Evaluation of Li Hongzhang When talking about Li Hongzhang, a powerful official in the late Qing Dynasty, people always think of evaluations such as "traitor" and "eternal sinner". However, when we calmly and rationally think about the embarrassing situation of Li Hongzhang's era when the building was about to collapse, Li Hongzhang could not and could not bear the tragic consequences of the failure of foreign exchanges in the late Qing Dynasty. Taking a detailed look at Li Hongzhang's life, he was born in the darkest and most turbulent era of the Qing Dynasty. Every time he "appeared" was at a time when the country's survival was in danger, and what the Qing Dynasty asked him to bear was always the "most embarrassing human situation". thing. What kind of blame is always put on him? Even if he is said to be a traitor, it was Guangxu and Cixi who forced him to do so! If the imperial court's military expenditures are all in place, and if the emperor really implements coastal defense, will the Japanese invaders be able to invade? Do they dare to invade Taiwan? And the subsequent signings were all forced by others. There were so many civil and military ministers in the Qing government, who had the ability to sign? The Treaty of Shimonoseki only made him the court's scapegoat. In other words, if the rulers of the Qing Dynasty did not agree to cede Taiwan, would it matter whether Li Hongzhang signed the treaty or not? Looking back and forth, I feel that Li Hongzhang is really wronged. In terms of economic modernization, Li Hongzhang advocated the Westernization Movement, founded the Jiangnan Manufacturing Bureau, Tianjin Machinery Bureau, Beiyang Fleet, Steamship Investment Bureau, Telegraph Bureau, Kaiping Mining Bureau, sent the first batch of Chinese students to study in the United States, etc. These industries have played a decisive role in China's modernization process. The Westernization Movement was also another form of reform and opening up. In terms of diplomatic modernization, it can be said that China’s modern diplomacy started with Li Hongzhang. Historically, China’s diplomacy has always been a tribute relationship. Real diplomacy with equal equality with other countries in the world should have started with Li Hongzhang. Li Hongzhang should be said to be the forerunner of China’s modern diplomacy. He went on a diplomatic mission to Japan. In his later years, he traveled around the world and interacted with dignitaries from various countries. All countries spoke highly of Li Hongzhang. Although almost all traitorous treaties had his signature, he had already done his best as a diplomat in the international environment at that time. After the signing of the Treaty of Shimonoseki, Li Hongzhang was criticized by many people and lost his positions as Governor of Zhili and Minister of Beiyang. Began his around the world travel: in June 1896 he arrived in Berlin. In order to seek advice on how to strengthen the country, Li Hongzhang rushed to Hamburg to visit Bismarck, who had resigned. Regarding the visit of "Bismarck of the East", Bismarck provided the key to building a strong country: building a strong army. Obviously, this is in line with Li Hongzhang’s reform orientation. However, this is not the fundamental plan for China’s self-improvement. Li Hongzhang arrived in New York on August 28, 1896. U.S. President Cleveland, who was on vacation at the seaside, came specially to meet with Li Hongzhang. The dragon flag of the Qing Empire was hung everywhere in New York Harbor. It can be said that salutes roared and crowds of people were empty. They received "unprecedented courtesy" ("New York Times"). Li Hongzhang also demonstrated the keen awareness of national rights and modern awareness of an outstanding diplomat when answering questions from American reporters: ? He recognized the mutually beneficial nature of the international economy. When a reporter asked about investment in China, Li Hongzhang believed that investment in China was a mutually beneficial matter for both parties, and said that the Qing government very much welcomed any capital to invest and establish contemporary industrial enterprises. He also said: "We must control matters such as railways and telecommunications ourselves. We must protect national sovereignty and not allow anyone to endanger our sacred rights." He expressed an enlightened stance on women's education. When an American reporter asked, "Do you support women's education?", he said: "In our Qing Dynasty, girls hired female teachers to provide education at home, and all families with financial means hired female governesses. We do not yet provide education for girls. We attend public schools and there are no higher education institutions. This is because our customs are different from yours (including Europe and the United States). Maybe we should learn from your education system and adopt the one that best suits our national conditions. Introducing it into the country is what we need." He realized that newspapers or news media should expose the truth. He said: "The Qing government had newspapers. But unfortunately... the Qing editors were very stingy when telling the truth... Because they could not tell the truth honestly, our newspapers lost the noble value of the news itself, and also lost the noble value of the news itself. It has failed to become a way to widely spread civilization." This is Li Hongzhang, a person who is conflicted between tradition and modernity, a person who is caught in the cracks. Liang Qichao, a champion of the Reform Movement of 1898, once commented on Li Hongzhang, "I... respect Li's talent, cherish his knowledge, and feel sad for his fate." Li believes that he is just a "paper".

At a time when the Qing Dynasty was suffering from internal and external troubles and was in ruins from the inside out, the "pastemaker" decorated a dilapidated house (the Qing Dynasty) with a new look. Occasionally, repairs and repairs can be tolerated in light storms, but in the event of a serious storm, the dilapidated house will inevitably be exposed for its original appearance. How can it be supported by subsidies and subsidies from a half-hearted "paperer"? "The only thing in the world is There is a saying that goes well: people who make mistakes are often those who do a lot of things, and those who do nothing will not make mistakes. "Therefore, being praised all over the world does not necessarily mean that he is not a countryman; being slandered all over the world does not mean that he is not a great man." The gap between history and reality is indeed very large. In fact, people who do more practical things may not be able to be remembered forever. Li Hongzhang is not really a traitor, but a great man worthy of admiration in modern China. I agree with Liang Qichao's evaluation of him in his "Li Hongzhang" biography, saying that all Chinese people do not work hard and then blame one person. This bad nature has not changed to this day. This article is based on the historical theory and knowledge of the "Outline of Modern Chinese History", adopts the method of comparative analysis, starts from the objectivity of history, and combines the author's study and experience of the "Outline of Modern Chinese History" to write this article based on my personal opinion Regarding Li Hongzhang's evaluation, through the course "Outline of Modern Chinese History" offered by the school, I learned a lot of historical knowledge about the country's modern history, which made me more deeply aware of the changes in China's modern history and the profound sense of mission and mission. The sense of responsibility makes me love and cherish my current life even more.

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