Zeng Guofan read at night when he was a child

Zeng Guofan is one of the most influential figures in Chinese history, but his talent was not high when he was a child. So how did he overcome these difficulties? The following is a collection of Zeng Guofan’s reading at night when he was a child. Welcome to read this article!

A short story about Zeng Guofan’s reading

No one can succeed relying solely on talent. God gives talent, hard work turns talent into genius.

Zeng Guofan is one of the most influential figures in Chinese history, but his talent was not high when he was a child. One day while studying at home, he repeated an article countless times and was still reading it aloud because he had not memorized it yet. At this time, a thief came to his house and lurked under his roof, hoping to make some profit after the scholar went to bed. But I waited and waited, even if I didn't see him sleeping, I still read the article over and over again. The thief was furious, jumped out and said, "What kind of book can I read at this level?" Then he recited the article and walked away!

The thief was very smart, at least smarter than Mr. Zeng, but he only could become a thief, but Mr. Zeng became someone even Chairman Mao Zedong admired: “The most capable man in modern times.”

“Diligence can make up for one’s weaknesses as a good lesson, and every minute of hard work equals talent.” That The thief has a very good memory. He can memorize articles he has heard several times. He is also very brave. He can jump out and get angry when seeing others not sleeping. After teaching Mr. Zeng a lesson, he even endorses it and walks away. But it is a pity that he is not well-known. Mr. Zeng later hired a large number of talents. It is said that this thief had an acquaintance with Mr. Zeng, so he could put his talent to use. Unfortunately, his talent was not coupled with diligence, and he became unknown. end.

Stories about Zeng Guofan, inspirational short stories of Zeng Guofan

Zeng Guofan’s story of filial piety to his parents

On the 25th of the first month of the 24th year of Daoguang reign, in Zeng Guofan In his family letter, he wrote, "My parents are blessed with good fortune...two pounds of donkey-hide gelatin, half a pound of Korean ginseng..." and asked someone to take it back to his hometown in Hunan to fulfill his filial piety.

Zeng Guofan later became a general and became a prime minister, and he was a highly respected minister. Of course, these things were readily available. However, in the 24th year of Daoguang, he was still an editor of the Hanlin Academy and a poor official in the capital. It was difficult to obtain these things. Not easy. Especially in his family letters, donkey-hide gelatin is listed alongside Korean ginseng, and donkey-hide gelatin is ranked above Korean ginseng. This shows that the social trend at that time regarded donkey-hide gelatin as a rare and top-quality nourishing product, even rarer than the world-famous Korean ginseng.

Later, in Zeng Guofan’s family letters, words about sending donkey-hide gelatin frequently appeared, and donkey-hide gelatin became the best way for Zeng Guofan to fulfill his filial piety to his parents.

So, what is the medical basis for the nourishing effect of donkey-hide gelatin on the elderly?

For the elderly, health and longevity are the greatest expectations of their children, so how can they stay healthy? What about longevity? The "Nei Jing" says, "The five internal organs are strong, the blood vessels are harmonious...the conduct of health and defense does not lose its normal...so it can last for a long time."

Obviously, deficiency of Qi and blood is the root cause of aging. To delay aging, we must start with Qi and blood. Donkey hide gelatin is sweet in taste and neutral in nature. It can nourish blood and stop bleeding, nourish yin and moisturize dryness, replenish qi and replenish deficiency, eliminate wind and phlegm, clear the lungs, facilitate urination, and moisturize the large intestine. These nourishing effects are indeed very suitable for nourishing the elderly.

Overthrowing the God King Bodhisattva

In the second year of Daoguang reign of the Qing Dynasty (1822), when Zeng Guofan was 12 years old, there was a small river opposite his house and a temple to the God King by the river. Whenever the weather is cool, Guofan takes his younger brother to the river to catch fish and shrimps. Sometimes I would go to the river to have a water fight with my neighbor friends, and when we were tired, we would go to the Shenwang Temple to rest. One time, while riding a sacred ladder with his friends, Guofan took the lead in climbing to the shrine. He accidentally knocked the God King Bodhisattva to the ground, scaring his friends so much that they went home in a hurry. After Zeng Linshu learned about it, he immediately reprimanded the vassal, ordered the temple to be cleaned, and paid for the God King Bodhisattva to re-install the golden body. At the same time, in order to allow Zicheng to study in peace, he was sent to study at Dinghui Temple in Guluoping, Jiufeng Mountain, six miles away from his home. He would leave early and return late. The vassal vassal was not convinced. Every morning when he passed by the Temple of the God King, he put the horse-driving stick tied with a rope on the shoulders of the God King, and said: "Help you, I was sent to Jiufeng Mountain to study, but today you You have to look after my horse. If my horse goes away, I won't let you go." To vent his anger. His father was helpless, so he had to take him with him to study.

The ambitions of Zuo Gong and Zeng Gong

Zeng Guofan and Zuo Zongtang were both important officials in the late Qing Dynasty. Both of them were very famous. The imperial court usually referred to them as "Zeng Zuo". Both of them.

Zeng Guofan was older than Zuo Zongtang, and he once promoted Zuo Zongtang. But Zuo Zongtang was very conceited and never took Zeng Guofan seriously.

Once, Zuo Zongtang asked the attendants beside him very dissatisfied: "Why do people call him 'Zeng Zuo' and not 'Zuo Zeng'?"

A The attendant boldly said: "Zeng Gong always has Zuo Gong in his eyes, but Zuo Gong does not have Zeng Gong in his eyes."

The attendant's words made Zuo Zongtang think deeply for a long time.

"I don’t want my descendants to be high officials, but I want my children to be sensible gentlemen who study hard."

Parents in the world, who doesn’t want their children to become dragons? This Jackie Chan is nothing more than synonymous with becoming officials. Zeng Guofan had great ambitions for fame when he was young, and later he served as an official for decades, but unlike many parents, he did not want his children and grandchildren to be officials. He made it clear many times: "Mortal people often hope that their descendants will be high officials. I don't want to be high officials. I want to be a gentleman who studies and understands principles." There are two reasons: one is that "the world is in trouble" and "even great fortune and wealth are unreliable". Choosing to be an official is not a good future; the other is that the officialdom is dangerous and full of blessings and misfortunes. He himself has doubts about his career and has wanted to leave several times. When an official returns home, he certainly does not want his descendants to take the official path again.

Zeng Guofan’s Four Taboos in Officialdom

Zeng Guofan believed that there were four taboos in being an official, namely the “Four Defeats”: those who are lazy and lazy will be defeated, those who are arrogant and reckless will be defeated, and those who are greedy and cowardly will be defeated. The one who has no scruples will lose, and the one who repeatedly deceives will lose. Zeng Guofan wrote these "four defeats" on his desk and reminded himself every day.

In another place, Zeng Guofan also said that since ancient times, there are two types of people who have been defeated by evil virtues: one is arrogance, and the other is talkative. Summing up his historical experience, he said: "I see that most of the famous officials in the past dynasties lost their families and lives because of these two reasons." Whether it is four defeats or two defeats, in fact, They all have one core, which is that the reason why officials are ruined is often because they don't know how to be scrupulous.

Zeng Guofan once said that he had "three fears": fear of destiny, fear of people's words, and fear of king and father. Zeng Guofan spent his whole life in a state of mind like walking on thin ice and facing an abyss. In May of the 25th year of Daoguang's reign, Zeng Guofan was promoted. In a letter home to his younger brother, he expressed that not only did he not dare to be happy, but he felt trembling with fear. He said:

"This promotion is really beyond my expectation. I am terrified and self-reflecting day and night. I am really unscrupulous enough to bear it. You are thousands of miles away and you will definitely correct me." I always send letters to point out my shortcomings, so that the moral virtue accumulated over the years will not be degraded by myself. My younger brothers should also always be in awe. Don't think that someone in the family is an official, so you dare to bully others; don't think that you are a little bit. Knowledge, then dare to rely on talent and be proud of things. The way to cherish blessings is to always have a sense of awe."

Li Hongzhang and Zeng Guofan

Li Hongzhang is very talented, and his talents can be shaped. Although Li Hongzhang has many shortcomings, he is the kind of talent with outstanding advantages and outstanding shortcomings. Li Hongzhang's shortcoming is that he has a sense of arrogance and an air that is not called gangster, but at least can be regarded as a runaway air. This is something Li Hongzhang has always carried. For example, he doesn't respect his subordinates very much. Every time he promotes someone, he must first give him a scolding. The words he says are very unpleasant. The country keeps scolding him. After the scolding is over, when you go back, hey, he gives You have been promoted to a higher rank. Lift you, kick you, care for people, but do it in an insulting way.

Li Hongzhang once worked as a staff member under Zeng Guofan. Within a few days, he thought that his skills and knowledge were complete, and he had learned all the knowledge from his master, so he wanted to thank his master and become his own boss. Li Hongzhang left the Hunan Army and reorganized the Huai Army. However, he was defeated repeatedly and made no achievements at all. Instead, he used up all his strength. He had no choice but to return to his master to make peace. For more than a month, Li Hongzhang repeatedly asked to see him. , Zeng Guofan repeatedly refused, and Zeng refused as many times as Li requested.

The number of times Zeng Guofan refused was naturally one less than the number of requests Li Hongzhang made. Otherwise, there would be no good stories about Zeng and Li’s master and apprentice in history, and it would be difficult for Li Hongzhang to become a trader and control the direction of history. Zeng Guofan's rejection of Li Hongzhang was not to show his leadership temper or to put on airs, but to show off his talent.

If jade is not polished, it cannot be made into a weapon. If Li Hongzhang's arrogance is not suppressed and repaired, how can it become a great weapon?

Li Hongzhang is arrogant and lazy. Such a style is very suitable for being a celebrity. The more arrogant he is, the more he looks like it. Celebrities, celebrities have always been supported by their popularity, but it is fatal to enter politics. It may be feasible for gangsters to go to a gangster government. Only a gangster government can tolerate gangsters! Zeng Guofan could not allow the existence of evil spirits. Zeng Guofan was very serious in his work and life. He had a horoscope - "breakfast, sweep, test, treasure, book, vegetables, fish, pig". Among them, early means getting up early, having breakfast, and eating breakfast on time every day. How can a lazy person like Li Hongzhang tolerate strict work and rest schedules? Li Hongzhang loves to sleep in, and he sleeps until the sun shines on his butt every day, and is reluctant to get up. Zeng Guofan had breakfast, but Li Hongzhang just slept soundly. Zeng Guofan sent people to shout several times: Li Hongzhang, Master Zeng wants you to go have breakfast quickly. Li Hongzhang said hello, turned around, and went back to sleep. Zeng Guofan was waiting there, not moving his chopsticks, waiting and waiting. After waiting for a long time, Li Hongzhang arrived late. Zeng Guofan refused to eat this meal. He slapped his chopsticks on the table and said slowly: "Shaoquan, the only word of sincerity here is." Let Li Hongzhang know: Being in politics is not about treating guests to dinner, it is not about dinner gatherings with celebrities, and it is not about playing hooligans among gangsters.

Li Hongzhang felt the need to be rigorous in life from eating, and he also felt the majesty of style. It's just that his temper can't be changed all at once. Later, Li Hongzhang was in power, but his influence still remained. Surrounded by great powers, Li Hongzhang presided over diplomacy and once went to consult Zeng Guofan. The master first asked his apprentice: Diplomacy is a major matter for the country. What methods are you going to use? Li Hongzhang replied: The disciple has no idea. I think that no matter what I do when negotiating with foreigners, I will only talk to him in a ruffian tone. This Japanese wants a piece of land from China, so I will accept it first; this Xiong wants China to open a port, so I will accept it first, and then I will find an excuse to turn over. After hearing this, Zeng Guofan, with a frosty face, said to Li Hongzhang: Shaoquan, the only word of sincerity here. You have overdrawn the country's credibility. Then which country will trust you in the future? "In my opinion, it is better to use the word sincerity. Sincerity can be an animal. I think foreigners also have the same human feelings. The saint said that loyalty can be applied to barbarians. This is definitely not true. There will be something wrong. Now that you have no real power, he can clearly see that it is useless no matter how much you try to show off. It is better to be honest and talk to him honestly. If you take advantage, you may not suffer too much. In any case, my credit status will always stand up. I will not fall too far if I am down-to-earth. I think it is more reliable than the ruffian's tone."

Zeng Guofan regarded Li Hongzhang as a talent that could be developed, but he also had strict requirements. It is not because Li Hongzhang is his favorite disciple and his confidant that he should let him go or protect him. Because of this, Li Hongzhang finally became a great talent. After Zeng Guofan passed away, Li Hongzhang wrote an elegiac couplet: "I have been a teacher for nearly thirty years, and I have spent all my time to pass it on. I have built a house and a family to grow up; I am famous for ninety thousand miles, and my inner world is full of people." It's rare to find a talented person in the world." Zeng Guofan interacted with Li Hongzhang and always appeared as a strict teacher. Li Hongzhang was not disgusted but grateful: "When we were in the camp, my teacher always waited for everyone of our generation to eat at the same time; after eating, That is to say, sitting around talking, expounding on classics and history, all of which are useful for learning and economy. A meal is better than a class."

The dialogue between Guofan and Cixi.

In the seventh year of Tongzhi, Zeng Guofan was transferred to the post of governor of Zhili. Before taking office, he was summoned by the imperial court. Everyone in the court showed great respect to this important minister. Empress Dowager Cixi summoned her at the Yangxin Hall in the Forbidden City for three consecutive days. She was extremely concerned about this important minister, so she asked Zeng Guofan: "What are you doing at home, Madam?"

Zeng Guofan replied casually: "To be honest with the Queen Mother, I am my wife. Make some 7788 at home." Empress Dowager Cixi seemed to understand Zeng Guofan's Xiangxiang dialect, and asked: "What is 7788?" Zeng Guofan realized that the words were too local and in the Xiangxiang dialect, so he It was difficult for the Queen Mother to understand, so she explained by the way: "Seven" refers to firewood, rice, oil, salt, sauce, vinegar, and tea; "Eight" refers to filial piety, loyalty, etiquette, and integrity.

After hearing this, the Empress Dowager Cixi nodded approvingly and said: "What a 'minister's wife', she takes care of so many big things and takes care of so many small things." All the ministers nearby praised Zeng Guofan for his wit and agility.

A short story about Zeng Guofan: "The Broken Egg Case"

Zeng Guofan was smart since he was a child. His father, Zeng Linshu, wanted to test whether his son was smart or not, so he imagined a Trial on the egg case.

So he asked someone to boil five eggs and gave one to the maid to eat. Then he said that one was missing and ordered Zeng Guofan to come out and interrogate to see who had stolen one.

That day, when Zeng Guofan came back from school and took off his schoolbag, his mother said: "I obviously boiled five eggs, why are there only four?" His father heard it from the side and asked Zeng Guofan. He called him and said to him: "Your mother's eggs were given to you to eat. Now you can't tell them apart. Let's see which one stole one and find it for your mother." Zeng Guofan thought for a moment and brought one over. He poured a few cups of herbal tea into the wooden basin, called everyone at home, and asked everyone to take a sip of tea and spit it into the basin. He stood aside and watched. As a result, only the tea that the maid spit out contained egg yolk powder, and it was concluded that she had eaten the eggs.

Zeng Linshu was very happy on the sidelines and praised repeatedly: "It's really good, I will definitely have a future."

Zeng Guofan and Taiwan's first governor Liu Mingchuan

Once, Li Hongzhang took three people to see Zeng Guofan. It happened that Zeng Guofan was out for a walk, so Li Hongzhang asked the three people to wait at the door.

When Zeng Guofan came back, he saw three people at the door. He looked to the left, to the right, and in the middle, and walked in without saying anything. Li Hongzhang asked the teacher's evaluation of these three people, and Zeng Guofan replied: "The person on the left can be used, but only in a small way; the person on the right cannot be used at all; the person in the middle can be used, and can be used in a big way."

Li Hongzhang admired the teacher for "recognizing a hero at first sight". When asked why, Zeng Guofan said: "The man on the left, when I look at him, he looks at me, and when I look at him again, his eyelids are straight. He stopped and didn't dare to look at me again.

This shows that he has a kind heart, but his courage is not strong enough, so he can be used, but only for a small amount of time. It is enough to be awarded the deputy director of the camp affairs department. The person on the right didn't dare to look at me when I looked at him. When I didn't look at him, he looked at me secretly. It's obvious that this person has a bad heart, so he must not be used.

However, for the man in the middle, I looked at him and he looked at me. I glanced at him up and down, and he looked at me seriously, which shows that this person is open-minded, broad-minded, available, and. It can be of great use." At this time, Li Hongzhang suddenly understood and assigned these three people according to the teacher's instructions.

Among these three people, there is no way to know the two left and right, but the middle person is Liu Mingchuan, who was reused by Li Hongzhang and became a famous general of the Huai Army in the late Qing Dynasty and the first governor of Taiwan. This story of knowing people was widely circulated at the time. ;