How to treat "I didn't know Li Hongzhang when I was young, but I didn't know the truth until I grew up."

Subjectively, the essence of Li Hongzhang is a standard feudal landlord bureaucrat. What "loyalty to the monarch and love the people" and "benevolence, righteousness, propriety and wisdom" are just a cover in his eyes, a fig leaf he uses to seek power and make money.

Objectively speaking, some things he did are of progressive significance. For example, westernization can promote the country's industrialization and modernization, and new learning can train talents for the country in the new era, but it is only "progressive."

Li Hongzhang (1823 February15—1901October 7th), whose real name is getting better and better, [fú], No. Many people in the world call Li Wei, also known as Li Er and Mr.

Li Hongzhang was a scholar in the twenty-seventh year of Daoguang (1847). In his early years, he studied with Zeng Guofan to suppress the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom Movement and the Nian Army Uprising, and was ordered to form the Huai Army. Because of his meritorious service, he was promoted to the Governor of Zhili and Minister of Beiyang Trade, accumulated in Wenhua Hall of the University, and was awarded the first-class Su Yibo. During this period, he began to deal with westernization and founded Beiyang Navy.

After the failure of the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895, he signed the treaty of shimonoseki with Japan as a special envoy. Later, he was appointed governor of Guangdong and Guangxi. In the 26th year of Guangxu (1900), after the outbreak of Eight-Nation Alliance's war of aggression against China, he participated in the "mutual protection in the southeast" and discussed in the north. The following year, on behalf of the Qing government, he signed the Xin Chou Treaty with the Qing Prince Yi Kuang.

He died soon in Beijing at the age of 79. After his death, he was given the title of a teacher, a first-class Sue, and "Wenzhong" of posthumous title. His works are included in The Complete Works of Li Wenzhong.

Li Hongzhang is one of the main leaders of the Westernization Movement. Together with Zeng Guofan, Zhang Zhidong and Zuo, Empress Dowager Cixi is regarded as a figure who "helped ZTE tide over great difficulties" and "helped China and foreign countries make peace". At the same time, some people in the west regard it as "three outstanding men in the world". However, because it signed a series of unequal treaties on behalf of the Qing government, coupled with personal corruption, decision-making mistakes and other issues, it also attracted many criticisms.