Chapter 84 what to put you in, my loyalty

On November 7, 1901, at Xianliang Temple in the suburbs of Beijing, Li Hongzhang woke up in the morning and felt that this was his last day.So he asked his family to put a shroud on him, and lay quietly on the bed waiting to die. It just so happened that Zhou Fu (the father of the great industrialist Zhou Xuexi) came to see him, but he came a bit late. Li Hongzhang was already in a dying state, unable to speak, but his eyes were still open, and his mouth seemed to want to say something. . Zhou Fu cried and said: "What's on your mind, old master, please tell me."Li Hongzhang's lips were moving, but he couldn't make a sound, and tears overflowed from his eyes.

Zhou Fu said again: "What you haven't finished yet, leave it to us to finish, please rest assured!" Li Hongzhang's lips were still moving, but there was no sound. Zhou Fu wailed while stroking his eyelids with his hands.Li Hongzhang finally closed his eyes slowly at the age of 78. respectable!pity!sad! Li Hongzhang obviously had something to say when he was dying.After a long silence, people always want to say something.When Li Er was on the road alone, it is estimated that what he most wanted to say should be: "What will I put you in, my loyalty!" Cixi knew the news of Li Hongzhang's death that day, and she shed tears on the spot, and sighed: The overall situation is uncertain, and if there is an accident, no one will share it anymore.

That's right, all the little friends who accompanied her along the way—Zeng Guofan, Yi Xin, and Li Hongzhang have all gone, and no one will take the blame for her in the future, so how will life be? Cixi remembered Li Hongzhang's kindness, held a state funeral for Li Hongzhang, made Lao Li a marquis, and built a memorial temple (ancestral temple) for Lao Li. This treatment must be the first among Han officials in the Qing Dynasty. History books spoke highly of Li Hongzhang, saying that he was a famous minister of Zhongxing, who took the world as his own responsibility all his life, endured humiliation, and was worthy of the important minister of the country (a famous minister of Zhongxing, who started with military affairs, and his achievements were often concealed by martial arts. Hongzhang was equal The catastrophe, the sole control of state affairs for decades, domestic and foreign affairs, often bear the brunt of the country, the country is the most important, the world is famous, the Chinese and foreign admiration, unprecedented in modern times. I have taken the world as my own responsibility in my life, endured humiliation, and I am worthy of it Minister of the State...——"Drafts of Qing History Biography of Li Hongzhang").

However, the public doesn't think so. After Li Hongzhang signed the "Xin Chou Treaty", the people finally became anxious, and their anger towards Li Hongzhang reached its peak, and finally shouted: Qin Hui, the traitor, Li Hongzhang, the wrongdoer! The common people knew that Li Hongzhang was a loyal minister of the Qing Dynasty, but they also felt that Li Hongzhang's official level was too poor and his character was too weak, so they defined him as "wronging the country" and juxtaposing him with Qin Hui was to disgust him and vent his anger. There is no doubt that the people like tough people, especially tough officials or rulers.No matter right or wrong, Li Hongzhang's seemingly weak propositions and actions undoubtedly made many people misunderstand him and hate him!So in our current era, more and more people say that he is traitorous.

In fact, Li Hongzhang probably didn't want to betray the country, and he didn't have the qualifications. From a rational point of view, the entire Qing Dynasty is a joint-stock company.Its shareholders are composed of Manchu nobles and a very small number of Han bureaucrats. Its legal representative is Guangxu, and its chairman is of course the old lady. As for Li Hongzhang, he is at most a professional manager. According to the normal operation of the company, only the old lady and Guangxu signed and stamped the seal at the end. Li Hongzhang is just an errand runner, and he can only run if he wants to tell you to run.

Therefore, only the old lady is qualified to say such blatant and traitorous words as "measure the material resources of China and unite with the country", and they speak with confidence!Tell me about others?Beheading is cheap for you! It goes without saying that "diplomatic mandates have always been limited".But the strange thing is that Chinese people can easily forgive the ruler himself, but it is difficult to forgive those who act as assistants to the ruler. For example, Zhao Gou and Qin Hui, the people gave more saliva to the latter. In fact, if you think about it with your toes, you can know that without Zhao Gou's instruction and support, how could Qin Hui have so much energy and courage?

Another example is Cixi and Li Hongzhang. The old queen took the entire Qing Dynasty as her funeral for her own happiness. It is difficult to find someone more traitorous than her in Chinese history, but most of the scolding we heard was directed at Li Hongzhang. Cixi betrayed the country, and Li Hongzhang took the blame.But who called Li Hongzhang the face of the Qing Dynasty?Taking the blame and being spat on may be unavoidable responsibilities and obligations. As I write this, I can't help but think of a poem written by Li Hongzhang when he entered Beijing alone to take the exam: Back then, the white-clothed, high-spirited, high-spirited scholar who pointed out the country unfortunately stood on a decaying stage. He devoted his whole life and was full of enthusiasm, but in exchange for "reconciliation outside and prosperity inside", he only got a bad reputation , a handful of bleak!

In any case, nearly half a century of the Li Hongzhang era in China is over. He has devoted too much energy to this era, which is destined to limit him to this era. There is no doubt that he is the master of this era, but what he brings together is not only beauty and tenacity, but also limitations and narrowness...