在和太平军的关系中,冯子材扮演了一个被动的角色:他因报复刘八的掳掠勒赎而投入清军,在开始的十年中战功并不彰显,以致提拔较慢。在督办镇江军务的五年中,对太平军基本是采取守势。因此,无论是说他凶恶地镇压太平军或是同情太平军,都不符合事实。 In his relationship with the Taipings, Feng played a passive role: he plunged into Qing for retaliation for Liu Qiu’s plunder and redemption. In the first ten years of the war, his exploits did not show up and his promotion was slow. In the five years of supervising Zhenjiang military affairs, it basically adopted a defensive posture against the Taipings. Therefore, it does not meet the facts whether he ferociously suppresses the Taipings or sympathizes with the Taipings.