First, the selection of materials is appropriate and the genre is novel. The materials selected in the Summary of Reading History and Geography are different from ordinary local chronicles. It focuses on the relationship between the rise and fall of major events in past dynasties, the victory and defeat of wars and the geographical situation, while most of the poems about sightseeing are "eliminated". The first nine volumes describe the national situation in past dynasties. Then, taking 1 14 as the unit, and taking 13 bureaus, envoys and their subordinate counties in Ming Dynasty as the key link, the contents of their four to eight arrivals, organizational evolution, orientation, historical sites, mountains and rivers, towns, passes and post stations are described respectively. Important historical facts related to various geographical entities are attached to various place names and features. And often points out the reasons for the naming of geographical entities in the narrative. Subsequently, the Similarities and Differences between Chuandu and Jiuzhou Zhao are described in six volumes. The last volume is the traditional "dividing line" theory, which corresponds to heaven and earth, meaning "looking down and looking up" in past dynasties, with state affairs as the classics and geography as the latitude; Later, with the division of administrative regions by provinces as the key link and dynasties as the key link, the whole book is criss-crossed, with clear outline, self-evident, vivid narrative and rigorous structure, which makes it interesting to read.
Second, it has a strong military geographical color. Since one of the main purposes of Gu Zuyu's Notes on Reading History and Geography is to meet the needs of anti-Qing and regaining sight, he certainly attaches great importance to the description of the army. In view of the fact that the Ming rulers did not take advantage of the dangerous situation of mountains and rivers, did not remember the lessons of success or failure in using troops in ancient and modern times, and finally suffered from the history of national subjugation, he cited historical events and inferred success or failure from the national conditions, dangerous mountains and rivers, and the offensive and defensive of fortresses. "Take ancient and modern history as a mirror." The relationship between the rise and fall of past dynasties and the geographical environment is recorded in detail, while the records of scenic spots and historical sites are relatively simple. Not only did the first nine volumes specifically discuss the national situation of past dynasties, but all provinces and capitals started with the gains and losses of territory, mountains and rivers and situations. The situation of each province and its military importance are discussed in the general introduction. Almost every article of State Situation in Past Dynasties and General Situation of Mountains and Rivers in Provinces is a valuable military geography paper.
Moreover, every time a geographical entity is described, the source of its military status and value should be traced back. Gu Zuyu believes that geographical location is the basis of marching. Terrain is as important to military strategists as people need food to survive and travelers need boats and cars. The prophet can only March in the right position. With the help of the "township guide", "the husband can be invincible." This is his original intention of focusing on the relationship between geographical environment and the success or failure of war in the summary of Reading Historical Records. No wonder Zhang Zhidong thinks that "this book is written for the military, not for geographical research." Liang Qichao also believes that "Fan Jingshu is indeed a very unique military geography".
Third, pay attention to the dialectical thinking of the relationship between man and land. The summary of Reading History and Geography focuses on natural disasters and geographical advantages, which always runs through the fact that natural disasters and geographical advantages are only subordinate conditions for success or failure, and the decisive factor lies in the correct thinking of society and personnel. Because "yin and yang are impermanent, cold and summer are impermanent, and risks are impermanent." Although it's the reason of "Jincheng Tang Chi", it's worse than "the hill of repair" and "the overflowing water" if there is no guardian. If you choose the right person, even "dead wood and rotten grass can be enemies." In other words, the geographical situation is of course an important factor in determining the outcome of the war, but the generals with troops play a greater role. Gu Zuyu, when discussing the changes of the capitals of past dynasties and their reasons, thinks that it is determined by many factors, not by the dangerous terrain. First of all, the choice of the capital is related to the situation at that time. Where the capital can be established at this time, it may not be suitable for it at that time. Secondly, whether it is suitable to build a capital depends not only on whether the terrain is dangerous and solid, but also on whether it is beneficial to attack and defense, convenient transportation, developed production and the struggle against the enemy. Because the various factors of building the capital are constantly changing, we can't just consider mountains and rivers. His view is basically consistent with that of historical materialism.
Fourth, pay attention to practical application, especially the issues related to the national economy and people's livelihood. Gu Zuyu believes that the Geography Book should not only record the evolution of the territory and political areas in the past dynasties, but also include the contents of historical natural geography and historical economic geography such as canals, food, wasteland reclamation, horse administration, salt and iron, and official tribute. At the beginning of his writing, he really attached great importance to it, but later, due to various reasons, manuscripts were often lost, and he didn't care about repairing "diseased things", but his outline might also be "mistaken in the article". However, when he discussed the geographical situation in various places, he tried his best to prove it with geographical conditions, making history a guide and geography an atlas of history, which were closely combined. The book focuses more on the national economy and people's livelihood, less on irrelevant matters and details of people, which is also the difference between reading historical records and other geographical works. Because the Yellow River has been suffering for a long time, it has a direct negative impact on the national economy and people's livelihood. Therefore, Gu Zuyu compiled a large number of predecessors' opinions on water control in the Minutes of Reading Historical Records for future generations to learn from. He highly appreciates Pan Jixun's policy of river management. It is considered that "tying water with dikes and attacking sand with water is a good way to control water with water, which is absolutely necessary but not easy." (Reading Historical Records 126) Pan Jixun's thoughts are mentioned in many places in the book. In addition, the book also attaches great importance to the record of water transport. Gu Zuyu thinks that water transportation is very important, because "the great life of the world depends on it". However, he opposed the view that people's lives and property along the canal were ignored for water transportation. In Similarities and Differences between Sichuan and Capital, he devoted a whole volume to water and sea transportation, and recorded in detail the gates, dams, dikes, springs, etc. of the canals under the relevant counties. In addition, Susong area, where the agricultural economy developed rapidly in the Ming Dynasty, and towns such as Yangzhou and Huai 'an, which turned to grass, are all recorded in the book. At the same time, The Outline of Reading History records the rise and fall of farmland water conservancy, the changes of traffic routes and the rise and fall of towns in detail. It can be seen that the summary of reading history and geography is very important not only in military geography and evolutionary geography, but also in economic geography.