Zeng Guofan is one of the four famous ministers of the Qing Dynasty, almost everyone knows, and now there are "Zeng Guofan Ice Book", "Zeng Guofan Family Book", "Zeng Guofan Diary" and so on in circulation, and it is also the object of modern people's favorite research. But you know what? Zeng Guofan had a son, Zeng Jize, who was also very good.
Zeng Jize, the second son of Zeng Guofan, because Zeng Guofan's eldest son died prematurely, so he is considered the eldest son. Zeng Guofan attaches great importance to the education of his children, so Zeng Jize has studied hard since he was a child. He was fluent in poetry, mathematics, history, and foreign languages, and was a rare talent.
In the late Qing Dynasty, the great powers invaded one after another, bringing heavy disasters to the Chinese nation. And Zeng Jize, as the inheritor of The Marquis of Yiyong, had stronger expectations for the strength of the country.
At that time, Russia, relying on the geographical advantages of its close neighbors, frequently invaded China. After several years of bitter fighting, both sides were a bit overwhelmed, and finally the two countries decided to negotiate and negotiate. The first time the Qing Dynasty sent the minister Chonghou to negotiate with Tsarist Russia, although Chonghou was in a high position of power, he was a soft bone, and did not know that everything should be in the national interest.
In 1979, under the coercion of Tsarist Russia, he actually took it upon himself to make the Treaty of Livadia. The treaty stipulated that China would only take back the city of Ili, but the land west of the Khorgos River in the western part of Ili, the Turks River basin in the southern part of Ili, and the east of Jaisan Lake in the area of Tarbahatai (present-day Tacheng, Xinjiang) was assigned to Russian territory.
When the news reached The country was in an uproar, and Chonghou was also dismissed from his post and questioned. However, the incompetent Qing government did not have many talents available, and Zeng Jize knew both foreign languages and was loyal to the country, so he was sent to Tsarist Russia to renegotiate.
In early August 1880, Zeng Jize and his party arrived in St. Petersburg. On the 4th, he held negotiations with the Russian Foreign Ministry according to the agreed time. Russian Foreign Minister Gilles was arrogant and the atmosphere was tense at first.
Zeng Jize said unashamedly: "I have come to your country to negotiate this time at the behest of the Holy Will, hoping to revise the original treaty again and reclaim Ili and its related lands that originally belonged to China." ”
The Russian minister Gilles said: "Since the treaties have been decided, there is nothing to discuss." ”
Zeng Jize said: "The two countries must accept the treaty that both sides can accept, and the agreement cannot be accepted by people and can be renegotiated." “
Giles did not agree, reprimanding China for not abiding by the treaty and punishing him with exaltation.
Zeng Jize did not show weakness to the strength of Tsarist Russia, he said: "Chonghou is only a courtier, there are some things he should ask the Holy Will to decide, he is violating chinese law by handling it in this way, the state punishes him, what does it have to do with you?" “
After several rounds of arduous negotiations, Zeng Jize always adhered to his own principles, adopted a tough attitude of not bowing his head in the face of the threat of Tsarist Russia, and persuaded people to make the Tsarist government helpless. The matter seems to be easy to say now, and it was more than thrilling at first.
Later, the Russians saw that Zeng Jize was really tough, and they also felt a little afraid of war, plus they knew that Zuo Zongtang at home was also ready to negotiate and not to achieve war, so they had to revise the treaty. They returned a large area of land of 20,000 square kilometers stipulated in the original treaty, abolished the provisions that Russians could go to Tianjin, Hankou, Xi'an and other places for economic activities, and abolished the provisions that Russians sailed and traded on the Songhua River and infringed on China's inland river sovereignty. It was only China that compensated Tsarist Russia with an additional four million taels of silver as a fund for its activities.
Since then, Zeng Jize has been widely praised by the people of the country, but he has always felt guilty about the extra war reparations. However, it is already rare to be able to regain such a large area of land under the treaty that has already been concluded, isn't it?
Fill in a poem for Zeng Jize, "Partridge Heaven", which is appended here to show admiration
Zeng Jize Partridge Day Original
The weakness of the country is frequently attacked by foreign enemies, and in danger, it is ordered to go around.
The mouth of the tiger is not afraid, and the tongue battle group is stubborn.
Shuriva, the French and the English, one man is better than a thousand soldiers.
Ili rolls in the clear river, and there is no end to the sound of thousands of autumns lapping on the shore.
Zeng Jize later sent envoys to France, Britain and other countries, and he actively studied Western civilization and science and technology, hoping to make the motherland richer and stronger. It was just that the corrupt and incompetent Qing government was always unable to support Ah Dou, which once again frustrated his political ambitions.
After returning to China, Zeng Jize successively served in several departments, but he had no real power and no way to display his talents, and finally died depressed at the age of fifty-one.