In the TV series "Towards the Republic", Weng Tonghe is described as a corrupt model of hypocrisy, mediocre ability, conservativeness, and opposition to change. But the real Weng Tonghe in history was not only an important historical figure on the political stage of the late Qing

2025/07/0116:56:39 news 1776

Introduction

In the TV series " Going to Republic ", Weng Tonghe is described as a corrupt model of hypocrisy, mediocre ability, conservativeness, and opposition to change.

But the real Weng Tonghe in history was not only an important historical figure on the political stage of the late Qing Dynasty, but also played an important influence in the process of change.

He was the top scorer at the age of 26. He served as the top scorer in , Xianfeng , Tongzhi , and Guangxu dynasties. He became the imperial sect of the two emperors of Tongguang. He served as the Minister of Military Affairs, Grand Secretary of the Cabinet, and Minister of the Ministry of Revenue and other central positions, and participated in major domestic and foreign decisions in the late Qing Dynasty. In the late period of Guangxu

In the TV series

Guangxu , he became the leader of the imperial party, supported the Kang-liang reform internally, and engaged in a political game with the post-party led by Cixi , advocated toughness externally, and opposed compromise with the great powers, reflecting the strong integrity of the scholar-officials.

was born into a family of officials and was good at studying and became an official

In 1830 AD, Weng Tonghe was born in Beijing. His family was a famous family of the then-Changshu, Jiangsu.

His ancestor Weng Gongchen became an official in the jail period in the Ming Dynasty. After that, Weng has been studying and becoming an official. His grandfather Weng Xian was named a juren during the Qianlong period and was appointed as a juren in Haizhou.

My father Weng Xinxian passed the imperial examination during the Daoguang period. He served as editor of the Hanlin Academy and studied in Guangdong. When Weng Tonghe was born, he entered the study room and taught the children of the royal family to study.

Under the influence of the family environment, Weng Tonghe received education that his peers could not reach since childhood. When he was three, he read , four sons, under the guidance of his mother and brothers and sisters. When he was six, he read the Four Books and Five Classics in his cousin Zhu Qiyu's private school.

When he was ten years old, his father began to teach him to read books such as " Zizhi Tongjian ", "Zhou Li", and "Records of the Grand Historian". At the age of twelve, his father hired Li Yuanying, the great scholar at that time, to teach him to write poetry.

Weng Tonghe was also very successful. In 1845, Weng Tonghe, who was only fifteen years old, went to Suzhou Prefecture to participate in the government examination and the college examination, passed the scholar exam, and three years later took the tribute examination and won the first place.

After that, Weng Tonghe continued to maintain the academic master's model. In 1850, he participated in the tribute examination held by the Ministry of Rites and and won the top spot. In 1852, he passed the Shuntian provincial examination and passed the imperial examination. In 1856, he took the Shuntian imperial examination and won the second place.

In the TV series

was selected as the top scorer by Emperor Xianfeng in the following palace examination. That year, Weng Tonghe was only 26 years old and was soon appointed as editor of the Hanlin Academy.

At the same time, his father Weng Xincun was promoted to the Minister of Revenue and the Grand Secretary of the Ministry of Revenue. The Weng father and son ushered in the glorious moment of being officials in the same dynasty, and the young Weng Tonghe finally waited for the opportunity to realize his own talent.

Two imperial dynasties, two imperial dynasties entered Military Affairs Office , and the thirteenth year of imperial finance, Weng Tonghe, who was in charge of the imperial finance for thirteen years, was just like his ancestors and worked in the education system. In 1858, Weng Tonghe was appointed as the deputy examiner of the Shaanxi provincial examination and Shaanxi academician, but soon he applied for a vacancy with a foot disease and returned to Beijing for treatment.

1862 after Tongzhi ascended the throne, he was transferred to the Hanlin Academy. He has been in a lukewarm state for the next few years. If this continues, Weng Tonghe will spend his life studying the classical theory of Confucian , just like his grandfather.

But the goddess of fate pointed him into a unique and prosperous avenue. In 1865, Weng Tonghe was favored by the two empress dowagers of Cixi and Ci'an, and took on the responsibility of educating Tongzhi. Weng Tonghe, who became the imperial teacher, made great progress in the officialdom.

1866-1870, Weng Tonghe was promoted to the Hanlin Academy's lecturer and the Imperial College Priest. In 1871, he was appointed as a bachelor of the cabinet and officially entered the center of the court.

After Tongzhi's death, he actively advocated that Empress Dowager Cixi ruled from behind the curtain. In return, Cixi handed over the important task of educating Guangxu. For the next twenty years, Weng Tonghe had been with Guangxu as an imperial teacher.

In the TV series

As the imperial sect of two dynasties, Weng Tonghe went to a higher level in his official career. From 1876 to 1879, he served as the Right Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, the Left Censor of the Ministry of Justice, the Left Censor of the Ministry of Justice and the Left Minister of the Ministry of Works.

Weng Tonghe was appreciated by Empress Dowager Cixi through various experiences in internal and foreign affairs. In 1882, Weng Tonghe joined the Military Affairs Office and served as the Minister of Military Affairs.

Although during the 1884 Sino-French War, Cixi dismissed him when she reorganized the Military Affairs Office led by Yixin, she was reinstated in just a few months, and as the foreman of the Military Affairs Minister, she was not activated for a long time.

1885 Weng Tonghe also served as the Minister of Revenue. As a teacher of Guangxu, he was deeply trusted by Cixi and Guangxu, and for the next thirteen years he was in charge of the empire's "purse" until he returned to his hometown.

We know from Weng Tonghe's above experience that Weng Tonghe was able to maintain consistency with Cixi in political stance, and it was not as secretly fighting as described by some media books and magazines.

Even when Empress Dowager Cixi, who had retreated to the second line, repeatedly interfered in politics, Weng Tonghe also advised Emperor Guangxu: "Govern the palace and take filial piety as the basis."

would rather break than bend, and the tough scholar-official

In addition to taking on the duties of the imperial teacher, Weng Tonghe also has a clear position in foreign affairs, demonstrating the national integrity of a Han doctor.

Weng Tonghe first entered the diplomatic field in 1879. He was assigned to participate in the decision-making of China-Russia Ili diplomatic relations and the Sino-Japanese Ryukyu Islands. In the decision-making process, he firmly advocated tough treatment and strongly opposed open trade.

In 1894, the situation on the Korean Peninsula suddenly became tense, and the Sino-Japanese War was about to break out. Weng Tonghe advocated toughness against Japan, emphasizing that "the Japanese soldiers stationed in South Korea for a long time, and peace talks have not been reached, so we should prepare for war quickly."

In the TV series

At Weng Tonghe's suggestion, Guangxu transferred officers and soldiers from the three northeastern provinces and Lushun into North Korea to fight against Japanese aggression. When the Sino-Japanese War of 1895 was unfavorable to the Qing army, the Qing court faced huge public opinion and strategic pressure.

At that time, Britain stepped forward to mediate and demanded that China pay compensation to Japan for peace. Many relatives and noble ministers in the North Korean government, including Yi Xin, said that peace should be negotiated as soon as possible. Only a few ministers such as Weng Tonghe opposed it and advocated continuing to recruit troops to support and insist on fighting to the end.

After the defeat in the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895, Weng Tonghe firmly opposed the cemetery and would rather pay more compensation.

Even when the Japanese army attacked Penghu and Taiwan, Weng Tonghe still allocated 500,000 yuan from the Ministry of Revenue to help Taiwan despite the tight financial situation.

When all ministers agreed to give up Taiwan, only Weng Tonghe "should not be able to hold on" and pointed out that "abandoning Taiwan may lose the hearts of the world from now on."

Soon, Li Hongzhang returned the peace agreements including the ceasing of Taiwan to the capital. Officials led by Prince Gong Yixin advocated abandoning Taiwan, but only Weng Tonghe cried bitterly and fought passionately in front of Guangxu.

His fierce performance not only did not infect other bureaucrats, but was even despised as being too "stern". After the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895, Weng Tonghe walked to the front desk of foreign affairs, served as the Prime Minister of the affairs of various countries, and was also in charge of Tongwenguan affairs.

In the TV series

In order to save the Qing Dynasty crisis, he allocated millions of dollars to the Minister of the Users Department and supported the training of Yuan Shikai small station.

After the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895, Western countries set off a craze to divide China. Weng Tonghe, who was over 60 years old, still spared no effort to prevent the great powers from invading China's rights.

For example, in 1897, German invaded Jiaozhou Bay . He negotiated with Germany under the order and went to the German embassy in China eight times, firmly demanding that Germany withdraw its troops first and then negotiate.

At that time, Yi Xin, Yi Li and other ministers advocated surrendering to Germany, and only Weng Tonghe fought against it, and even spoke indignantly in front of Emperor Guangxu. The colleagues present were very surprised.

During the negotiations on the issue of major loans for China-Russia travel, he insisted on deleting the unreasonable demands made by Russia that China would repay the shipyard military housing fees and the Jinzhou would not enter the concession.

In short, in the late Qing Dynasty, where poverty and weakness, Weng Tonghe was always obsessed with his orthodox concepts and was unwilling to be in harmony with the world. Although did not get the result he wanted, his spirit of not fearing power and daring to fight fully demonstrated the dignity and dignity that a traditional scholar should have.

offended Cixi, fought against Guangxu, and died in the miserable evening

Regarding the relationship between Weng Tonghe and Cixi, from the Xinyou coup to the eve of the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895, Weng Tonghe was the object of appreciation and trust in Cixi. Cixi affectionately called him "Master Weng".

The relationship between the two began in 1894, when it coincided with the 60th birthday of Empress Dowager Cixi. Weng Tonghe was one of the ministers of celebration. As the Minister of Revenue, Weng Tonghe naturally took on the job of "spending money".

In the TV series

Because Cixi attached great importance to this birthday, the Office of the Interior Office, who was in charge of the celebration, held an extremely luxurious arrangement in order to please Cixi.

At this time, the Qing Dynasty finances were tight, the Sino-Japanese War was about to break out, and there were many places to use money. Weng Tonghe was tortured by the Ministry of Internal Affairs repeatedly asking for money, so he once wanted to resign and return home.

Weng Tonghe's negative feelings were spread to Cixi. Cixi was dissatisfied. After the defeat in the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895, Cixi ordered him to go to Tianjin to go to Tianjin to continue to discuss the matter of China and Russia protecting North Korea. However, Weng Tonghe said:

"There are five things that cannot be done. The worst thing is, if Russia asks for compensation, how can it be given?"

After that, he instructed the Hanlin editors and inspectors in the south and Shangshangs to call for the cessation of Cixi's birthday celebrations. Cixi was so angry that she wanted to cut off the Nanshangshangs. Fortunately, Yi Xin came forward to plead for the mercy and was able to retain it, but Cixi had already felt disgusted with Weng Tonghe.

However, the real break between Cixi and Weng Tonghe was the rise of the imperial party's forces. Weng Tonghe, as a teacher of Guangxu, always wanted to cultivate his students as the "saint king" who controls the regime alone.

However, since Cixi controlled the government affairs, the Secretary of State, Governor and other senior officials were controlled by Cixi, and Guangxu could not compete with Cixi. Therefore, Weng Tonghe tried his best to recruit famous scholars, join the ranks of censors and Hanlin, control the affairs of the people, and form the power of the imperial party.

In the TV series

During the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895, Weng Tonghe led the Imperial Party to publicly confront the Later Party in an organized form and launched a sharp struggle.

On the one hand, Weng Tonghe used the power of the Military Affairs Office to fight hard, and on the other hand, he launched a public opinion offensive in the Hanlin Academy to attack the members of the Later Party, Li Hongzhang and others. At this point, in the eyes of Cixi, Weng Tonghe changed from "Master Weng" to the leader of the imperial party that was opposite to her.

1896 Cixi ordered the abolition of the Han Study Room. Weng Tonghe ended his status as an imperial teacher for more than 20 years, and at the same time he lost the opportunity to "make a knee-to-one match" with Guangxu in the study room.

However, Weng Tonghe did not suffer singly. He adhered to principles and lacked flexibility and angered Guangxu. When Guangxu received a foreign minister's visit, he allowed the carriage to enter the forbidden door, but Weng Tonghe insisted on "giving it first without waiting for invitations, it is inappropriate", and was criticized by Guangxu.

Soon after, Prince Henry of Germany visited China, and Guangxu allowed him to enter the palace by car. Weng Tonghe once again objected, and Guangxu severely rebuked him.

, Weng Tonghe, who suffered repeated setbacks, was unmoved and continued to stubbornly face Guangxu, especially for foreign affairs and etiquette. Guangxu, who could not bear it, finally ordered the expulsion of Weng Tonghe.

In April 1898, Guangxu issued an edict:

"Recently, Weng Tonghe has not been allowed to cooperate in his work, and has been repeatedly reported. He was also asked for any possible consultation when the incident was summoned, and he gradually showed his conspiracy to take over power." He ordered him to return to his hometown.

In the TV series

Because Weng Tonghe first offended Cixi and then offended Guangxu, and withdrew from the officialdom. After that, Weng Tonghe was determined to return to the court to serve, but none of them pleaded for him. In 1904, Weng Tonghe died of illness at home.

Weng Tonghe's dual personality: a literati who maintains the monarchy and ritual system, and an enlightened bureaucrat who supports reform and reform

Weng Tonghe, as a nationalist, strongly resists Western imperialism, but strongly supports national industry and modernization construction.

, for example, supports Sheng Xuanhuai to open China's first capitalist commercial bank - China Merchants Bank , and allocated one million taels of transportation bank storage from the Ministry of Revenue, and helped it operate China Railway Corporation , and took over Hanyang Iron Factory .

In the TV series

also supports the reform of the imperial examination system, establish a new army, and is also open-minded about the reform and reform.

, but Weng Tonghe, as a traditional scholar who has been rendered by Confucian culture, always maintains the authority of the monarch. When he heard Tan Sitong plotting against Yuan Shikai to coerce Cixi, Weng Tonghe angrily scolded:

"The rats plot against me, trapped my gods, and caused endless disasters. It was really painful to cry, palpitations and dizzy, and almost fell to the ground."

Later, Cixi imprisoned Guangxu in Yingtai . Weng Tonghe tossed and turned day and night, extremely worried and unable to fall asleep. In Weng Tonghe's values, he always opposed 's total westernization of , and advocated taking into account both Chinese and Western.

In the late Qing Dynasty of semi-colonial and semi-feudal society, Weng Tonghe certainly had his historical limitations, but from his experience, Weng Tonghe was a representative of advanced and enlightened bureaucrats.

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