左宗棠是清末洋务派中具有爱国主义思想和民族自尊心的重要代表人物。他主张学习西方,积极引进西方列强的科学技术,以改变大清帝国积贫积弱的现状。1866年(清同治五年),左宗棠由闽浙总督调任陕甘总督。来到甘肃后,他看到甘肃“地方瘠苦”。他在《答王夔石少宗伯》中说:“陇中 Zuo Zongtang is an important representative of the Westernization School with patriotism and national pride in the late Qing Dynasty. He advocated the study of the West and actively introduced the science and technology of Western powers in order to change the status quo in the Qing Empire of poverty and weakness. In 1866 (Qing Tongzhi five years), Zuo Zongtang transferred by the governor of Fujian and Zhejiang governor of Shaanxi and Gansu. After coming to Gansu, he saw Gansu’s “barren land.” He said in “Answer Wang Jieshi Shaodong Bo”: "Longzhong