1. "The Chronicle of Zeng Wenzhenggong" [Qing Dynasty] Compiled by Li Shuchang
2. "The Complete Works of Zeng Wenzhenggong" Author: Zeng Guofan Publisher: China Bookstore Book Number: 978-7- 80663-498-1 Format: 16 pages Price: 798.00 yuan Publication date: January 2011
3. It is recommended to read "Letters from the Family of Zeng Guofan".
A brief introduction to the life of Zeng Wenzhenggong
He was born in Heye, Shuangfeng County, Loudi City, Hunan Province on November 26, 1811 (the 16th year of Jiaqing) (October 11th in the lunar calendar) He lives in Tianping Village, and his nickname is Kuanyi.
In 1815 (the 20th year of Jiaqing), he was 5 years old and learned to read and read at home. A year later, he entered the private school "Li Jian Zhai". "Family Letter"
In the spring of 1826 (the sixth year of Daoguang's reign), at the age of 16, he took the Changsha Prefectural Examination (Tongzi Examination) and ranked seventh.
In 1830 (the tenth year of Daoguang's reign), at the age of 20, he studied at the Tang Ancestral Hall in Hengyang and studied under Wang Jue'an. One year later, he transferred to Xiangxiang Lianbin Academy. Change your name to Di Sheng.
In the autumn of 1833 (the 13th year of Daoguang reign), at the age of 23, he took part in the Xiangxiang County Examination and was admitted as a scholar.
In the spring of 1834 (the fourteenth year of Daoguang), at the age of 24, he entered Yuelu Academy. In autumn, he took the thirty-sixth place in the provincial examination. In the winter, I went to Beijing to prepare for the examination, passed by Changsha, and began to associate with Liu Rong.
In April of 1835 (the fifteenth year of Daoguang), when he was 25 years old, he failed the general examination and stayed in Beijing to study at the Changsha Guild Hall.
In the spring of 1836 (the 16th year of Daoguang's reign), at the age of 26, Enke failed again in the examination and left Beijing to return home. After arriving in Changsha, I spent two months together with Liu Rong and Guo Songtao at the Xiangxiang Guild Hall.
In 1838 (the 18th year of Daoguang), at the age of 28, he passed the 38th tribute examination. After the trial, it was renamed Guofan. He won the 42nd place in the top three in the palace examination and was granted the same background as a Jinshi. Chaokao ranked first and third, and Emperor Daoguang ranked second. He was awarded the title of Shujishi of Hanlin Academy. Begging for leave at the end of the year and returning home.
In the summer of 1839 (the 19th year of Daoguang), when he was 29 years old, he left Hengyang and visited Du Gongbu Temple and Shigu Academy. In autumn, he left Shaoyang and visited Wugang, Xinhua, Lantian and Yongfeng. In December, his son Ji Zesheng left home and set off for Beijing. I started writing a diary this year and kept doing it until the end. In May of 1840 (the 20th year of Daoguang's reign), at the age of 30, Shuji Shi left the hall, ranked 19th in the second class, and was awarded the Imperial Academy for review. In July, he fell ill and was treated and nursed by Ouyang Zhaoxiong and Wu Tingdong. He recovered within two months, and the three of them became good friends.
In August of 1841 (the 21st year of Daoguang reign), at the age of 31, he and Woren went to visit Tang Jian, the master of Neo-Confucianism, to ask for advice on academic methods and the key to self-examination. "Test one's morality and ask one's profession", "Fumigated by righteousness". In November, he served as the co-editor of the National History Museum, studying the past history and distinguishing the pros and cons. That year, I enjoyed reading the "Collected Documents of Tao Wenyi" presented by Hu Linyi. Writing "Lixu", he directly explained the sufferings of the people and criticized corrupt officials.
In 1842 (the 22nd year of Daoguang), at the age of 32, he devoted himself to the study of Cheng and Zhu. He must do the daily routine: getting up early, worshiping, sitting in meditation, reading, reading history, speaking carefully, nourishing the spirit, and protecting the body. The sun knows what is dead, the moon forgets nothing, writes calligraphy, and does not go out at night.
In April of 1843 (the 23rd year of Daoguang reign), at the age of 33, he was promoted to lecturer of the Hanlin Academy. In July, he was appointed as the chief examiner of the Provincial Examination (Sichuan). In August, he was awarded the post of lecturer of Hanlin Academy. In December, he was appointed as the school administrator of Wenyuan Pavilion.
In August of 1844 (the 24th year of Daoguang reign), at the age of 34, Guo Songtao introduced Jiang Zhongyuan to meet him and became his teacher and student. He was sent to the Hanlin Academy to teach common people.
In October of 1845 (the 25th year of Daoguang reign), at the age of 35, he was promoted to a bachelor's degree in the Hanlin Academy. Li Hongzhang entered the capital to take the imperial examination, and his family members came to work under him.
In January of 1846 (the 26th year of Daoguang reign), at the age of 36, he was appointed as the direct minister of Wenyuan Pavilion. He wrote in his bookstore: "Qiu Que Zhai". During the summer and autumn, while recuperating at Baoguo Temple in the south of the city, he and his roommate Liu Chuanying had in-depth discussions on Sinology and Song Dynasty. In July 1847 (the twenty-seventh year of Daoguang reign), at the age of 37, he was promoted to the title of Bachelor of the Cabinet and Minister of Rites. In November, the imperial dynasty appointed the president of the martial arts examination and the minister of imperial examination.
In March 1848 (the twenty-eighth year of Daoguang reign), at the age of 38, his son Ji Hongsheng was born. In October, the speeches of famous ministers and Confucian scholars from ancient and modern times were collected and compiled into "Zeng Family Instructions" with 32 items divided into three categories: self-cultivation, family management, and state governance.
In February of 1849 (the 29th year of Daoguang), at the age of 39, he was promoted to the right minister of the Ministry of Rites. In September, he was appointed as the right minister of the Ministry of War.
In April of 1850 (the 30th year of Daoguang reign), when he was 40 years old, he published "Chen Yan Shu" in response to imperial edicts, directly exposing the officialdom's "sluggishness and conformity" and the officials' "fear" and "softness". "What I have to say today is only with the ears of the people." In July, he also served as the left minister of the Ministry of Personnel.
In January 1851 (the first year of Xianfeng) at the age of 41, Hong Xiuquan organized an uprising in Jintian Village, Guiping, Guangxi. In May, Emperor Xianfeng "thrown it to the ground angrily" in order to punish him.
In January of 1852 (the second year of Xianfeng), when he was 42 years old, he published "Bei Chen Notes on Folk Sufferings". In July, he was appointed as the examiner of Jiangxi Provincial Examination. Arriving at Xiaochiyi, Taihu County, Anhui Province, I received the obituary news of my mother and returned home for the funeral. Arrive home in early October. The Taiping Army left Guangxi and entered Hunan, attacking Changsha in September and Yuezhou in October.
In 1853 (the third year of Xianfeng), at the age of 43, on January 21, he took over the Hunan League Training Order. Guo Songtao persuaded him to leave Baosangzi. On the 30th, he arrived in Changsha and held team training with Hunan Governor Zhang Liangji. On March 19, the Taiping Army captured Jiangning and made Tianjing its capital. In September, Zhuzhun moved to Hengzhou to train troops. In November, the Hengzhou Shipyard was built to build warships. Send people to Guangdong to purchase foreign cannons and prepare for the establishment of a navy.
In 1854 (the fourth year of Xianfeng reign), at the age of 44, on February 25, he was ordered to lead an army to attack the Taiping Army. Published "An Appeal to the Cantonese Bandits". He ordered Chu Ruhang to be the president of the Navy and Taqibu to be the vanguard of the army. They commanded 17,000 people and marched north. In May, he was defeated in Jinggang, committed suicide and was rescued. On July 25, after reorganizing the land and water armies, they sent out troops to capture Yuezhou. Take Wuchang on October 14th. Emperor Xianfeng ordered his troops to take charge of the governor of Hubei. It was withdrawn after 7 days. The title of Minister of the Ministry of War was changed. On December 2, Tianjia Town was captured.
In 1855 (the fifth year of Xianfeng), at the age of 45, on the night of February 12, Shi Dakai launched a general attack on the Hunan Army's water camp and burned more than 100 Hunan Army warships. Zeng Guofan's ship was captured and "all documents and documents were lost." "The public was so angry that they wanted to ride their horses to the enemy to die." Luo Zenan and Liu Rong strongly advised him to stop.
In July of 1856 (the sixth year of Xianfeng reign), at the age of 46, he was trapped in Nanchang. On September 2, after the internal strife between Yang and Hong (Tianjing Incident), the strength of the Taiping Army was seriously damaged. In October, Zeng Guofan formed the Jizi Battalion in Changzhou to aid Jiangxi. Zeng Guofan's family
In 1857 (the seventh year of Xianfeng), at the age of 47, his father passed away on February 27, and his brother Guohua returned home for the funeral. In July, he went to court twice, requesting that the system be finalized at home, and was granted permission by Emperor Xianfeng. This was the year when the "Siyun Pavilion" was built.
In 1858 (the eighth year of Xianfeng reign), at the age of 48, on May 19, Li Xubin and Yang Yuebin led the land and water armies to capture Jiujiang. His younger brother Guohua joined Li Mu. On July 13, he received an order to handle military affairs in Zhejiang and set off on the 17th. On August 5, arrived in Wuchang. Discuss with Hu Linyi how to advance troops and raise pay. On November 15, Li Xubin and Zeng Guohua died in the Battle of Sanhe. In December, he composed "Folk Song of Love" to train the Hunan Army.
In January of 1859 (the ninth year of Xianfeng), at the age of 49, Li Hongzhang came to Jianchang for a visit and stayed in camp to assist with military affairs. That month, Zeng Guobao changed his name to Zhenqian and joined the Hunan Army to avenge his brother Guohua. In February, he wrote "Portraits of Sages". In November, he planned a four-pronged invasion strategy to capture Anqing. In May of 1860 (the tenth year of Xianfeng), when he was 50 years old, he compiled 26 volumes of "Miscellaneous Notes on Classics and History", "taking the essence and using macro" and "exerting the essence of the four volumes". In June, Zuo Zongtang came to the camp and stayed for two decades to discuss the overall situation of the southeast. He was ordered to act as the governor of Liangjiang with the title of Minister of War. In July, the governor of Liangjiang was appointed, and the imperial minister supervised the military affairs in the south of the Yangtze River. On October 18, he discussed with Hu Linyi and Li Xubin the strategy of aiding the North. Shangshu asked to lead troops north to wipe out King Qin and "snow the anger of heaven". In December, the Qimen Camp was trapped twice. The Taiping Army was only 20 miles away from the camp, making it "extremely dangerous."
On August 23, 1861 (the eleventh year of Xianfeng), at the age of 51, it was "Revised Purchase of Foreign Ship Cannons": "Purchasing foreign ship cannons is the first priority to save today." On September 5, the Hunan Army captured Anqing. On the 25th, he moved to Anqing. On November 20, he was ordered to supervise the military affairs of the four provinces (Jiangsu, Anhui, Zhejiang, and Jiangxi), and all the governors and towns below were under control. In December, the Ordnance Institute was established in Anqing. At the end of the year, the strategy of the three route armies' advance was decided: "To besiege the state of Jinling, Quan, Zhejiang belongs to Zuo Zongtang, and the Su thing belongs to Li Hongzhang, so the situation of purging the southeast was decided.
1862 On January 31, the first year of Tongzhi, he was appointed as the governor of Liangjiang and co-organizer of the bachelor's degree. On February 14, Zuo Zongtang led his army from Jiangxi to Zhejiang. In April, Li Hongzhang led his army to Zhejiang. Shanghai. In May, Zeng Guoquan led his troops to Yuhuatai, and together with Peng Yulin's navy, he besieged Tianjing. On July 18, in order to borrow troops to help suppress the enemy, Zeng Guoquan stated: "The islanders are using the suppression as a means of profit... ..China is in charge of China’s difficulties, and we must not allow foreigners to “ravage China’s land” with aid in the suppression. In September, stone repairs were erected for six Tongcheng Confucian scholars, Fang Dongshu and Dai Junheng, who died in the war but were not buried. The tomb was properly buried. In December, his brother Zeng Guobao died of illness in the Hunan Army Camp in Yuhuatai. At the end of the year, Hua Hengfang and Xu Shou and his son tried to build China's first steam engine. After Zeng Guofan saw it, he wrote in his diary that day: " I'm glad that the foreigners are so clever that our country can do the same, but they can't be proud of me because they don't know anything! ”
In January 1865 (the fourth year of Tongzhi) at the age of 55, he selected 17 memorials from ministers since the Han and Tang Dynasties and compiled "Ming Yuantang Papers". In March, he presided over the renovation of Zhongshan and Zunjing academies. . Adopted eight hundred Guhan children and donated money from his own money. On May 26, he received the order to lead the army to Shandong to suppress the rebellion. In June, he presided over the completion of "Wang Chuanshan's Dispatch". *** Volume 320 was handed over to Jinling Book Company for publication. On June 18, the strategy for going north was to set up defenses in important towns, encircle rivers, clear the fields, and track the waders. In September, troops were deployed all the way to Xuzhou via Yangzhou and Qingjiangpu. In October, Jinling Manufacturing Bureau was moved to Haihongkou, merged with Li Hongzhang's original gun bureau and the iron factory purchased from the Americans, and built more than 100 machines purchased by Rong Hong. Jiangnan Manufacturing Administration. In December, the permanent charter and camp regulations of the Yangtze Navy were approved. In 1866 (the fifth year of Tongzhi), Zeng Guofan, the commander-in-chief of the Hunan Army, was ordered to station in Zhoujiakou as an imperial envoy. , Supervisor of the suppression.
Based on the characteristics of the Nian Army's unpredictable whereabouts and mobile operations, Zeng Guofan adopted the countermeasures of "focusing defense, clearing the country with strong walls, and encircling rivers", but all failed in the end. Later, he established the "Shahe Hundred Mile Defense Line" from Zhoukou west to Luohe, attempting to use this natural moat to eliminate the Nian Army. One day, Zeng Guofan saw the village names of Zengzhuang and Zenglou Village from the "Map of Shangshui County". He sent people to Zengzhuang in the west of Shangshui City along with the book editor, and invited several old men to discuss matters in Zhoukou. During the discussion, the people from Zengzhuang knew that Zeng Guofan's intention was to recognize their clan. This was also something they wished for. Having such a powerful and close friend of the same clan made the people of Zengzhuang worried about not being able to benefit from it, so they all knelt on the ground to pay homage to Zeng Guofan.
In March 1867 (the sixth year of Tongzhi) at the age of 57, a shipbuilding institute under the Jiangnan Manufacturing Administration was set up to trial-produce ships. A translation library is also planned to be established. In May, together with Li Hongzhang, he moved the Jiangnan Manufacturing Administration from Hongkou to Gaochang Temple. The land was acquired and expanded, and regulations were greatly increased. In June, he was awarded the Bachelor of Tirenge degree.
In April 1868 (the seventh year of Tongzhi), at the age of 58, he was awarded the title of Bachelor of Wuyingdian. On May 31st, he went to Shanghai to inspect the Jiangnan Manufacturing Administration. In August, he was ordered to be transferred to the post of governor of Zhili. In September, the first ship trial-produced by Jiangnan Shipyard sailed to Jiangning, where it was boarded for a trial voyage and named "Tianji". In December, he arrived in the capital and met with Nala and Emperor Tongzhi.
In 1871 (the tenth year of Tongzhi), at the age of 61, on August 19, Li Hongzhang and Li Hongzhang jointly played the "Planned Selection of Zi Di to Study Abroad". In September, we inspected the defense and training conditions of various amphibious and land battalions. Arrive in Shanghai in November.
In 1872 (the eleventh year of Tongzhi), he was 62 years old. On February 27, he led the memorial: urging the "issue of sending remaining students" to be implemented as soon as possible. He also proposed to establish a "Chinese International Students Office" in the United States and recommended Chen Lanbin and Rong Hong as chief and deputy committee members to be permanently managed in the United States. A bureau for studying abroad for young children was established in Shanghai, and Liu Hanqing was recommended as "prime minister for the selection and sending of children to the bureau in Shanghai". On March 1st, I suddenly developed numbness in my feet, and my tongue was numb and I couldn't speak. On March 12, while walking in the West Garden of the Department in the afternoon, his feet suddenly became numb. Zeng Jize helped him back to his study, where he sat upright for three moments and died. In that month, the Qing court heard of his obituary and stayed away from court for three days. He was given the posthumous title of Taifu and was given the posthumous title of Wenzheng. On June 25, the coffin arrived in Changsha. On July 19, he was buried in Jinpenling outside the south gate of Changsha. On December 13 of the following year, he was buried in Fulong Mountain, Pingtang, Xiangxi, Shanhua County (now Wangcheng County). Buried together with his wife Ouyang.