Ruyuan Slope: Zeng Guofan in the Official Field and Battlefield

Author: Li Dongjun
Publisher:
Publishing Time: Not available
Features: The people of modern Hunan and Xiang were like the Qin soldiers who fought and farmed; the scholars of modern Hunan and Xiang were mostly like Zigong and Zilu. Their people could only be led by heroes; their scholars could only be gathered by sages. Zeng Wencai possessed both qualities, which enabled him to gather his scholars and lead his people, to spread the sanctified culture of Dongting Lake and open the imperial key of Yuelu Mountain, thus making Hunan and Xiang rise. The culture of Hunan and Xiang is the declining sun of the Confucian lineage. Wang Fuzhi pioneered it, opening the mountain with the sorrow of heroes at the end of their journey, hence possessing a heroic character; Zeng Guofan perfected it, integrating the spirit of sages, hence possessing a sanctified realm. Since Zeng Guofan, Hunan and Xiang have produced heroes one after another, such as Cai E who raised the sword of the Republic in Southwest China, and Huang Xing who roamed the world with revolution. Even the young Mao Zedong said: Among modern figures, I alone admire Zeng Wencai. Zeng Guofan had the aura of a sage: Li Hongzhang, on the other hand, was more like a Huizhou merchant. One's environment shapes one's character.