Tan sitong proposed to Guangxu to sell Xinjiang Tibet. This is a way to quench thirst by drinking poison, which will only accelerate the demise of the Qing Dynasty and make the war in China burn more vigorously. Tan Sitong made this suggestion because he thought that Xinjiang and Tibet were barren and had no influence on the Qing Dynasty. He hopes to restore diplomatic relations with Britain and Russia by handing over Xinjiang and Tibet, and strive for greater interests in other places, but this idea is naive and typical of a bookworm, and fails to understand the essence of the problem.

At that time, the reformists had been involved in a political struggle. After Zeng Guofan's death, Zuo and Li Hongzhang put forward different ideas about the future of the Qing Dynasty. Zuo advocated the establishment of a strong army force, while Li Hongzhang hoped to enhance the maritime power of the Qing Dynasty. Zuo Li pushed through the crowd to recover Xinjiang and held the northern gate of the Qing Dynasty. Li Hongzhang has always been bitter. He initiated the Westernization Movement and founded beiyang fleet. The Qing Dynasty could no longer support Li Hongzhang and Zuo at the same time. They can only choose between the navy and the army.

On the surface, Li Hongzhang did not show his attitude, but secretly supported the reformists. Tan Sitong naturally agreed with Li Hongzhang's idea and betrayed Xinjiang and Tibet, which was equivalent to disillusioning the left ideas and plans and supporting Li Hongzhang to a certain extent. Many people think that this is an act of treason, but Tan Sitong is not a traitor, but shows integrity of national integrity when the country is in danger. He is just a bookworm who studies hard.

If Tan Sitong's idea is put into practice, the land of China will fall into a more chaotic situation. The fall of Xinjiang and Tibet will make Gansu face the risk of being captured, and the northwest region will completely fall into the hands of western powers. Those empires will attack from all directions, and the Qing dynasty has no strength to fight back. Can only watch the western powers invade China, Tan Sitong lacks long-term political vision.