Li Hongzhang's family photo was originally equipped with a gentle and elegant face, with a star face
Li Hongzhang has been met with mixed reviews, with some praising his continued commitment to saving the country in the late Qing Dynasty to others lamenting his inability to change the status quo.
Most people's opinions judge his success based on his career achievements.
What is less known is that Li Hongzhang has a family portrait that includes his family, including his original wife, whose beauty can be stunning even in modern times.
This family portrait was taken in 1844, when Li Hongzhang and his original wife were not yet famous, nor had they begun to save the late Qing Dynasty, let alone become the object of discussion.
Zhou and Li Hongzhang were introduced to each other by their elders Zhou Juchu since they were children, although Zhou was not a famous family, but she took a fancy to Li Hongzhang's ambition. Historically, there have been many heroes who have been assigned to marry because of their initial ambitions, but in most cases, men and women may not know each other, and may not even have a good feeling.
For example, Lu Xun and his first wife, Lu Xun's mother once lied that she was sick and asked Lu Xun to go home to visit, but she didn't expect to be forced to marry after returning, so he thought that his wife was a "mother's gift".
Li Hongzhang and Zhou are not like Lu Xun and Zhu An, their relationship is based on getting along day and night since childhood, Li Hongzhang shows his talent outside, and Zhou comforts the family at home and provides him with a solid backing.
Li Hongzhang did not have much success before meeting Zhou, but after marriage, his ambitions were fulfilled and he was successfully admitted to the Jinshi. He did not despise his wife because of her ordinary status, but became more and more affectionate in her company.
Zhou was an exception to the common practice of foot binding at the time, perhaps because her family history did not attract attention, or because her family did not force her to bind her feet, and she kept a pair of feet intact.
After Zhou became Li Hongzhang's wife, the Li family did not ask for much, although his family background was not ordinary. She gave birth to two daughters for Li Hongzhang, although her husband's family was dissatisfied with this, but this was also a helpless thing.
In 1845, Li Hongzhang met Zeng Guofan, and with his help, his career improved. Tsang Kwok-fan greatly admired this talented young man and believed that he would definitely achieve something in the future.
Zeng Guofan was an advanced representative of the late Qing Dynasty, and he did not ignore the progress of science and technology, but attached great importance to the research and development of these scientific and technological products. Therefore, in the Westernization Movement, he made extraordinary achievements, and Li Hongzhang was also deeply influenced by it.
Although Zhou chose not to bind his feet, Li Hongzhang was not affected by this, but took great care of Zhou and looked down on the matter. This shows that Li Hongzhang's thinking was ahead of the late Qing Dynasty of that era.
However, Zhou's death in 1860 was undoubtedly a major blow to Li Hongzhang. He was busy serving the imperial court at the time, but when he heard the news of Zhou's death, he immediately put down his work and hurried home to visit.
In Li Hongzhang's life, the story of the two wives is emotional. Zhou and he are very close to each other, but because of the inviolability of destiny, their love story cannot be continued. Since then, Li Hongzhang has often been immersed in the longing for his deceased wife in his busy work.
His second wife, Zhao Xiaolian, came from a prominent background, and as the daughter of the minister Zhao Di, she helped Li Hongzhang's career. Zhao Xiaolian has great ambitions and has the capital to realize it.
However, because she didn't look down on mediocre people, her marriage was anxious by her family.
Zhao Xiaolian only met Li Hongzhang when she was 24 years old, and although he was already 40 years old, she believed that age was not the key to determining talent, and she was attracted to Li Hongzhang's talent.
Their acquaintance was introduced by others, and women at that time generally got married at the age of ten, and Zhao Xiaolian had reached the age of marriage and was often teased by the people around her.
Her brother Zhao Yun was also worried about her marriage and began to look for a suitable young talent. Zhao Xiaolian is very lucky, even in this situation, her family still dotes on her.
Li Hongzhang's elder brother Li Hanzhang also expressed his willingness to marry Zhao Xiaolian, and the two families agreed. After asking Zhao Xiaolian's opinion, they were pleasantly surprised to find that Zhao Xiaolian had already fallen in love with Li Hongzhang.
In 1863, Zhao Xiaolian became Li Hongzhang's successor. At that time, Li Hongzhang's career was moving towards a steady rise, and he had a harmonious relationship with his young second wife and lived a comfortable life.
And Li Hongzhang is also very fond of his wife, whether before or after marriage, Zhao Xiaolian feels extremely loved. With the passage of time, Li Hongzhang's status increased day by day, and even occupied a certain position in the imperial court.
However, Zhao Xiaolian's life was very short, and she died in 1892, leaving behind a regret of her humble life.
What is surprising is that after Zhao Xiaolian's death, Li Hongzhang's career began to decline. After the signing of the "Xinchou Treaty", his position was much worse than before, and the wind in the DPRK and China began to turn towards him, and he began to be blamed and criticized.
Although Zhao Xiaolian and Li Hongzhang's marriage was not long, she left him a son to inherit the family business, and a daughter who died early, and she failed to accompany her husband to grow old naturally.
In addition to the main wife, Li Hongzhang also has a concubine Dongmei, who she met when she was reminiscing about her sentimentality in the Qinglou after losing her original wife. Although Dongmei later became a dusty woman, her family background was not like this at the beginning.
She once had a comfortable life, but because of the tricks of fate, she ended up here. Her eyes glittered with regret for the past and anticipation for the future. Her beauty is heartwarming, her posture is graceful and elegant, light and uncontrollable.
Li Hongzhang met her in an ordinary meeting, and he was amazed by her alluring color and posture. Hearing her misfortune, Li Hongzhang felt deep sympathy and empathy.
Although Dongmei's family background is insufficient, she recommended herself with courage and became Li Hongzhang's partial house. Although she has been in the dust, she is not lacking in courage. Although there are many women in Li Hongzhang's life who have only spent part of his life, they have all left him with good memories.