Li Hongzhang's joke of treating guests.

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

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 that 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 when Li Hongzhang has a pile of rotten cards in his hand can he minimize the loss.

As we all know, weak countries have no diplomacy. The world speaks with strength. The erosion situation in the Qing dynasty encountered a great change that had never happened in three thousand years, and the gods could not save it. Li Hongzhang can only try his best to repair it. In his own words, he is the paperhanger of this broken house in Manchu. This shows Li Hongzhang's profound insight into the current situation.

1895 After the defeat of the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895, it was customary for the Qing Dynasty to sign a traitorous treaty with Japan. 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 blood all over his face, which shocked the Japanese.

In the end, Li Hongzhang signed the treaty of shimonoseki with Japan on behalf of the Qing Dynasty, reducing the amount of compensation to 200 million taels of silver. You know, the Japanese have always insisted on paying 300 million taels.

After treaty of shimonoseki was signed, Li Hongzhang was demoted as a scapegoat in the Sino-Japanese War. It was not until 1896 that Li Hongzhang was re-employed, attended the coronation ceremony of the Russian emperor as an envoy of the Manchu dynasty, and also visited Europe and the United States.

Li Hongzhang's diplomatic style is called rogue diplomacy. When dealing with foreigners, he always deliberately puts on an arrogant attitude and pretends to be a hooligan. It is at this point that Li Hongzhang can negotiate the most favorable price for the Qing Dynasty. 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 it had not been dragged down by the weak national strength of the Qing Dynasty.

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

According to the records of trials and hearings in the Qing Dynasty, when Li Hongzhang visited Britain, he accepted a banquet from British nobles. Li Hongzhang has always had the habit of spitting everywhere. When he was in China, spittoons were everywhere. But in Britain, the British don't have the habit of putting spittoons. When Li Hongzhang was about to vomit, he suddenly found that there was no spittoon under the table, so he grandly picked up a glass in front of him and spit the sputum directly into it. The English nobleman 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's too hot. What do 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 and drinking. The Queen of England looks embarrassed. In order to resolve the embarrassing scene, the queen also learned the appearance of Li Hongzhang, poured coffee on a small plate and drank it.

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