在跟洋人打交道方面,曾国藩还算当时诸大员中比较开明的一位,但传统士大夫的那一套,高超的儒学修养,却无法支撑他与洋人的周旋了。正当盛年的李鸿章接替了曾国藩的位置,他比老师更擅长与洋人打交道,他务实,圆滑,手段高明,但悲哀的是,他是在一个完全不对等的情形下与洋人打交道,他再能干,再能糊弄,再能讨价还价,也无法躲过洋人甩过来的耳光。 In dealing with foreigners, Tseng Kuo-fan was one of the more enlightened members at the time, but the traditional scholar-officials’ superb Confucianism did not support his dealings with foreigners. Just as the prestigious Li Hung-chang took over Tseng Kuo-fan’s position, he was more adept at dealing with foreigners than his teacher. He was pragmatic, sleek and tactful, but sadly he dealt with foreigners in a totally unequal situation. , Can fool again, can bargain again, also can not escape the slap in the face of the foreigner.