Prologue 1. This book is completely imitated in the style of Western biographies. It describes Li Hongzhang's life and actions, and makes judgments so that future readers can know him as a person. 2. In the old Chinese literary style, anyone who records a person's deeds may use biography, chronology, or lineage, all of which record events, and do not comment on praises. If there are any, they will be attached at the end of the article.However, there are narratives and discussions, and the examples are actually created by Tai Shigong, and the historical records: "Biography of Boyi", "Biography of Qu Yuan", "Biography of Huozhi" and other chapters are all the same.Later generations are short of historical knowledge and dare not learn from it.The author is not sensitive and steals his meaning.

In the past thirty or forty years, almost every major event in China has something to do with Li Hongzhang.Therefore, writing a biography for Li Hongzhang must be done with the pen of modern history.The author has a little insight into the current situation, and dare not hide it. The intention is not for the ancients, but for the newcomers.I hate that the time is too short, and there is no book in the suitcase for research, and the inaccuracies in the records are unavoidable.Make up for it and correct it, and hope for a different day. 4. In the Battle of Pingwu, there are many deeds of the Hunan Army, which seem to be related to branches; but the relationship between the Huai Army and the Hunan Army is extremely complicated; otherwise, it is not enough to see the situation at that time, readers forgive me.

5. The full texts of the Middle East Peace Treaty, the Sino-Russian Secret Treaty, and the Boxer Peace Treaty are all contained.Due to the reasons and results of Li Hongzhang's deeds, there are many people related to these official documents, so I took the time to enter them all. Sixth, Hefei's slander is very serious in China.The author and the other party are public enemies in politics, and their personal relationship is not deep, so it must not be intentional to make grievances for them.Therefore, most of the books are exhortations, and there are quite similarities and differences with the common theory. If you write history, you must act with fairness.Otherwise, why take it from the cursed pear jujube!British Prime Minister Greenwell tasted a certain painter and said Paint me as I am, don't miss my truth.When I write this book, I am confident that I will not be criticized by Greenwell.If you know Hefei, you must smile on the ground and say: You know me.

In November of the twenty-seventh year of Guangxu, I looked at the author's self-records Attempt to translate the first paragraph of the original "Chapter One Introduction" As the saying goes: Not being jealous is a mediocrity, and there are only mediocre people in the world: there are no derogatory words, no praise.People all over the world hate and hate, such as Cao Mengde and Cao Cao, they can be called traitors; while people all over the world praise and admire, they can be said to be incomparable heroes!People all over the world comment and comment, but their opinions are mediocre and ordinary people account for hundreds of thousands, and extraordinary people who can have true insights are not one in thousands. It is logical to comment on ordinary people with mediocre ordinary people's insights. Can you get through?Therefore, a person with a good reputation all over the world may be a person who has always been derogatory from the countryside; and a person whose slanderous words are all over the world may be a big man.

There is a saying: the conclusion of the coffin is final, but there are too many examples. After decades and hundreds of years, there are people who still cannot be determined after the coffin!According to the situation, forced by the environment, he should do what he should do, what he can't do if he can't do it, what point of view should we use to comment on the current and future generations?If there is such a person, there are tens of millions of people who praise him, but there are also tens of millions of people who depreciate him; the praise and evaluation have reached the peak, and the bad voice of slander is also beyond imagination; what I saw at this time The slander is offset by the praise seen before, but the slander seen later is compensated by the previous reputation.Between praise and criticism, can the merits and demerits be offset?How to comment on such a character, you can say that he is very human!Is it an extraordinary villain, or an extraordinary hero?Leaving aside.The position, position, environment and situation, the strategies and actions of his handling are by no means comprehensible and commentable by the eyes and tongues of ordinary mediocrity!Only by understanding this point can one have a peaceful and objective heart, and read my biography of Li Hongzhang!