Weng Tonghe (1830- 1904) was born in Changshu, Jiangsu Province, with the name Shu Ping, the name of Fu Sheng, and the name of Song Chan and the name of bottle temple lay man. The son of a great scholar Weng Xincun. Xianfeng six years (1856), jiajia Jinshi. He has served as assistant minister of the Ministry of Finance, adviser to the left capital of Duchayuan, minister of punishment, minister of industry, minister of military aircraft, and minister of government affairs of various countries. He was a famous clean leader at that time. 1898 Guangxu coup, dismissed from office to Li. Chasing Wen Gong after death. Weng Tonghe, the master of Guangxu, "has advice in case of trouble". Guangxu "asks for harmony in everything, especially when leaning on it as soon as possible."
Weng Tonghe was born in luoquan Hutong, Shima Street, Beijing on April 27th in the 10th year of Daoguang reign (1830). Weng's family lives in Changshu County, Suzhou (now Jiangsu Province). Weng Tonghe's father, Weng Xincun, is famous for two words and is a scholar. He used to be the Minister of Rites, the Minister of Housing and Industry, the Bachelor of imperial academy, the Master of Tiren Pavilion, and the Master of Study, teaching Prince Gong, County King and County King. In his later years, he served as the director of Tongzhi Emperor, and was an important minister of Daoguang and Xianfeng Dynasties. Weng Tonghe's mother Xu was born in a bureaucratic family. Since childhood, she has been familiar with poetry and the Book of Changes, and knows the Five Classics like the back of her hand, especially reading history books. After Xu's marriage, Weng Xincun worked as an official in Beijing for a long time and didn't go home often. She did all the housework alone. Weng Tonghe has four brothers and sisters. Eldest brother is a fellow scholar, named Zu Geng, No.1 pharmacy, Daoguang Jinshi, official to Anhui Governor. The second brother, with the same rank, was once the governor of Shaanxi and Hubei and the governor of Huguang. Both brothers have certain knowledge, and Weng Tonghe is deeply influenced. The two sisters are also very clever, and the elder sister Zhu Shou is especially clever. Her poems and books are unforgettable. Weng Tonghe is the youngest of the brothers and sisters and is loved by them. Before Weng Tonghe was four years old, his father had been a student in Sichuan, Jiangxi and other provinces, and his family followed him, so his life was not very stable. During this period, his mother and elder sister taught him to read Sanzi Jing and thousands of poems, recited dozens of Tang and Song poems and Wu Meicun poems, and began his enlightenment education. At the age of six, his father returned to Beijing to work, and Weng Tonghe went to a private school. In the first two years of private school, his homework was tutored by his elder sister in the morning and evening, and the four books, five classics and Shi Mao were taught by her own elder sister.
When Weng Tonghe was eight years old, his father resigned and went back to his hometown to support his mother. He also went back to his hometown. In his hometown, he passed adolescence. Weng Tonghe has lived in his hometown for more than 10 years, taking advantage of the rich collection of books at home and keeping in mind Ren Wei Dong Yu's famous saying that "study for more than three years" (in winter, it is sunny at night and sunny when it rains), and burying himself in reading all day. During the Qingming Festival, spring blossoms, and many children wear red and green clothes and travel abroad, but he has never left his study except with his father and brother. In summer, the temperature rises, and he is sweating like rain, but he still can't put it down; After four episodes of Mosquito, he put an empty urn in the case, put his foot in it and read more than one episode. In the severe winter, they held bronze stoves and chanted endlessly. He read and browsed more than 100 works of pre-Qin philosophers and eight masters in Tang and Song Dynasties, which laid a solid learning foundation. When Weng Tonghe was nine years old, he took a boy test and was admitted to the county Youwen Academy. His father was the keynote speaker. Here, he often gets together with his classmates and learns from each other. Weng Tonghe likes to talk about the laws and regulations of past dynasties, especially those of Zhou Li. He believes that the truth told by Duke Zhou and Confucius can also work today, and the scholars are determined to follow the example of Duke Zhou and Confucius. His comments are often criticized by his classmates. Weng Tonghe insists on his own opinions and often argues with them.
While studying in Youwen Academy, Weng Tonghe also made friends with calligraphers from Changshu and Zhaowen (in the second year of Yongzheng, Changshu County was established in 1724, and it was merged into Changshu in 19 12). The study of rubbings laid a certain foundation for his later calligraphy.
Weng Tonghe gradually became famous in the village because of his talent, hard work and family influence, as he himself said: "Young people are first-class."
During his stay in the countryside, Weng Tonghe, under the guidance of his father and brother, began to write eight-part essays, ready to take the road of studying and becoming an official. Just as he embarked on the road of official career, in May of the 20th year of Daoguang (1840), the first Opium War broke out between China and Britain. In the twenty-first year of Daoguang (184 1), in June, the British invading army broke into Wusongkou fortress, the gateway of the Yangtze River, which shocked Jiangnan, and the people moved away with their families. Weng Tonghe's family took refuge in Suzhou (now Jiangsu). In Suzhou, Weng Tonghe visited Duan Yuan, the former residence of Fan Zhongyan, a great statesman in the Song Dynasty, and Baiyun Temple, the ancestral temple, and engraved Fan Zhongyan's famous saying "Worry about the world first, and enjoy the world later". Three months later, the whole family returned to Changshu and lived a quiet life for less than a year. In the 22nd year of Daoguang (1842), in May, the British invaded the Yangtze River, and the defenders scattered along the river, and the people fled for their lives. Weng Tonghe's family fled again and took refuge in Yujiabin, Diaozhu, South Township, Changshu City. Diaozhudu is not far from the former residence of Qu, an anti-Qing hero in the late Ming Dynasty, and only a few miles from the secluded Tang Yulian well. In Diaozhudu, his father once again told him the story of Qu He Gu's heroic resistance to the Qing Dynasty, which further sprouted his patriotic thoughts.
Weng Tonghe's brother Weng Shu Tong was impeached by Zeng Guofan and Li Hongzhang for praising thieves in the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom War, and Weng Tonghe and Li Hongzhang became lifelong enemies. In the Westernization Movement, Li Hongzhang advocated reforming the imperial examination, emphasizing western methods, training the navy and opening railways, which was blocked by Weng Tonghe, who was in charge of the household department. "Therefore, Gong Li was trapped in Xinjiang for 20 years."
Before the Sino-Japanese War broke out, Li Hongzhang, like Chiang Kai-shek later, advocated seeking international mediation and trying to avoid war. Weng Tonghe fought hard. On July 14, Li Hongzhang sent a telegram demanding the withdrawal of troops from North Korea, which was forbidden by the Qing court. Weng Tonghe called for more soldiers to "transfer troops from the three northeastern provinces and Lushun to North Korea as soon as possible."
On August 1 day, China and Japan declared war at the same time. Weng Tonghe 17 read Li Hongzhang's "Telegraph that the Russians have the intention to drive the Japanese" in the military department. "Arguably, Russia can't refuse or join forces. We should always focus on our soldiers defeating the Japanese, and don't expect foreign aid to dilute our affairs. "On September 16, Pyongyang fell. The next day, Weng Tonghe made an attack: "Hefei (Li Hongzhang) is all backward, so it can't be said that it's not a delay", which prompted Emperor Guangxu to issue the order of "removing three dazzling feathers and yellow jacket". 17 The Yellow Sea naval battle broke out, and beiyang fleet suffered heavy losses. Weng Tonghe thinks that "the Yalu River can be dangerous, even the Bohai Sea can be dangerous. On "2 1 day, it was suggested that" soldiers from three northeastern provinces should be transferred, large grain platforms should be set up urgently, and senior managers should be sent to build earth castles along the Yalu River. "10 14, Weng Tonghe learned that the British ambassador Ou Ren proposed joint action by major powers to promote Sino-Japanese peace talks, but Japan wanted to send troops, which was extremely indignant. In front of Empress Dowager Cixi, he "accused Chen Ou of being hateful" and urged him to continue fighting. On 24th, the second Japanese army landed at Huayuankou, and the first army crossed the Yalu River the next day, and even entered Jiuliancheng Scenic Resort Scenic Area, Anton (now Dandong), Fenghuang and other places. On 3 1 day, Weng Tonghe met Emperor Guangxu and said, "Please don't be a moment late." 1 1 On March 3rd, Weng Tonghe was awarded the post of Minister of Military Affairs.
On the 8th, Weng Tonghe learned that Jinzhou had been lost and Lushun was in a hurry, so he asked Tang Renlian to send reinforcements to Lushun. On the 22nd, Lushun fell, and Weng Tonghe was "angry and worried". When the Qing court sent envoys to Japan to make peace, Weng Tonghe and others still advocated that the Xiang army should be incorporated and Liu Kunyi should be the commander in chief to save the crisis. The Qing court adopted their suggestion and ordered Liu Wei to send an imperial envoy to control the internal and external troops.
At the beginning of the twenty-first year of Guangxu, the Japanese army stepped up its invasion and leveled the ground and fell on January 10. 14, Weng Tonghe commented on the peace talks: "I dare not go along with the peace talks, but this matter cannot stop. I'm afraid Peter will make excuses. I just want to make peace with him, so I have to get ready first. " Fortunately, there is little attention. "In order to encourage officers and men to fight bravely, Weng Tonghe put forward the suggestion of" rewarding others, staying still and being the spirit of officers and men ". After the fall of Rongcheng and Nanbangbao in Weihai, Weng Tonghe felt that "the overall situation was eroded and he was anxious and resentful." On February 2nd, Wei Hai Acropolis and Beibangbao were completely lost, and Weng Tonghe issued "Extremely angry and ashamed! Coach deep yi, if you think, "said with a sigh. At this time, he also learned that the Qing government sent negotiators to Japan, but they were unreasonably driven to Nagasaki by the Japanese government. He lamented that "it was almost humiliating." 13, the Qing court reassigned Li Hongzhang as the plenipotentiary for peace in Japan. On the 22nd, Guangxu met with Li Hongzhang. In the history of the military department, Sun Yuwen thought that "the field needs to be divided for the bureau", while Weng Tonghe insisted on "persistence". On March 2, Li Hongzhang talked about land cession again, but Weng Tonghe firmly opposed it, saying that "Taiwan Province Province is beyond discussion and unreasonable".
On April 3, Weng Tonghe learned about the ten appointments in Li Hongzhang's call, and he felt more and more that "the thunder in his chest is not easy." The next day, Weng learned that Emperor Guangxu wanted peace quickly, and he "urged Taiwan Province not to lose it", pointing out that if it was broken, it would "lose the hearts of the world". After treaty of shimonoseki was signed, Weng Tonghe also "said it was too early to approve". /kloc-on 0/9, Weng Tonghe received a phone call from Qiu and others from Taiwan Province, saying "every word is blood and tears". Weng felt guilty and "ashamed to stand in the world". Once again, "strongly in favor of appropriate delay" to save the emergency. At this time, there were many executors, among which "a large rate means breaking the contract". Although Weng Tonghe disagreed, he still believed that "public opinion should not be falsified and people's hearts should not be lost". On May 2nd, Emperor Guangxu approved treaty of shimonoseki. On the 8th, representatives of China and Japan exchanged contracts in Yantai. The Qing court decided to cut Taiwan within a time limit. Weng Tonghe 17 "saw the public electricity of the people of Taiwan Province and wept for it".
In the twenty-fourth year of Guangxu (1898), Weng Tonghe assisted the university students with the ministers of the household department, and urged the reform to survive. On June 16, Guangxu ordered Weng to leave his post and return to China. 1after the coup in 898,1February 4, Weng was dismissed by Zhu Yu and never used again, and was "handed over to local officials for strict control." Thirty years (1904) died at home. In the year of Xuantongyuan, the official was reinstated and pursued "Wen Gong".
Weng Tonghe became famous from 1856 until 1898 when he returned to his hometown. He held an important position in the capital for 42 years. He has served as assistant minister of the Ministry of Finance, Zuodu Yushi of Douchayuan, Shangshu of the Ministry of Punishment, Shangshu of the Ministry of Industry, and Minister of the Prime Minister's yamen. He was the emperor of Tongzhi and Guangxu, and he was the minister of military aircraft twice. He is one of the few honest officials in the Qing court bureaucracy. Being an official for 42 years, the official has been in China. After returning to his hometown, he had to rely on his protege to help him. But he is not an excellent politician. Rong Lu, who was sworn brothers with him, wrote a note to Shaanxi Governor Lu during the Sino-Japanese War. He once commented that "Changshu (referring to Weng Tonghe, because Weng is from Changshu, Jiangsu) is really incredible. Hefei (Li Hongzhang) is a villain, and Changshu is a hypocrite. " Pan Zuyin, a family friend of Weng Tonghe, once commented on Weng Tonghe: "Shu Ping is a teacher, but she uses things skillfully." . These evaluations may not be objective and accurate, but they are by no means out of thin air. Weng Tonghe's lack of bearing and courage greatly reduced his political ability in high positions. In the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895, he fought the main battle in one hand, not because he was self-aware and sure of winning, but because of the instinctive reaction of all intellectuals who held China's thought of going to the country at that time. He has always regarded Japan as a "small country" and paid no attention to it at all. Especially when his opponent Li Hongzhang strongly advocated peace, his will to fight the main battle became more determined. Weng Tonghe is known as the leader of "South Qingliu", and most of the few local officials he relies on are Tai Jian and Hanlin "Qingliu". These people are eloquent and passionate, but they are all Beijing officials and scholars who have no power and influence. They talk big and empty, but there is nothing they can do. Therefore, as the leader of the "Imperial Party", the forces he leads seem numerous, but they are actually weak; The so-called "imperial party" headed by Guangxu is actually just a very fragile and loose political group. When it encountered a major storm, it was swept away by the torrent of history.