The elders of the early Kuomintang did not regard the Communist Party as an enemy, such as Li Shizeng, who will be introduced today, who was one of the four elders of the Kuomintang, who was Sun Yat-sen's helper and later helped Chairman Mao. In addition, it is worth mentioning that although Li Shizeng was the least famous among the four elders, his origin was the highest.
Li Shizeng's father, named Li Hongzao, was a benefactor of the Tongzhi Emperor and naturally served as a major minister of the Qing government. After his death, he was also posthumously given the title of Wenzheng(文正), which was the highest-ranking title in the history of the Qing Dynasty, which lasted for 276 years, but only eight people eventually received this title, including Zeng Guofan.
Li Hongzao was 61 years old when he gave birth to Li Shizeng, and he liked this young son very much, so he gave Li Shizeng the best educational resources. Li Shi went to France to study at the age of 20, but it is interesting that although Li Shi's family was rich, he resolutely did not want a penny from the family, but opened a Li's tofu factory and introduced the craft of making tofu to France.
It is worth mentioning that Li Shi's former workers are all fellow villagers in his hometown. These people are illiterate, and they certainly don't have the local workers to use. But Li Shi once had his own ideas, he wanted to turn this tofu factory into an experimental field for domestic compatriots to come overseas for work-study. Therefore, Li Shi was also known as the first person in China to work and study.
Li Shizeng's tofu factory made a lot of money in France, but Li Shizeng did not spend a penny indiscriminately, but lent it to Sun Yat-sen. At that time, Sun Yat-sen, who was preparing for the revolution, was in urgent need of money, and Li Shi could be said to have solved Sun Yat-sen's urgent need. Therefore, after the success of the revolution, Sun Yat-sen often said that the establishment of the Republic of China had great credit to Li Shi.
In 1912, Li Shizeng, together with Cai Yuanpei, Wu Yuzhang and others, founded the Society for Studying In France and Thrift. Six years later, Chairman Mao approached Li Shizeng, hoping to operate Hunan students to study in France, and Li Shizeng immediately said that he would do his best to help and ruin his family.
Among those who returned from studying in France were Zhu De, Zhou Enlai, Deng Xiaoping, Chen Yi, Nie Rongzhen and countless other big figures. It is self-evident how much Li Shi has contributed to the Chinese revolution. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, Chairman Mao also said something very similar to what Sun Yat-sen said in those years: "The founding of New China also has the contribution of Mr. Li Shizeng. ”
In addition, Li Shi has made a special contribution to China. After Puyi was expelled from the Forbidden City, Feng Yuxiang organized the Qing Room Aftermath Committee to sort out the cultural relics of the Forbidden City. Li Shi once served as the chairman of the committee under the election of Feng Yuxiang. Because his father was a famous courtier of the Qing Dynasty and he was also the elder of the Alliance, people on both sides would trust him very much. Li Shi also gave the cultural relics of the Forbidden City the greatest degree of protection. Later, when the Palace Museum was established, Li Shi personally inscribed the inscription "Palace Museum", so he was also known as one of the founders of the Palace Museum.