Crazy Genius: The Unofficial Biography of Gu Hongming

Author: Li Yugang/ Country:
Publisher:
Publishing Time: 2002-04-01
Features: According to Luo, when Tian Lai gave lectures, Su Hongming wore a (braid) tied with red silk threads in his hair, wearing a black silk flat-topped melon hat with a red ribbon at the top, and swaggered into the Red Building of the Peking University College of Liberal Arts in Han Garden. Not only was he very eye-catching on the way, but when he entered the classroom, he even stunned the new students. Upon arriving at the classroom, Su Hongming completely ignored the students' surprise, loudly announced, "From now on, I will teach you this 'English Poetry.' If you want to listen to my class, but there are three rules, if you can endure them, come, otherwise, leave early. Whenever I enter, you must stand up; after the class is over, I will leave first, and then you can go out. Second, whenever I ask you a question or you have a question, you must all stand up and speak. Third, any book I assign you to recite must be recited, and you cannot sit down if you cannot recite it." Regarding Su Hongming's plan to recruit personnel for the Hubei Arsenal established by Zhang Zhidong, it also demonstrated his unique talents and eccentric style. During the Self-Strengthening Movement, the "new policies" organized by the Qing court's governors and high-ranking officials were largely led by Zhang Zhidong, the Governor of Hubei and Hunan, known as "Fangxiangshuai." Among the various Westernization enterprises he established in Hubei, the Hubei Arsenal built in Hanyang Town in 1894 was particularly renowned. Initially, the factory was large-scale, well-equipped, with high-quality products, and strict management, making it the absolute top in the East. Not only Zhang Zhidong himself and his associates, but also people from all over the world who knew about it, called it the "Krupp-style arms factory of China." However, later, as the hereditary evil of the feudal "officially supervised and commercially managed" system broke out, it lacked modern scientific management, and the corruption, extravagance, and embezzlement common in Chinese government offices became rampant, leading to waste and exploitation, and the practice of favoritism and embezzlement flourished. Eventually, it collapsed inevitably. However, objectively speaking, the Hubei Arsenal, personally established by Zhang Xiangshuai, indeed had something worth writing about in modern Chinese history. Other things aside, only its signature product—the Hanyang Arsenal rifle—was used by various Chinese soldiers for decades from the late Qing Dynasty to the early Republic of China, and even during the Northern Expedition when the Nationalist Party and the Communist Party worked together. Even the early revolutionary armed forces of the Communist Party of China had to use it as their basic weapon. Of course, this is off the topic. Using advanced German military technology, hiring top arms experts, and establishing the best arms factory in the East were major projects that Zhang Zhidong had been meticulously planning since he was the Governor of Guangdong and Guangxi. In 1888, while still in Guangzhou, Zhang Zhidong began the initial planning. After being promoted to the position of Governor of Hubei and Hunan, he transported all the machines he had imported from Germany in Guangzhou to Wuhan. For this, he also had a major conflict with another prominent figure of the time, the famous Westernization official Li Hongzhang. At that time, the "Self-Strengthening" and "Seeking Wealth" activities, which focused on the establishment of a large number of military and civilian industries (known as the Self-Strengthening Movement), were vigorously promoted by the new court officials Yi Xian, Wen Xiang, the high-ranking officials Zeng Guofan, Zuo Zongtang, Li Hongzhang, and Zhang Zhidong, and were once spectacular and glorious. None of them were more skilled than attracting foreign capital, introducing Western science and production technology, and hiring various foreign technical experts to hope to modernize China. In fact, it should be regarded as the forerunner of the great reform and opening-up of contemporary China in the late 1970s, although they were fundamentally different in many aspects. After all, the Self-Strengthening Movement a hundred years ago was the first time in Chinese history that the material level had extensively learned from the West. Naturally, the actions of these Westernization officials, including Zhang Zhidong, were not only based on the excuses of "strengthening the country" and "seeking wealth," but also had their own political and economic interests, such as manufacturing achievements, seeking rewards from the court, expanding factions, and accumulating wealth. At this time, the Hubei Arsenal established by Zhang Zhidong was no exception. After arriving in Hanyang, Zhang Zhidong devoted almost all his energy to it. It can be imagined that Su Hongming, who had studied in Germany and was still serving as the foreign affairs clerk in the governor's office, naturally did his utmost to plan and promote this work of Zhang Zhidong's heart. Some historical records even say that "all the meticulous arrangements of the arsenal were handled by Su Tangsheng." Regardless of whether this statement is too much or not, Su Hongming did indeed do a very appropriate and commendable thing for Zhang Zhidong in the early stages of recruiting German technical personnel. In terms of actual handling methods, he also had his own unique eccentricities. Initially, Zhang Zhidong, through the introduction of a German named Wei Li, imported a large number of weapons and mechanical equipment from Germany. Unbeknownst to him, the latter had been receiving a monthly bribe of as high as 2,100 marks from this transaction. Moreover, many of the equipment he had obtained were counterfeit and shoddy products. However, he was completely unaware of this at the time. In the year 1900, after the Eight-Nation Alliance had entered Beijing, they, with their arrogant and robber-like attitude, were loudly claiming to carve up China. At that time, it happened that XXX's "sparrow on the finger" had also flown to Beijing. However, at this time, Wardes had long since ceased to be the beggar he once was and had become a general of the German Emperor and the commander-in-chief of the Eight-Nation Alliance, which was heavily invading China. Twenty years! In a blink of an eye! At that time, I was serving as a tutor in Zhang Zhijun's office and witnessed his loyal and patriotic deeds. He was deeply worried that the people would suffer again and the country would be destroyed, so he stayed up for several nights, had individual conversations, and held group meetings to deliberate. He was simply too busy. At that time, I proposed the "Jiangnan Independence" plan to Zhang Zhijun as a temporary buffer. The main purpose was to avoid the enemy exploiting our weaknesses and sending their naval and land forces to attack our coastal cities such as Guangzhou and Shanghai, deep into Wuhan, and disrupt the Central Plains. In this way, we could take the opportunity to quickly prepare our troops and mobilize the people of the entire country to fight the enemy with one heart and one purpose, to protect our homes and country, to march north to assist the court, and to strive for a final victory. Upon hearing this, Zhang Zhijun nodded repeatedly, saying, "This plan is very good!" However, regarding the "independence declaration," he was afraid of causing misunderstanding to the court and suffering severe reprimand, so he hesitated and hesitated, and dared not issue it for a long time. At that moment, Governor Liu Kunyi of Jiangnan arrived at night for a consultation on the war and peace strategy with Zhang Zhijun. Zhang Zhijun then proposed the "Jiangnan Independence" plan and explained his reluctance to issue it. Liu Zhijun made a decision on the spot, saying, "It is not safe for you to appear alone; with our two names, it is okay." Thus, the Jiangnan Independence Declaration was immediately issued. After issuing the Jiangnan Independence Declaration, Zhang and Liu Zhijun had their meal and asked me to join them. Liu Zhijun ordered me to elaborate on the diplomatic and war strategies one by one for adoption. I had no choice but to comply and disclosed all the plans I had thought of in those days. Liu Zhijun nodded and said "Yes" after listening to each point, while Zhang Zhijun stood up and walked around the hall, asking about the problems that might arise in the plan. Our conversation continued until the next day. Zhang Zhijun asked Liu Zhijun to go to bed early, and the latter did not hesitate and left. However, after Liu Zhijun left, he still walked back and forth in the hall. As usual, I had to accompany him. Later, he said to me, "Tangsheng, go, quickly write down the diplomatic and war plans we discussed just now, the faster the better!" It was not until nine o'clock in the morning the next day that I finished writing the plan. When I returned to present it to Zhang Zhijun, he was still pacing back and forth in the hall, still full of energy, without the slightest sign of fatigue. Shortly after Liu Zhijun left, I suddenly heard that the Imperial Court in Shaanxi had appointed Prince Qing Yixuan and Li Hongzhang, the Minister of North, as the chief negotiators for peace talks and diplomatic affairs. Zhang Zhijun immediately said to me, "Tangsheng, I suddenly thought of recommending you to go to Beijing quickly to assist Prince Qing and Minister Li in handling the peace talks." Of course, I could not object, so I asked, "When will you set off?" Zhang Zhijun said, "The matter is urgent, the earlier the better, the faster the better." So, after discussing it together, we decided to set off the next day. The day before departure, he asked me, "Is there any guarantee for this trip to the capital?" I said, "Truth is in my hands, justice is on my side, what have I to fear from the barbarians?" Zhang Zhijun smiled and said, "However, I must remind you, this time you are going to the capital to assist Prince Qing and Minister Li in handling diplomatic affairs; as long as it passes, you can, but do not insist too much." Turning to him, he said, "Now, the Empress Dowager and the Emperor have taken refuge in the west, and the temple and the state are of utmost importance. You must persuade Prince Qing and Minister Li in a tactful manner about the current domestic and international situation, the advantages and disadvantages, but you must not be too humiliating or surrendering. When it is necessary to fight, fight, and when it is necessary to yield, yield. If Prince Qing and Minister Li do not agree with your views, you must break all concerns and argue with them. Under no circumstances can the country be handed over to a few people. A single word can make a nation prosperous, and a single word can make a nation perish. This is the time!" He also said, "You must report to me every day about the negotiations and discussions, the opinions and attitudes of Prince Qing and Minister Li, and all measures, as well as the imperial edicts from the Imperial Court in Xi'an. We will adopt the same policy and strategy, ready to die for it!" Zhang Zhijun also told me, "Now, I have ordered the entire Hubei army to mobilize. Except for leaving half of the Hubei troops under the command of the Commander of the Water Army to defend Wuhan, all the troops have been transferred to the border of Hubei and Henan to prevent the alliance from advancing south and attacking us unprepared. I have also sent special envoys to meet the governors and ministers of various provinces to quickly prepare for war. If the peace talks fail, all the troops will march north to meet in Beijing. Now, there is the Jiangnan Five Provinces Independence Declaration, and there is also a response from Yuan Shikai, the Governor of Shandong, by telegram. Now, the areas north and south of the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers have been connected, and it will not be split in the future, allowing the enemy's iron hooves to trample at will. The enemy also knows our declaration, so they dare not be too arrogant. Precisely because of this, we must be prepared for war." Later, Zhang Zhijun said, "This responsibility is entrusted to Liu Zhijun and me. As for diplomatic affairs, only Prince Qing and Minister Li and you can rely on. The rise and fall of the country are the responsibility of every citizen. You must not be afraid to speak because of your low position. It is important, it is important! Remember, remember!" I said, "Please, Your Excellency, pay attention to the last point in the plan, mobilize all military officers in the country, including men, women, and children, even children, to educate them to hate the enemy and protect our homes, and to learn from the Spanish guerrillas who fought against Napoleon in France. No matter how long the war lasts, no matter how great the losses and sacrifices, we must not surrender to the enemy. If we surrender, China will be divided, and the vast land of China will be forever colonized by various countries." Zhang Zhijun said, "Rest assured, as long as I am alive, I will never surrender." That's how Zhang Zhijun urged me to leave immediately, without delay, and wished me a smooth journey and success!