"Zeng Guofan's Ultimate Strategies in the Imperial Court (Complete 4 Volumes)"

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Publisher: China Worker Publishing House
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Features: After reading the Complete Works of Zeng Wenheng, Mao Zedong conducted research on the great figures in Chinese history and concluded, "I am inferior to many modern people, but I solely admire Zeng Wenheng." Chiang Kai-shek admired, learned from, and emulated Zeng Guofan throughout his life, believing Zeng's works were "a must-read for any political leader."
Volume 1: Zeng Guofan's Nine-Nine Strategies
Volume 2: Zeng Guofan's Heart Sutra
Volume 3: Zeng Guofan's Ice Mirror
Volume 4: Zeng Guofan's Steadfastness Manual
Zeng Guofan (1811–1872) was one of the most influential figures in Chinese history. He entered the capital as a scholar from a remote village in Shuangfeng, Hunan. After passing the imperial examination and staying in the capital for ten years, he was promoted ten times, rising ten ranks in total. At the age of 37, he became the Vice Minister of Rites and eventually reached the second rank of the official hierarchy. Following his mother's death, he returned to his hometown, where the Taiping Rebellion swept across Hunan and the surrounding regions. Taking advantage of the situation, he raised a special militia—the Xiang Army—in his hometown, enduring great hardships to pacify the rebellion for the Qing Dynasty. He was enfeoffed as a First-Class Martial and Martial Justice, becoming the first scholar to be granted the title of a Martial in the Qing Dynasty. Later, he served as Governor of Jiangnan and Zhili, holding the highest rank of the first rank. Upon his death, he was posthumously honored as "Wenheng" (a posthumous name). He was truly an excellent official and a stable guardian of his position.
Zeng Guofan lived during a turbulent era when the Qing Dynasty was transitioning from the Qianlong and Jiaqing to decline, facing internal and external crises. As a central figure during this transitional period, he exerted remarkable influence in politics, military, culture, and economics. This influence was not only significant at the time but also continues to resonate to this day, making him one of the most prominent and controversial historical figures in modern China. The saying goes, "Those in politics should learn from Zeng Guofan, and those in business should learn from Hu Xuyan." Since the modern era, Zeng has been revered by political figures as a "model of the officialdom." He rose to the second rank at the age of 37, a feat unmatched in the Qing Dynasty. He excelled as an official, with a distinguished reputation and skillful governance. He remained steadfast in his career, weathering numerous political storms without harm, maintaining both honor and prosperity.
Well-versed in Chinese history, Zeng deeply understood the ways of the officialdom and possessed a comprehensive set of skills that made him invincible in the Chinese political arena. From Li Hongzhang and Zhang Zhidong to Yuan Shikai and Chiang Kai-shek, none failed to admire Zeng,ing him as a "sage." From Liang Qichao and Huang Xing to Chen Duxiu and Mao Zedong, all regarded Zeng as a model.
This book primarily presents the essence of Zeng's life in various aspects, including personnel management, political adaptability, military strategy, scholarly education, self-cultivation, and health preservation. It is supplemented by extensive historical examples, providing a thorough analysis of his extraordinary 60-year life and 30-year career at its peak. By reading about Zeng's legendary journey and success secrets, one can gain insights into the ups and downs of life, enhance their skills in the officialdom, and achieve success in governance, military affairs, business, scholarship, and family life. In today's society, whether leaders in politics, military figures, corporate magnates, or cultural icons, will all draw inspiration from this book to learn the secrets of successful governance, military leadership, management, scholarship, and family life. Apply them, and see immediate results; read them, and they will benefit you for a lifetime!