Li Hongzhang, an important official in the late Qing Dynasty, had this quirk: spitting in a glass and drinking coffee from a plate.

In the history of China, there are many backbiting men, such as Wei Yan, a famous celebrity who took the fall for Zhuge Liang, and Qin Gui, a traitor who took the fall for Song Gaozong. Of course, the most famous man who took the blame should be Li Hongzhang, an important official in the late Qing Dynasty who took the blame for Cixi and Manchu.

In textbooks, Li Hongzhang has always been the image of a traitor and traitor. Why is there such an image? Because he signed a series of treaties on behalf of Manchu. But the problem is, Cixi is not stupid. Why not send someone else to negotiate and sign the contract? Because others talk about harsher conditions, they will sign more humiliating treaties. Only Li Hongzhang can minimize the loss with a pile of rotten cards in his hand.

as we all know, weak countries have no diplomacy. The world speaks by strength. The erosion situation in the Qing Dynasty met with a great change that had not happened in three thousand years, and the immortals could not save it. Li Hongzhang could only do his best to mend it. In his own words, he is the paperhanger of this dilapidated house in Manchu. This shows Li Hongzhang's profound views on the current situation.

after the defeat in the Sino-Japanese War of 1895, according to the usual practice, the Qing Dynasty had to sign a traitorous treaty with Japan to humiliate the country and the country. This chore finally fell on the hapless Li Hongzhang. In Japan, Li Hongzhang was assassinated and a bullet went through his face. After simple treatment, Li Hongzhang came to the negotiation site with a full face of blood, which shocked the Japanese.

In the end, Li Hongzhang signed the treaty of shimonoseki with Japan on behalf of the Qing Dynasty, which reduced the amount of compensation to 2 million taels of silver. You know, the Japanese have always insisted on paying 3 million taels before.

After treaty of shimonoseki was signed, Li Hongzhang was dismissed as a scapegoat for the Sino-Japanese War. It was not until 1896 that Li Hongzhang was re-employed as an envoy of the Manchu Dynasty to attend the coronation ceremony of the Russian emperor and to visit Europe and the United States.

Li Hongzhang's diplomatic style is called rascal diplomacy. When dealing with foreigners, he always deliberately puts on an arrogant attitude and pretends to be a rascal. It is on this point that Li Hongzhang can negotiate the most favorable price for the Qing Dynasty in bargaining. In fact, unlike most officials who were afraid of foreigners at that time, Li Hongzhang always ignored foreigners. Li Hongzhang's diplomatic work would have been more leisurely if he had not been dragged down by the weak national strength of the Qing Dynasty.

It is precisely because of this mentality that foreigners are not taken seriously that Li Hongzhang made many jokes during his visit.

According to the Records of Hearing and Hearing in the Qing Dynasty, Li Hongzhang once received a banquet from a British nobleman when he visited Britain. Li Hongzhang has always had the habit of spitting. When he was in China, he kept spittoons everywhere. But in England, the British didn't have the habit of putting spittoons. When Li Hongzhang was about to spit, he suddenly found that there was no spittoon under the table, so he grandly picked up a wine glass in front of him and spit the sputum directly into the glass. The British aristocrat had to endure nausea and finish the meal.

On another occasion, the Queen of England received Li Hongzhang. The drink served is coffee. After the coffee was served, Li Hongzhang tried his tongue. It was too hot. What should we do? I saw Lao Li calmly take down the small tray under the coffee cup, then pour the coffee into this small tray, blowing gas and drinking it. The Queen of England looked embarrassed. In order to resolve the embarrassing scene, the queen also learned the appearance of Li Hongzhang, poured coffee into a small plate and drank it.

I have to say that the Queen of England is really understanding.