The four important ministers of the late Qing Dynasty refer to Zeng Guofan, Zuo Zongtang, Li Hongzhang and Zhang Zhidong. They were all important political figures in the late Qing Dynasty and had a profound impact on China's modern history. However, if you want to evaluate the size of their contribution, you need to analyze it from different angles.
First of all, from the point of view of the Westernization movement, all four made important contributions. The Westernization Movement was a self-saving reform movement in the late Qing Dynasty, advocating "Chinese style and Western use", that is, on the basis of maintaining traditional Chinese culture, absorbing Western science and technology and management experience. Zeng Guofan, Zuo Zongtang, Li Hongzhang, and Zhang Zhidong all actively participated in the Westernization Movement and promoted China's modernization process. Among them, Zeng Guofan founded the Anqing Ordnance Institute, Zuo Zongtang established the Fuzhou Shipbuilding School, Li Hongzhang founded the Jiangnan Manufacturing Bureau, and Zhang Zhidong presided over the Hubei Ziqiang School. They have all made significant achievements in their respective fields, so it is difficult to distinguish between them and others in this regard.
Secondly, from the point of view of naval construction, Li Hongzhang made the greatest contribution. He was the founder and commander of the Beiyang Naval Division and made important contributions to the development of China's modern navy. He introduced advanced Western naval concepts and technologies and established China's first Western-style navy, the Beiyang Naval Division. Under his leadership, the Beiyang Naval Division became one of the most powerful naval forces in Asia. Although he was later severely damaged in the First Sino-Japanese War, Li Hongzhang's achievements in naval construction still cannot be ignored.
Again, from the point of view of defending the territory, Zuo Zongtang made the greatest contribution. During his tenure as governor of Shaanxi and Gansu, he successfully quelled the Hui uprising in the northwest, recovered Xinjiang, and consolidated the border security of the Qing Dynasty. He also actively promoted the development and construction of Xinjiang and contributed to its prosperity. Therefore, in terms of defending the territory, Zuo Zongtang's contribution is undoubtedly the greatest.
In addition, from the perspective of quelling the uprising, Zeng Guofan contributed the most. He was the pacifier of the Taiping Rebellion, and his Hunan army played a key role in the war. The strategy of "encirclement and suppression" proposed by him succeeded in weakening the military power of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom and finally pacifying it. Tsang's war strategy and leadership made his contribution to quelling the uprising unparalleled.
Finally, from the perspective of being an official, Zhang Zhidong contributed the most. He had great political wisdom and skill, and his policies and actions were highly recognized by the Qing emperor. During his tenure as governor of Huguang, he promoted a large number of reform measures, including educational, industrial, and military reforms, which laid a solid foundation for China's modernization process. His political achievements and influence have made him unparalleled in the officialdom.
The four important ministers of the late Qing Dynasty each have their own contributions, and who is the greatest is not an absolute question. However, from the perspective of the traditional Inner Sage and Outer King, Zeng Guofan is undoubtedly at the top of the list. He was not only distinguished in military affairs, but also in his moral character and speech. His meritorious service, virtue, and speech made him a great statesman and military strategist in Chinese history.