Zhang Zhidong & the 1895 Post Sino-Japanese War

The 1895 Post Sino-Japanese War is a watershed in Chinese modern history.However,as one of the most important senior provincial officials far away from the battlefield,Zhang Zhidong did not surport the fighting North Navy while he governed the military forces in the provinces of Hunan,Guangdong,Jiangsu,Jiangxi and Anhui,learning nothing from the 1884 Sino-French War.His diplomatic policy of using one barbarian against the other did not apply any practical effect,and he moved from his plan of protecing Taiwan conecrning his personal political reputation and career.Based on reasons above,we can say Zhang Zhidong had not been a mature modern official during the Post Sino-Japanese War,which influenced the result of the war in a great degree.