Modern essayist, diplomat, one of the main leaders of Westernization Movement and the initiator of capitalist industry and commerce.
Influenced by the times since childhood, he is well-read, knowledgeable, committed to practical learning, does not write fu, does not learn small letters, and especially despises stereotyped writing. Tongzhi for six years (1867), vice list after having obtained the provincial examination in Jiangnan. However, in the past two years, I participated in Zeng Guofan's curtain, interacted with Li Shuchang, Zhang Yuzhao, Wu Rulun and other Tongcheng scholars, made extensive contact with Westernization, cared about state affairs, and exercised my knowledge of articles, so I was collectively called "the four disciples of Zeng Men". 1872 After Zeng Guofan's death, Xue Fucheng once entered Suzhou Bookstore, and published Letter to the Book in the first year of Guangxu (1875), which made him famous. Then he entered the door of Li Hongzhang, the Westernization School, and became Li's main copy, starting and ending at 10. 1879, he wrote the famous "My humble opinion on raising foreign countries" and advocated political reform. It is believed that "everyone wants to help themselves" needs the development of capitalist industry and commerce to a certain extent. Later, he was appointed as Ningshaotai Road, Zhejiang Province, and led his troops to repel French ships in Zhenhai. Finally, he served as an envoy to Britain, France, Italy, Belgium and other countries, devoted himself to introducing western science and technology politics and customs and protecting the interests of overseas Chinese. He once praised the constitutional monarchy in Europe, saying that "democracy is the worst without a monarch" and advocated political reform and reform. But he didn't go home after returning home, that is, he died of illness in Shanghai.
all one's life
Xue Fucheng studied classics hard when he was a child, but he was shocked by the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom Movement. In order to serve the country, he decided to give up stereotyped writing and study practical learning. Xianfeng eight years (1858), a scholar. In the same year, Xue Fucheng went to visit his father in Hunan, which happened to be the day of Xiang Xue's death. Xue and Xue Fucheng stayed in Hunan for more than a year, dealing with everything behind their father. Ten years (1860) learned that the Taiping Army had gone to the Soviet Union and Changzhou in the East, and the two brothers hurried back. I didn't expect the whole family to go out to take refuge. After several hard searches, I finally found my family in Baoying Dongxiang, northern Jiangsu. Xue Fucheng continued to study the science of managing the world.
Introduction to Xue Fucheng In the summer of Tongzhi four years (1865), Zeng Guofan, Governor of Liangjiang, went north to suppress the Nian Army and posted a list of talents along the way. After hearing the news, Xue Fucheng wrote down eight countermeasures, and wrote a book about Zeng Hou. He went to pay his respects to Zeng Guofan. Zeng Guofan applauded after reading it, and was deeply attracted by Xue Fucheng's idea of changing the imperial examination, cutting green camp and learning from foreigners, that is, hiring Xue Fucheng to enter the curtain. He has worked for seven years since then. Xue Fucheng pays special attention to military affairs, military expenditure, public affairs and civil affairs. From time to time, he put forward some policies on the disadvantages of political reform, which was highly valued by Zeng Guofan. Keep him as an alternate tongzhi, and be the magistrate of Zhili Prefecture.
Eleven years (1872) in February, Zeng Guofan died, and Xue Fucheng went to Suzhou Bookstore. In the first year of Guangxu (1875), I went to the Ministry to introduce myself. On the way, I saw the imperial edict that the new emperor sought advice from the world after he acceded to the throne. I was so excited that I wrote more than 10,000 words, including six strategies for peaceful control and ten secret discussions on coastal defense. Advocating efforts to improve diplomacy and publishing public international law and foreign treaties in all countries; It is advocated to set up a college for those who are proficient in westernization in the imperial examination, so that outstanding talents can come forth in large numbers; It is suggested to develop the navy by hiring foreigners, sending personnel to study abroad and customizing armored ships. Xue Fucheng's written statement attracted the attention of the imperial court. Soon, the opinions in the statement were adopted and put into practice, and Xue Fucheng covered the sky with one hand and the sky with the other. Ding Baozhen, Guo Songtao and other senior officials have always been under the banner of protecting Xue Fucheng's diplomatic envoys abroad. Zhili Governor Li Hongzhang was also impressed by Xue Fucheng's talent and took over.
In the second half of the first year of Guangxu (1875), Xue Fucheng entered the Li Hongzhang shogunate to handle the copywriting and strategize. The following year, when Xue Fucheng was negotiating the Macquarie case with Britain, he presented the book "Negotiations with British Envoys" to Li Hongzhang, arguing that unreasonable demands on Britain should not be accommodated, and that the possible military actions of the British army should be taken with defensive measures, organization should be permanent, suspicion should be spread, and more should be dealt with in a way of less. Li Hongzhang appreciated it very much, and ordered Xue Fucheng to accompany him in the negotiations with the British minister. He was recommended as the magistrate because of his contribution to Westernization.
Five years (1879) "The State Administration of Taxation Hurd said something happily, and the State Administration of Taxation decided to appoint him as the General Administration of Coastal Defence". Deeply aware of the seriousness of the situation, Xue Fucheng immediately published "On Rip", arguing that Hurd should not be the commander-in-chief of coastal defense. He thinks so. "Then China's right to terminate the contract is all in Hurd's hands." He also put forward a suggestion to Li Hongzhang, saying that only tell Hurd that if he wants to be the chief coastal defense department, he must give up his position as the chief tax department and go to the seaside to train in person. In this way, Hurd will not give up the position of chief tax officer, and this matter can be forgotten. Li Hongzhang felt very reasonable, so he adopted Xue Fucheng's suggestion and wrote to the Prime Minister's yamen. The Prime Minister's yamen acted as planned, which frustrated Hurd's attempt to control China's navy. In the same year, Xue Fucheng wrote a book, My Humble Opinion on Fostering the Foreign Countries, which reflected his westernization thought, and thought that China had reached the point where it was necessary to carry out great reform and westernization. "If the world becomes smaller, the cause of governing the world will change slightly; As the world gets bigger, the laws governing the world will also change greatly. " Advocate the development of industry and commerce and "seize foreign profits for the people." And put forward the idea of anti-unequal treaties, anti-Japanese-Russian aggression and tariff reform. Xue Fucheng presented this book to Li Hongzhang, who praised it and distributed it to officials for reading.
In the seventh year (188 1), Xue Fucheng wrote the Constitution of the Beiyang Coastal Defence Navy and put forward the idea of the future Beiyang Navy. Later, Li Hongzhang established the Beiyang Navy according to his idea. The following year, Liu Yun, the king of North Korea's courtyards, staged a coup, and Xue Fucheng offered an idea to Zhang Shusheng, governor of Zhili, demanding that he send troops to North Korea as soon as possible to arrest the leader of the chaotic party. Zhang Shusheng adopted Xue Fucheng's suggestion, quickly put down the Korean rebellion and foiled the Japanese plot to take advantage of the chaos to control Korea. Xue Fucheng was promoted to Sipin Daochang. /kloc-early summer of 0/0 (1884), Xue Fucheng awarded Zhejiang Ningshaotai Road. When the Sino-French War broke out, Xue Fucheng strengthened his defense, commanded the military and civilians to attack the French warships that committed Zhejiang, and was awarded the title of special envoy for their work. In the autumn of the 12th year (1886), Xue Fucheng compiled his manuscripts for many years into the Anti-Records of East Zhejiang, and at the beginning of the next year, he compiled them into four volumes of Yongan Wenbian.
In the autumn of 14th year (1888), Xue Fucheng was promoted to Hunan provincial judge. When he visited Beijing in the early spring of the following year, he was re-appointed as the Minister to Britain, France, Italy and Belgium. During his tenure as ambassador to Europe, Xue Fucheng visited many European countries, inspected the industrial development in Europe, and studied the political, military, educational, legal and financial systems in Europe in detail, which broadened his horizons and changed his thinking day by day. He thinks that the west is a hundred times richer than China, and China should persistently learn from the west, set up a private company that "corrects the wisdom of many people, thinks they can be smart and thinks they can be rich", and put forward two new laws that are most important for raising people, such as "seeking new laws to make them rich and strong" and "selecting talents to control their tools". Xue Fucheng recorded in detail what he saw, heard and thought during his four years in Europe, and then compiled the Diary of the Four Kingdoms.
During his stay in Europe, Xue Fucheng also participated in many specific foreign affairs. In the eighteenth year (1892), he held many negotiations with Britain on the demarcation of the Yunnan-Myanmar border and trade treaties. Due to Xue Fucheng's invoking of international conventions, Britain finally agreed to sign the Commercial Clause on Renewing the Border Affairs between Yunnan and Myanmar, and China recovered part of its territory and rights. In addition, Xue Fucheng, based on public international law, forced Britain to agree with China to set up a consul in its territory. In this way, China has set up consuls in Nanyang and Myanmar to protect the rights and interests of overseas Chinese.
Twenty years (1894), Xue Fucheng left his job and returned home. Arrived in Shanghai on May 28th. Because of the hard work and fatigue all the way, Xue Fucheng contracted an epidemic and died late at night on June 19 at the age of 56.