Evaluation of Li Hongzhang:
Li Hongzhang tried his best to safeguard China's interests and pursue Westernization, but he could not change the reality of China's backwardness. He argued hard for the signing of unequal treaties, but the country was weak and he had to accept humiliating demands.
The Westernization Movement led by him, Zeng Guofan and others was a manifestation of his progress. He also had deeds to defend China diplomatically, such as going to negotiations alone after the Eight-Nation Allied Forces captured Beijing, and finally calming down the incident without ceding territory.
When the Sino-Japanese War was in an unfavorable situation, he took the initiative to reach reconciliation at the minimum cost, which were all beneficial aspects of his defense of the country. ?
But later generations also criticized Li Hongzhang for his wrong decisions, such as signing various unequal treaties with Western countries.
Although these unfavorable treaties and practices are subject to various objective conditions, he still has to bear heavy responsibility for the actions that harmed the country in these incidents, which also involves the overall evaluation of the Hunan Army and the Huai Army.
Extended information:
When signing the Treaty of Shimonoseki, Li Hongzhang was hit in the cheek by a Japanese assassin and almost lost his life. The yellow jacket that symbolized his identity was stained red by the blood flowing across it. . In the end, because of this bullet, Li Hongzhang saved 100 million taels of silver for the Qing Dynasty.
However, this 62-year-old man still signed the "Treaty of Shimonoseki", an unprecedented humiliation in China's modern history, and Taiwan was ceded to Japan.
When Li Hongzhang left Japan, he swore that he would never visit Japanese soil again. A year later, Li Hongzhang visited European and American countries and had to change ships in Japan. However, Li Hongzhang, who was already in his 60s, insisted not to disembark and stayed on two ships. The sampan propped up between them walked tremblingly.
He never wants to face this place of humiliation again, this is his insistence.
However, the First Sino-Japanese War turned Li Hongzhang's half-life career into ashes, interrupting the opportunity for China's national destiny to improve again. Before the ink on Shimonoseki was dry, Li Hongzhang was already stigmatized as "Mr. Li Er is a traitor"
U.S. President Grant (U.S. Grant) called Li the first of the four great men in the world at that time, which was the same as the British at that time Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli, French Prime Minister Gambetta, and German Prime Minister Bismarck are equally famous. ?
Modern historian Tang Degang (from Hefei, Anhui, hometown of Li Hongzhang) believes that he "pleases the emperor internally and resists the great powers externally", which means that China has produced "two and a half" diplomats since the beginning of modern diplomacy. One of them (in addition Zhou Enlai is one and Gu Weijun is half).
Zeng Guofan once said: "Li Shaoquan worked hard to be an official, and Yu Yinfu (Yu Yue) worked hard to write books." Li Hongzhang was keen on officialdom and was deeply relied on by the court. He has survived for decades, obviously thanks to him The way to be an official. ?
Liang Qichao's "The Biography of Li Hongzhang" commented on him: "I respect Li Hongzhang's talent, I cherish Li Hongzhang's knowledge, and I feel sad for Li Hongzhang's fate." "I would like to make two remarks, saying: No Being ignorant and not daring to break the rules are his shortcomings; not shying away from hard work and not being afraid of slander are his strengths.
Mao Zedong commented on Li Hongzhang: "The water is shallow but the boat is big. "
Yuan Shikai commented on Li Hongzhang: "He has bowed his head and worshiped Fenyang all his life, and his name will be matched with Zhuge's for eternity. "
American media commented on Li Hongzhang: "As a diplomat, his achievements make him one of the best in the history of diplomacy. "
Japanese media commented on Li Hongzhang: "Knowing the general trend of coming from the West, understanding foreign civilizations, having excellent vision and agile skills. "
When Mr. Sun Yat-sen wrote to Li Hongzhang, he once said this about Li Hongzhang: "Since I took over the throne, I will not prosper if there is no benefit, and I will not correct the disadvantages, and I will not hesitate to deal with difficulties and obstacles. For example, it is difficult to raise a navy or a railway, but it is still possible to achieve it with determination. What's more, when it comes to the great political affairs of agriculture and mulberry trees, which are closely related to the lifeblood of the people, and there is no difficulty in doing it, and there are people who do it, how can there be people who don't do it? "?
Jiang Tingfu commented on Li Hongzhang: "China's greatest politician in the 19th century. ”
Reference: Baidu Encyclopedia—Li Hongzhang