Zeng Guofan is one of the four famous ministers in the late Qing Dynasty, and his reputation is extremely loud in modern history. He was not born high, but he was diligent and eager to learn from childhood, and finally he was admitted to the Jinshi, which opened his road to being an official. Zeng Guofan's official career is very smooth. As a Han nationality, he reached a new height in Manchu. He is famous for his loyalty to the Qing Dynasty. After his death, posthumous title was called "Zheng Wen", which is the highest evaluation of a scholar since ancient times.
Li Hongzhang was also one of the four famous ministers in the late Qing Dynasty. When we think of him, most of us will think that he signed a contract and sold his country to foreign thieves. In fact, I think he is quite wronged. Li Hongzhang is also an official who cares about the country and the people, but he was born in that troubled time. He is helpless in many things. He has no idea but can do nothing, and he has to bear the reputation of a traitor.
Strictly speaking, Li Hongzhang is a student of Zeng Guofan. He is about ten years older than Li Hongzhang and entered the official career earlier than Li Hongzhang. Li Hongzhang's father and Zeng Guofan are also very close, and even Li Hongzhang's official career was brought in by Zeng Guofan. However, their personalities are quite different and they have different views on many things.
Zeng Guofan likes to think carefully when dealing with things, which also makes him hesitate; But Li Hongzhang is different. He should dare to do and think. Many things are decisive. Moreover, in such troubled times, under the impact of foreign ideas, the two have come into contact with more new things, and it is even more difficult to stand on the same front. I think this is the main reason why they don't get along.