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What are the differences?

Analysis:

Is Zuo Zongtang an executioner or a patriot - How does Wang Zhen evaluate Zuo Zongtang

Before the 1970s, our country’s attitude towards Zuo Zongtang The evaluation has always been negative. For this reason, they even did not hesitate to tamper with history and describe Agub's invasion of Xinjiang as an uprising of the Xinjiang Communists. Agub's establishment of the "Zhedeshar Kingdom" was just a result of Xinjiang's feudal landowners usurping the leadership of the uprising. This is actually an act of idealism under the banner of historical materialism.

I think Zuo Zongtang had both merits and demerits in his life. The so-called story is that he started his career by running regiments when he was 40 years old, suppressed the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, encircled and suppressed the Nian Army, and strangled the Shaanxi-Gansu uprising. The so-called contribution is that after he was 60 years old, he established the Shipping Administration Bureau in Fujian and carried out Westernization. In particular, regardless of his 65-year-old age, he led the army to the west, regained Xinjiang, established a province in Xinjiang, and vigorously developed and settled farmland in Xinjiang. Therefore, Zuo Zongtang was not only an executioner who suppressed uprisings of people of all ethnic groups, but also a patriot who actively resisted foreign aggression. It can be seen from this that when we evaluated Yue Fei as a national hero in the past, we could ignore his aspect of suppressing peasant uprisings; when we evaluated Zuo Zongtang as a counter-revolutionary executioner, we could also ignore his aspect of patriotism. In fact, these are not the attitudes that should be used to evaluate historical figures. For this reason, two articles were written in the previous paragraph, "The Cradle of China's Modern Navy - Mawei Shipping Bureau and the Schools Before and After" and "Why Cixi Supported Zuo Zongtang's Minority to Recover Xinjiang", just to explain this issue.

Today I read an article written by Mr. Zuo Jingyi in 1983: "Zuo Zongtang’s Patriotic Spirit Shines in History - Comrade Wang Zhen Talks about Zuo Zongtang", which is very interesting. Feelings. Zuo Jingyi is the great-grandson of Zuo Zongtang. In August 1983, Wang Zhen invited him to his home. From 9pm to nearly 12pm, he talked about his evaluation of Zuo Zongtang in detail. During the conversation, Wang Zhen and Zuo Jingyi read "Zuo Wenxiang Gong in the Northwest" published before liberation. When leaving, Wang Zhen also gave Zuo Jingyi his treasured "Chronicle of Zuo Zongtang" with his seal, signature and red pen comments as a souvenir. It can be seen that Wang Zhen’s evaluation of Zuo Zongtang was based on in-depth research. Wang Zhen’s evaluation of Zuo Zongtang is excerpted as follows:

“Historical circles have recently done a meaningful work and made a correct and objective evaluation of Zuo Zongtang. This is of great significance to Zuo Zongtang at home and abroad. The influence was great. Under the historical circumstances of imperialist carving up of China, Zuo Zongtang rejected the criticism of the capitulationists and resolutely led his troops to conquer Xinjiang. This was in line with the long-term interests of the Chinese nation and was a manifestation of patriotism. The spirit of patriotism is worthy of being carried forward by our descendants."

"In the early days of liberation, the route I took to march into Xinjiang was the same route that Zuogong took during his Western Expedition. The 'Zuo Gong Willow' he planted back then was very difficult. It is conceivable that Zuo Zongtang's westward expedition was even more difficult. Otherwise, it would be difficult to imagine the great rivers and mountains in the northwest of the motherland. "

"Agubai came from outside Xinjiang. In fact, he was a lackey of the Russian and British emperors. Zuo Gong led the troops out of the border, eliminated Agubai and Baiyanhu, regained the lost territory, and gained the people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang. This is to resist foreign aggression and is commendable."

"The people who are engaged in foreign affairs are also different. Some are patriotic and some are traitors, such as Zeng Guofan and Li Hongzhang, who cannot be compared with Zuo Zong. Comparable to Tang. Zeng Guofan and Li Hongzhang lost power and humiliated the country. Zuo Gong set up a shipping administration bureau in Fujian and a weaving factory in Gansu. Objectively, it was beneficial to the national economy and people's livelihood. We are historical materialists and we must treat historical figures. Divided into two, Zuo Zongtang had both merits and demerits in his life, and his contribution to the recovery of Xinjiang cannot be erased.

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