Discussion On Tan Zhonglin During Governing In Guangdong And Guangxi

At present,Tan Zhonglin is a controversial local governor in the late Qing Dynasty.Those who support him believe that he has served as an official for more than 40 years.He has served as the governor of Jiangnan Province,the prefect of Hangzhou,the governor of Shaanxi,the governor of Zhejiang,the governor of Shaanxi and Gansu,the governor of Fujian and Zhejiang,and the governor of Guangdong and Guangxi.A more effective feudal official.Opponents believe that he was indifferent to the Reform Movement when he was governor of Guangdong and Guangxi.He advocated the reduction of the post office and did not support the construction of railways.He was an old,dim,conservative and backward feudal official.This article selects the main activities and work achievements during Tan Zhonglin’s supervision of Guangdong(1895-1899),and carries out a special discussion.During the four years of supervising Guangdong,in accordance with the urgent needs of the imperial court and the current situation in Guangdong province,he adopted reductions in garrison troops,rectified lijin,salt taxes,and checked Guangdong tariffs,and made positive contributions to the work of raising silver.In order to rectify the social atmosphere,he successively invited gambling halls,punished merchants,and reissued the reimbursement bank,etc.,and achieved remarkable results.When demarcating the Guangzhou Bay boundary between China and France,he actively supported his staff in preparing for the war and advocating re-demarcation of the boundary site.In diplomatic negotiations,he adopted a tough attitude and means,showing the side of focusing on national integrity and defending national interests.However,many of his activities during the Du Yue period suffered some criticism.The reformists often blamed him for his activities,and the voices of participating and cursing rushed to the table for a while.Someone also participated in accusing him of being old and dim,indulging his staff,resisting Westernization,and ruining both Guangxi and Guangxi.These comments are quite different from the praised image and reputation he once served as an eunuch in Shanxi and Gansu.Based on the above discussion,this article,on the basis of consulting relevant historical documents and appropriately absorbing the results of existing works,has carried out a combing and analysis of basic facts on the main activities and work performance of Governor Tan Zhonglin during the period of Guangdong and Guangxi.Its goal is to further organize relevant information.Broaden the relevant fields of academic research and return the true face of this historical figure,that is,he was a local governor with mixed merits and demerits in the late Qing Dynasty.