《清史稿·李鸿(hong)章传》原文及翻译(yi)
李鸿(hong)章,字少荃,安徽合肥人(ren)(ren),道光二十七(qi)年(nian)进士。从曾国(guo)藩游(you),讲求经世之学。同治元年(nian),遂命(ming)鸿(hong)章召募淮(huai)勇七(qi)千(qian)人(ren)(ren),特起(qi)一军(jun)(jun),是(shi)为淮(huai)军(jun)(jun)。外(wai)国(guo)人(ren)(ren)见其衣装朴陋,辄笑(xiao)之,鸿(hong)章曰:“军(jun)(jun)贵能战(zhan),非徒饰观美。迨吾一试,笑(xiao)未晚(wan)也。”旋诏(zhao)署(shu)江苏(su)巡抚。美国(guo)华尔募洋兵数千(qian),号南(nan)路(lu)军(jun)(jun);学启(qi)等将湘、淮(huai)人(ren)(ren),号北路(lu)军(jun)(jun)。四月,贼①悉众(zhong)战(zhan)败南(nan)路(lu)军(jun)(jun),华尔弃青(qing)浦走(zou)保松江。学启(qi)将千(qian)五百人(ren)(ren)屯新桥,鸿(hong)章亲督军(jun)(jun)援,贼大奔。外(wai)国(guo)军(jun)(jun)见其战(zhan),皆惊叹。七(qi)年(nian),西捻平,入觐(jin),赐紫禁城(cheng)内骑马。
李(li)鸿(hong)(hong)章(zhang),字少(shao)荃,是(shi)(shi)安徽(hui)合肥(fei)人(ren)(ren),在(zai)道光二十七年中进(jin)士(shi),他(ta)跟着曾国(guo)(guo)藩(fan)游学(xue),追(zhui)求治世的学(xue)问。同治元年,朝(chao)(chao)廷命令李(li)鸿(hong)(hong)章(zhang)招(zhao)募淮勇七千(qian)人(ren)(ren),特别编成(cheng)一支军(jun)(jun)(jun)队(dui)(dui),就(jiu)是(shi)(shi)淮军(jun)(jun)(jun)。外国(guo)(guo)人(ren)(ren)看见淮军(jun)(jun)(jun)衣着简陋,就(jiu)笑话他(ta)们(men)。李(li)鸿(hong)(hong)章(zhang)说:“军(jun)(jun)(jun)队(dui)(dui)重(zhong)要的是(shi)(shi)能打(da)仗,不(bu)只是(shi)(shi)着装美观。等我(wo)试一试,你(ni)们(men)再笑不(bu)迟。”不(bu)久,朝(chao)(chao)廷下诏让李(li)鸿(hong)(hong)章(zhang)担任江苏巡抚。美国(guo)(guo)人(ren)(ren)华尔(er)招(zhao)募洋兵几千(qian)人(ren)(ren),号(hao)称南(nan)路军(jun)(jun)(jun);学(xue)启等人(ren)(ren)率(lv)领由湘人(ren)(ren)、淮人(ren)(ren)组成(cheng)的军(jun)(jun)(jun)队(dui)(dui),号(hao)称北路军(jun)(jun)(jun)。四月,贼人(ren)(ren)(太(tai)平军(jun)(jun)(jun))打(da)败南(nan)路军(jun)(jun)(jun),华尔(er)舍弃青(qing)浦逃(tao)到松江。学(xue)启率(lv)领一千(qian)五百人(ren)(ren)驻(zhu)扎在(zai)新桥,李(li)鸿(hong)(hong)章(zhang)亲自率(lv)军(jun)(jun)(jun)队(dui)(dui)支援(yuan),太(tai)平军(jun)(jun)(jun)被打(da)跑。外国(guo)(guo)军(jun)(jun)(jun)队(dui)(dui)看见湘军(jun)(jun)(jun)、淮军(jun)(jun)(jun)作战,都(dou)很惊讶叹服。同治七年,平定西捻军(jun)(jun)(jun),(李(li)鸿(hong)(hong)章(zhang))入朝(chao)(chao)觐(jin)见,被特赐在(zai)紫禁城内骑马(ma)。
国(guo)(guo)家旧制,相权在枢府(fu)。鸿章与国(guo)(guo)藩为(wei)相,皆总督(du)兼官,非(fei)真相。然中(zhong)(zhong)外系望,声出政府(fu)上,政府(fu)亦(yi)倚以(yi)(yi)为(wei)重。其(qi)所(suo)经画(hua),皆防海交邻大(da)计。思以(yi)(yi)西国(guo)(guo)新法导中(zhong)(zhong)国(guo)(guo)以(yi)(yi)求自(zi)(zi)强,先急(ji)兵(bing)备,尤加意育(yu)才(cai)。初(chu),与国(guo)(guo)藩合疏(shu)选幼童送往美国(guo)(guo)就学,岁百(bai)二(er)十(shi)人。期(qi)以(yi)(yi)二(er)十(shi)年学成岁归为(wei)国(guo)(guo)效用,乃未及(ji)终(zhong)(zhong)学而中(zhong)(zhong)辍(chuo)。初(chu)在上海奏设外国(guo)(guo)学馆(guan),及(ji)莅天(tian)津,奏设武备海陆(lu)军,又(you)各立学堂(tang),是(shi)为(wei)中(zhong)(zhong)国(guo)(guo)讲(jiang)求兵(bing)学之(zhi)(zhi)始。尝议制造轮船(chuan),疏(shu)言:“西人专恃其(qi)炮轮之(zhi)(zhi)精利(li),横(heng)行中(zhong)(zhong)土。于此(ci)而曰攘夷,固虚妄(wang)之(zhi)(zhi)论。即欲保和局,守(shou)(shou)疆土,亦(yi)非(fei)无(wu)(wu)具而能保守(shou)(shou)之(zhi)(zhi)也。士大(da)夫囿于章句之(zhi)(zhi)学,苟安目前,遂有停止轮船(chuan)之(zhi)(zhi)议。臣愚以(yi)(yi)为(wei)国(guo)(guo)家诸(zhu)费皆可省,惟(wei)养兵(bing)设防、练习枪炮、制造兵(bing)轮之(zhi)(zhi)费万不(bu)可省。求省费则(ze)必屏(ping)除一切,国(guo)(guo)无(wu)(wu)与立,终(zhong)(zhong)无(wu)(wu)自(zi)(zi)强之(zhi)(zhi)一日矣。”
按照国(guo)(guo)家旧有的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)制(zhi)(zhi)度,相(xiang)权在(zai)枢府(fu)。李鸿章(zhang)和曾国(guo)(guo)藩担任宰(zai)相(xiang),都是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)凭(ping)总督的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)身份兼任的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de),不(bu)是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)真当宰(zai)相(xiang)。可(ke)是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)他们在(zai)朝廷内外的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)声望远远高出政(zheng)府(fu),朝廷也依(yi)靠(kao)他们,以他们为重。他所经(jing)营筹划的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de),都是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)设(she)立海(hai)防,结交邻国(guo)(guo)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)大事。考虑用(yong)(yong)(yong)西方(fang)(fang)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)新方(fang)(fang)法(fa)引导(dao)中(zhong)国(guo)(guo)走(zou)自(zi)强(qiang)之路,先是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)加强(qiang)兵备(bei)(bei),更(geng)注意培养人(ren)才。一开始,和曾国(guo)(guo)藩一道上疏选幼(you)童送往美(mei)国(guo)(guo)学(xue)(xue)习,每年一百二十人(ren)。期望二十年后学(xue)(xue)成归国(guo)(guo),为国(guo)(guo)家出力,可(ke)是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)这(zhei)些(xie)幼(you)童没(mei)有学(xue)(xue)完,计划中(zhong)途(tu)便停(ting)止了(le)。当初在(zai)上海(hai)设(she)立外国(guo)(guo)学(xue)(xue)馆,等到(dao)了(le)天(tian)津,上奏朝廷设(she)立武备(bei)(bei)海(hai)陆军(jun)学(xue)(xue)堂,这(zhei)是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)中(zhong)国(guo)(guo)讲求治兵之学(xue)(xue)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)开始。(李鸿章(zhang))曾经(jing)想着(zhe)制(zhi)(zhi)造轮(lun)船(chuan),上疏说:“西方(fang)(fang)人(ren)专(zhuan)门依(yi)靠(kao)船(chuan)坚炮利,横行中(zhong)国(guo)(guo),在(zai)这(zhei)种(zhong)情况下说攘夷,本就(jiu)是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)不(bu)实际的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)。即使想保住和平的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)局面,守护疆土,也不(bu)是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)没(mei)有工(gong)具(武器)就(jiu)能办到(dao)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)。士大夫们局限(xian)于书本,苟(gou)且现状,于是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)都说要(yao)停(ting)止造轮(lun)船(chuan)。我认(ren)为国(guo)(guo)家各种(zhong)费(fei)用(yong)(yong)(yong)都可(ke)以省,惟有训练(lian)军(jun)队、巩固边防、练(lian)习枪(qiang)炮、制(zhi)(zhi)造战舰的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)费(fei)用(yong)(yong)(yong)万万不(bu)可(ke)省。要(yao)省掉这(zhei)些(xie)费(fei)用(yong)(yong)(yong),国(guo)(guo)家不(bu)能立足,最(zui)终也没(mei)有自(zi)强(qiang)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)一天(tian)。”
八国(guo)联(lian)军(jun)入(ru)京,两(liang)宫(gong)(gong)西狩。诏(zhao)鸿章入(ru)朝,充(chong)议和全权大臣,有“此行为安危存亡(wang)所系,勉为其难”之语。鸿章孑身入(ru)京,卒定(ding)和约十(shi)(shi)二款(kuan)。鸿章奏陈善后诸务。开市肆,通有无,施粥(zhou)散米,中(zhong)外帖然。并奉诏(zhao)行新政,积(ji)劳(lao)呕血薨,年七十(shi)(shi)有九。事(shi)闻(wen),两(liang)宫(gong)(gong)震悼,赐祭葬,赠太傅,晋(jin)封一等侯(hou),谥文忠。
八国联军入京,两宫太(tai)后逃跑。下(xia)诏让李(li)鸿(hong)(hong)章入朝,担(dan)任议和(he)全权(quan)大臣(chen)。李(li)鸿(hong)(hong)章曾(ceng)说过(guo)“这一(yi)去关(guan)系到(dao)国家的安危存亡,我只好勉为其难”的话(hua)。李(li)鸿(hong)(hong)章孤身一(yi)人入京,最后签订了和(he)约十二款。李(li)鸿(hong)(hong)章又(you)奏请善后各项事(shi)宜。开(kai)通(tong)市(shi)场,施粥散米,京城内外秩序井(jing)然。又(you)奉诏施行(xing)新政(zheng),积劳成(cheng)疾(ji),吐血而死,享年七十九岁。得知此事(shi),两宫震惊,深切哀(ai)悼,下(xia)旨厚(hou)葬,赠太(tai)傅,晋封一(yi)等侯,谥(shi)号文忠。
鸿章长躯(qu)疏髯,性恢(hui)廓,时(shi)以(yi)诙笑(xiao)解纷难。及八国定盟(meng),其(qi)使臣大将多后进,视鸿章皆丈人行也。闻其(qi)薨,咸(xian)集吊唁,曰:“公所定约不敢(gan)渝。”自壮至老(lao),未(wei)尝一(yi)日言退(tui)(tui),马关(guan)定约还,论者未(wei)已,或劝之归(gui)。鸿章则(ze)言:“于国实有不能恝②然之谊,今事(shi)败求(qiu)退(tui)(tui),更谁赖乎(hu)?”
李(li)(li)鸿(hong)(hong)章(zhang)身(shen)材高,胡(hu)须少,秉性宽(kuan)宏博大(da),常(chang)(chang)常(chang)(chang)在诙(hui)谐谈笑中(zhong)解决(jue)纷争。等(deng)到签订和约时,那(nei)些外国(guo)(guo)使(shi)臣(chen)多是年轻人,都把他(ta)看成长(zhang)辈(bei)。听说李(li)(li)鸿(hong)(hong)章(zhang)去(qu)世(shi)了,都赶吊唁,说:“李(li)(li)公所定(ding)的盟约我们不敢违背。”李(li)(li)鸿(hong)(hong)章(zhang)从年轻到老,没有(you)一天(tian)说过(guo)要引退,签订马关(guan)条(tiao)约后回,议(yi)论的人不少,有(you)人劝他(ta)退隐(yin)。李(li)(li)鸿(hong)(hong)章(zhang)说:“对于国(guo)(guo)家(jia),绝对不能有(you)任何轻视的意思,如今局势(shi)颓败,我请求引退,国(guo)(guo)家(jia)还(hai)能依(yi)靠(kao)谁呢?”
(选(xuan)自《清史(shi)稿》,有(you)删(shan)节)
【注】①贼:太(tai)平军。②恝(jia)(jiá):忽视,不(bu)在意。