1 year, in the winter of the 22nd year of Daoguang (1842), Zeng Guofan set himself twelve rules for reading every day. In the eighth year of Xianfeng (1858), when military affairs were busy, Zeng Guofan decided to warm up old books, read new books and pay for books. Busy with military and political affairs during the day, still reading poetry at night. He kept a diary from the first day of the first month in the 19th year of Daoguang (1839) to the second day of February in the 11th year of Tongzhi (1872), which lasted for several decades. He abides by the principle of being honest and clean as an official. "Three years, the magistrate is clear, and a hundred snowflakes are silver." Live an honest and clean life. During his tenure in Beijing, he despised human gifts, set an example and refused to accept gifts. As a result, he offended many Beijing officials. He abides by the principle of frugality all his life. He usually only takes out a blue satin jacket and puts it in the closet, so it has been as bright as new for 30 years. Before he died, he left a will saying, "If I die, I will take my coffin back along the canal." No presents. "This shows his simplicity. When Zeng Guofan was the governor of the two rivers, he went to Yangzhou one day to visit a salt merchant. At that time, salt merchants were the richest people in the world. Zeng Guofan faced a table full of delicacies and just bowed his head and ate the things around him. After dinner, his subordinates asked him, my Lord, are you distressed by this table of rice? Zeng Guofan said something that surprised everyone: "I can't bear to watch it. "Zeng guofan a meal to eat one thousand two hundred pieces of silver, it is unbearable. Zeng Guofan set an example all his life. He got up at dawn and only rested for four or five hours every day.