Zeng Guoquan As The Governor-general Of Liangjiang

Zeng Guoquan(1824-1890) was born in Hunan Province, younger brother of Zeng Guofan who was the commander of the Xiang Army. As the backbone of the army and local official, Zeng Guoquan's military career and officer experience played an important role in Late Qing Dynasty. Especially, he was appointed as the Liangjiang Governor-General from 1884 to 1890 , a position which of great importance. During that era, the Sino-French War. the Westernization Movement and other historical events took place, all of which promoted him as the border of Qing Dynasty even the Emperor relies on.This dissertation did some research on the activities of Zeng Guoquan from 1884 to 1890. This article is divided into three parts:The first part, when facing with the Sino-French War, Zeng Guoquan held a post as the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary in the negotiations with foreigner for the first time; he fighted again the French's invitation effectively and helped Fujian Province and Taiwan defence.Next,Zeng expanded the military industry,imitated navy school,supported railway building and renovated Yellow River,reformed salt and transported food which vital importance to the rise and fall of the three provinces,and even affecting the whole empire,All those activities made a significant contribution to the development and modernization of the jiangnan area.Then this paper made a profound contact among Zeng guoquan and many other high-ranking officials with heavy responsibility in the late Qing government, and compared his whole political career with the special six years when he as the Liangjiang Governor-General. so as to evalute his various activities and behaviors objectively and comprehensively.