Among the political elites in the late Qing Dynasty, Zuo is unique; Compared with Zuo, Li Hongzhang lacks spirit. The contrast between the two is worth pondering. Both of them rose in the war against the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom. Left unified the Chu army (a real Xiang army), Li Hongzhang unified the Huai army, and Zeng Xiang army was the main force to strangle the Taiping Army. Because the Taiping Army was wiped out, Zeng Guofan had no art of imperial twisting, but Li Hongzhang and Zuo Neng were able to destroy it, and Li and Zuo were all important officials in the country. When the country is in a state of anxiety, it is necessary to promote "Westernization". Left, the leader of Westernization School, founded Mawei Shipping Bureau, and Li Hongzhang contributed more to Westernization than left. However, Zuo has the rule of restoring the wonders of Xinjiang, and Li Hongzhang is guilty of the fiasco of the Sino-Japanese War. Although the times are different, Li Hongzhang has no left, so he can only be patient in order to defeat the enemy without fighting. Liang Qichao commented: "fame is like the times, while left is better than development, and Li is better than patience." Although this statement is not empty, can you win with patience?
I admire the Japanese bushido spirit. Even if the game is very different, I will not hesitate to play, play or have a chance to win, or die without playing. It makes sense for Li Hongzhang to avoid war, but how can he avoid it if he is a knife and I am a fish? What does it think of the battle of carrying coffins on the left? Liang Qichao said: "Zuo Wenxiang died more than ten years earlier, so he was able to keep his name, and attached it to Li's meaning with his subsequent hard slander, and Wen Xiang's life was also high." I totally disagree with this passage. The hero's heart is magnanimous, and he has no desire for fame and fortune. Unfortunately, Zuo Wenxiang died more than ten years ago. Even if he wept blood on the battlefield more than ten years later, Zuo Gong was not happy. Saigō Takamori, a Japanese, was not destroyed. However, when Liang Qichao paid his respects, he also wrote the poem "Go and worship it, and the autumn wind will shed tears". The hero is so solid!
Second, the left is a clean aide.
Among the political figures in the late Qing Dynasty, Zuo ranked first, and Lin Zexu was also the most respected person. Every time I look at the history of the Sino-Japanese War, I hate Li Hongzhang. Li Hongzhang lacks the nature of Ren Yong, and his emphasis on power and reputation is more important than his patriotism. Therefore, although he is farsighted, he can't avoid his near worries. Li Hongzhang's cronyism was also a major reason for his failure in the Sino-Japanese War. Husband Ding unified the Beiyang Navy with an army officer, and was unfamiliar with naval battles, so he was also to blame for his defeat and death in World War I; Ye Zhichao, a man who is afraid of death, is a foregone conclusion. Reading Zuo Zhuan, Zuo's aides are not only loyal and brave, but also clean, which shows that Zuo is strict in running the army and proper in employing people. I will briefly introduce the following:
The first soldier on the left made great contributions to the recovery of Xinjiang and became the first governor of Xinjiang. In the 10th year of Guangxu, when the Sino-French War broke out, Liu Jintang wrote twice asking for sending troops to participate in the war, but both failed. At the beginning of the Sino-Japanese War, the court telegraphed him into Beijing, and Liu Jintang set out immediately, but he fell ill on the way. Behind the depression, there are only a few folds in the line, and nothing else.
Another warrior on the left, who is both civil and military, has repeatedly made great achievements in the Western Expedition. In the eleventh year of Guangxu, he served as the governor of Shandong. In the 14th year of Guangxu, the Japanese coveted Taiwan Province Province, and Zhang Yao volunteered to guard Taiwan Province Province, but failed. He died in the 17th year of Guangxu (189 1). Zhang Yao is honest and generous, earning a salary and leaving only a few families.
Jin Shun, a Manchu, was originally the former enemy general headquarters of Afghanistan, and later participated in the left northwest campaign, with outstanding military achievements. In the seventh year of Guangxu, he was ordered to accept Yili, and died in Suzhou in the eleventh year of Guangxu. He is penniless, and even has no funeral expenses. He has been a big official for many years, but he is poor enough to show his incorruptibility.
Liu Dian, Zuo's adviser, then joined the Taiping Army and later served as the governor of Shaanxi. In the second year of Guangxu, under the call of Zuo, Liu Dian went to Lanzhou to participate in the Western Expedition, assisted the military affairs in Shaanxi and Gansu, and sat in the rear. Guangxu died in Lanzhou four years ago and was unhappy behind him. Zuo used private money to transport the body back to his hometown for burial, and he did not want to use public funds for fear of affecting Liu Dian's integrity throughout his life.
Only a few important ones listed above can we get a glimpse of the characteristics of the left Chu army. Compared with Li Hongzhang's Huai army, it is strong outside and hollow inside.
Third, the Left and the Sino-French War
Among the dozens of biographies collected by Yu, Zuo Jingyi's Zuo Zhuan and Mao Peiqi's Ping Zhuan are the ones that I never get tired of reading. Their great achievements, loyalty to the liver and bravery, are desirable.
I read Zuo's posthumous work: "The Vietnam Peace War (referring to 1885, when China and France signed the Vietnam Treaty) is a key to China's strength. My supervisor has gone south, so far he has not extended his attack, and his life is not enough. " Tears of reading. Ten years later, China was completely defeated by the Japanese in the Sino-Japanese War. Zuo failed to see such an ending, but his heart naturally understood where China lost. Is the military strength insufficient? Is this soldier brave? Are you ill-equipped? No, what Zuo saw, how can a nation be invincible if it loses its fighting spirit?
The Sino-French War was supposed to be the beginning of China's rise as a world power, just like the Russo-Japanese War 20 years later. When Japan finally defeated Russia, all countries were shocked. After the Second Opium War in China, the great powers despised me, but China in 1884 was different from China in 1840. When it is, China can clear the Taiping Army, make twists and turns, and restore Xinjiang. His martial arts is at its peak and he is called "Zhongxing"; Li Hongzhang, Zuo, Zeng Guofan and Zhang made some achievements in the westernization reform. Beiyang Navy, Nanyang Navy and Fujian Navy all have a large scale, while Korea and Vietnam are still listed as vassal countries. If we can use this campaign to defeat the French and rebuild China's national prestige, it will play a great role in politics, reform and military equipment. This movement is a once-in-a-century opportunity for China. If Prussia defeats the French, it will be founded in Wan Li.
At that time, China had the conditions to defeat the French: if Zuo, Liu Mingchuan, Yang, and other famous Xiang, Chu and Huai armies were still there, Qiang Bing was still there; There are Vietnamese anti-French forces outside, and the Liu Yongfu Black Flag Army is extremely brave; In terms of coastal defense, except Zhiyuan Ship, Jingyuan Ship, Laiyuan Ship and Jingyuan Ship, all other warships participating in the Sino-Japanese War were among the Beiyang, and the land fort was rebuilt, so the defense force was not weak.
In terms of land warfare, Feng Zicai achieved a great victory in Zhennanguan, recovered Yuan Wen and captured lang son, a military stronghold; Cen Yu Ying defeated the French army in Lintao and recovered Guang Wei and Cheng Xiang. When it happened, China's army became a winning game.
At that time, Li Hongzhang was a department of Huai Army, known as a good soldier in China, but he was the most incompetent. Pan abandoned Nanguan town without fighting; Zhang Peilun, son-in-law of Li Hongzhang, destroyed Fujian Navy without fighting. Li Hongzhang's ace, Beiyang Navy, remained on hold; Only Liu Mingchuan of Taiwan Province Province struggled to win a little face for the Huai Army. Oh! Raising troops for a thousand days, using them for a while, Li Hongzhang worked hard, but he couldn't serve the people once. This is also the shame of running the army. I'm not saying that Li Hongzhang has no materials, but that he has no courage. If he is vigorous, the Sino-French War is the time when he achieved Ito Bowen's career. How can you be humiliated by Ito Bowen ten years later? Sigh for it.