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Using Zuo Zongtang's 158 family letters in the 32 years from the second year of Xianfeng to the ninth year of Guangxu as clues, an in-depth interpretation of life anecdotes and related political, military, social, historical and other aspects of the late Qing Dynasty was conducted. It involves major historical events such as the Opium War, the Taiping Rebellion, the Behind the Curtain, the Nian Army Uprising, the Westernization Movement, the pacification of Shaanxi and Gansu, the recovery of Xinjiang, the supervision of Fujian, the establishment of Xinjiang Province, and the establishment of Taiwan Province. It is a vivid portrayal of the history of the late Qing Dynasty. It involves hundreds of historical figures including Emperor Xianfeng, Emperor Guangxu, Empress Dowager Cixi, Prince Gong, Prince Chun, Zeng Guofan, Zeng Guoquan, Li Hongzhang, etc. It can be called a vivid group portrait of late Qing Dynasty figures. It tells the story of how the famous minister Zuo Zongtang overcame difficulties step by step and moved towards glory in the turbulent era of great changes in the face of difficult situations such as doubts about the master and the country, power games, and military dilemmas. It displays his thoughts, achievements and methods of doing things as a person, as a scholar, as an official, as a country, as an army, and as a family, and to show his extraordinary pattern and strategies.

Zeng Guofan and Zuo Zongtang were both important ministers in the late Qing Dynasty and the guides in China's great transformation era. They jointly created the overall rise of modern elites. His fame and prestige are so great that they are rare in history. Based on detailed official history and rich anecdotes, this book comprehensively and meticulously outlines the life trajectories of Zeng Guofan and Zuo Zongtang. It focuses on the twists and turns of their interactions, restores their lives of continuous struggle and mutual correction step by step, and deeply analyzes their conflicts, differences and mutual achievements. It reveals five thousand years of traditional Chinese survival philosophy and wisdom of success through the thoughts and practices of the characters themselves, giving readers reference for life and enlightenment of wisdom.