Preface
In the rich picture of Chinese history, Zuo Zongtang is known as an outstanding Qing general, his life is gripping, however, his death has triggered a reflection and debate among the courtiers. What kind of historical connotation does the four nicknames after Zuo Zongtang contain? Is there a shadow of Cixi interfering with this process?
1. If you are as loyal as you promise, why only use the word "loyalty"?
According to the will of the Empress Dowager of the West, the Ministry of Rites and the Minister of Military Aircraft immediately started a discussion. Among them, Xu Gengshen, the director of the Military Aircraft Department, knows Zuo Zongtang's achievements in his life best.
Xu Gengshen has been working in the Military Aircraft Department for more than 30 years, and he is a colleague of Zuo Zongtang. Over the years, he has also participated in the compilation of many historical books, such as "The Biography of the Ministers", and he can be said to know Zuo Zongtang well.
According to the practice of the Qing Dynasty, the name often needed two characters: the first character represented character, and the second character represented merit. The ministers thought that Zuo Zongtang had some similarities with Zeng Guofan, a famous minister who had pacified the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, so they decided to also give Zuo Zongtang the word "Wen", which represents conduct.
Then, according to Zeng Guofan's exploits in recovering Shaanxi and Gansu, the ministers believed that Zuo Zongtang was also loyal to the country and the monarch, so the second word representing merit was "loyalty". The final nickname was "Wenzhong".
For the sake of insurance, the ministers recommended three alternative nicknames: "Wuzhong", "Renzhong" and "Xiaozhong". But unexpectedly, after these four nicknames were presented to the Queen Mother of the West, they were all rejected!
Empress Dowager Xi believes that Zuo Zongtang is indeed very loyal, but just using the word "loyalty" is still too simplistic and cannot fully summarize the achievements of this minister. Just like the blooming peony garden, no matter how beautiful and moving, it can't be described with the word "beauty" alone.
Second, in the northwest full of holes, can a "Xiang" word be carried?
After being rejected, the ministers of the court and the central government couldn't think of any other words to summarize Zuo Zongtang's life for a while. Even Prince Li, who presided over the matter of taking the title, was in trouble. At this time, he remembered Xu Gengshen, the Minister of Military Aircraft. Prince Li found Xu Gengshen to discuss, and Xu Gengshen quickly gave his thoughts:
"According to the law, Zuo Zongtang is most suitable for the word 'Xiang'. Xu Gengshen said, "During the Qianlong period, Fukangan was called 'Wenxiang' because of his contribution to pacifying the rebellion. The word "Xiang" mentioned by Xu Gengshen suddenly woke up Prince Li. In the ancient book, it is said that "there is virtue in the land, there is labor in the armor, there is merit in the matter, perseverance is just in the Xiang, the praise is successful, and the virtue is far away."
Zuo Zongtang did not use the military funds given by the imperial court, raised funds to train the army by himself, and even carried the coffin to the expedition, and finally saved the crisis in the northwest. It is fitting to use the word "Xiang" as his nickname.
In fact, the ministers have long thought of the word "Xiang", but someone in the previous dynasty once said to the emperor: "If the minister of civil and military affairs dies of illness or dies in battle and has not achieved martial arts, he shall not use the word 'Xiang'." Zuo Zongtang's death in office was considered an unsuccessful achievement, so they did not adopt it.
However, Xu Gengshen's words made Prince Li understand that although Zuo Zongtang finally died of illness in Fuzhou, he had outstanding achievements and contributions during his tenure as the governor of Shaanxi and Gansu, and the nickname "Xiang" was also appropriate for him.
After receiving Xu Gengshen's suggestion, Prince Li decided to meet the Empress Dowager Xi again and ask for "Wenxiang" for Zuo Zongtang. After meeting the Empress Dowager of the West, Prince Li first explained the reasons for taking the word "Xiang", gave several examples of the ancients, and finally asked for Zuo Zongtang to set the name "Wenxiang". After hearing this, the Empress Dowager Xi agreed very much, but she still had many doubts. She asked Prince Li: "Is there anyone in my Qing Dynasty who uses 'Wenxiang' as a nickname?"
3. Zuo Zongtang set "Wenxiang" to strengthen my territory and guard my country
Faced with the question of the Empress Dowager of the West, Xu Gengshen once again stood up and responded: "There is a river governor named Jin Fu, who has been fighting floods for more than 30 years, and Emperor Kangxi also gave him the nickname 'Wenxiang'. Jin Fu not only made meritorious contributions to water control, but also fulfilled his duties and worked hard until he died. His exploits are not far behind the protection of our great Qing Dynasty and society. Our minister believes that Zuo Zongtang put down the Shaanxi-Gansu-Muhui rebellion and reintegrated the northwest into the territory, and his merits were also outstanding.
Xu Gengshen not only put forward a precedent, but also learned about Zuo Zongtang's achievements, and the Empress Dowager Xi was finally relieved. She immediately approved: Zuo Zongtang's nickname was "Wenxiang". In this way, Zuo Zongtang, who regained the lost territory for me and continued the national fortunes, finally got the glory he deserved.
Seeing that the Empress Dowager of the West vetoed the name recommended by the ministers three times, and finally chose "Wenxiang", we can't help but ask, who is Zuo Zongtang and what great achievements he has?
In fact, the reason why Zuo Zongtang was degraded twice and was once reduced to a migrant in Xinjiang was precisely because he had a resolute personality and never catered to the powerful. But it is precisely because of his uprightness that Zuo Zongtang never bowed his head in the face of foreign enemy intrusion, but only forgot to die and swore to defend the territory.
When Gansu returned to the rebellion, Zuo Zongtang personally supervised the battle, led the army to fight a bloody battle for 800 miles, and finally quelled the turmoil. During the Xinjiang crisis, Britain and Russia vainly tried to carve up the northwest of China, Zuo Zongtang did not hesitate to carry the coffin and went out to fight, and finally kept Xinjiang, an important place to guard the Beijing division.
It is precisely because of such a minister as Zuo Zongtang who is brave and good at fighting and vowing to serve the country to the death that the Qing Dynasty, which is like a declining mountain, can continue to support itself in the midst of ups and downs. Now that Zuo Zongtang has retired, the Empress Dowager Xi summed up his life as the word "Wenxiang", which is the highest praise for this minister.
epilogue
Zuo Zongtang's life can be called a portrayal of the feelings of the family and the country, and his series of national policies are really admirable. Looking at history, there are a few generals who, like him, are willing to bear their own military expenses, recruit troops on their own, live and die for the country, and even swear that they will not return the coffin, this kind of heroic and fearless spirit is really awe-inspiring.
Zuo Zongtang's name of "Wenxiang" is well-deserved. He was not only brave and fearless on the battlefield, but also conscientious in government affairs for the benefit of the people of the country. This feeling of family and country has achieved Zuo Zongtang's immortal historical merits, and has also set a lofty example for future generations.
Looking back on history, we will find that Zuo Zongtang, like other heroes, was the pillar of that era. Whether it is Yue Fei, Zheng Chenggong, or other heroes who fought for the country and the nation, they stood up at the critical moment, forgot their lives, and contributed all their strength to the prosperity and tranquility of China. It is precisely because of the dedication of these heroes that we have the prosperity of our country and the tranquility of our people today. Behind these glorious histories, we see not only the deeds of heroes, but also the inheritance of family and country feelings, and the spirit that everyone who has paid for the country is worth remembering.