Chapter 76 A brief list of major events in Li Hongzhang's life

In 1823 (the third year of Daoguang), he was born in Hefei, Anhui. In 1847 (the 27th year of Daoguang), he took part in the general examination in Beijing, won the Jinshi, and changed to the Shujishi of the Imperial Academy. In 1850 (the 30th year of Daoguang), he was awarded the editorship of the Imperial Academy. In 1853 (the third year of Xianfeng), he returned to his hometown to participate in the regiment training to resist the Taiping Army. In 1859 (the ninth year of Xianfeng), he joined Zeng Guofan and assisted in running the business. In 1861 (the eleventh year of Xianfeng), the Huai Army was formed under the order of Zeng Guofan.

In 1862 (the first year of Tongzhi), he led the Huai army to Shanghai and was promoted to governor of Jiangsu. In 1863 (the second year of Tongzhi), Zou Zhun established the Shanghai Cantonese Dialect Center to train foreign language and learn Western science and technology talents. In 1865 (the fourth year of Tongzhi), he acted as the governor of Liangjiang and founded Jiangnan Manufacturing Bureau and Jinling Machinery Bureau. In 1866 (the fifth year of Tongzhi), he served as the imperial envoy and was responsible for suppressing the Nian army. In 1867 (the sixth year of Tongzhi), he was appointed Governor of Huguang.

In 1870 (the ninth year of Tongzhi), he served as Governor of Zhili and Minister of Beiyang Commerce. In 1872 (the 11th year of Tongzhi), the Shanghai Ship Merchants Bureau was established, and the business was supervised by the government.Russia sent troops to invade and occupy Ili, our country, and took the opportunity to put forward the idea of ​​changing the truck into a railway, but it was not implemented because of many opponents. In 1874 (the thirteenth year of Tongzhi), he signed the "Beijing Treaty" with Japanese representatives.He was called to Beijing to meet Prince Gong Yixin, and stressed the importance of building a railway in China, but he failed to implement it due to too much resistance.

In 1875 (the first year of Guangxu), he signed the "Yantai Treaty" with the British representative because of the Margaret case.The Kaiping Mining Bureau was set up, and the government supervised the business office.He was ordered to supervise the Beiyang coastal defense affairs, and began to set up the Beiyang Navy. In 1879 (the fifth year of Guangxu), the electric line between Dagu Beitang and Tianjin was erected.The layout of machine weaving in Shanghai was set up, and the government supervised the commercial office. In 1880 (the sixth year of the reign of Emperor Guangxu), the Telegraph General Bureau was established in Tianjin, and in 1882 it was changed to a government-supervised and commercial office.Set up the Tianjin Naval Academy.

In 1881 (the seventh year of Guangxu), the Tangshan-Xugezhuang Railway from Kaiping Coal Mine was built without a report, about 10 kilometers long. In 1885 (the eleventh year of Guangxu), he signed the "Sino-French New Treaty" with French representatives. In 1888 (the fourteenth year of Guangxu), the Beiyang Navy officially became an army. In 1889 (the 15th year of Guangxu), the imperial court officially agreed to build the railway, but denied Li Hongzhang's idea of ​​building the Tianjin road. In 1890 (the 16th year of the reign of Emperor Guangxu), on the grounds that Japan, Russia and other countries were spying on North Korea and that it was urgent to strengthen the defense of the Northeast, he proposed the construction of the Shanhaiguan Inner and Outer Kanto Railway, which was approved by the imperial court.

In 1894 (the 20th year of the reign of Emperor Guangxu), the construction of the Kanto Railway was suspended due to embezzlement of funds for the 60th birthday celebration of Empress Dowager Cixi.Sino-Japanese War broke out. In 1895 (the twenty-first year of Guangxu), the Chinese army was defeated in the Sino-Japanese War, and the entire Beiyang Navy was wiped out.Went to Japan to negotiate and signed the "Treaty of Shimonoseki" with Japanese representatives.He lost the post of governor of Zhili and minister of Beiyang, and was left idle. In 1896 (the 22nd year of Guangxu), he visited Russia, Germany, Holland, Belgium, France, Britain and the United States.

In 1898 (the twenty-fourth year of the reign of Emperor Guangxu), he sympathized with the Reformation and secretly defended individual members of the New Party.At the end of the year, he was appointed as the Minister of River Surveying, responsible for surveying the Shandong Yellow River Project. In 1899 (the twenty-fifth year of the reign of Emperor Guangxu), he acted as the governor of Guangdong and Guangxi. In 1900 (the 26th year of Guangxu), he was ordered to go north to negotiate a peace with the Eight-Power Allied Forces. In 1901 (the twenty-seventh year of Guangxu), signed the "Xin Chou Treaty" with representatives of Britain, the United States, Russia, Germany, Japan, Austria, France, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, and Belgium.Died of illness in November.