Preface
In the vast scroll of Chinese history, the late Qing Dynasty is undoubtedly a magnificent and ever-changing time. During this period, the Qing Empire was like a dilapidated steamship, crumbling in a raging storm, while Zeng Guofan, Zuo Zongtang, Li Hongzhang and other powerful ministers were like pillars, single-handedly trying to save this ruined dynasty.
These powerful ministers, their names shine brightly in the long river of history, and their deeds are like magnificent pictures, showing their talents and will. Their fate is full of uncertainties and unknowns. In that era of fierce power struggle and heavy suspicion, why were they able to survive the hardships and not follow in the footsteps of the tragedy of their predecessors who "overshadowed their masters"? The reasons behind this deserve our in-depth exploration.
First of all, we need to realize that the reason why these powerful ministers are able to rise to power is because they do have talents and achievements. Zeng Guofan's Hunan army and Li Hongzhang's Huai army were the backbone of the suppression of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom movement, and their military talent and loyalty to the country could not be denied by anyone. Under the circumstances, the Eight Banners Army in the hands of the Qing Dynasty was already weakened and simply unable to cope with internal and external challenges. Therefore, the military power in the hands of these powerful ministers was indispensable for the Qing Dynasty.
Powerful ministers in history often cannot escape the fate of "rabbits dead and dogs cooking". Such examples run through almost the entire history, from Li Mu in the Spring and Autumn Period and Han Xin in the Western Han Dynasty, they are all typical examples of high merit, except for Zhao Kuangyin in the Song Dynasty who used a glass of wine to release the military power and peacefully won the military power of the ministers, the rest died because of the suspicion of the monarch. So, why were Zeng Guofan, Zuo Zongtang, Li Hongzhang, and others able to survive? This is due to their political wisdom and mutual restraint.
Zeng Guofan, Zuo Zongtang, Li Hongzhang and others made great achievements in suppressing civil strife such as the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, and their military power and local power were crucial to maintaining the rule of the Qing Dynasty. In order to avoid the suspicion of the imperial court, Zeng Guofan's three people formed an alliance and deliberately formed a kind of political mutual checks and balances. Their relationship is complex and delicate, both cooperative and competitive.
The Empress Dowager Cixi also realized that the existence of these powerful ministers played an important role in balancing the forces of the DPRK and China and maintaining the stability of the country. The checks and balances between them also prevented any one person from having too much power to threaten the rule of the imperial court to a certain extent. This three-legged situation was an ideal balance for the Qing Dynasty.
Of course, in addition to their own efforts, the actual situation of the Qing Dynasty was also an important reason. Unlike the masters in history, the Qing Dynasty at this time was ruled by Cixi, and the effectiveness of centralized power was not significant, and local power gradually increased. Although the Empress Dowager Cixi held great power, her ability to handle government affairs was limited. She needed to rely on these capable Hanchen to maintain the rule of the Qing Dynasty. Moreover, the Qing Dynasty at that time had fallen into the whirlpool of national contradictions, and the weakening of the Eight Banners Army made the Qing Dynasty have to rely on the Han army. Under such circumstances, it was impossible for the Empress Dowager Cixi to easily take action against these powerful ministers.
In addition, Empress Dowager Cixi's position in the court was not stable, and she needed the support of Zeng Guofan, Li Hongzhang, and others to consolidate her power. The influence of these powerful ministers in the court, as well as their popularity among the people, were all relied on by the Empress Dowager Cixi. Therefore, the relationship between the Empress Dowager Cixi and these powerful ministers is actually a relationship of mutual use and interdependence.
Although Zeng Guofan, Zuo Zongtang, Li Hongzhang and others were highly meritorious, they were all Han Chinese, and their presence in the Qing Dynasty, which was ruled by the Manchus at that time, also helped to alleviate the contradictions between the Manchus and Hans and promote ethnic integration. Empress Dowager Cixi may have also taken this into account, demonstrating the inclusiveness of the Qing dynasty and its absorption of the Han elite by reusing Hanchen. These ministers were not only distinguished by military prowess, but also politically loyal to the Qing Dynasty. Their personal abilities and loyalties were relied upon by the Qing Dynasty, and the Empress Dowager Cixi believed that their loyalty and competence far outweighed the threat they posed to the interests of the country.
In this intricate political pattern, Zeng Guofan, Zuo Zongtang, Li Hongzhang and others successfully avoided the tragic fate of powerful ministers in history through their wisdom and ability. They not only saved the Qing Dynasty's national glory, but also won respect and status for themselves.
Epilogue:
The powerful ministers of the late Qing Dynasty, their stories are like a wonderful historical drama, full of wisdom and courage. Their experiences teach us that even in a game of power, loyalty and competence are still paramount. Their stories are not only a review of the past, but also a revelation of the future. In today's changing and challenging world, we can draw wisdom from their stories and learn how to maintain our positions and principles in complex situations.