How deep is Zeng Guofan's attainments in official document writing and reading?

Mr. Wang Ding 'an wrote a preface to Yuan Tang's Papers in Ming Dynasty compiled by Zeng Guofan, which was just a few hundred words, and discussed the rise and fall of the literary movement since three generations, which was related to Zeng's literary career: first, Ceng Gong gave full play to "excellent works are spread all over the world, and scholars can quote their words"; Second, the selected 26 volumes of Miscellaneous Notes of Classics and History were published worldwide; The third is The Papers of Ming Yuan Tang, which was edited and revised. Although the number of volumes is small, it covers the origin of the Yellow River. However, if you go to the east of the river, you can ride the autumn water, drive a giant raft and overlook the North Sea, which is even more spectacular for the universe! "This can be described as good order.

In the preface, Mr. Wang Ding 'an quoted Zeng Guofan's exposition on Tanwen: "On weekdays, study and learn Tao, learn and further study, be good at yourself, and then offer a gentleman and be familiar with the deeds of the previous generation." Mr. Wang Dingan thinks this statement is "enough!" For official document writing, this passage is really devastating, enough!

First of all, it is said that "if you study and learn Tao on weekdays, you will gain something from further study." In the final analysis, the article is the embodiment of one's knowledge and accomplishment. People who read and learn may not be able to write wonderful articles, but people who read and learn cannot write wonderful articles. No matter when I was a poor student, or when I was a leisure Beijing official, or even when I was an official with the governors of Jiangnan and Zhili, I devoted my life to studying and learning Taoism, almost without interruption. This knowledge undoubtedly laid a solid foundation for writing excellent articles.

Sun Yat-sen was a famous Neo-Confucianism scholar and master of ancient prose, and his knowledge was profound. As Zeng Guofan's good friend Ouyang Zhaoxiong said, "Zheng Wen changed three times in his life. His knowledge began in Hanlin Cifu, and he had frequent contacts with Tang Jinghai, studying Confucian quotations. Later, I became a scholar of six books, read a lot of Ganjia exegesis books, and no longer took Song people's annotations on classics for granted. When I was an official in Beijing, I relied on Zhu Cheng. Go out to deal with Yingyong affairs, and then apply to go to North Korea. Try to claim that you want to be "very good" and just say yes. In the seventh year of Xianfeng, he went to Jiangxi to join the army, where it was more difficult. After hearing the obituary, he went back to his hometown to attend the funeral, which was quite disapproving. The left (left) vilified Luo Wenzhong (Luo) and made a lot of noise. Zheng Wen also felt guilty and insomnia. Cao Jing was recommended for the first visit, saying that Huang Qi can cure physical diseases and Huang Lao can cure heart diseases. Guy wanted to satirize Huang Lao ... After coming out of the mountain, he did it with judo and even achieved this great achievement. There is no smug color. " From Hanlin's Ci and Fu to the study of righteousness and reason, from understanding Han and Song Dynasties to not abolishing Shen Han and studying Huang Lao, it is naturally not a short article with thousands of words that can be clearly explained. However, from one of Zeng's diaries, we can get a glimpse of its outline.

"The study of righteousness, the study of words and chapters, the study of classics, and the study of textual research. The theory of righteousness and reason, the so-called Taoism in Song history, is a branch of virtue in Confucius. Ci Zhang is the theme of Confucius' speech; According to Confucius, economic research is a branch of political affairs; The study of textual research, that is, the so-called sinology in this world, is a branch of literature in Confucius. These four are indispensable. For the four, we are only slightly involved in Tianjin, which is dull in nature and must not create its arcane skills. Only take things that are particularly important, and do it day by day, gradually grinding for a long time and gradually opening up. My practitioners have two books on the study of righteousness: Zhu and Jin. Regarding the study of Ci and Zhang, I have two books: Zeng's Reading Ancient Money Notes and Zeng's Reading Poetry Notes. These two books have not yet been sorted out and integrated, but I have a plan in mind. Studying economics, my practitioners have two books: Hui Dian and Shi Jing Huang Chao Wen Bian. According to textual research, my yogi has four books: The Book of Changes, The Book of Songs, Historical Records and Hanshu. These ten kinds of people must be familiar to themselves. Whoever reads his books will be attached to these ten books. For example, the room has a foundation, osmanthus flowers are attached, wood has roots, branches and leaves are attached, chickens lay eggs, stay cold, and moths become cockroaches, moving but not different. What is the reason for learning? "

The above list covers almost all kinds of knowledge that I was exposed to at that time. The accumulation of knowledge in this era far exceeds that in that era. Our generation regards Zeng Wen as fair and decent, and the difference is hard to calculate. Therefore, we can't ask our junior officials to know all the subjects of the present era, but should always aim high, dabble in philosophy, economy, history, literature, law and politics, and learn as much as possible to get opportunities for further study!

Secondly, talk about "familiarizing yourself with the deeds of the previous generation and telling the story of this dynasty." Zeng Guofan was engaged in the study of posting in his early years, that is, reading textbooks to prepare for the imperial examination. In November of the 14th year of Daoguang, he took an exam in Beijing. Although he failed to pass the B-level exam that year, the cultural education of the people in Beijing opened Zeng Guofan's eyes as a scholar in Hunan, so he "stayed in the capital to study and study the history of poverty." In the sixteenth year of Daoguang, Bing Shenen failed in the senior high school entrance examination. Zeng Guofan left Beijing to travel to the south of the Yangtze River, and the travel expenses were borrowed from fellow villagers. When he went to Jinling, he bought a set of Twenty-three History with all the money he borrowed. "So he started reading in the morning, stopped at midnight, read a hundred books and stayed at home for several years" (chronology). Since then, Zeng has been diligent in reading history all his life, especially historical books such as Historical Records, Hanshu, and History as a Mirror. He advocated that "economy is nothing more than reading history", that is to say, the way of doing things for the people should be incorporated into the study of history department.

Twenty years after Daoguang, 30-year-old Zeng Guofan officially began his official life in Beijing for more than ten years. From Hanlin to Qing Er, he made friends with celebrities, discussed back and forth, honed himself with practical learning, and was brave and diligent. Until he became famous, he still studied tirelessly. His national heritage in Korea, such as "Hui Dian", "thomas lee" and other books, is particularly interesting. He also collected the speeches of famous officials and scholars in ancient and modern times and compiled them into a long series of Zeng family instructions ... a compilation of salt lessons, shipping, money law and river banks, which is a matter of the moment, not six volumes. It also adopts the categories of biographies of national history and essays of ancestors, and classifies them ... "("Chronicle ")