He was called the last "crutch" of the Qing Empire.

(Photo) Li Hongzhang (1823, February15-190165438+1October 7), a famous official in the late Qing Dynasty, was one of the main leaders of the Westernization Movement.

On 20th15th165438+17th of October, he had already left114th year.

Less than a month before the end of 190 1 year, Empress Dowager Cixi of the Qing Dynasty received news from the banks of the Yellow River on her way back from mourning, which made all the ruling and opposition parties sigh: "Li Hongzhang, governor of Zhili and minister of Beiyang in the Qing Dynasty, passed away." On the eve of his death, the Russian minister forced him to sign the Treaty of Russian Occupation of Northeast China at his bedside. At this time, Li Hongzhang was speechless, only tears. Zhou Fu, an old minister who has been with him for more than 40 years, is also at the bed. Seeing that nave was dead and his eyes were still on, he cried and said, "I can finish my unfinished business. Please rest assured! " "My eyes are full of tears and my mouth is full of words, which can hurt me ..."

Two months ago, he signed the Xinhai Treaty with 1 1 on behalf of the Great Qing Dynasty. After signing, he vomited blood, "purple-black, with chunks" and "expectoration, I can't eat".

(Photo) The Xin Chou Treaty 190 1 was signed on July 25th.

190 1 year165438+1October 7th, this important official of the Qing dynasty was reviled by Chinese people, his oil lamp dried up and his soul returned to Feixi.

In the late Qing Dynasty, that stormy era, the Great Qing Dynasty was in turmoil. "Since 1840, barbarian invasion, foreign invasion deepened in the middle period of Daoguang, Xianfeng decade, Britain and France entered Beijing, destroyed Yuanmingyuan, literate Sect left, and collapsed in Jehol ... Since then, France and Annan merged, Japan was busy with North Korea, Germany occupied Jiaozhou, Russia occupied Lvlian and Britain.

At the beginning of Xianfeng three years, Li Hongzhang met Zeng Guofan for the first time, and since then, the young man has been successful. In Zeng Guofan's words and deeds, Li Hongzhang changed and matured, and the aura of talents flashed faintly on Li. Zeng Guofan has repeatedly called it "a place where talents can be used." In the fourth year of Xianfeng, the Taiping Army entered Anhui on a large scale, with Li Hongzhang's scholar leading the troops, and Hanlin became a green forest, taking wave warfare as its energy. After several years of service, he gradually learned to be a master. In the tenth year of Xianfeng, the Taiping Army broke camp in Jiangnan, and the Qing court failed to form the main force of the army in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River. Since then, the famous Huai Army came into being.

In the first year of Tongzhi, Zeng Guofan inspected Li Hongzhang's Huai Army battalions, and the Huai Army was formally proclaimed. The next month, the Huai army arrived in Shanghai, and 9000 Huai troops in rags faced tens of thousands of Taiping rebels and won a great victory. Since then, the Huai army has been greatly shaken by the Qing court.

(Photo) Li Hongzhang visited Hong Kong in July 1900. He and Hong Kong Governor Henry Black took a group photo at the opening ceremony of the Kowloon-Canton Railway.

Unlike other officials in the Qing Dynasty, Li Hongzhang was very interested in science and technology and economic movements. Initially, in order to equip the Huai Army with weapons, Li Hongzhang founded the first complete enterprise in modern China: Shanghai No.3 Foreign Gun Bureau. Since then, under the auspices and participation of Li Hongzhang, the Westernization School has established the first railway, the first steel plant, the first machine factory and the first modern navy in modern China ... Li Hongzhang has devoted himself to the modernization drive for the people's livelihood of the Great Qing Dynasty. However, in the eyes of ignorant China people, all westernization and efforts have won endless criticism for Li Hongzhang. In the humiliating history at the turn of the last century, Li Hongzhang became the object of resentment of China people. "Traitor Qin Gui, traitor Li Hongzhang." "Losing power and humiliating the country, Li Hongzhang." In the Westernization Movement, during the signing of a series of treaties that humiliated the country, Li Hongzhang was exhausted and ashamed. He has been exploring, hoping that he can turn the wheel of history and revive the dying empire.

1896, Li Hongzhang, who was left idle in Beijing Xianliang Temple because he signed treaty of shimonoseki, was reused and dragged his pigtails around the world. 70 years old, with a coffin in his luggage, a trip to Wan Li, and a childlike innocence. After returning home, Li Hongzhang is still dreaming of the return of the gold medal one day. However, the imperial edict of Empress Dowager Cixi is really a gauntlet of eleven countries. He waited for the final arrival day and night, and he was really desperate. This loyal and obedient veteran finally said no at the last moment of his life! The imperial edict of the diligent king in the north replied: "This is a chaotic life, not called Guangdong." This is perhaps the most famous sentence in the history of China officials at the turn of the century, which marks the first awakening of officials with modern political consciousness in the feudal empire. At the end of Li Hongzhang's reign, he ensured the stability of the southeast half of the Qing Dynasty in the Boxer Rebellion.

(Photo) Li Hongzhang, an important official in the late Qing Dynasty

For history, textbooks have long given a final conclusion, and no one can explain it. Throughout Li Hongzhang's life, he suffered from sunshine and suffering, and only those who know history can understand him. This prime minister, known by the west as Bismarck of the East, has won the respect of westerners. As western diplomats said, "Lee is undoubtedly a true patriot. He always tries his best to safeguard the interests of his country, but unfortunately he has too few chips in his hand. "

Liang Qichao said: "Hong Zhang must be a figure in the history of China for thousands of years. I respect Hong Zhang's talent. I cherish Hong Zhang's knowledge. I mourn Hong Zhang's experience. "

We may forget that during the World Games, an old man who was over seventy staggered towards Huanglongqi and stood proudly. He sang a hometown folk song "Jasmine" in a hoarse voice at the center of ten thousand people, with the loudest volume that an old man could make, in order to defend the national honor. This old man is Li Hongzhang, a traitor denounced by Chinese people.

Traitor's hat is a hundred years old, Sage? Treacherous court official? As the weight of the world, he hobbled along with his dying empire in one hand. ...