2024 Book of Answers
Zeng Guofan was one of the most outstanding statesmen, military strategists and thinkers in the late Qing Dynasty, he founded the Hunan Army as a scholar, quelled the rebellion of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom and the Twist Army, stabilized the situation in Jiangnan and North China, and became the first minister of Zhongxing in the Qing Dynasty. His life experience and ideological realm have given people special inspiration both in history and in reality.
How did he grow from a poor imperial examination talent to an influential political and military leader? How did he surpass everyone else in the complex changes of the times, achieve the greatest success, and finally retreat with his whole body? How does he find a balance and harmony between self-cultivation and social responsibility? These questions may be topics that every thoughtful person will be interested in, and they are also the main themes of this book "The Biography of Zeng Guofan".
This book is a detailed and vivid biography, the author Zhang Hongjie is a well-known historian, based on his professional accomplishment and rich experience in Qing history research, he has extensively collected and cited a variety of historical materials and documents, including the letters, manuscripts, diaries and other first-hand information in the Complete Works of Zeng Wenzhenggong, as well as various notes, memoirs, biographies and other second-hand sources. This book comprehensively and deeply presents the life process and ideological essence of Zeng Guofan from multiple angles and levels.
Logical thread
The book can be divided into four main parts: Zeng Guofan's performance in the imperial examinations, officialdom, battlefield, and family. These four parts are important aspects of Zeng Guofan's life, and they are also important pillars of Zeng Guofan's psychology. The author summarizes the core idea of the book in a golden sentence: "The reason why Zeng Guofan was able to become a great figure is not only because of his outstanding talents and achievements, but more importantly, because he has a firm and noble character and ideals." ”
Highlights explained
Zeng Guofan in the imperial examination.
In this part, the author describes in the third person the path of Zeng Guofan's imperial examination from a poor student to a Hanlin Academy. Zeng Guofan was originally born in a less prominent family, he did not have a prominent family background, and he did not have any talent. He took the exam seven times before he was selected for Xiucai, and he took the exam three times before he was admitted to the Jinshi. The reason why he was able to successfully open up the road to the imperial examination was due to his unremitting efforts and perseverance.
He has extremely high requirements and standards for himself, and is constantly learning and improving. He is not only proficient in various classic texts such as the subset of classics and history, but also extensively involved in various new knowledge such as Western studies, medicine, and arithmetic. He not only pays attention to examination skills and test-taking strategies, but also pays attention to ideological cultivation and personality building. He pursued not only fame and fortune, but also moral wisdom. He took the imperial examination as an opportunity to start his own life.
Zeng Guofan in terms of officialdom.
In this part, the author describes in the third person the officialdom of Zeng Guofan from a Hanlin Academy to a Governor of Liangjiang, the Governor of Zhili, and a scholar of Wuyingdian University. Zeng Guofan was originally a young man with ideals, ambitions, and talents, and he hoped to change the fate of himself and the country through his own efforts.
He has shown extraordinary ability and charisma in officialdom, he is good at seizing the moment and creating the opportunity, he is good at handling all kinds of complex political and military affairs, he is good at uniting the forces and resources of all parties, and he is good at balancing various interests and relationships. He won the trust of the emperor in the officialdom, the love of the people, the respect of his colleagues, and the loyalty of his subordinates. He used officialdom as a stage to show his talent and style.
Zeng Guofan on the battlefield.
In this part, the author describes in the third person the road of Zeng Guofan from a weak scholar to a battlefield that founded the Hunan army, quelled the rebellion, and stabilized the situation. Zeng Guofan was originally a literati who was not good at martial arts, did not like killing, and was unwilling to fight, but when the world was in turmoil, he resolutely took on the important task of countering the rebellion and protecting the country.
As a scholar, he created the Hunan army and commanded the heroes. He fought against the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom and the Twist Army, was defeated repeatedly, and even committed suicide by throwing himself into the river twice, and was in desperate situations many times. But he never gave up, never compromised, never backed down. With perseverance and indomitable spirit, he finally defeated the enemy, put down the rebellion, and stabilized the situation in Jiangnan and North China. He used the battlefield as a litmus test to prove his loyalty and bravery.
"The Biography of Zeng Guofan" is a biography depicting the magnificent life of Zeng Guofan, which uses delicate brushstrokes to deeply explore the inner world and wisdom of this historical giant. Through the third-person narration, we feel as if we are there, feeling his joys, sorrows, and sorrows, and gaining insight into the essence of his thoughts. This is not only a historical work, but also a philosophical work that enlightens the soul.
It faithfully reproduces the great social changes in the last years of the Qing Dynasty, and makes us deeply feel the crisis of national survival. Zeng Guofan's loyalty and bravery, as majestic as a mountain, are admirable. His wisdom and character are like a beacon that illuminates our way forward.
This book tells us that the reason why Zeng Guofan can become a giant of the times is not only because of his talent and achievements, but also because of his firm beliefs and noble moral sentiments. His life is a great poem worthy of our savoring and learning. He deserves to be a model of history and will always deserve our admiration and following.