Hu Xueyan was defeated, and Sheng Xuanhuai pushed it. Work together to support difficulties
In 1882, Hu Xueyan could be described as a cosmopolitan. After years of political and business activity, he became the richest man in the late Qing Dynasty and was called"Red-capped merchant"。But that same year, at the age of 59, he lost the competition for raw silk **, triggering a series of incredible changes.
In the end, the once rich man died with hatred. But did his life really have such a tragic ending?
Witness the kingdom of chickens who have fallen from heaven to hell.
From 1876 to 1881, in response to Zuo Zongtang's call to conquer Xinjiang in the west, Hu Xueyan took huge commercial risks and borrowed 18 million taels from foreign banks. According to historical records, this money played a key role in Zuo Zongtang's westward expedition to liberate Xinjiang. It provided sufficient logistical support for Zuo Zongtang's army, enabling Zuo Zongtang's army to defeat a powerful enemy in a difficult environment and complete the task of recovering Xinjiang.
Therefore, Hu Xueyan did not hesitate to pawn the exchange and pay the military salary in cash. For up to four years, he almost risked going into debt. However, the success of the final liberation of Xinjiang also allowed Hu Xueyan to enter"To protect the country with business"The era of fame and fortune.
So, why did Hu Xueyan go to the soup for Zuo Zongtang? The reasons are complex. First of all, the liberation of Xinjiang was in the national interest, and Hu Xueyan, as the most powerful businessman at that time, had the responsibility to contribute to this. Second, Zuo Zongtang is different from other corrupt bureaucrats and has won the support of the people. With his support, Hu Xueyan will undoubtedly win more public support.
But more importantly, for business reasons. After Zuo Zongtang was reappointed, Hu Xueyan was able to establish closer political and business relations with the imperial court. This is undoubtedly a rare opportunity for businessmen. Hu Xueyan understands this, and he desperately hopes that there will be more sunshine and rain under Zuo Zongtang's big tree.
In the process, Hu Xueyan used up almost all of his family property, and even owed 18 million taels of debt. And this chicken feather has become a witness of his fall from heaven to hell.
In 1882, news of a bumper harvest came from Europe, and Hu Xueyan became vigilant - cheap foreign silk was entering China, which was bound to reduce the profit margins of domestic products. As a giant in the silk industry, Hu Xueyan knows better than anyone that this ** battle without gunpowder will directly affect his business.
So, he resolutely invested 20 million taels to build his own silk factory, hoping to take advantage of the upcoming war. It was also the biggest investment in Hu's business career. This unprecedented move caused an uproar in the business world.
But the good times did not last long, due to the bumper harvest of silk in Europe, Hu Xueyan lost 15 million taels at once. Little did he know at the time that this was just the beginning. Next, it will be the worst Waterloo of his life. Hu Xueyan went from being the richest man to the most indebted person overnight, and his life began to decline.
Zuo Zongtang confidently assured him that he would repay all the foreign debts of the imperial court. However, the bumper harvest of silk in Europe plunged Hu Xueyan into unprecedented economic difficulties. He was unable to repay his debts on time as usual, and Hu Xueyan's financial transactions were just as bad.
Sheng Xuanhuai chased after him.
In 1882, after the news of Hu Xueyan's business failure came out, Sheng Xuanhuai was immediately unhappy, Li Hongzhang said:"The time has come for us to help him. As Li Hongzhang's lover, Sheng Xuanhuai wanted to bite his mentor. He recognized Hu Xueyan as Zuo Zongtang's person, and it was inevitable that he would meet left and right. When Hu Xueyan's opportunity at Waterloo appeared, Sheng Xuanhuai began to think about how to give Hu Xueyan a fatal blow.
At that time, Sheng Xuanhuai was already a big industrialist and was not well-known in political circles. However, due to differences with Zuo Zongtang, Sheng Xuanhuai was restricted in both political and business circles. For Hu Xueyan, this is undoubtedly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, he can use this to get involved in the red-capped businessman and take revenge on Zuo Zongtang. Because of this, after Sheng Xuanhuai heard the news of Hu Xueyan's defeat in Maicheng, he immediately began to enthusiastically tell Li Hongzhang about his ambitions.
Then, like dominoes, Sheng Xuanhuai demanded that Shanghai Daotai postpone the repayment of Hu Xueyan, while spreading rumors that Hu Xueyan was bankrupt and imprisoned. The masses once controlled Hu Xueyan's money bank. Hu Xueyan was in a hurry and could not return.
This news reached Li Hongzhang's ears, and he immediately complained to Cixi, saying that Hu Xueyan had secretly made money while helping Zuo Zongtang recapture Xinjiang. Cixi was furious and immediately sent someone to confiscate all of Hu Xueyan's property.
However, Hu Xueyan was already penniless, and even if he pawned all the family property, he was unable to repay his debts. Hu Xueyan went from being the richest man in the late Qing Dynasty to Hu Xueyan who was in debt, and his tragic life ended overnight. Li Hongzhang and Sheng Xuanhuai are behind all this.
Official Career Carousel.
Hu Xueyan became famous at a young age and has been working hard to reach the peak of his life by relying on his strength. In his early years, he supported Wang Youling to oppose the Qing Dynasty and restore the Ming Dynasty, and won"Protector merchants"reputation. It also gave him the opportunity to develop deep relationships with many governors.
Among them, the relationship with Zuo Zongtang is particularly close. When Zuo Zongtang recovered Xinjiang, Hu Xueyan almost supported it. He even did not hesitate to mortgage his own bank to raise military expenses.
So, why did Hu Xueyan obey Zuo Zongtang? Is it because he is patriotic? Not really. Different from other enterprises, Zuo Zongtang attaches great importance to the development of industry and vigorously supports private enterprises. This is not only in line with Hu Xueyan's business interests, but also provides him with an opportunity to transition from warlord politics to ** politics. With the support of Zuo Zongtang, Hu Xueyan won honors such as noblewoman and Sipin**, and his official position continued to rise.
For a while, Hu Xueyan seemed to have really reached the pinnacle of life. But the good times didn't last long. The shadow of the failure of silk in 1882 has not yet dissipated, and the contradictions between Yu and Li continue to heat up. Zuo Zongtang's lover Hu Xueyan is, of course, also difficult to extricate himself.
Under the double blow of the failure of silk production and the collapse of the bank, Hu Xueyan's career plummeted, and in 1885 he died alone in a deserted house in Hangzhou. So far, Hu Xueyan's life from prosperity to decay has come to an end. The reason for this is related to the change of power.
Is it a stab in the back by a political opponent, or is it self-destruction?
There are different opinions about Hu Xueyan. Some people think that he is only a victim of the political struggle between the left and Lee. Others accused him of being an unscrupulous businessman for personal gain, and was hurt as a result.
The author argues that Hu Xueyan's successes and failures also reflect the special political and business environment of the late Qing Dynasty. At the time, it was an open secret that red-top merchants relied on the support of the powerful to create wealth. It is unthinkable to be a businessman without the support of the imperial relatives or magnates.
Hu Xueyan is no exception. He relied on Zuo Zongtang's political and business resources to become the richest man in the world. This near-parasitic relationship between politics and business led to Hu Xueyan's rapid downfall after Zuo Zongtang's power umbrella disappeared.
On the other hand, we cannot deny Hu Xueyan's business talent and vision. Relying on his political and business network and strength, Hu Xueyan became a leader in the business world of the late Qing Dynasty.
Hu Shih's successes and failures also reflect the complex relationship between political and commercial privileges at the time. History and life do not"If"with"But"。We can only learn from history and move into the future.
Hu Xueyan relied on power and privilege to amass a huge fortune, but quickly collapsed in a turbulent political and business environment. This once again proves that the country is easy to change, but the nature is difficult to change.
This is a profound lesson for us ordinary people: we must first take a hard look at the so-called power-for-money trade. Trading power for money can bring quick success, but the risks are also huge. The instability of political and business relations can turn those who depend on them from happiness to misfortune in an instant.
Secondly, just as history does not"If"Again, there was no success"If"。Enrichment yourself with privilege doesn't last long. Only by continuous learning and continuous progress can we gain a firm foothold in the rapidly changing society.
Finally, let's be humble. Hu Xueyan fell from the peak to the bottom because he underestimated the changes in the political and business ecology and the determination of his opponents.
The wheels of history are turning, and each of us is fighting against it. Only continuous learning and vigilance can ensure that we are not overwhelmed by the passage of time.