Because he became famous at a young age, Li Hongzhang was very proud when he was young, and sometimes he thought highly of himself. Later, when I joined Xiang, I felt that my ability was relatively strong, and I gradually became indifferent to Zeng Guofan as a teacher. Zeng Guofan's character is relatively cautious, but Li Hongzhang is just the opposite and more decisive. Every time Zeng Guofan was hesitant about something important, Li Hongzhang was mostly there to help him make a decision. In this way, Li Hongzhang once said: "I started with the masses as heroes, and now I know right and wrong."
Obviously, I don't think Zeng Guofan is a hero as he thought at first, but now he feels like a loser. However, Zeng Guofan was also Li Hongzhang's teacher, and he felt pity for Li Hongzhang, so watching Li Hongzhang swell up did not suppress Li Hongzhang.
On the contrary, Li Hongzhang further swelled up and thought that he could be on an equal footing with Zeng Guofan, and repeatedly mocked Zeng Guofan's faults behind his back. In this way, Zeng Guofan couldn't bear it. Later, when the art of war was put in class, he said two words: "I dare not use the merits of World War I, so I forget its ugliness."
On the surface, this is Zeng Guofan himself, but who is really talking about? It was Li Hongzhang who besieged the Nian Army. Although Zeng Guofan was later famous for suppressing the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, he was forced to jump into the river twice by the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom. Now Li Hongzhang looks beautiful, but who knows what will happen later?