Did Li Hongzhang bring a coffin when he visited eight European and American countries?

1896 In March, Li Hongzhang, an important official in the late Qing Dynasty, set off from Shanghai by boat and went to Russia to attend the coronation ceremony of Tsar Nicholas II. Later, I went to Russia, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Britain, the United States and Canada. The whole journey is 90,000 miles, spanning three oceans and lasting 190 days.

Li Hongzhang's visit to eight countries in Europe and America led to many interesting "lace" stories. Many articles pointed out that because Li Hongzhang was old and ill, he took a coffin with him just in case.

Listen, isn't it tragic?

This rumor didn't come out today. In fact, as early as when Li Hongzhang visited eight countries in Europe and America, the news was already flying all over the sky. Therefore, in late August of 1896, when Li Hongzhang arrived in new york, a reporter from The New York Times specifically mentioned this issue in an exclusive interview and asked Li Hongzhang's spokesman whether Li Hongzhang was really carrying a coffin.

Hearing this question, Li Hongzhang's spokesman smiled: "This is a fabricated story. In fact, the governor didn't bring the coffin of the Qing dynasty at all, nor did he bring it when he visited Russia, Germany and France. Can you deny it?

It turns out that the rumor that "Li Hongzhang carries a coffin with him" is false.

The reporter did not give up and continued to attack by innuendo: "What about the governor?"

Li Hongzhang's spokesman replied: "Very well, he is 74 years old. Of course, he must pay attention to his diet in a strange country. His doctor only allows him to eat western food once a day. We have always insisted that he eat clear grain, a small amount of clear grain. We do this because he is old and must be extra careful. "

Li Hongzhang's spokesman directly denied the rumor that "Li Hongzhang visited Europe and America with a coffin", which was quite authoritative. However, four years later, The New York Times's report once again confirmed this rumor.

1900 June 10, the new york times reprinted a report from The New York Times, England. This report said that Li Hongzhang left a coffin in the hotel when he left Marseille, France for England. The hotel did not welcome this amazing "souvenir" and handed it over to the French customs. After publicity, the French Customs will auction it as unclaimed property after confirmation. However, during the auction, there was no quotation.

If this report is not false, it means that Li Hongzhang did carry a coffin with him, followed him to Russia, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and France, and witnessed most of his foreign visits. However, due to Li Hongzhang's excellent physical and mental state, there is no need to continue to carry the coffin, so he gave up halfway.

Of course, it doesn't matter whether Li Hongzhang really brought a coffin when he visited eight countries in Europe and America. What is important is that the poor and weak Qing Dynasty had to rely on a critically ill old man to cross the ocean to save the country. The signal reflected here is really thought-provoking.