Li Hongzhang

Author: Zhang Meixuan
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-07-01
Features: Born into a noble family, he passed the county-level examination at 18 and the imperial examination at 24, entering the Hanlin Academy. After joining the military, he threw himself under the banner of Zeng Guofan, helping to establish the Huai Army. He stained his official hat with the blood of suppressing the Taiping Rebellion and the Nian Rebellion. He promoted Westernization and became a major pioneer in modern Chinese economic construction. He founded the Beiyang Navy, laying the foundation for the modern Chinese navy's coastal defense. He dealt with foreigners with agility, ranking among the top figures in Chinese diplomatic history. After the First Sino-Japanese War, he signed the Treaty of Shimonoseki; negotiating with foreign powers, he signed the Boxer Protocol; and became the "scapegoat" of the Great Qing Empire. He pursued truth and pragmatism throughout his life, never ceasing to strive for self-improvement, and was caught in the whirlpools of conflicts among officials and commoners, Han and Manchus across history. "He wielded immense power for a time, yet was slandered by all."