Zeng Guofan's cotton-padded history book

In 1836, that is, in the 16th year of Qing Daoguang, Zeng Guofan, who went to Beijing to participate in the examination, once again fell. He is calm and calm, and he does not feel depressed. He just feels that he is not doing well enough and needs to work harder. He is just over 26 years old, and there are still many opportunities in the future.

After the announcement of the list, Zeng Guofan calmly packed his bags and took the grain transport boat on the Grand Canal. He returned home. When I arrived in Nanjing, the grain ship stayed in supply, and Zeng Guofan went to the streets of Nanjing to visit the book market. When he walked into a bookstore, he saw the "Twenty-Three History" that arranged the half-faced wall. From "Historical Records" to "Han Shu" to "History of the Ming Dynasty", it was very complete, which made Zeng Guo, who loves books as life, feel excited. Usually, because of the examination, the reading is naturally based on the "Four Books" and "Five Classics". In his spare time, he also read historical books, Tang poetry and Song poetry and famous prose.

"Twenty-three history" can only be bought by a few hundred and two silver. Not to mention that the printing industry is still not developed in ancient times. Even now, to buy these twenty-three history books, you have to spend a lot of money. It is very difficult for Zeng Guofan to think of his own shame. After some entanglement, he took his luggage to the pawnshop and took all the cotton clothes that he had in Beijing when he was cold. In exchange for a few hundred and two silver coins, he bought all the "Twenty-Three History". At the end, these The ancient books were actually filled with a few large boxes.

For this matter, Zeng Guofan has his own ideas. Anyway, returning to his hometown of Hunan, these cotton clothes are not needed, it is better to change something more useful. However, after entering the Beijing to test, I have to add a new cotton coat. Zeng Guofan was immersed in the joy of traveling to the ocean of knowledge, and he did not think much about it.

After returning home, his father, Zeng Linshu, saw Zeng Guofan’s box of books in a box of books, and listened to Zeng Guofan’s claim that he had not blamed his son. Instead, he encouraged him to do so. He said to Zeng Guofan: "You buy a book in a cotton coat. I naturally support it. I will borrow money to redeem my clothes. However, since these books have been bought, I hope that you will study them carefully and not waste this wealth." After listening to his father's words, Zeng Guofan was in tears.

For Zeng Linshu, who has tried repeatedly, it is a pain in his heart to be an official. However, he turned this pain into a motivation to train several children to become talented, especially in the education of the oldest Zeng Guofan. Zeng Guofan had been studying with his father since childhood, but Zeng Linshu knew that his talents were not high. There was no shortcut to Zeng Guofan. However, he also had his own way, that is, he kept pushing. From morning till night, as long as he has time, he will test it and ask Zeng Guofan not to fall down and recite what he has learned. In this way, Zeng Guofan gradually developed a solid foundation and often gave the same conclusion.

After two years of hard work, coupled with Zeng Guofan's careful study of the history books, in 1838, Zeng Guofan once again took the test, successfully entered the high school scholars, and was selected as the Hanlin Academy. In the Hanlin Academy, the university scholars, Shangshu, and the assistant priests, and the external governors and governors, who entered the Hanlin Academy, can be described as "a step into the sky." At this time, Zeng Guofan was just 28 years old.

However, Zeng Guofan knew that the family had paid a lot of effort to redeem the cotton coat and make up the test. They borrowed from their hometown, and the Western family asked, the sly person smashed, and the worshipper worshipped. Finally, he finally gave Zeng Guofan a thirty-three money. Along the way, although the cost is not enough, the cost is still very large. After arriving in Beijing, Zeng Guofan has only three money in his hands. For him, this test is undoubtedly a desperate attempt. Fortunately, all the efforts of Zeng’s family were not in vain, and finally a generation of famous ministers who are proficient in the history of literature and diligent in the administration of the country.