1896 What happened to Li Hongzhang's visit to Germany? Why does he sigh?

From 65438 to 0896, 73-year-old Li Hongzhang had an experience of traveling around the world. During this trip, Li Hongzhang visited several industrial powers in Russia and Europe. Among them, Germany left a deep impression on Li Hongzhang. After visiting Germany, Li Hongzhang was deeply touched.

1896 In the spring, Russian Emperor Nicholas II held a coronation ceremony and invited the Qing government to send someone to attend. And 1 years ago, after the Sino-Japanese War, the Qing government signed the treaty of shimonoseki with Japan, and Liaodong Peninsula was ceded to Japan. A few days after the signing of the treaty, Russia, together with Germany and France, advised Japan to return the Liaodong Peninsula to the Qing government for its own benefit. So at that time, the Qing government attached great importance to Russia, and Empress Dowager Cixi and many ministers tended to unite Russia against Japan. Under this historical situation, Empress Dowager Cixi sent Li Hongzhang as a special envoy to congratulate Nicholas II on his coronation. After attending the coronation ceremony of Nicholas II, Li Hongzhang stopped by to visit European countries. This year, Li Hongzhang was 73 years old and was already a dying old man.

After leaving Russia, Li Hongzhang visited several European countries such as Germany, France and Britain. Among European countries, Germany left the deepest impression on Li Hongzhang. After visiting Germany, Li Hongzhang was deeply touched and lamented. So, what did Li Hongzhang experience in Germany, which made him feel so deeply?

The level of social development and industrialization in Germany made Li Hongzhang marvel that Germany has replaced France as the second largest power in Europe, second only to Britain. When Li Hongzhang and his party arrived in German cities, they found that German cities had beautiful buildings, clean and tidy streets, perfect infrastructure and beautiful houses, which were not comparable to the Great Qing Dynasty. At that time, the proportion of urbanization in Germany was not less than 50%, and the level of social development was better than Li Hongzhang's imagination. Germany gave Li Hongzhang a good initial impression. Li Hongzhang felt that the social development of the Great Qing Dynasty was far less than that of Germany.

Subsequently, relevant German personnel led Li Hongzhang and his party to visit local industries. After the industrial revolution, great changes have taken place in German industry. During his visit to Germany, Li Hongzhang saw many things he had never seen before, and the level of mechanization in Germany opened his eyes. In addition, Li Hongzhang took an X-ray in Germany, and the bullet left on his face was clearly visible, which shocked Li Hongzhang.

? Bismarck, the bloody prime minister? Oriental Bismarck? Li Hongzhang lamented that he was not as good as before. Li Hongzhang has always been called? Oriental Bismarck? During this visit to Germany, Li Hongzhang met Bismarck himself as he wished. Bismarck was once the prime minister of Germany. He was a very successful prime minister. Under his leadership, Germany became one of the best powers in Europe. 1896 When Li Hongzhang met Bismarck in Germany, Bismarck was already an old man of 8 1 year old and had been dismissed and stayed at home.

However, in the conversation, Li Hongzhang found that although the former iron-blooded prime minister was old, his courage and political vision were not comparable to those of ordinary people, and even a man of the hour like Li Hongzhang was not as good as himself. Think of Bismarck's Germany as powerful, but it failed to make the Qing Dynasty strong. Is Li Hongzhang for him? Oriental Bismarck? I am ashamed of this title.

Germany's military strength opened Li Hongzhang's eyes. In the late Qing Dynasty, the Qing government lost in the war with western countries. Therefore, after Li Hongzhang went to Germany this time, he also specially visited the German military. The German military did not disappoint Li Hongzhang. Li Hongzhang saw that Germany's military industry was very strong, with well-trained soldiers and modern advanced weapons.

Li Hongzhang even felt that if he was given an army like 10 battalion, the Qing Dynasty would not have lost to Japan in the Sino-Japanese War. From this feeling of Li Hongzhang, we can also feel how powerful Germany's military strength was at that time, and how big the gap between the Qing Dynasty and Germany was in military terms. Li Hongzhang sighed at the same time that Germany's military strength was strong, and he felt lost for the military strength of Qing Dynasty, so he sighed.

These are the three main things that Li Hongzhang, 73, saw during his visit to Germany from 65438 to 0896. Li Hongzhang was shocked by the level of social development in Germany at that time. He deeply realized that the gap between the Great Qing Dynasty and European industrial powers was not small in all aspects. And Li Hongzhang is already a dying man at this time. He knew that the Qing Dynasty could not catch up with the European powers, so he felt lost and could not help sighing.