I, compose the 5000 years of China

Chapter 358 From then on, losing power and humiliating the country... (for subscription)
"In the early days of Qianlong, through his own efforts and the property left over from the previous two generations, the entire Qing Dynasty entered a prosperous age. After entering the prosperous age, Qianlong began to express his desire for pleasure. Of course, if this is just the case, the Qing Dynasty will not What will happen. However, when the Qing Dynasty entered its prosperity, global science and technology reached an explosive development."

"In 1793, the Queen of England sent envoys to China. During this visit to China, these envoys brought the most advanced British products, firearms, globes, telescopes... etc. Britain hopes to use these things , was able to reach the requirements for trade with the Qing Dynasty. Because the tea and silk produced by the Qing Dynasty were very popular in Britain and Europe at that time. However, the Qing Dynasty did not buy many things in Britain and Europe. Therefore, this caused their At the same time, the Qing Dynasty used silver as currency. If Britain wanted to buy items from the Qing Dynasty, it had to buy a large amount of silver from China. So far, a large amount of silver has been concentrated in the Qing Dynasty.

Ultimately, they hoped to establish normal trade requests with such a huge country as the Qing Dynasty.However, after Qianlong saw these things, he thought it was a strange obscenity technique and it didn't have much effect.So he rejected the British request, and Qianlong returned a letter to the Queen of England, saying.The Qing Dynasty had a vast land and abundant resources, so what kind of resources and technologies did not exist, and there was no need for normal trade with Britain. "

This incident does not mean that Qianlong had no vision at all.

According to historical analysis.

At that time, Britain came to do business with the Qing Dynasty and did not have much good intentions.

In addition to their trade, they also hope to draw a commercial concession for them.

Faced with such a request.

With the strength of the Qing Dynasty at that time, it was impossible for Qianlong to agree to them.

Even if it is a country of average strength, it is impossible for other countries to draw a concession on its own territory.

Also.

Although some equipment brought by the British envoys looks very advanced, such as firearms and so on.

But in fact, the Qing Dynasty also had firearms at that time.

Moreover, the equipment brought by the British envoys was not particularly powerful, so Qianlong was not particularly interested.

Also.

There is another reason.

That is.

Although the series of equipment brought by these British envoys did not seem to have much power, it greatly affected the rule of the Qing Dynasty.

For example, the globe brought by the envoys of the Qing Dynasty.

If this kind of thing spreads and everyone in the Qing Dynasty realizes that the whole world is still so big and the earth is a sphere... then it is obviously not good for the rule of the Qing Dynasty.In addition, the Qing Dynasty was very restrictive about firearms and the like.If firearms appeared on a large scale among the people, with the population of hundreds of millions in the Qing Dynasty and so many Han people, the Han people would surely be able to overthrow their rule in a short period of time.This is impossible for Qianlong to accept.

Of course.

In this incident, it cannot be denied that Qianlong possessed the strength of arrogance.

After all, with the national power of the Qing Dynasty at that time, basically no country could do anything against the Qing Dynasty.

just.

This is how he thinks he is number one in the world.

in the ensuing time.

With the continuous development of global science and technology, the Qing Dynasty continued to close the country like this.

at last.

From the descendants of Qianlong, the Qing Dynasty tasted the pain brought about by seclusion.

……

"After Qianlong passed away, he came to the throne for Jiaqing. But the prosperous period of Qianlong was gone during the Jiaqing period, or in Qianlong's later years, the prosperous period was gone. At this time, because of serious land annexation, many farmers gave birth to so many children , but unable to raise an adult, this actually has a lot to do with the seclusion implemented by the Qing Dynasty."

"Brother Fan, what do you say?"

Everyone was a little puzzled.

"We said before that because of the prosperity of Kangxi and Qianlong, the population of the Qing Dynasty tripled to about 3 million. Such a population is equivalent to one-third of the world's population. Let alone at that time, it is now, 3 million The population is also a terrifying number. It is really not an easy task to feed 3 million people. It may be okay in the peaceful and prosperous times, but once this kind of prosperous times cannot be maintained. And the level of productivity has not been greatly improved. increase, then the common people would not be able to live. The seclusion of the Qing Dynasty seriously restricted the improvement of the productivity of the Qing Dynasty. Without such a high productivity, it was naturally impossible to feed a population of nearly 3 million. Therefore, since Jiaqing succeeded to the throne, the people have successively Many peasant uprisings broke out. Like the Bailian Sect uprising, the Tianli Sect uprising... etc., these uprisings also greatly weakened the national power of the Qing Dynasty."

This said.

Everyone understood.

In fact, the issue of the rule of a dynasty is complicated and complicated, and simple and simple.

It's so simple, you only need to feed the common people in the territory.

As long as they can be fed, basically there will be no major problems in ruling.

Because the Chinese people, as long as they have a bite to eat, they don't want to revolt at all.

It's just that they are so forced that they can't even eat enough to eat, and they can only sell their sons and daughters, then there will be large-scale uprisings.

And what is the solution to the problem of farmers being fed?

In addition to internal governance, eradicating corruption, reducing taxes, and emphasizing agriculture... the biggest effect is to increase productivity.

Just like the Han Dynasty.

From the Bronze Age to the Iron Age, the overall level of productivity can increase rapidly.

This also caused the population of the Han Dynasty to increase by leaps and bounds at that time.

If the Qing Dynasty did not close the country during this wave of world technological explosion, but opened its eyes to see the world.

Keep up with the pace of the world.

Then.

How could the following series of crises appear in the Qing Dynasty.

"Of course. The Jiaqing period still left a little bit of the shadow of Qianlong's prosperity. Although there were many uprisings broke out during the Jiaqing period, the Qing Dynasty was able to maintain its rule as a whole. However, the Qing Dynasty did not want to make progress, and a series of European countries did not. It is progressing rapidly. In order to expand trade with the Qing Dynasty, Britain thought of countless ways, but none of them had much effect. In the end, in order to earn silver from the Qing Dynasty, Britain began to import something called opium to the Qing Dynasty.”

"Brother Fan, what is opium?"

"Opium is opium. As long as you take a few puffs of this kind of opium, you can become addicted in an instant. Therefore, while British opium was continuously imported to the Qing Dynasty, a large amount of silver began to flow into Europe."

Opium did not appear in the Qing Dynasty.

He had already appeared in the Han Dynasty.

After Zhang Qian went on a mission to the Western Regions, he brought back opium.

However, this kind of thing was not circulated among the common people at that time, it was only circulated in the upper class, and it was even used exclusively by the royal family.

"Da Ming Hui Dian" records the fact that the Asian vassal states paid tribute to the Ming imperial family with opium.It is said that the kings of Siam, Java, and Bengal regularly sent tribute missions to the Ming Dynasty, and opium was included in the tribute, but the "Daming Huidian" called it "black incense".Siam paid 200 catties to the emperor and 100 catties to the queen each time. The amount of tribute paid by the other two countries has no clear history.However, this amount could not meet the needs of the royal family, and the emperor had to send eunuchs to search for opium everywhere, and the price of opium at that time was the same as that of gold of the same weight.

It is said that Emperor Wanli did not go to court for 30 years, but experimented and took elixirs in the palace. His elixirs contained opium, and he named the opium "Fu Shou Gao".His excuse for not going to court is dizziness and vertigo. In fact, the main reason is excessive indulgence and opium addiction.In the previous life, after Dingling was excavated in 1958, scientists conducted tests on the body of Emperor Wanli and found that his bones contained morphine.

If it is said that opium was only used by the upper class or the royal family at that time.

but.

As the British imported a large amount of opium into the Qing Dynasty, opium has become a disaster in the Qing Dynasty so far.

Countless people have lost their homes and property because of opium smoking.

"Although Jiaqing has always advocated the ban on smoking and made stricter sea bans. However, the profit of opium is too high. Many unscrupulous businessmen still smuggle opium into the Qing Dynasty through various methods .Until Emperor Jiaqing’s son, Emperor Daoguang, succeeded to the throne, opium was already popular in the Qing Dynasty. From the top officials and dignitaries to the common people, everyone was smoking opium.”

Such things as opium.

He is a very addictive thing.

Once you smoke, you will never be able to quit if you want to.

Someone said at the time that there is no other way to stop opium smokers except to kill him.

Not only can't quit.

If you continue to smoke every year, in addition to spending huge money, it will also cause serious damage to your body.

heard here.

A group of fans asked again: "Brother Fan, in other words, opium is equivalent to the current drug?"

"Yes."

Chen Fan nodded.

"The emperor of the Qing Dynasty is already so stupid, so it's not forbidden?"

"Not at all."

Chen Fan shook his head and said: "The emperors of the Qing Dynasty were not so stupid. Before Jiaqing was in power, opium was also strictly prohibited. After Emperor Daoguang succeeded to the throne, opium was also strictly prohibited. However, many methods were used, but they still didn't work. Because the benefits of opium are too great. big."

"But if the Qing Dynasty uses the power of the state to ban it, it should be fine, as long as they are determined."

"Yes."

Chen Fan also recognized this point: "Emperor Daoguang was still promising in the early days. Facing the invasion of opium, he made up his mind. He ordered Lin Zexu to be the imperial envoy to go to Guangzhou to destroy opium. Facing the mountains of opium in Guangzhou, Opium. Lin Zexu also hated it deeply. He received the order of Emperor Daoguang, and he came to Humen as soon as possible, and seized all the opium at that time. Then Lin Zexu fused seawater and lime together to collect all the millions of catties of opium that had been confiscated. Destroy. This incident is also called Humen destruction of cigarettes."

to date.

There are still sites where Lin Zexu sold cigarettes in Humen.

……

"Brother Fan, it seems that the emperor of the Qing Dynasty was not so stupid. He also knew that opium was harmful."

Although Chen Fan didn't talk about the sale of cigarettes in Humen very specifically, he just talked about it in general.

But such a big event, even if it is not specific, everyone knows that this event has a great impact.

in particular.

Millions of catties of opium were burned.

This was an extremely positive anti-smoking event not only for the Qing court, but also for the whole of China.

just.

Facing the comments from fans, Chen Fan said, "Perhaps Emperor Daoguang was not so incompetent, but the world at that time was no longer the original world. The Qing Dynasty at that time was no longer the so-called kingdom of heaven. , the whole world, the global pattern has undergone earth-shaking changes.”

This said.

Everyone clicked.

There was something wrong with them.

But where exactly it refers, they don't know where it is at once.

"Brother Fan, did other countries invade the Qing Dynasty?"

"Yes."

"Which country is the other country? It seems that some countries bordering the Qing Dynasty..."

Everyone thought about it.

Although the national strength of the Qing Dynasty has declined a lot.

According to the current territory of the Qing Dynasty, it is more than 1000 million square kilometers.

How huge he is.

Some countries bordering the Qing Dynasty do not seem to have much ability to invade the Qing Dynasty.

For this.

Chen Fan said, "Perhaps the countries bordering the Qing Dynasty don't have this ability for the time being, but what about the countries not bordering the Qing Dynasty?"

"Countries that don't border the Qing Dynasty, they don't seem to be able to defeat the Qing Dynasty."

"Who said you can't hit it."

"You may think that the Qing Dynasty at that time was still an ancient feudal country like the Tang Dynasty, Song Dynasty and Ming Dynasty, but in fact, the Qing Dynasty at this time has come after 1800. 1800 may be ancient to us, but at this time in 1800 , Europe has already exploded in science and technology. Perhaps these European countries cannot attack the Qing Dynasty from land, but what if they go by sea. "

"My grass, the sea."

Yes.

Sometimes people's thinking is indeed limited.

Just like the royal family of the Qing Dynasty always believed that China has a vast land and abundant resources.

Although China is indeed vast and abundant.

But compared with the whole world, China is not necessarily big.

more important.

When your strength is not so great, and you are guarding such a vast land and rich resources, anyone will be jealous.

"After Emperor Daoguang ordered Lin Zexu to destroy cigarettes in Humen, Britain was shocked. They launched an attack on the Qing court on the grounds that the Qing court burned their British personal belongings. This attack is also called the Opium War."

Although according to the laws of the Qing Dynasty at that time, the British had no right to store items in the Qing Dynasty.

"A mobile fleet of more than 40 British ships and 4000 soldiers departed from India and arrived at the sea of ​​the Qing Dynasty. The fleet has 16 warships, of which 3 are large warships equipped with 74 cannons, 4 steam warships, and 28 transport ships. After the outbreak of the war, the British continued to provide reinforcements from the mainland. Excluding the replaced ships, the British army had 25 warships, 15 steam ships, and more than 60 hospital ships, survey ships, and transport ships.”

"In the face of the British attack, the Qing court didn't care much at first. Or, even though they knew they were attacking, they didn't think they had the strength to resist the Qing Dynasty. Because they believed that the Qing Dynasty was just a country with a small area and a small population. How could they possibly win against their own country? However, after the real confrontation, the soldiers of the Qing court discovered that they were simply vulnerable to the British long guns and cannons.

"On July 1842, 7, the British army used more than 21 men, 1.2 warships, and 76 guns to defeat the defenders of the Green Battalion outside Zhenjiang City. The whole army was annihilated, and Hailing committed suicide. The whole city was burned and plundered, and there were ruins. Seeing that they could not resist the British, the Qing court wanted to negotiate a peace with the British army. Relying on their own guns, the British army forced the Qing court to sign a The first unequal treaty in modern China, the "Nanjing Treaty."

At this point, Chen Fan couldn't continue talking.

But at this moment, everyone is clasping fists with both hands.

Even if they know that the Qing Dynasty is not the world they know.

"Brother Fan, what are the specific contents of this treaty?"

"There are thirteen articles in total. The first article is to cede Hong Kong Island..."

this moment.

The entire live broadcast room exploded instantly.

(End of this chapter)