On this day, 124 years ago, on November 7, 1901 (September 27, 1901 in the lunar calendar), Li Hongzhang, an important official in the late Qing Dynasty, passed away. Li Hongzhang, an important official in the late Qing Dynasty, died of illness in Beijing at the age of 78. On November 7, 1901, Li Hongzhang, an important official in the late Qing Dynasty and a "veteran of the rejuvenation". Li Hongzhang was born on February 15, 1823 in a "farming and reading home" in Modian Township, Hefei County, Luzhou Prefecture, Anhui Province. In 1847, he was admitted to the Jinshi, changed to a Confucian scholar, and was awarded the title of editor. Zeng Guofan first studied as a teacher and emphasized the study of the world. In 1853, he returned to his hometown to organize regiment training and suppress the Taiping Army. In November 1861, Zeng Guofan ordered the regiment to reorganize and recruit new soldiers to train the Huai Army. In 1864, his troops conquered Changzhou and were awarded the post of Commandant. They then captured Nanjing, the capital of the Taiping Rebellion. He was awarded the title of first-class Earl of Suyi and wore double-eyed flower feathers. In 1865, he served as governor of Liangjiang. He then mobilized 60,000 troops from the Huai Army to Henan to suppress the Nien Army, replacing Zeng Guofan as the "Imperial Envoy of Suppression of Nien." In 1867, he was awarded the post of Governor of Huguang and was awarded the post of first-class riding commander. In 1868, he was added the title of Prince Taibao. He was transferred to the post of Governor of Huguang and Assistant Scholar. In 1870, he also served as Governor of Hubei. Following Zeng Guofan, he was transferred to the post of Governor of Zhili and Minister of Trade Affairs of Beiyang. He was in charge of the diplomatic, military, and economic powers of the Qing Dynasty and became the leader of the Westernization faction. After 1873, he was awarded the title of Grand Scholar, Grand Scholar of Wuying Hall, and Grand Scholar of Wenhua Hall. Luanhongzhang insisted on: The policy of "harmony outside and reform inside" participated in the launch of the Westernization Movement. He successively established Jiangnan Manufacturing General Administration, Jinling Machinery Bureau, Shipping Investment Promotion Bureau, Kaiping Mining Bureau, Mohe Gold Mine, Tianjin Telegraph Bureau, Jinjinyu Railway, Shanghai Machinery Weaving Bureau and other enterprises. In 1872, young children were selected and sent to the United States to study, and foreign students were sent to Britain, Germany, and France. Schools were also set up in the country to hire foreigners as instructors, including the Canton Dialect School, the Beiyang Navy School, the Telegraph School, and the Western Medicine School. At the same time, they purchased arms and warships to expand the Huai Army's power. In 1888, the Beiyang Navy was established. In 1896, he was responsible for Prime Minister's affairs in various countries. Li Hongzhang represented the Qing court in foreign negotiations many times and signed the Sino-British Treaty of Yantai, the Sino-French New Treaty, the Treaty of Shimonoseki, the Sino-Russian Secret Treaty and the Treaty of Xin Chou. Regarding his death, Cixi "shook and mourned for his loss". The Qing court specially ordered Yi Wenzhong, posthumously, and was awarded the title of a first-class knight. A special temple was established in the province of origin and "meritorious service", and his life's military exploits and achievements were announced to the National History Museum for biography. Yi Zi Li Jingshu inherited the first-class Marquis. The collection of his posthumous works is "Li Wenzhong Gong Quan Shu". Before his death, Li Hongzhang strongly recommended Yuan Shikai. He attached a message to the compromise: "Looking around the talents in the universe, there is no one like Yuan Shikai." Therefore, on the day of Li Hongzhang's death, Yuan Shikai acted as Governor of Zhili and Minister of Beiyang. Since the 1870s, Li Hongzhang has flaunted "self-improvement" and established a series of civilian enterprises in the form of "official supervision and business operation". At the same time, we will prepare for Beiyang coastal defense and strengthen military strength. In order to cultivate talents needed for "self-improvement" and "wealth seeking," various new schools were also established and people sent to study in Europe and the United States. All these Westernization undertakings had a profound impact on the development of modern China society. The disparity in the balance of power between China and foreign countries gave Li Hongzhang a serious fear of foreign affairs and always adhered to the policy of "compromise and seeking perfection" in his foreign negotiations, which in turn aggravated the suffering of the China people. Schematic diagram of Li Hongzhang's family.