On Lao Zeng's right hand are four literati: Li Hongzhang, Zuo Zongtang, Hu Linyi, and Rong Hong.

The first person on the right hand is Li Hongzhang, although he is younger than Zuo Zongtang, but because he is a student of Lao Zeng, the literati pushed him as the leader.

Li Hongzhang (1823-1901), a famous minister in the late Qing Dynasty, one of the main leaders of the Westernization Movement, was a man of the Eucalyptus River, and many people in the world were honored as Li Zhongtang, also known as Li Hefei, whose real name was Zhang Tong, the word gradually Fu or Zihuang, and the number Shaoquan (Quan), in his later years, he called himself Yisuo, alias Worry, and Wenzhong.

In his early years, Li Hongzhang went to study in the North and studied with many celebrities as teachers. However, what made Li Hongzhang most fortunate was that he was "on the occasion of Yi C" (that is, 1845~1846) after failing in the first meeting, that is, as a "son of the Nian family", he worshiped under the Zeng Guo Clan of the Great Confucian Confucianism in Hunan, studied the study of the world, and laid the foundation of his life's career and thoughts.

At that time, Zeng Guofan suffered from lung disease, and lived in Baoguo Temple in the south of the city, discussing scriptures with scholars Liu Chuanying and others. Baoguo Temple, also known as Ciren Temple, was the residence of Gu Yanwu, a thinker in the late Ming and early Qing dynasties.

In the face of internal and external troubles, a strong sense of participation made Zeng Guofan Bu Tinglin self-described. In addition to the three traditional academic standards proposed by Yao Nai, the Tongcheng faction, he clearly added "economy", that is, the study that has been applied to the world.

The addition of Zeng Guofan is actually the most critical. Without this article, no matter how well the previous doctrines, dictionaries, and arguments are made, they are of no use. Not in the real world, it means that the previous ones are useless. And without a practical inspection, there is no way to know whether the previous one is right or not.

For the purpose of applying it to the world, the study of doctrines, dictionaries, and evidence has also injected vitality into such research, and actually pointed out the direction for such research.

In fact, whether such a commitment to the world is right or not can be seen from the successful experience of Zeng Guofan and Li Hongzhang, the master and apprentice.

Those righteousness, diction, and evidence must have done a good job abound, and they have all been lost to history without a trace.

And Zeng Guofan and Li Hongzhang are still often mentioned by later generations, so the answer is clear, not to mention the kind of survival that relied on the good play of the world at that time.

Li Hongzhang not only "lived day and night, emphasizing the study of righteousness and reason" with Zeng Guofan, but was also instructed to compile and revise the "Hundred Miscellaneous Notes of the Classics and History" according to the new purpose of study, so Zeng Guofan repeatedly called it "only the best to use", and called him and Guo Songtao, Chen Nai, and Shuai Yuanduo, who were also in the ranks of his subordinates, "the four gentlemen of Ding Wei".

Since the Taiping Army, Zeng and Li have returned to their hometowns to handle regimental exercises, and Zeng has earnestly told Li Hongzhang his experience in organizing and training the Hunan Army, which shows the high expectations. However, in the winter of the eighth year of Xianfeng (1858), Li Hongzhang joined the shogunate of the Zeng State Domain to run the camp and was responsible for drafting documents.

At that time, he lived a casual life, slept late and was lazy, Zeng Guofan taught him: "Shaoquan, since you enter my scene, I have something to say, and there is only one word of sincerity here." The words swept away, and Li Hongzhang was "terrified".

Later, Weng Tongshu, the governor of the Emblem (the eldest brother of Weng Tongzhi, the teacher of Emperor Guangxu), abandoned the city and fled during the Taiping War, and Zeng Guofan used Li Hongzhang's draft when drafting "Ginseng Weng Tongshu Piece": "Where the minister's position is, the example should be corrected, and he does not dare to take the heyday of Weng Tongshu's door to look forward to Gu and accommodate" (Weng Tongshu's father Weng Xin was in a high position at that time), and therefore admired Li Hongzhang's talent more.

In the tenth year of Xianfeng (1860), Li Hongzhang led the Huaiyang Water Division. After the Hunan army occupied Yuqing, he was recommended by Zeng Guofan to "be of great use" and ordered him to go back to the Hefei area to recruit bravery.

Although Li Hongzhang is not from Hunan Province, he and Zeng Guofan are teachers and students, so they were invited to participate in this important plan.

Under Li Hongzhang is Zuo Zongtang. Zuo Zongtang (November 10, 1812 ---September 5, 1885), Han nationality, the word Ji Gao, the word Pu Cun, the name of Hunan peasants. He was a military strategist, a political officer, a famous general of the Hunan Army, and the leader of the Westernization faction.

Zuo Zongtang failed many times when he was a teenager, and then turned to stay in Changsha Yuelu Academy to study. Pay attention to agricultural affairs, read all kinds of books, and delve into the land and the art of war. Later, he became a famous minister in the late Qing Dynasty, and the official was a scholar of the East Pavilion University, a minister of military aircraft, and a second-class Marquis of Kejing.

In 1852 (the second year of Xianfeng), when the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom army besieged Changsha and the provincial capital was in danger, Zuo Zongtang, under the persuasion of Guo Songtao and others, was hired by Zhang Liangji, the governor of Hunan, to go out of the mountain and devote himself to the camp of defending the Qing Dynasty.

Zuo Zongtang entered the city in the days of artillery fire, Zhang Liangji was overjoyed, and entrusted all the military to Zuo Zongtang. Zuo Zongtang's "day and night adjustment of military food, governance documents", "district painting and guarding", all kinds of construction were adopted, and immediately put into practice, and finally the Taiping army besieged Changsha for three months, and withdrew from the siege to the north. Zuo Zongtang's life's fame began from here.

In March 1854 (the fourth year of Xianfeng), Zuo Zongtang was invited by Luo Bingzhang, the governor of Hunan, to enter the shogunate of Zuohunan for the second time, which lasted for 6 years.

At that time, the rule of the Qing Dynasty in Hunan was already in jeopardy, the Taiping army galloped to northern Hunan, and most of the cities around Changsha were occupied, while the vast number of poor peasants in eastern Xiang, southern Hunan and western Hunan were raising incidents one after another.

Zuo Zongtang thought hard, planned day and night, assisted Luo Bingzhang in "internal clearing of the four borders" and "foreign aid in five provinces", and worked hard to support the overall situation. At the same time, it is necessary to eliminate maladministration, open sources and reduce expenditure, stabilize the currency, and vigorously raise arms purchases: ordnance and ships. Luo Bingzhang obeyed his words, "The writing, calligraphy and painting promises will not be checked." ”

Thanks to Zuo Zongtang's careful assistance and planning, not only did the military and political situation of Hunan turn the crisis into safety, and the operation company out of the province was successful, but also achieved remarkable results in other affairs.

Zuo Zongtang out of the Zuoxiang curtain, the first appearance, aroused the attention of the government and the opposition, the people of the time have "the world can not be a day without Hunan, Hunan can not be a day without Zuo Zongtang" words, some high-ranking officials and dignitaries in front of the emperor to recommend, Emperor Xianfeng also gave great attention.

Then there is Hu Linyi. Hu Linyi is the same age as Zuo Zongtang. Hu Linyi (1812-1861), a native of Zhongxing, was one of the famous ministers of Zhongxing in the late Qing Dynasty, an important leader of the Hunan army, and a native of Quanjiaohe, Yiyang County, Hunan. Because of his meritorious contribution to the suppression of the Taiping Revolution, he was called the "Four Ministers of Zhongxing" by historians along with Zeng Guofan, Zuo Zongtang, and Peng Yulin. On September 30, 1861, he died of vomiting blood in the Eucalyptus Army. Zhen Wenzhong, the crown prince Shaobao, and the squire of the military department.

Hu Linyi entered the government two years earlier than Zeng Guofan, but his career was bumpy, and his official luck was not good, until Xianfeng defected to Zeng Guofan in the fourth year, Fang had just been appointed as a real shortage of Taoist in Guizhou. Hu Linyi was once a subordinate of Zeng Guofan, and he had the power of Zeng Guofan's recommendation to the feudal territory, and he never served as a minister of the Qin Mission, and the territory under Hu Linyi's jurisdiction was limited to Hubei.

Hu Linyi once said, "A "Water Margin" teaches the powerful people in the world but cannot do anything, and a "Dream of Red Mansions" teaches the world's court officials."

In March 1855, he was promoted to the political envoy of the north of Hu, and led a large army back to aid Jiechang; in April, the capital of Qichang was lost, and he was appointed as the governor of Hubei, responsible for the military of the south bank, and planned with Zeng Guofan to besiege the Qianhan. In December of the following year, the city of Changcheng was broken and the governor of Hubei was granted. Since then, he has continued to fully support Zeng Guofan in all aspects.

In 1857, troops were sent to aid Luzhou. In 1858, Kue was captured. The following year, he planned to capture Qing. In 1860, it moved to Moshan. In the following year, he was stationed in Taihu, dispatched troops, made suggestions, and vigorously raised salaries, mainly in gold and salt classes, and also carried out various donations. Pay attention to rectifying the rule of officials, introducing talents, and regulating the relationship between all parties.

Hu Linyi has recommended Zuo Zongtang, Li Hongzhang, Yan Jingming, etc., many times, and is praised by the people of the time. Because of his meritorious service to the suppression of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, he was called the "Three Ministers of Zhongxing" by historians together with Zeng Guofan and Zuo Zongtang.

In the spring of 1861, the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom's western expeditionary army entered Hubei, and the situation in Jiechang was in danger, and he hurriedly returned to help. On September 5, the army sent together with the Quanxiang army of Zeng Guo captured Yuqing. On the 30th of the same month, he died of vomiting blood due to illness in the Eucalyptus army.

The last one is Rong Hong, who is also the youngest, five years younger than Li Hongzhang. This person is also the most special. Because he is the first student in China, and when he comes back after completing his studies, he wants to serve the motherland.

In 1835, at the age of seven, Yung Wing followed his father to Proud Gate, where he enrolled at Morrison Memorial School, which was still attached to the London Women's Girls' School, where he was taught by the wife of the independent missionary Kwok Shili (formerly of the Dutch Missionary Society).

In 1839, when China and Britain became hostile, Mrs. Kwok left Aomen, but Yung Hung continued to study at Morrison Memorial School. In the same year, the American educator Rev. Brown arrived in Macao, and Morrison Memorial School became independent.

In 1842, due to the cession of Hong Kong to the British, Morrison Memorial School moved to Xianggang, and Yung Wing moved to Xianggang to continue his studies. In 1847, the Rev. Brown returned to the United States, taking Rong Hong, Huang Kuan, and Huang Sheng to study in the United States.

After that, Yung Hung was the only one who stayed in the United States to further his studies, Huang Sheng returned to Hong Kong due to illness, and Huang Kuan transferred to the University of Edinburgh in Scotland in 1849. After going to the United States, Yung Hong studied at Monson Preparatory School in Massachusetts, and after graduating in 1850, he was admitted to Yale College, the first Chinese to study at Yale College.

In 1852, Yung Hong became a naturalized American. After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1854, he returned to China and entered Nanjing, where he met with Hong Renji of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom and proposed the "Seven Policies for Governing the State" with Western civilization introduced to China. In the end, Rong Hong refused to give the seal and left. He later served at the U.S. Legation in Gwangju, the Xianggang High Court, and the Shanghai Customs.

In 1870, Rong Hong proposed a plan to send young children to Taixi to study, which was approved by his friend Ding Richang, and supported by Zeng Guofan and Li Hongzhang, and established the "Overseas Rehabilitation Bureau".

In 1872, 120 young children went to the United States to study in batches. Although there were changes in the middle of the year and they had to interrupt their studies and return to China early, this group of international students contributed to China's modernization after returning to China. Among them, the most famous are diplomats Tang Shaoyi and Liu Yulin, Zhan Tianyou, the father of China's railways, and Zhou Shouchen, the first Chinese official member of the Xianggang Executive Bureau of the Xianggang Government.

However, all of this is a petty fight because the person in charge does not see and value the substance. Now it depends on whether Lao Zeng can provide him with the conditions for fundamental change and let him show his talents.

All these strategic and managerial talents, whether they missed time in the original history or were geographically distant, were entangled together by Lao Zeng's precautionary behavior in advance.

People are still those people, abilities are still those abilities, and under the new guidance and combination, there will be a different kind of work.