Why did Bismarck, the iron-blooded prime minister, mock Li Hongzhang?

Original title: Why did Bismarck ridicule Li Hongzhang?

1June, 896, Li Hongzhang led a delegation to Germany. Because many people call him "Bismarck of the East", he will definitely visit former Prime Minister Bismarck when he arrives in Germany.

After seeing Bismarck, Li Hongzhang first praised him: "The Prime Minister of Iron Blood is famous all over the world, and he really deserves his reputation, and his style remains the same." Bismarck replied, "You are great, too. You are the prime minister of a superpower. " Li Hongzhang quickly said, "I can't compare with your Excellency. Your contribution is of world significance. You are a great man in the world. " Bismarck couldn't stand this almost disgusting compliment and wanted to change the subject and say, "I am old, not as good as before."

Sensing Bismarck's impatience, Li Hongzhang cut to the chase and asked Bismarck how to make Qiang Bing a rich country in China. Bismarck suggested that Li Hongzhang train elite soldiers. After that, Bismarck suddenly changed the subject and said, "We Europeans are proud to fight against different people and ashamed to be brothers of the same kind."

When Li Hongzhang heard this, his face was a little bit worried. Because his own family history is the history of compatriots killing each other, first destroying the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom and then destroying the Nian Army. It can be said that the blood of his compatriots made his top hat red. However, in the face of foreign invasion, Li Hongzhang relented blindly, even at the expense of ceding land compensation, which was just the opposite of Bismarck's European style. Of course, Li Hongzhang understood that Bismarck was mocking him, so he blushed and had to leave without interest.

So why did Bismarck mock Li Hongzhang? Liang Qichao's Biography of Li Hongzhang gives the answer: "How much does Li Hongzhang of Li Can want Bismarck?" . Militarily, Bismarck won the enemy and Li Hongzhang lost his compatriots. In internal politics, Bismarck was able to combine scattered countries into a big federation, while Li Hongzhang reduced the huge zhina to a second-class country. Diplomatically, Bismarck made an alliance with Austria, which was used by us. Li Hongzhang made an alliance with Russia and turned against him. What's the difference between the three? "The original problem lies in Li Hongzhang's title of" Oriental Bismarck ". Bismarck felt that Li Hongzhang did not deserve to be compared with him at all. The title of "Oriental Bismarck" completely defiled his great and glorious name, so he made a mockery and made Li Hongzhang look cold.