I didn't know Li Hongzhang when I was a child, but now I know the main hall.

1896, Paris World Games. At the opening ceremony, the national flags of all countries rose in turn with the national anthem.

When it was China's turn, only the yellow dragon flag rose slowly in silence. From beginning to end, there was no music, no applause and no national anthem.

After a while, everyone present began to laugh. They laughed at the size of China, even though there was no national anthem.

Amid the jeers, the 70-year-old man stood up on crutches and walked to Huanglong. He stood upright and determined, and sang his hometown song Jasmine with deep affection.

This old man is Li Hongzhang, the powerful minister of the Qing Dynasty. In the history books, he is a sinner who humiliated the country and a powerful minister who betrayed the country and sought glory.

Liang Qichao said: "I respect Li Hongzhang's talent, I cherish Li Hongzhang's knowledge, and I am saddened by Li Hongzhang's experience."

Today we don't read Li Hongzhang, we don't know what patriotism is, and we don't know how much courage it takes for a small person to carry on in the torrent of history.

0 1

1840, 22-year-old Li Hongzhang stood under the imperial list, craning his neck, eager to find his name from the list. From beginning to end of the list, I didn't see the word "Li Hongzhang".

The father who came to see the list with him shook his head. "Come with me to meet someone."

The man my father took Li Hongzhang to see was Zeng Guofan, who was very famous in Beijing at that time.

From then on, Li Hongzhang worshipped Zeng Guofan as a teacher and followed him to learn to apply what he had learned.

Three years later, Li Hongzhang walked into the examination room with confidence.

This time, he was admitted to the Jinshi in one fell swoop and was appointed to study in the Hanlin Academy.

This year, Li Hongzhang was 25 years old and became the youngest winner in the examination room in the 30 years of the Qing Dynasty.

Since then, Li Hongzhang's career has soared. In less than five years, the official reached seven grades, from the seven grades compiled in Xianfeng for three years to the alternate title of provincial judge in Xianfeng for eight years.

There are many storms in officialdom, and waves are everywhere. Being an official was too smooth, and Li Hongzhang was squeezed out everywhere. If you want to take a step up, it is already difficult to move.

1858, 35-year-old Li Hongzhang made a difficult decision: resign from his official position and become the staff of teacher Zeng Guofan!

Being an official is like walking on the road. Step by step, it's not difficult. The difficult thing is to handle the advance and retreat. The hard thing is to jump up and start over when the road is poor.

Li Hongzhang knows that if he keeps going, he will only die! Why don't you take another road and start over!

02

As Zeng Guofan's staff, Li Hongzhang learned from Zeng Guofan how to lead troops to fight and how to handle government affairs. In the past three years, Li Hongzhang has made rapid progress.

Zeng Guofan has a habit of sitting around and chatting with his aides, learning about the economy and dealing with others.

Every time I have dinner with Zeng Guofan, Li Hongzhang benefits a lot. He said, "having a meal with the teacher is better than the last class."

186 1 year, the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom mobilized heavy troops to raid Shanghai. Shanghai is surrounded by heavy troops and is in jeopardy.

Zeng Guofan sent Li Hongzhang to guard. Li Hongzhang led the Huai army to Shanghai, and first gave the army a word:

"If we can't fight well in the first battle, we'll get out of Shanghai at once!"

At that time, there were 9,000 Huai troops and 65,438+10,000 Taiping troops. Li Hongzhang doesn't fight hard, he only fights skillfully.

He set up several camps in vain, with flags flying. When the Taiping Army saw the camp, the fire went out. After several rounds, the Taiping Army has consumed more than half of its ammunition.

In order to inspire the soldiers, Li Hongzhang personally supervised the war. Holding a big knife, he stood at the front of the team with a serious face: "I will cut whoever dares to retreat in the future!" " "

Hearing this, the Huai army rushed forward desperately. Li Hongzhang won a clean and beautiful battle in Shanghai for the first time!

At the moment of receiving the good news, Zeng Guofan made a discount overnight and recommended Li Hongzhang to take over as the governor of Jiangsu.

Zeng Guofan himself may not have thought of it. He gave Jiangsu to Li Hongzhang, and also gave him the last decades of the Great Qing Dynasty.

03

When he became the governor of Jiangsu, Li Hongzhang's official career began to really "take off". Li Hongzhang's official position method is to be promoted to the next level every two years, and the official position is promoted to the next level every two years.

1864, 4 1 year old, Li Hongzhang was awarded the first earl.

1866, when Li Hongzhang was 43 years old, he was awarded a yellow jacket for his meritorious service in twisting suppression.

1868, at the age of 45, he was promoted to Prince Taibao and Governor Huguang; Government officials.

1870, 47-year-old Li Hongzhang made up the governor of Zhili; It is the first of nine ministers in the Qing Dynasty.

1873, 50-year-old Li Hongzhang was officially awarded a bachelor's degree in Wuyingdian and officially became the first official of the Qing Dynasty.

Throughout the Qing Dynasty, only Li Hongzhang was the Han Chinese who could achieve the ultimate official position. In short, Li Hongzhang has become the official top, and only the sovereign and the emperor are higher than his official position!

At the end of Qing Dynasty, in the game with the world, the western countries went up and China went down.

In order to save the nation and survive, Zuo, Zhang Zhidong, Zeng Guofan and Li Hongzhang, the important ministers of the late Qing Dynasty, continued their lives for the Qing Dynasty by their own efforts.

Many scholars have commented so far that if there were no four famous ministers, the Qing Dynasty would have died 50 years ago.

As an important official in the late Qing Dynasty, Li Hongzhang made great efforts to govern. At that time, China was already tottering. He held the big ship in the cold wind for fear that it would sink at any moment. Li hongzhang wrote in a letter to a friend:

"Change is new, change is rotten; Change is born, and change is board. "

Li Hongzhang's first "change" was to change China's physical strength and strengthen China with weapons.

1865, he personally went out to invite people to buy machines in the United States and invited senior technicians and craftsmen. In Shanghai, Jiangnan Manufacturing Bureau, the largest arsenal in East Asia, was established.

Li Hongzhang's second "change" changed China's brainpower and trained modern talents for China.

He selected clever children from all provinces to study in America. Thirty people a year, fifteen years later, take turns to return to China to serve the motherland.

These international students are very famous. Among them are telegraph director Liang, president Tsinghua University (predecessor of Tsinghua University), founder Liang Ruhao of Jiaotong University, the first cabinet prime minister of the Republic of China Tang, and railway engineer Zhan Tianyou.

It can be said that these people are all students of Li Hongzhang.

Li Hongzhang's third "change" became China's industry.

We can clearly see Li Hongzhang's industrial list:

1879, the first telegraph line in China;

1880, China No.1 wharf-Tianjin Dagu wharf;

188 1 year, Kaiping Mining Bureau, the first modern coal mine in China;

1882, the first naval base in China;

1885, Tianjin ordnance school, the first army officer school in China;

1888, China's first pure modern fleet-beiyang fleet;

And many "China First" were founded by Li Hongzhang!

Today, China Merchants Bank, which he founded, still influences China. China Merchants Bank is a subsidiary of China Merchants Bank in the late Qing Dynasty.

However, the ancient China has crossed the dust of the Millennium and is close to her end.

She is tired, old and the scenery is gone. Before modern civilization, she was embarrassed. When the storm came, the building would collapse. How can she support herself with such a powerful minister as Li Hongzhang?

04

187 1 In August, when Li Hongzhang signed the Sino-Japanese Reconciliation Treaty with trembling hands, he never stopped signing it for the rest of his life from that day on.

How many times China was beaten, Li Hongzhang signed the contract.

1895 At 2: 30 pm on March 20th, 73-year-old Li Hongzhang, with the help of accompanying officials, boarded Chunfan Building, the place where Maguan negotiated peace, with crutches.

Before taking a seat, Li Hongzhang first saw the Japanese side put a spittoon next to his seat.

His crutch hit the ground heavily, sat down with a serious face and said, "Prime Minister, I am not old!" " "

The negotiations lasted for four days, and the words were angry and the negotiations were deadlocked.

At 4 pm on March 24, the third round of negotiations ended. Li Hongzhang walked out of Chunfan Building and returned to the posthouse by bus.

As we approached the post office, a Japanese man suddenly appeared in the chaotic crowd and shot him in the face. Li Hongzhang was shot in the left cheek, his robe was covered with blood and he fell in a pool of blood.

The waiter panicked and cried. But the first thing he woke up was:

"What panic, don't cry, I won't die! This blood can serve the country! "

He didn't allow the doctor to operate on him, only let the doctor simply sew up the wound.

Three days later, Li Hongzhang, wrapped in white gauze, sat at the negotiating table again. World public opinion was in an uproar and began to condemn Japan.

Under the pressure of public opinion, Ito Bowen offered to reduce the compensation by1.200 million silver.

On the last day of the negotiation, Li Hongzhang was exhausted. At the negotiating table, we can't see Li See Hongzhang, a powerful minister in the late Qing Dynasty, alone, but a lonely old man who bought vegetables and bargained in the vegetable market.

He bargained with Ito Bowen: "Can you reduce it by another 50 million?"

Rejected by Ito Bowen. Li hongzhang and counter-offer:

"50 million beams won't do, and then reduce the head office by 20 million?"

Finally, the helpless Li Hongzhang even said: "In any case, reduce it a little, just as the old lady's trip back to China!" Wait or refuse.

Weak country, weak country, Li Hongzhang put down all dignity, just to save some money for China.

Everyone only saw Li Hongzhang's "traitorous behavior", but didn't see the hardships of the adults in the main hall!

1895 17 In April, treaty of shimonoseki was signed, and 73-year-old Li Hongzhang set off for home with a tired and shameful sand bomb, the moment when the ship left Japanese land. Li hongzhang said to the people around him:

"I will never set foot on Japanese soil again in my life!" He's really fed up with this humiliation!

But what about China? What is waiting for him is not understanding and tolerance, but scolding and disdain.

He stood on the deck on crutches, looked down at the rough sea and couldn't say a word for a long time.

The sea breeze blows his thin body like a piece of paper. With a little effort, it can be blown into the dust of history at once.

05

When Li Hongzhang returned to China, the ruling and opposition parties swore, and officials and colleagues began to isolate him.

And from beginning to end, what did he do wrong? He is just a chess piece that can't change the overall situation, just a 73-year-old man who is about to step into the loess. Although he said:

"Castle Peak is still as straight as a string, why don't you live alone? Gossip ends with the wise, and it's all in me. Why are you afraid of what others say! "

But the next year, this abusive country could not stay any longer. 1896, 74-year-old Li Hongzhang had to go abroad to hide ballads. Starting from Russia, he visited Germany, Britain, the United States and other European and American countries.

1896, Paris World Games. At the opening ceremony, the national flags of all countries rose in turn with the national anthem.

When it was China's turn, only the yellow dragon flag rose slowly in silence. From beginning to end, there was no music, no applause, and no one sang the national anthem.

After a while, everyone present began to laugh. They laughed at the huge China and didn't even know what the national anthem was.

Amid the jeers, the 70-year-old man stood up on crutches and walked to Huanglong. He stood firm and sang the hometown tune Jasmine with deep affection.

In front of arrogant westerners, Li Hongzhang never grovelled, but constantly defended his dignity. He is respected by westerners, who call him "Bismarck of the East".

In Germany, Bismarck met with Li Hongzhang;

In England, Queen Victoria awarded him the Earl's Medal;

In the United States, the wife of former President Grant presented Li Hongzhang with the president's valuable walking stick.

A year later, Li Hongzhang ended his trip to Europe and boarded a boat for home.

When passing through Japan, he had to change to another ship in Yokohama to return home.

Japanese Emperor and Prime Minister Hirofumi Ito knew of Li Hongzhang's arrival and hoped to exercise diplomatic courtesy and wait on the shore early. The entourage said to Li Hongzhang:

"Lord Naff, we're going ashore to change boats." Li Hongzhang's face suddenly darkened and he said nothing.

After treaty of shimonoseki was signed, Li Hongzhang vowed never to set foot on Japanese soil again, which made him suffer great shame.

He will never go ashore! Finally, the entourage had to set up a board between the two ships and lead to another ship through the board.

Between the tall ships, on a narrow board, Li Hongzhang, a 74-year-old man, was white-haired and emaciated.

He adjusted his official hat, with a firm expression, and took a trembling step on crutches. Every step is extremely difficult. Maybe when the wind blows, he will fall into the rough sea at his feet.

After boarding the ship, Li Hongzhang set out on the vast Pacific Ocean without stopping for a minute or meeting the Japanese emperor.

Li Hongzhang is poor and proud! It's a pity that I have no choice, but I have been proud all my life.

06

190 1 year, the last year of Li Hongzhang's life.

This year, he was 78 years old and talked less and less. He often sits alone in the yard with rockeries. More often, he is panting like a fish that has just landed.

One day in early autumn, Tianjin, which had been ravaged by Eight-Nation Alliance, was devastated. 70-year-old Li Hongzhang lingered in front of the dilapidated Zhili Governor's Office for a long time.

Suddenly crying like a child.

As old as crossing the sea, five senses are everywhere.

Li Hongzhang ran out of oil, but he was sent to make peace with Eight-Nation Alliance. Weak countries have no diplomacy, no discussion, just signing.

But China is so big, if we don't send Li Hongzhang, who else can we send?

This year, Li Hongzhang and Ai Xinjue Luo Yi Kuang attended the signing ceremony of the Xin Chou Treaty. As the highest representative of China at that time, Wang Qing should have signed it.

Celebrate the king is preparing to sign, the old man said 1:

"The hardest word in the world is your own name. You still have a long way to go. Let the old minister sign this traitorous treaty. "

That year, Li Hongzhang was 78 years old and Wang Qing was 63 years old.

Li Hongzhang took the pen in his hand and gingerly signed the word "Li Hongzhang" into the word "Su". These three words are crowded together and look weak and bitter.

After signing the treaty, Li Hongzhang coughed violently and vomited blood.

Two months later, Li Hongzhang's condition took a turn for the worse.

After Eight-Nation Alliance went to Beijing, Cixi and other ministers fled the capital in succession, leaving only one person in charge of the Qing Dynasty, Li Hongzhang, lying in the hospital bed.

190 1 year165438+1October 7, before Li Hongzhang's bed, several Russian ministers came and forced him to sign the Treaty of Russian Occupation of Northeast China. At this time, Li Hongzhang was exhausted.

But the Russians were arrogant and forced him to sign immediately.

After signing the words, Li Hongzhang vomited blood and didn't catch his breath.

Everyone around us cried: "I have something to say to nave, I can't just leave!" "

Li Hongzhang's eyes widened, and people around him said to him, "The Russians said that after Nav left, he would never embarrass China again!"

Li Hongzhang's eyes lit up and his mouth seemed to want to say something. Everyone around me said, "I can finish my unfinished business, please rest assured!" " "

Hearing this sentence, Li Hongzhang closed his eyes. After his death, Manchu was crying.

07

Washington post said of Li Hongzhang: He saved the people of China from the troubles caused by ignorance countless times, but he was reviled and accused every time.

Li Hongzhang's life, he once summed it up like this:

"To young families, mature soldiers, middle-aged governments and westernization in their later years. It is not unfortunate to meet all the way. "

As far as official positions are concerned, Li Hongzhang is lucky.

He seized every opportunity provided by the times and climbed to the top of the world.

However, the hardships of this world are not only the source of all his glory, but also the source of all his humiliation.

Li Hongzhang's aiding and abetting has exhausted his efforts as a dying empire, but a small ZTE can't escape the historical torrent.

The times are difficult and the war has not stopped. In history, everyone is just a drop in the ocean, all resistance is always powerless, and all dignity is just a mockery of oneself.

If it weren't for his first signing, maybe he wouldn't bear so much blame.

During his lifetime, he signed more than 30 unequal treaties. He knows very well that from the day he signs it, he will bear the responsibility for life.

But history is like this. If it weren't for Li Hongzhang, he would choose another "back pot man" mercilessly.

This is his misfortune, and it is also the misfortune of all people in China at the right time.

My feet are turning over the waves, and I am worried about the past and the present. Li Hongzhang has gone through the times all his life, but he still has to go back, struggling to support a big country, struggling to take two steps, take a step back and try to take two steps again.

Full of blood and tears, alas, there are no elegies anywhere. For the times, Li Hongzhang is very small, but the small people in the waves of this era finally let history spit out a heavy sigh.

Today, if we don't read Li Hongzhang, we don't know what patriotism is, and we don't know how much courage it takes for a small person to struggle forward with a heavy burden in the torrent of history.