Zuo Zongtang’s confidant and famous Hunan Army general Yang Changjun: A willow in the vast water and sky

On the land of central Hunan, there is a beautiful Lianshui River, which flows from west to east through the six counties and cities of Xinshao, Lianyuan, Louxing, Shuangfeng, Xiangxiang and Xiangtan. Entering the Xiangjiang River, it selflessly watered the land on both sides and nurtured the local people. In the late Qing Dynasty, a famous Hunan army emerged from both sides of the Lianshui River, making people full of magic and yearning for this river.

In Songjia Village, Dabuqiao Sub-district Office, Economic Development Zone, Loudi City (formerly Shangyuan Village, Xiyang Township, Louxing District), there is a dilapidated old hospital called "Peng Lu", which was built in the Qing Dynasty. It was built by Yang Yigui, the son of the famous Hunan Army general Yang Changjun. There is a thick, twisting century-old willow tree on the Lianshui River not far from the old house. Whenever spring comes, standing on the vast water and sky, it is lush and graceful, giving people endless reveries and sighs. In the local area, people said that the willow tree was planted by Yang Changjun when he was farming and studying at home. Therefore, the willow tree was also called "Yanggong Willow".

Looking at Yang Changjun's life, we found that he was really destined to Yangliu. Not only was he similar in character to Yangliu, but he also became famous because of Yangliu. You see, willows grow tall, but they never forget their roots. Their branches hang low. Mr. Feng Zikai once said, "Thousands of willows never forget their roots. They often look down and look down, always borrowing the power of the spring breeze." , dance to the roots in the fertile soil.” Yang Changjun was also a gentleman who never forgot his roots. He came from a poor background and followed his teacher Luo Zenan to join the Hunan Army. Although his official position continued to rise and he became governor of Shaanxi and Gansu and governor of Fujian and Zhejiang, he always lived a frugal life and remained honest and self-righteous. Because of its excellent quality, it is known as the "Governor of Sweet Potatoes and Vegetables". A local farmer told me a story about Yang Changjun: One year, Yang Changjun returned to his hometown in Hunan and walked with his wife to visit his father-in-law. His mother-in-law was preparing to host a banquet, but Yang Changjun hurriedly stopped him: "I haven't eaten sweet potatoes, tofu, and vegetables from my hometown for a long time. , just these few things are enough." He asked his wife to cook together. During the meal, those who accompanied him were all old friends from childhood. When they saw him poking the sweet potatoes with chopsticks and eating them sweet and delicious, they all praised him as the "Governor of Sweet Potatoes and Vegetables" who did not forget his roots. From then on, his reputation as "Governor of Sweet Potatoes and Vegetables" spread.

Yang Changjun's "not forgetting the roots" is also reflected in caring for the people's livelihood. As he said, "Every time I think about it, I have nothing to worry about except the national economy and the people's livelihood." In the ninth year of Tongzhi, Yang Changjun served as governor of Zhejiang. At this time, Zhejiang was war-torn, in depression, and full of waste. Yang Changjun first visited privately in private to understand the concerns of farmers and the key factors causing difficulties for fishermen and businessmen. Then he led the people of Zhejiang to dig lakes, divert rivers, and build water conservancy projects. Develop mulberry farming. At the same time, he banned gambling dens, opium dens, altars and private prostitution, and rectified social order. During this period, he also mobilized his subordinate officials to plant willows around the West Lake and on both sides of the white embankment of the outer lake, and wrote a poem: "Hand Planting" There are 30,000 weeping poplar trees, and the West Lake is filled with new green in spring. "As if he were crossing the Shuangdi Road, the road is full of Tangyin and Baisu." This expresses his pursuit and noble sentiments of benefiting the people, and thus he has won the admiration and support of the people and colleagues. .

But the branches of willows are weak after all, and it is difficult for a perfect person to exist in real life. Yang Changjun himself cannot be without shortcomings. "Manuscripts of Qing History·Biography of Yang Changjun" evaluates him as "written by Xinghe, and It’s about appeasement.” Because of the "Yang Naiwu and Xiao Baicai" case, Yang Changjun favored subordinates of the Hunan Army and became a good man, which led to an unjust case. As a result, he was ridiculed and suffered psychological torture. In this case, Yang Changjun was too trusting of his subordinates and bent on protecting state and county officials in an attempt to uphold the original verdict. The Qing court held him responsible, and Yang Changjun was dismissed because he "neither could make a truthful accusation" but also "always protected" his subordinates. However, in his memorial to Emperor Guangxu, Zuo Zongtang spoke highly of the seven years he served as governor of Zhejiang: "Yang Changjun was dismissed because of the Yuhang case. When discussing the similarities and differences, there is no need for officials to comment on it; however, the people of Zhejiang think about it. , which shows that he is not inferior to the people of Zhejiang." It also gave him a fair evaluation and explanation.

Willow is not as good as nanmu, but it is the messenger of spring after all. People have not forgotten Yang Changjun's contribution because of his shortcomings. After Yang Changjun reflected on his mistakes, history gave him an opportunity to make contributions in the northwest frontier and correct himself. In 1865, Agub of the Kokand Khanate invaded Xinjiang, established its own country as the Zhedeshar Khanate, and announced its separation from the Qing Dynasty. Russia took the opportunity to occupy Ili, and Britain was also eyeing it, intending to carve up the northwest. In 1876, under the leadership of Zuo Zongtang, the Hunan Army entered Xinjiang and began the battle to regain Xinjiang. Due to Zuo Zongtang's recommendation, Yang Changjun returned to the northwest. When assisting Zuo Zongtang in military affairs, he devoted himself to his duties and gave full play to his economic and excellent organizational skills, so that the Hunan Army had no worries about food and grass and was able to recover Xinjiang with all its strength and maintain the The reunification of the motherland. Yang Changjun himself also changed his image. From a tainted official, he finally won back his historical status as a famous official in the late Qing Dynasty. The years of working in Xinjiang should be the most difficult but also the most satisfying days for Yang Changjun. When he saw the willow trees on the Qinlong Road, bringing vitality to the bleak northwest, a song "Gong Chan" "Zuo Zongtang went west to Gantang" and then wrote: "The general has not yet returned the border, and the descendants of Hunan are all over the Tianshan Mountains. Three thousand new willows have been planted, attracting the spring breeze to Yuguan." It not only praises Zuo Zongtang's historical achievements in regaining Xinjiang, It also expressed his optimism that his stain could be washed away. In November 1880, Yang Changjun acted as the governor of Shaanxi and Gansu for a time, and together with the imperial envoy Liu Jintang, he jointly planned the establishment of Xinjiang Province.

On Yang Changjun's fiftieth birthday, Zuo Zongtang personally wrote a couplet: "Knowing that I am a man among gods and immortals, I will reluctantly leave ten pieces for the common people; recalling the beautiful lakes and mountains in the past, I used to accompany the yellow chrysanthemums to celebrate the Double Ninth Festival." He hired a famous craftsman to make it with nanmu and sent a special person to deliver it. Yang Mansion praises Yang Changjun's political character and achievements between the lines, and is full of the frank and sincere feelings of a close friend. Yang Changjun has Zuo Zongtang as a confidant. I think his life should be enough for the ages!

A philosopher once said that history is like a river, and a river is a flowing history.

The "Yanggongliu" standing on the bank of Lianshui reflects the mighty Lianshui River for thousands of years, witnesses the great history of China, and year after year silently tells the feelings of the family and the country and the expectations for those who come after...