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ISAAC TAYLOR HEADLAND'S THREE BOOKS THAT "LINK EAST AND WEST"
Atec Февраль 16 2008 20:05:56
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The wisdom and greatness of the Empress Dowager were thus
manifested in binding to the throne the greatest men not only in
the capital but in the provinces. Li Hung-chang had won his title
to greatness during the Tai-ping rebellion, for his part in the
final extinction of which he was ennobled as an Earl. From this
time onward she placed him in the highest positions of honour and
power within sufficient proximity to the capital to have his
services within easy reach. For twenty-four years he was kept as
viceroy of the metropolitan province of Chihli, with the largest
and best drilled army at his command that China had ever had, and
yet during all this time he realized that he was watched with the
eyes of an eagle lest he manifest any signs of rebellion, while
his nephew was kept in the capital as a hostage for his good
conduct. Once and again when he had reached the zenith of his
power, or had been feted by foreign potentates enough to turn the
head of a bronze Buddha, his yellow jacket and peacock feather
were kindly but firmly removed to remind him that there was a
power in Peking on whom he was dependent.
Li Hung-chang's greatness made him many enemies. Those whom he
defeated, those whom he would not or could not help, those whom
he punished or put out of office, and those whose enmity was the
result of jealousy. When the war with Japan closed and the
Chinese government sent Chang Yin-huan to negotiate a treaty of
peace, the Japanese refused to accept him, nor were they willing
to take up the matter until "Li Hung-chang was appointed envoy,
chiefly because of his great influence over the government, and
the respect in which he was held by the people
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