Li Hongzhang's father, Li Wen'an, was a jinshi during the Daoguang years, and had 6 sons in his lifetime, not only many sons and many blessings, but more importantly, his sons were all outstanding in talent, and they played a piece of the world, especially the second eldest Li Hongzhang, who can be called a prominent figure in the late Qing Dynasty, Li Hongzhang followed Zeng Guofan in his early years to rise in the suppression of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom Movement, and later recruited Xiang Yong to establish the Huai Army, and since then he has a place in the political arena of the late Qing Dynasty.
Although the power in his hands has become greater and greater since then, Li Hongzhang always has a little pain in his heart, that is, when people reach middle age, they do not have a single heir, and it is even more exemplary to see that the third brother Li Hezhang's family has given birth to 3, the fourth brother Li Yunzhang's family has given birth to 7, the younger brother Li Zhaoqing's family has given birth to 4, and the eldest brother Li Hanzhang has given birth to 11 sons at once.
After a long time, Li Hongzhang himself could not stand it, directly in 1862 AD, the younger brother Li Zhaoqing's son Li Jingfang was given to the knee as a stepson, but the problem is that only two years later, the concubine Zhao Shi gave birth to his own son Li Jingshu, and a few years later, the side room Mo clan gave birth to Li Jingmai, this time there are two more sons, then Li Jingfang's situation is not very embarrassing?
Image: Stills of the birth of a pro-son
First, the situation as the firstborn
1. The status of the first heir
In 1862, Li Hongzhang planned to inherit a son from his brother Li Zhaoqing's family, li Jingfang, who was only 8 years old at the time, was taken to the second uncle's house by his father, he did not know anything, thinking that he was just a guest, but he did not expect his father to turn around and leave and never came back.
Li Hongzhang is a courtier, more than 40 years old without heirs, Li Jingfang's arrival made Li Hongzhang very happy, since then there is no worries in his heart, Dahui believes that at this time Li Hongzhang gradually feels that his age and health are limited, and he did not expect to give birth to two sons after a few years.
Facts have proved that he also treats Li Jingfang as if he were his own son, not only teaching him various cultural knowledge and the principles of being a human being, but also taking care of his life.
The picture comes from the Internet: Li Hongzhang and his sons old photos
Li Hongzhang often takes Li Jingfang out, and every time he introduces himself to others, he will directly say that this is his eldest son, and the excitement and pride are self-evident.
Later, after the birth of the two younger brothers, Li Hongzhang did not change his mouth, still calling him "the eldest son", which means very clearly, he is the eldest in the family, the future heir.
I have to say that Li Jingfang is indeed worthy of this title, has been working very hard, in 1877, Hong Rukui became Li Jingfang's teacher, in addition, Li Hongzhang also specially invited him an English teacher, it can be said that in education is always a bowl of water flat, did not treat Li Jingfang and Li Jingshu differently.
Image from the Internet: Li Hongzhang's family
2, there must be a difference
But after all, people's hearts are long flesh, Li Hongzhang has his own son, even if he himself does not take the intimacy as a thing, it is inevitable that people outside will talk nonsense, especially after years of hard work, the family business is very thick, who will inherit in the future?
This is not a trivial matter, not only Li Hongzhang himself has to consider, but also has become the focus of attention of the people's officials after tea and dinner. Some friends may say, "What does it have to do with you when others are separated?" "To know that Li Hongzhang is a directly subordinate governor and minister of trade and commerce in Beiyang, or a first-class marquis of the Great Qing Dynasty, even the world's first rich man, Sheng Huaixuan, is just one of his younger brothers, how can such a figure be suppressed by the common people?
Who is the heir? Is it Li Jingfang? If so, it is estimated that outsiders are not very good at opposing it, but as the eldest of his own sons, Li Jingshu must have an opinion.
Judging from the results of the development of the matter, it is also true that after Li Hongzhang's death, Li Jingfang, as the nominal boss, was given a Four Pin Jingtang candidate, while Li Jingshu, as the actual boss, was given the title of First Class Marquis from his father and was also awarded the counselor of Sanpin, which was significantly higher than Li Jingfang.
Photo: Li Hongzhang and Li Jingshu stills
Second, li jingfang's true status
1. Li Jingfang's own thoughts
As mentioned earlier, Li Jingfang was only 8 years old when he came to Li Hongzhang's house as a stepson, which is still a virtual age calculated according to the ancient calendar, in fact, it should only be 6 to 7 years old, put it now, children at this age can just say liso, and most of the rest of the things are not understood or understood. It can be inferred from this that before Li Jingshu was born, Li Jingfang's own life in the Li family should still be more adaptable.
At the age of 10, his younger brother Li Jingshu was born, and at this time everything had a subtle change, because everyone's father was Li Hongzhang, but the mother was very different.
The concubine Zhao Suddenly got a son, the love in his heart needless to say, as for Li Jingfang, who has succeeded him, it doesn't matter if he is white, so 10 years old should be the turning point in Li Jingfang's life, and he has also begun to learn to truly adapt to this noble family.
At the age of 28, Li Jingfang was a man in the examination, and began to go to the Beiyang Minister Yamen to help his father, and soon became Li Hongzhang's right hand man with his outstanding talents, especially foreign affairs, basically he was helping his father to handle it with full authority. Judging from the existing records, Li Jingfang himself has been working very hard in his work, and the wind evaluation is very good, and at this time he may have understood one point: if he does not work hard, he will be suppressed by his brother forever, and there will be no day to emerge.
Image: Screenshot of Li Jingfang's old photo of entering Shitu
2. Children who are relied upon
Although Li Jingshu is a parent, his personality is relatively introverted, and many times he is not suitable for being alone, so in terms of external affairs, Li Hongzhang still attaches great importance to Li Jingfang.
As a heavy minister of the late Qing Dynasty, Li Hongzhang often met with emissaries from various countries, and often went abroad, almost everywhere he went, he would always take Li Jingfang with him, one was that there were people around to take care of him, and the other was to let this boss exercise a bit, and then he could also rise step by step.
What queen, emperor, tsar, president, prime minister, as long as Li Hongzhang has seen it, Li Jingfang has not fallen behind, so it cannot be said that Li Hongzhang is not good for him, let alone that he does not attach enough importance to him.
Under the full cultivation of Li Hongzhang, Li Jingfang was one of the few people in the late Qing Dynasty who had excellent foreign languages, often participated in some important secret meetings of the imperial court, and was an indispensable figure around his father Li Hongzhang.
Photo: Screenshot of Li Jingfang's meeting with emissaries from various countries
To sum up, among the three sons of Li Hongzhang's life, his own Li Jingshu has been studying, and there are not many opportunities to appear on the historical stage, and the old Man Li Jingmai has since served as an ambassador to foreign countries and an envoy to Jiangsu and other places, but the most valued and most prominent is Li Jingfang.
Article author: Dahui
The entire graphic was produced by the team of the Big Cafe Say History Studio!
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