28 >