During the Xianfeng period, Li Hongzhang entered the army by suppressing the Taiping Army. Later, because the Qing government was weak in Jiangnan, he was ordered to form the Huai army, with Zeng Guofan's Xiang army as the backbone. By suppressing the peasant uprising forces such as the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom and the Nian Army, the military strength of the Huai Army continued to expand. After the dissolution of Xiang Army, Huai Army remained the most elite troops in Jiangnan. This Jiangnan armed force became the basis of Li Hongzhang's right to speak in the Qing government.
During the same ruling period, Li Hongzhang and Zuo attempted to carry out capitalist reform under the feudal monarchy, which initiated the enlightenment of modern China's capital forces, founded the state-owned enterprises of the Qing government, and changed the attitude of the late Qing court towards modern science, military affairs and economy. During the Westernization Movement, the diplomatic department of the Qing government, with Li Hongzhang as the main body, once gained sovereignty before the powers.
During the Guangxu period, Li Hongzhang began to form the naval forces of the Qing government, and the establishment of the Beiyang Navy represented the peak of the Westernization Movement. However, due to the decay of the political system, the Beiyang Navy, which was extremely backward in logistics, was wiped out in the Sino-Japanese War, which also marked the failure of Li Hongzhang's half-life reform.
When Li Hongzhang was the governor of Guangdong and Guangxi in his later years, Eight-Nation Alliance launched a war of aggression against China, and Li was forced to Beijing by the fugitive government in the late Qing Dynasty. Li Hongzhang, who was seriously ill, lost his mind and body after signing the Treaty of Shame and Ugliness, and died in posthumous title.
Brother Li Hongzhang
People only know that Li Hongzhang is a famous minister in the late Qing Dynasty, but few people know Li Hongzhang's family background. Li Hongzhang is the second in the family. He has one brother, five younger brothers and two younger sisters. Besides, because Li Hongzhang's father has a good upbringing, all his brothers have made a difference.
First of all, Li Jiazi is Li Zhanghan, Li Hongzhang's brother, two years older than him. Like Li Hongzhang, Li Zhangshan learned from Zeng Guofan and entered the official career. Li Zhanghan's knowledge and ability are not worse than his younger brother Li Hongzhang. It's a pity that he doesn't have the fate of Li Hongzhang. At first, he worked as a county magistrate in Hunan under the arrangement of Zeng Guofan. Later, he was dismissed because of the fall of Zeng Guofan. Later, Zeng Guofan was in charge of the training program, and he was appointed as the logistics manager of the program by Zeng Guofan.
Li Hezhang, Li Hongzhang's third brother, went to school to join the army, and eventually achieved nothing, so he chose to abandon his official position and start a business. Li Hezhang is an excellent businessman. He successively engaged in real estate, salt industry and tea, and eventually became a wealthy businessman. Li Hezhang also used his own money to benefit his hometown.
Li Fengzhang, the fourth brother, has been devoted to business. He is the richest man among the Li brothers and has done many good deeds. Besides doing business, Li Fengzhang is also good at calligraphy.
Li Zhaoqing, Li Hongzhang's youngest brother, was the most valued son of his father Li Wenan, but he became the most incompetent of the brothers and died at a young age.
Although Li Hongzhang's brothers can't all go down in history like Li Hongzhang, they all have their own way. Thanks to the cultivation of their father, the Lee brothers are outstanding, some of them are famous in history, and some are rich. History, but they all have their own way. Thanks to the cultivation of their father, the Lee brothers are outstanding, some of them are famous in history, and some are rich.
Mrs. Li Hongzhang
Li Hongzhang was a famous minister in China in the late Qing Dynasty. He studied with Zeng Guofan when he was young. Later, since he became an official, he has made a lot of efforts to crack down on foreign countries.
Li Hongzhang's first wife was married when he first entered the official career. His first wife's surname is Zhou, and her history is Zhou. In the same year that Zhou married Li Hongzhang, Li Hongzhang was admitted to Yingshun Tianfu. Husband and wife have a harmonious relationship, but it doesn't last long. Xianfeng eleven years, Zhou died of illness. After Zhou died, Li Hongzhang continued to marry, and Scott was the most famous of all Li Hongzhang's wives. It is said that this Mrs Scott's daughter is very rich. After Li Hongzhang married Scott, his career was smooth and he was promoted step by step. From running a school to forming a water army, Li Hongzhang had a smooth sailing. Although superstitious, Zhao was indeed extremely important in Li Hongzhang's life.
Li Hongzhang's original wife adopted his nephew and didn't have any children for him. Later, his second wife Zhao gave birth to a man and two women for him. One of Zhao's daughters, Li Ju, is the grandmother of Zhang Ailing, a famous writer in Ming Dynasty. Zhao was 24 when he married Li Hongzhang. In ancient feudal times, it was a shame for a woman not to get married at the age of 24. Zhao Xiaolian was born in a scholarly family. Although her appearance is not beautiful enough, her temperament and intelligence are excellent. As a girl and a man, she is determined not to marry the general. Later, she became Li Hongzhang's second wife through matchmaking. It can be seen that Scott and Li Hongzhang are together because of fate.