Liang Qichao admired the Zeng family and said, "I called for a collection, and I can't wait three days to reply." Liang refers to Zeng Guofan in the preface of Zeng Gong Chao. "Is it only built by modern people who have never seen it before?" Not only in China, but also in the world. However, Wen is not an unparalleled genius. He is called the slowest of all sages. His suffering will also be the middle of his life; Those who are immortal in virtue, who have made contributions and made great achievements are determined to be refined, but they are trapped in it, knowing what they have done, but going forward bravely, going through all kinds of difficulties and obstacles without setbacks, not seeking immediate results, accumulating inch by inch, accepting vanity, being diligent, steadfast, sincere, handsome, brave and diligent.
Just like Zhang's evaluation of Zeng Guofan in the Revolution of 1911, in the past hundred years, different people have different views, including those who praised Zeng Guofan and those who scolded him. As early as when Zeng Guofan suppressed the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, some people accused him of killing too many people and gave him a nickname "Zeng shaved his head". By 1870, many people called him a traitor, so much so that Zeng Guofan felt that he was "blaming the gods inside and blaming the gods outside" and even had the fear of being besieged on all sides. After the Revolution of 1911, some revolutionaries said that he was "the first person to execute the law on the spot" and a traitor with a long history. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, historians even scolded him to the end, denouncing him as the guardian of the feudal landlord class and the puppet of the landlord comprador class.
Xiao Yishan, a famous historian of the Qing Dynasty in the Republic of China, compared Zeng Guofan with Zuo in A Brief History of the Qing Dynasty: "The state and governors win with caution, but with heroism."
Mao Zedong and Chiang Kai-shek are two famous figures in the modern history of China. They spoke highly of Zeng Guofan. When I was young, I devoted myself to studying Zeng's collected works and came to the conclusion that I was "stupid enough to be close to people and only serve". Even in his later years, Mao Zedong once said: Zeng Guofan is the most powerful figure in the landlord class. Chiang Kai-shek paid homage to the Zeng family and thought that Zeng Guofan's lifestyle was "enough for our teachers." He taught the Quotations of Zeng Hubing as a textbook to senior generals, and put the Complete Works of Zeng Wen and Gong Zheng beside the case, and read it all his life. It is said that the way he called the roll and sat in a healthy way all imitated Zeng Guofan. Zeng Guofan's personal charm is evident.
General Cai E spoke highly of Zeng's thought of loving soldiers and building a teacher of benevolence and righteousness: "It is most kind to lead troops like a collar. If this idea can be used, the words of leading troops in ancient and modern times will be burned. " (Collection of Mr. Cai Songpo's Last Works (II), p. 5).
Zuo's elegy for Zeng Guofan: it is better to know people's wisdom and seek loyalty to the country than to be ashamed; Unity is like gold, and if you are wrong, you will be doomed.
In the same year of Xianfeng, Zeng Guofan's performance in foreign activities, such as "borrowing foreign countries to help suppress", transporting foreign merchants to South Cao, sending people to buy American planes to set up Jiangnan Machinery Bureau, and handling Tianjin religious plan, pointed out that when domestic troubles and foreign invasion were serious and most scholars were addicted to the textual research of righteousness, Zeng Guofan was able to independently conform to the trend of the times, grasp the times, absorb the essence of China traditional culture, and inherit and carry forward the practical application of Lin Zexu and Wei Yuan.
First, the pioneer of modern modernization in China
Zeng Guofan was the first person who really practiced actively in the history of China. Under his guidance, he built the first ship in China, which started the modern manufacturing industry. The establishment of the first ordnance school initiated the modern higher education in China. The first translation and printing of western books not only laid the scientific and technological foundation of modern China, but also greatly broadened the horizons of Chinese people. The arrangement of the first batch of overseas students to study in the United States has cultivated a large number of outstanding talents for the country, among which Tang, the first Prime Minister of the Republic of China, Zhan Tianyou, the "father of railways" in China, Liang Dunyan, the foreign minister in the late Qing Dynasty, and the first president of Tsinghua are outstanding.
Second, the founder of China's ideological and political work
Zeng Guofan claimed: "I am a talent for training soldiers, not for fighting." He taught soldiers to "point the head of a stubborn stone and suffer the blood of cuckoo." He trained in Confucianism, which made him an organized team. His "Love Folk Songs" made A Xiang a great success. Mao Zedong's "Three Disciplines and Eight Notices" is based on this. When Chiang Kai-shek built the army in Huangpu, he also published his "Love Folk Song" for the students to sing, which had a great effect. Seeing that Hong Xiuquan's devotion to Catholicism was not in line with China's national conditions, he wrote an article "Begging for Guangdong Bandits", which made many intellectuals take off their robes and lead the wussy peasants to throw themselves under the banner of Xiang, and fought against the Taiping rebels to win the final victory.
Third, cultivate one's morality and govern the country. China is the first perfect man in all ages.
Since ancient times, China has said "three immortals", such as making contributions (accomplishing great things), becoming a spiritual model of the world, and making a statement (leaving a theory for future generations), but few people can really do it, and Zeng Guofan is one of them. He defeated the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom and saved the Qing Dynasty, so he was the "savior" of the Qing Dynasty. He "saved the time", purged the political style and learned western culture, which contributed to the emergence of "Tongzhi Zhongxing" in the late Qing Dynasty. He has always been strict with himself, advocating integrity, flaunting morality, and making every effort to win support from top to bottom; His academic articles are eclectic, extensive and profound, and he is a master of modern Confucianism. "His works are required reading for any politician" (Chiang Kai-shek) has achieved the Confucian "Three Immortals" cause of self-cultivation, keeping the family in order, governing the country, making meritorious deeds, establishing morality and making statements, and is worthy of being "the first perfect person in China".
Fourth, the fastest promotion, the best official, and the most stable model.
Zeng Guofan went to school in politics and Hu Xueyan went to school in business. Zeng Guofan was regarded as a "model of officialdom" by politicians in modern times. This is because, first, he was promoted the fastest, at the age of 37, and he was the only one in the Qing Dynasty. Second, it is best to be an official with a prominent political voice and the words of governing for the people; Third, the official is the most stable, surviving the storm of the official sea, safe and sound, and the honor lasts forever. He is familiar with the history of China, knows the way of officialdom, and has accumulated a whole set of officialdom Juexue, which has been applied to the officialdom of China and is invincible.
Fifth, cultivate the first master to introduce and use talents.
Zeng Guofan devoted his life to making friends, netting talents, cultivating talents, recommending talents and using talents. His shogunate is the largest and most combative shogunate in China's history, which has gathered the talents from all over the country. In order to attract and retain talents, he gave up his humble face and wrote to recommend his subordinates many times to seek official positions and positions for them. He recommended thousands of subordinates in his life, including more than 40 officials and governors. They include strategic military talents such as Li Hongzhang, Zuo, Guo Songtao, Li, and first-class scholars and scientists such as Yu Yue, Li, Hua and Xu Shou.
China's traditional culture is the greatest achievement of parenting.
Zeng Guofan is the best son, who can reassure his parents; He is the best brother, teaching and caring for his siblings, and being considerate. Zeng Guofan is a kind father and a good example for children. His Letter from Home emphasizes the ideal of life, spiritual realm and moral cultivation. In the modern society, where kinship is becoming increasingly indifferent and relatives in the neighborhood are strangers, it does have the value of persuading the world to change customs, and it is worth reading. There are less than three generations of official families, but the Zeng family is full of talented people, and a number of famous diplomats, poets, educators, scientists and senior cadres have emerged.
Seven, China traditional cultural personality spirit model.
Zeng Guofan is a scholar-bureaucrat of "above average" among his peers, but his ambition, stubbornness, strong will and diligence are beyond people's reach. Since he was a teenager, he has been "struggling hard and determined to adjust himself to the customs", writing a diary every day to reflect on himself, and not a day goes by without monitoring himself and teaching himself a lesson. He treats his colleagues with humility and self-control, is open-minded and generous, and has made a wide range of friends and is highly respected throughout his life. He remained honest and worked hard. No matter how hard you are, you are not discouraged, but you can make persistent efforts and stick to it. This is the fundamental secret of his success.
Eight, the last spiritual idol of China feudal society.
Zeng Guofan is a knowledgeable person who "works (does business) and preaches (leaves thoughts and theories behind)" (Mao Zedong). "The Draft of Qing History-Biography of Zeng Guofan" also said: "Guo Chen is better than learning and is good at etiquette." He studied hard all his life, respected Confucianism and emphasized practical application, and became another "Confucian master" after Confucius, Mencius and Zhu. He innovated article study's theory of the New Tongcheng School, and his poetry and prose presided over the literary world of Taoism (light), virtue (abundance) and general governance, which can be described as "the highest generation of moral articles".
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Yu Tong has been an official for more than 30 years, but he has achieved nothing in his studies, and his virtue is hard to see. The old man was hurt and ashamed. Today, I want to say goodbye forever. I want to teach your brother four things.
When you are cautious, you will feel at ease. Self-study is not difficult to cultivate the mind; It is difficult to raise your heart, but you should also be cautious. If you are cautious, you will be introspective and innocent, and you will be geological and supernatural. No one is ashamed, then Tianjun is calm, and this kind of heart is often lenient. This is the first road to self-improvement in life, the first road to happiness, and the first road to physical fitness.
Second, the Lord is strong. Quiet and unified internally, neat and serious externally, and exquisite; Go out, see the distinguished guests, sacrifice for the people and respect the sky; Self-cultivation is to protect the people, the world is peaceful, and it is also effective to respect each other. Smart and wise, all from this. Zhuang Jing is strong every day, and Anse steals every day. If no one, big or small, respects and dares not slack off, then no matter how strong the body is, what is there to doubt?
Third, seeking benevolence makes people happy. Every mortal's life is shaped by the principle of heaven and earth and the qi of heaven and earth. I have the same roots as the people. If you know yourself but don't know what people love, then you have lost the way to the source of great books. As for respecting officials and being generous, they have the responsibility to save the people from fire, water and hunger. As a lesson from the past, there is a general principle, that is, after feeling, you have the responsibility to feel. Confucius taught people not only to seek benevolence, but also to learn from others. Is there anyone who is unhappy to return to China?
Fourth, learning to work is a god. What a person wears in a day is commensurate with what he does in a day, so others will do it, and ghosts and gods will allow him to think that he is independent. If farmers weave girls all the year round, they will make a few feet of cloth, while a rich family will be happy all year round, but the food will be delicious and the clothes will be gorgeous. A high sleep, a cry of commitment, the most uneven thing in the world, how long can ghosts and gods not allow it? Ancient sages and sages are always trying to encourage themselves. For a plan, you must practice your skills, hone your bones and muscles, fight against difficulties and worry about dangers, and then you can increase your intelligence and gain knowledge. If you think about the world, you will starve yourself and drown yourself. If you don't die, you will be called an ancient jade. Dayu and Mozi are diligent for themselves and diligent for the people. Diligence leads to longevity, and evasion leads to death. Diligence leads to the use of material, and evasion leads to the abandonment of hard work. Diligence is what people learn, what God worships, and flight is what people don't help, and ghosts don't care.
These four articles are the fruits of your brother's ten years' life. Record them and pass them on to future generations. Then Yu Zeng's family can live forever and have talents.