Zeng Guofan is one of the most influential figures in the history of China, but his talent was not high since he was a child. So how did he overcome these difficulties? The following is my collection of Zeng Guofan's childhood night reading. Welcome to read this article!
Zeng Guofan's reading story
No one can succeed by talent alone. God gave talent, and diligence turned talent into genius.
Zeng Guofan is one of the most influential figures in the history of China, but his talent was not high since he was a child. One day when I was studying at home, I repeated an article many times and was still reading it aloud because he hadn't memorized it yet. At this time, a thief came to his house and lurked under his eaves, hoping to get some benefits after the scholar went to bed. But wait and wait, just don't see him sleeping, or read the article over and over again. The thief was furious and jumped out and said, "What books do you read at this level?" Then recite the article and leave!
The thief is very clever, at least smarter than Mr. Zeng, but he can only be a thief, and Mr. Zeng has also become the person admired by President Mao Zedong: "the richest man in modern times."
"Diligence is a good training, and one point is hard work." The thief has a good memory. He was brave enough to recite the article after listening to it several times. He can jump out of "great anger" when he sees others not sleeping. Teach Ceng Laoshi a lesson, so we have to endorse and walk away. But unfortunately, the name is unknown, and Mr. Zeng later used a lot of talents. It is said that the thief and Mr. Zeng have known each other for a short time and can be used for one or two things. Unfortunately, his talent was not coupled with diligence, and he became ignorant.
A story about Zeng Guofan, a short story about Zeng Guofan.
Zeng Guofan's story of filial piety to his parents
On the 25th day of the first month of the 24th year of Daoguang, Zeng Guofan wrote in his letter, "My parents gave Jin Wan 'an ... two Jin of Ejiao and half of A Jin Korean ginseng ...", and the parties took it back to their hometown in Hunan to show filial piety.
Zeng Guofan later came out of the mountain and became a very important minister. These things are readily available, of course, but for twenty-four years, Daoguang was still the editor of imperial academy and a poor kyou-kan. It is not easy to get these things. Especially in his family books, Ejiao is juxtaposed with Korean ginseng, and Ejiao is above Korean ginseng, which shows the social fashion at that time. Ejiao is regarded as a rare nourishing top grade, even more rare than the world-famous Korean ginseng.
Later, in Zeng Guofan's letters, there were many words to send Ejiao, and Ejiao became the best way for Zeng Guofan to honor his parents.
So, what is the medical basis for the nourishing effect of Ejiao on the elderly?
For the elderly, health and longevity are their children's greatest expectations, so how can they live a long and healthy life? Neijing said, "The five internal organs are strong, the blood vessels are harmonious ... the camping and defensive journey has not failed ... so it can last for a long time".
Obviously, deficiency of qi and blood is the root of aging. To delay aging, we should start with the word qi and blood. Ejiao is sweet and flat, which can nourish blood and stop bleeding, nourish yin and moisten dryness, replenish qi and tonify deficiency, dispel wind and resolve phlegm, clear lung and promote diuresis, and moisten large intestine. These nourishing effects are really very suitable for the elderly to nourish.
Overthrow the king of gods and bodhisattvas
In the second year of Qing Daoguang (1822), when Zeng Guofan 12 was old, there was a small river opposite his home, and there was a temple of the god king by the river. Every time it gets cold, Frant Gwo takes his brother to the river to catch fish and shrimp. Sometimes I go to the river and have a water fight with my neighbors and friends. When I am tired, I will go to the temple of God to rest. On one occasion, when he and his friends took the stairs, Frant Gwo took the lead in climbing the shrine. Inadvertently, he knocked the God King and Bodhisattva to the ground, scaring his friends to go home. When Zeng Lishu learned about it, he immediately reprimanded Guo Fan, told him to clean the temple, and paid money to restore the golden body to the God King and Bodhisattva. At the same time, in order to let Zicheng study quietly, he was sent to Dinghui Temple in Guluoping, Jiufeng Mountain, six miles away from home, leaving early and returning late. Frant Gwo is not convinced. When he passed the Temple of the King of God every morning, he tied the horse-driving stick to the shoulder of the King of God and said, "Help me, I was sent to Jiufeng Mountain to study, but you have to look after the horse for me today. If my horse leaves, I will spare you. " Vent their anger. His father was so helpless that he had to take him to school.
The Thought of Zuo Gong and Ceng Gong
Zeng Guofan and Zuo were both important ministers in the late Qing Dynasty. Both of them are very famous, and the court generally called them "Zeng Zuo".
Zeng Guofan was older than Zuo, and he was promoted to Zuo. However, Zuo was very conceited and never took Zeng Guofan seriously.
On one occasion, Zuo Tang Zong asked his attendants discontentedly, "Why is everyone called' Zeng Zuo' instead of' Zuo Zeng'?"
An attendant boldly said, "Ceng Gong always has a Zuo Gong in his eyes, but there is no Ceng Gong in Zuo Gong's eyes."
The words of the attendants made Zuo think deeply for a long time.
"I don't want my descendants to be big officials, but I want to be a gentleman who studies."
Inherit the wind, who doesn't want their children to succeed! This Jackie Chan is nothing but a synonym for being an official. Zeng Guofan was very prosperous when he was young. Later, he became an official for decades, but he didn't want his children and grandchildren to be an official like many parents. He made it clear many times: "All mortals want their descendants to be big officials, but I don't want to be big officials. I hope to be a gentleman who is sensible. " "Er Cao Wei should strive to study, not join the army and not be an official." There are two reasons: first, "the world is difficult", "it is not reliable to be rich or expensive", and choosing to be an official is not a good future; Second, the officialdom is sinister, and the fortunes depend on each other. He has his own doubts and wants to resign several times. He certainly doesn't want his descendants to be an official again.
Zeng Guofan's four taboos in officialdom
Zeng Guofan believes that there are four taboos for being an official, namely, "four defeats": those who are lazy lose, those who are arrogant and heartless lose, those who are greedy and unscrupulous lose, and those who cheat repeatedly lose. Zeng Guofan wrote this "four defeats" on his desk and reminded himself every day.
In another place, Zeng Guofan also said that since ancient times, losers have probably had two kinds of fate: one is arrogance, and the other is talkative. He summed up the historical experience and said, "I think most of the famous ministers in the past dynasties were defeated because of these two reasons." No matter whether an official loses four or two times, there is actually a core, that is, the reason why an official is ruined is often because he does not know how to care.
Zeng Guofan once said that he has "three fears": fear of destiny, fear of others' words and fear of your father. Zeng Guofan's life has been spent in such a state of mind that he is treading on thin ice and approaching the abyss. In May of the 25th year of Daoguang, Zeng Guofan was promoted. In a letter to his brother, he said that he was not happy, but afraid. He said:
"This promotion really surprised me. I fear day and night and reflect on myself. It's really immoral to bear. You are thousands of miles away, you must correct my mistakes, write from time to time to point out my shortcomings, and ensure that the accumulated virtues do not degenerate from here. Always be respectful to your younger brother, and don't dare to bully others just because someone is an official at home; Don't think that you have a little knowledge and dare to rely on your own talent. Always in awe is the way to cherish happiness. "
Li Hongzhang and Zeng Guofan
Li Hongzhang is talented, flexible and useful, but Li Hongzhang has many problems. He is the kind of talent whose advantages and disadvantages are outstanding. Li Hongzhang's shortcoming is that he has a sense of pride. He is not a rogue, at least he is a rogue. This kind of anger has always been borne by Li Hongzhang, for example, he doesn't respect his subordinates. Every time he is promoted, he must teach this person a lesson first. What he said was ugly, and the national abuse continued. When you came back, hey, he gave you a promotion and a knighthood. Give you a hand, kick you, care about others, but do it in an insulting way.
Li Hongzhang was Zeng Guofan's staff. A few days later, he thought he had mastered the skills and learned everything, so he had to thank his teacher and become his own boss. Li Hongzhang left the Xiang Army to form the Huai Army. However, he fought and lost many times and achieved nothing. Instead, I exhausted my little strength and returned to my master helplessly. For more than a month, Li Hongzhang asked for Zeng Guofan many times, and Li made many requests, all of which were rejected.
Zeng Guofan's refusal times are naturally less than Li Hongzhang's request times. Otherwise, there would be no Ceng Li mentoring in history, and it would be difficult for Li Hongzhang to become a trader and master the historical trend. Zeng Guofan refused Li Hongzhang, not to play the leadership temper and pull the shelf, but to cut jade. If the jade is uncut and abrasive, Li Hongzhang's pride will not be suppressed. If you fix it, how can you succeed?
Li Hongzhang's style is sloppy and lazy, and it is perfect to be a celebrity. The more untidy he is, the more he looks like a celebrity. Celebrities always support themselves by being sloppy, but when it comes to politics, they are fatal. It may be feasible for hooligans to go to a rogue government. Only a rogue government can accommodate hooligans! Zeng Guofan can't allow the existence of qi. Zeng Guofan worked hard and lived seriously. He has an eight-character formula-"morning, scanning, exams, treasures, books, vegetables, fish and pigs", and this morning is to get up early every day and have breakfast regularly. Strict schedule, which lazy person like Li Hongzhang can stand it? Li Hongzhang loves to sleep lazily, sleeping in the sun and drying his ass every day, and he is reluctant to get up. Zeng Guofan had breakfast and Li Hongzhang just went to sleep. Zeng Guofan sent someone to shout several times: Li Hongzhang, Master Zeng told you to have breakfast quickly. Li Hongzhang replied, turned around and went back to sleep. Zeng Guofan waited there without moving chopsticks. He waited and waited for a long time, but Li Hongzhang was late. Zeng Guofan stopped eating this meal. He slapped his chopsticks on the table and said slowly, "Shao Quanlin, the only truth here." Face also comes, phase also comes, although the language is light, the meaning is heavy. Let Li Hongzhang know that politics is not a dinner party, a dinner party for celebrities, or a hooligan.
From eating, Li Hongzhang felt that he should be rigorous and felt the majesty of his style. It's just that he can't get rid of this gas at once. Later, Li Hongzhang came to power, but he was still a little sloppy. He was surrounded by great powers and Li Hongzhang presided over diplomacy. He once asked Zeng Guofan. The master first asked his disciples: diplomacy is a national event. what are you going to do？ Li Hongzhang replied: The protege has no plans either. I think, when dealing with foreigners, no matter what, I only play hooliganism with him. This Japanese wants a piece of land in China, and I will respond first; Bear asked us to open a port in China, so I asked for it first, and then found an excuse to turn it over. Zeng Guofan's face was as cold as ice when he heard this. He told Li Hongzhang that less power is the only honest word here. You have overdrawn the reputation of your country. Who will trust you after that? "In my opinion, I still use a sincere word. I think foreigners feel the same way about the sincerity of animals. The sage's words are faithful and feasible, and there can be no mistake about this. Since there is no real power, it is useless to put on airs again. It is better to be honest, be honest and reason with him; Although you can't take advantage, you won't suffer too much. In any case, my credit status is always tenable. Down-to-earth, it's not too outrageous. I think it's better than hooligans. "
Zeng Guofan regarded Li Hongzhang as a talented person, but he was also strict with himself. It is not because Li Hongzhang is his favorite pupil and confidant that he is allowed to indulge and shield him. Therefore, Li Hongzhang finally became a great player. After Zeng Guofan's death, Li Hongzhang wrote an elegy: "I have been a teacher for nearly 30 years, and my salary has spread like fire, building a room for my protege;" Wan Li's reputation is very impressive, and talents in the world are hard to meet. "Zeng Guofan and Li Hongzhang intersect and have always appeared as strict teachers. Li Hongzhang is not disgusted, but grateful: "When I was in the camp, the teacher always had to wait for people of my generation to eat at the same time;" After dinner, I sit around and talk about the sky, prove the classics and discuss the history, all of which are useful and practical words to learn economics. A meal is better than the last class. "
Dialogue between Frant Gwo and Cixi
In the seventh year of Tongzhi, Zeng Guofan was transferred to the governor of Zhili. Before he took office, he was summoned by the court and held on to it. Facing this important official, he showed great respect. Empress Dowager Cixi was summoned to the Forbidden City hall of mental cultivation for three consecutive days. She was very concerned about this important official and asked Zeng Guofan, "What is your wife doing at home?"
Zeng Guofan casually replied: "Don't hide from the Queen Mother, my wife is doing something at home." After listening to Zeng Guofan's Xiangxiang dialect, Empress Dowager Cixi seemed puzzled and asked, "What is 7788?" Zeng Guofan realized that his speech was too rustic and it was Hunan dialect, which made it difficult for the queen mother to understand. By the way, he explained: "seven" is firewood, rice, oil, salt, sauce, vinegar and tea; "Eight" refers to filial piety, faith, courtesy and shame.
Empress Dowager Cixi nodded approvingly: "What a' minister's wife'. She cares so much about big things and so little about small things." All the ministers on the sidelines praised Zeng Guofan's wit and sensitivity.
A short story about Zeng Guofan: "The Broken Egg Case"
Zeng Guofan was clever since childhood, and his father Zeng Linshu wanted to test his son's cleverness, so he conceived an egg test case. So he boiled five eggs, gave one to the maid to eat, and then said that one was missing, and ordered Zeng Guofan to come out for trial to see who secretly ate one.
On that day, Zeng Guofan came back from school and took off his schoolbag. His mother said, "I obviously boiled five eggs, but how come there are only four?" His father heard it nearby, called Zeng Guofan and said to him, "Your mother's eggs are for you to eat, and now you can't tell them apart. Let's see which one stole one and find it for your mother. " Zeng Guofan thought for a moment, then brought a wooden basin, poured several cups of herbal tea, gathered all the people in the family together, and let everyone have a sip of tea and spit into the basin. He stood by and watched. As a result, only the tea spit out by the maid contained egg yolk powder, so it was concluded that she had eaten the eggs.
Zeng Linshu was so happy that he repeatedly praised: "It's really good, and it has great prospects in the future."
Zeng Guofan and Liu Mingchuan, the First Governor of Taiwan Province
On one occasion, Li Hongzhang took three people to see Zeng Guofan. Zeng Guofan happened to go out for a walk, and Li Hongzhang asked three people to wait at the door.
When Zeng Guofan came back, he saw three people at the door. He glanced at the left and right and went in without saying anything. Li Hongzhang asked the teacher about the three men. Zeng Guofan replied: "The people on the left are available, but they can only be used less: the people on the right are absolutely unavailable; People in the middle can use it, which can be of great use. "
Li Hongzhang admired the teacher's "knowing a hero at a glance" and asked why. Zeng Guofan said: "This man on the left, I look at him, and he looks at me. When I looked at him again, he lowered his eyelids and dared not look at me again.
This shows that he has a kind heart, but he is not bold enough. He can use it, but he can only use it less. It is enough to award the deputy director of the operation. The man on the right, when I look at him, he doesn't even dare to look at me. He stole a look at me when I wasn't looking at him. It is obvious that this person has ulterior motives, so it is absolutely useless.
However, the man in the middle, when I look at him, he looks at me, I glance at him up and down, and he looks at me again. It shows that this person is open-minded, broad-minded, useful and can be put to good use. "At this point, Li Hongzhang suddenly realized and sent these three people according to the teacher's instructions.
Among these three people, it is hard to find a left one and a right one. The middle one is Liu Mingchuan, who was highly valued by Li Hongzhang and became a famous Huai army general in the late Qing Dynasty and the first governor of Taiwan Province Province. The story of knowing people and discussing the world was widely celebrated at that time.
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