Whenever we talk about the history of the late Qing Dynasty, especially when it comes to the humiliating treaty of losing power and humiliating the country, the figure of Li Hongzhang cannot be avoided. He served as a marshal in the military, was not only the Minister of Commerce and Industry, but also the leader of the Westernization Movement. He was also known as the "first person in China's diplomacy". He holds many honorary positions, but Li Hongzhang is still a despised "traitor" in the eyes of the world. Signing treasonous treaties, ceding territory to pay compensation, losing power and humiliating the country, the history of modern China's decline seems to have been caused by Li Hongzhang. Li Hongzhang
In fact, Li Hongzhang had many tragic moments in his life. Every time he signed his name on behalf of the Qing Dynasty in the unequal treaties between the great powers, he lost both personal dignity and national dignity. In particular, the "Xinchou Treaty" he signed made China truly reduced to a semi-colonial and semi-feudal country. The moment Li Hongzhang personally signed the treaty was the source of the tragedy in his life. But the signature on this treaty is completely different from the previous form. In other treaties, he wrote his own name, but in this treaty, he actually wrote the word "su". What is the reason for this? The word "su" in the treaty
The first reason: the world should know that this treaty that humiliated the country was signed in the name of the Qing Dynasty and was not his personal decision. The Treaty of Xinchou was the last time Li Hongzhang negotiated on behalf of the Qing government. After he arrived in Tianjin, the old man had been bedridden for many days. Under the repeated urging of the great powers, Li Hongzhang negotiated this unforgettable treaty. The word "solemn" was written on the equality treaty. This word was not randomly signed by him. Li Hongzhang's title was "Su Yi Bo", so "Su" represents the face of the Qing Dynasty, not his personal wishes, and future generations will not blame all the faults. On his body. Li Hongzhang signed the treaty
The second reason: to prevent himself from being infamous in history. Li Hongzhang had been in the court for many years. How could he not know the consequences of signing his name? What's more, the treaties he had signed with his own name had already been criticized by the world. Li Hongzhang served the Qing government and had already shouldered too many crimes for the Qing Dynasty. When he saw this contract, he knew that it was a very humiliating contract. He was no longer willing to sign his full name on this contract, so he thought of using the word "solemn". to replace.
The third reason: The word "su" is probably written in cursive script when Li Hongzhang signed his name. However, this statement is not credible, because Li Hongzhang was still a master of calligraphy in the late Qing Dynasty. Although he entered the official career through the imperial examination, he was an all-rounder with both civil and military skills. Especially the preserved modern calligraphy works of Li Hongzhang, his handwriting is neat and his brushwork is vigorous and vigorous. When he signed the treaty, no matter how old Li Hongzhang was at this time, he would not have written the word "solute" in cursive in his name. So his signature on this treaty was definitely intentional. Stills of Li Hongzhang
Throughout the nearly hundred years of history, Li Hongzhang has always been the scapegoat of the Qing court. Even though he is talented, as a conservative old minister who is inferior to one person and superior to ten thousand people, he can only blindly obey the orders of the organization. Perhaps the heavy burden of obedience and servility made him act cautiously when he signed the humiliating treaty for the last time. The fall of the Qing Dynasty was imminent, and the last humiliating treaty crushed this politician who had struggled in the political arena for many years. The word "absolute" was full of his helplessness towards the current situation.