Zhang Zhidong had bad relationships with Weng Tonghe, tutor of Emperor Guangxu of the Qing Dynasty and Peng Yulin, a solider in Qing Dynasty.

Weng Tonghe was the Minister of Revenue when Zhang became the viceroy of Hubei and Hunan. Weng thought Zhang used too much money in the construction of new-styled plants and refused to submit expense accounts for Zhang.

Meanwhile, Zhang couldn’t bear detest of Peng Yulin, believing him seeking position and money for himself only.

Because of his involvement in the short-lived reform movement of 1898, Weng was stripped of his ranks and sent home the same year while fell into disfavour of Empress Dowager Cixi.