Chapter 71 Everyone is drunk and I am drunk too

It is undeniable that Li Hongzhang is a very smart person, full of talent and insight.But smart people may not be able to do things well, because smart people love to be smart and ignore everything. In order to torture him, when he first joined Zeng Guofan's shogunate, Zeng Guofan did not immediately agree, but made things difficult for him.Zeng Guofan once said to his subordinates that this was to wear off his bookishness and make him know that the world is difficult and learn to restrain himself.Later, Li Hongzhang stayed to act as a staff member, and he came up with many ideas, and he also drafted many memorials.Zeng Guofan admired Li Hongzhang's talent very much, but felt that he was too sharp-edged and clever, and should be corrected.In order to help Li Hongzhang get rid of it, Zeng Guofan kept him by his side and taught him.It wasn't until he thought he was ready that he was sent out to train soldiers and be on his own.Even so, he still wrote to teach from time to time.

In August 1862, when Li Hongzhang was in charge of Western affairs, Zeng Guofan said to him: When dealing with foreigners, it is advisable to have a vague atmosphere.His bullying is treacherous, and he despises everything. If I know it, if I don’t know it, I seem to be a bit foolish, and I am also a good way to deal with it.At that time, the enemy was strong and we were weak, and dealing with foreigners was a job that required humiliation.Foreigners' words are bullying, if they pay too much attention to it, it will definitely cause disputes, and the result may be even more unfavorable.The stupidity Zeng Guofan refers to means pretending to be confused, but it is not really confused.If I know it, I will make foreigners not think I am stupid. If I don't know it, I will show that I don't care about it, so that both sides will have a step down.Li Hongzhang also used this method more often in his diplomacy later.However, if this is the case blindly regardless of the situation, it will also have a great negative effect.

Under Zeng Guofan's careful training, Li Hongzhang gradually changed from a sharp-edged scholar to a seasoned official.In the sixth year of Tongzhi (1867), Li Hongzhang took over Zeng Guofan's command to suppress the Nian army.He fought several major defeats, and several generals lost their lives, and there was a lot of discussion for a while.Later, he followed the river defense plan set by his teacher, no matter what others said, he ignored it, and finally suppressed the Nian army.Zeng Guofan wrote to him and praised him strongly, saying in the letter: Since last autumn, waves have piled up, doubts and slanders have not wavered, favors and disgraces have not been surprised, and the soldiers have been able to endure hardships. It is gratifying to have achieved such a remarkable feat, and the virtue is especially respectable. .From then on, it became more and more majestic, ambiguous, tolerant and tolerant, and retreated to secrets.The ancients said that meritorious deeds are unrivaled in the world, but people are not jealous, and they are close to each other.

Later, many people said that Li Hongzhang was a smooth official, but they didn't know that he learned it from Zeng Guofan.