Qing Dynasty Secret History

Chapter 57

It is said that after the release of Lin Zexu's memorial, it was only one month later that Zhu's approval had already been received: "The opium and tobacco collected have no need to be released from Beijing, so they will be destroyed outside Humen and the case will be completed. I respect this.

Deng Tingzhen said, "Let's sell it like this?"It's better to issue a notice asking foreigners to come and have a look. "

Lin Zexu said, "That's what we need."

So Lin Qinchao, Deng Zhitai and Yifutai will show their titles.As a result, people in the Hefu have already been sensationalized, men, women and children, old and young, have spread rumors, one spreads to ten, ten spreads to hundreds, everyone is astonished as a miracle, and treats it as anecdotes.

On this day, there are a huge crowd of people who come to watch, even foreigners from all over Macau come to have a look.Lin Zexu and Deng Tingzhen lined up a complete line of deputy deacons, took a big green sedan chair to Humen Pass, and watched.At this time, one prefecture and two counties are already serving there.Lin and Deng got out of the sedan chair, sat down in the martial arts hall, and all the officials came up to pay homage.Lin Zexu asked, "Are you ready?"

The crowd replied: "It's all ready. There are more than 2000 boxes of smoke and soil, all of which are piled up by the seaside. The smoke pool has been built, and the salt and lime are also fully prepared. We only need to wait for your lord to do it."

Deng Tingzhen said to Lin Zexu: "Let's go out and have a look for a while, and then tell them to do it."

Lin Zexu nodded in agreement, got up and walked to the martial arts hall.On the beach, two pools of [-] feet long and [-] feet wide were completely surrounded by people, and beside the pools were piles of lime, salt bags, and smoke boxes like hills.Lin Zexu said happily: "From now on, we have pulled out the root of the poison."

Shuiyong soldiers, etc., are all in high spirits and ready to go, but they are waiting for the order.Suddenly, I saw a blue-top official, holding a big order, riding a horse, galloping down from the martial arts hall, and issued an order: "My lord has an order, immediately sell the cigarettes."

With this order, the soldier Shuiyong put the salt into the pool, registered the number of the opium, split the box and weighed it, cut it into four pieces one by one and threw it into the pool. After soaking for a period of time, then put in lime. After getting up, the opium finally turned into pools of scum under the action of salt water and lime, and flowed into the sea with the ebb tide.The Chinese people clapped their hands and applauded when they saw this, and the foreigners were in a panic.

Deng Tingzhen went back to Yuan first, and Lin Zexu was stationed in Humen, and he didn't go back until all the opium was destroyed.In this way, the prestige of the country is announced, the popularity of the people is comforted, and the foreigners are intimidated, and no one dares to make a private comment.Lin Zexu returned to Xingyuan, heard about Beijing, and wrote a note to the British monarch, asking him to restrain the merchants and stop bringing soil to China.Xuanzong was very pleased when he read the play, so he issued a special decree to grant Lin Zexu the governor of Guangdong and Guangxi.Deng Tingzhen was transferred to the governor of Fujian and Zhejiang.Lin Zexu was very grateful, and after receiving the seal, he became more and more diligent in his work. He spread the order to the officials of all foreign firms, saying: "Foreign ships coming to Guangdong, they must first anchor in the ocean of Macao, and they will not be allowed until it is found that there is no one catty of opium in the ship." Import opening."

Competent people, etc., all obey orders.In the autumn of this year, when merchant ships from various countries came to Guangdong, they all anchored in Aoyang as ordered, waiting for the inspection of the Chinese committee.Only the British merchants did not obey the order. All merchant ships were escorted by military ships and moored in Tsim Sha Tsui, refusing to listen to inspection.The committee immediately voted for Lin Zhitai, and Lin Zhitai said angrily: "What's the matter? Get up, the laws of the heavenly dynasty will be exhausted!"

Before the preaching was over, the shocking report came again. It was reported that two British steamer warships, Tumi and Hualun, were moored outside the mouth, blocking Zunjie's ships and not calling them for import.Lin Zhitai was furious, and he sent out arrows to drive the navy ships out.The generals of the navy saw that Lin Zhitai was serious about his work, and whoever dared to be lazy and set sail to export immediately fired bombardment.He fought three consecutive battles with the British ship, all of which were big victories.The first battle was at Kowloon Mountain, the second was at Chuanbiyang, and the third was at Tsim Sha Tsui.The British had no choice but to withdraw from Lao Wanshan when they saw that Lin Zhitai was powerful.

British Consul Elliot wrote a letter back to China, begging for help.The ship was fast, and in three to five months, the rescuers had been dispatched, and Yilu suddenly became courageous.Write a note and claim the price of cigarettes.

Lin Zexu was busy discussing with all his friends.A Muyou surnamed Yao said: "This matter is all Elliot's idea. After hearing that the smoke was burned, Elliot promised all merchants that the British state would compensate them according to the amount. They all wrote a meeting list and asked all barges to return to England. Delivery in the London warehouse. From this point of view, it is not a day's work to plan carefully."

Lin Zexu said: "It was uploaded on the Western Newspaper of Macau. The King of England had discussed our matter with the upper and lower Houses of Parliament. Both Houses said that this trade was originally prohibited by China. Please ban Indians from planting opium poppies. The Dierwa people also argued that opium is a crime in London, saying that "it is not only bad for Chinese customs, but also makes Chinese people suspicious, and it will hinder the overall situation of British trade." According to this It seems that the United Kingdom does not seem to be united.

"The friend said: "The news of self-selling cigarettes has spread overseas, and the two items of tea shreds are booming day by day, and the interest rate of silver shops has risen to about [-]%.Elliot lobbied the king, saying that the rise and fall of opium had something to do with the national economy and the people's livelihood, and the king was quite confused.Otherwise, Elliot is just a consul, how can he transfer so many warships! "

Lin Zexu said: "When the rampage has reached such a level, if you don't stop trading with others, the power of the Celestial Dynasty will be wiped out."

Follow the instructions of Muyou to reply and reply, and blame him for not observing the minister's festival.His speech said: This minister is powerful in three rivers and five lakes, and he plans to take Kyushu and four seas. He has enough soldiers and food.If your small country doesn't keep the courtiers' festival, it will apply to the heavenly dynasty, please remind the soldiers and generals, and kill all the pieces of your country.

Don't regret it.

A mask folded to play the imperial court.At this time, the frontier conflict has just started, and all ministers at home and abroad are requested to close the port and close all foreign countries to trade, and send it to the governor of Guangdong for discussion.Lin Zexu saw the memorial, and said with a smile, "Why are they so ignorant of the outside world? England is breaking the law, and it's doing things for many countries!"

Then he personally drafted the draft and played it again, with the main purpose saying: "The punishment is not as good as the public, and it must be shown to the Grand Duke. Today, the British do not obey the law and will always respect the states. One case is rejected, and it is hard to distinguish between good and bad. Set up votes for each state. Ask He Gu, the ministers and others are in the way and difficult to give instructions.

And since the British trade was cut off, other countries have been thriving.Those who are chasing profit will be pleased with each other and win, while those who are angry will say that this is honored and the other is humiliated.The method of controlling and controlling can make it look at each other and be introverted.If you are completely separated from it, it will be easy to unite into one, and the old people said that they will gather together and cooperate with each other to plan for us, so we must take precautions against it" and other words.

When the memorial arrives in Beijing, "I submit an edict according to the proposal. Qin here."Lin Zexu received the imperial edict ordering the closure of the port and dispatching division ships to all ports from Guangzhou to Macau, large and small.There are also rewards for buying and raising fishing boats and egg households. Those who can go abroad to burn foreign boats and kill Western soldiers will not only pay for military uniforms, weapons and rations, but also order local officials to find out their families and give them sympathy.It has always been said that under the reward, there must be a brave man.When the egg households on the fishing boat saw the reward, everyone rushed to be the first.Therefore, although the British have strong ships and guns, they can't get cheap.

Lin Zexu also wrote to Fujian, Zhejiang, Jiangsu and other coastal provinces, asking them to work together to prevent the blockage.Deng Tingzhen, the governor of Fujian and Zhejiang, and Yuqian, the governor of Liangjiang, both sent land and water soldiers to Haikou for defense.The British suffered a loss in Guangdong, and steamers and sailboats sailed northward to spy on Xiamen.Unexpectedly, the governor of Fujian, Deng Zhitai, sent Shui Yong early, and Qiao waited there pretending to be a merchant.Seeing the British ship coming, he secretly swung up and approached the British ship, throwing a lot of gunpowder together.

The British were unprepared, and the steamer and sailboat were all on fire.The British were busy in rescue, and they had already suffered a lot of damage.The water brave people waited, swinging the boat, and had already entered the inner harbor.The commander of the navy waved the command flag, and all the warships drove out, and more than [-] cannons were bombarded together.The British knew that Xiamen was prepared, so they dared not enter, so they turned the rudder and headed north to the border of Zhejiang.

See Zhoushan prepares for the emptiness, and attacks with all his might.Although Zhoushan also had civil servants and military generals, but it was surrounded by sea on all sides, the terrain was isolated, and there was no danger to defend. It lasted for a day or two, but it was finally taken by the British.Zhang Chaofa, the commander-in-chief of Dinghai, and Yao Huaixiang, the magistrate of the county, have great ambitions, but after all, they just ignore them, and their loneliness and integrity are over.By the time Futai Wuer Gonger led his troops to rescue, Zhoushan had been lost for a long time.So Wu Futai was folded into Beijing, and he asked himself to strictly discuss it.This is the urgent alarm of the southeast border officials.

At present, Emperor Xuanzong gathered his courtiers to discuss, and suddenly reported that the British warship had arrived in Haikou, Tianjin, and the governor of Zhili, Qi Shan, reported it.Xuanzong was shocked and said, "Why are the British marching so quickly?"

When taking Qishan's playbook, the main purpose is: "The Englishmen came here only for the sake of appeasement. The burning of cigarettes in eastern Guangdong is not without care. In the spring, the British were criticized for asking for prices. As a result, cross the border to ask for comfort" and other words.Xuanzong said: "Looking at Qishan's memorial, the British are still submissive. If the cigarette case is vindicated, there will be nothing left."

The courtiers naturally agreed in unison.Then I ordered Qishan to come to Beijing to see you.

In a few days, Qishan arrived in Beijing, and Xuanzong summoned him.Qi Shan made a knee and made a close report, laying all the faults on Lin Zexu alone.He also said: "The British ships are strong and the guns are strong. Their country is far away from the ocean, and the military strength of the Chinese Dynasty is also beyond reach. The minister feasted on his leader in Tianjin, and promised to beg for God's grace on his behalf. He sent important officials to Guangdong to redress the cigarette case. The leader and others Everyone is grateful. The words of kindness are facing down, and the foreign boats will retreat at night."

Xuanzong said: "The foreign ships outside the mouth of Tianjin are all ships. Are there other ships?"

Qi Shan said: "They are all ships."

Xuanzong said: "How many numbers are there?"

Qi Shan said: "There are eight ships in total. The advantages and disadvantages of this steamer ship have never been seen since ancient times. You can rush against waves and waves, drive like flying, whether the wind is favorable or adverse, and the tide rises and falls. You can ignore everything. I know my country's Sailors, it is difficult to fight against them. Take advantage of this time to appease them, so as to avoid many setbacks in the accident."

Xuanzong nodded and said, "Go down and wait for the order."

Qi Shan kowtowed and withdrew.The next day, an order was issued to order Qi Shanchi to go to eastern Guangdong to investigate and deal with it, and then awarded it to the imperial envoy Guan Fang.Qishan asked to be trained out of Beijing, and went to Guangdong to investigate and deal with it.The British ships moored outside the mouth of Tianjin saw En Ming, and they all withdrew and turned their rudders back to the south.I have seen Tuo Hunbu in Futai, Shandong, follow Qi's kind intentions, greet and send off like a ritual, the British are very proud.

But Lin Zexu heard the news that Qi Shan had left Beijing in Guangdong, and he sighed unconsciously: "Qi Zhongtang has missed the lives of the common people. When the old man came, all the soldiers in Guangdong were disintegrated."

Just as I was talking, it was reported that there was a post from the court.Lin Zexu hurriedly set up an incense table and kowtowed to take it, and then started to read.

It turned out that it was Zhu Zhu who captured the smoking crime last month in the report. There were only three and a half lines of original characters written on it, saying: "It was cut off from the outside, but the trade was not cut off."Even if the criminals were seized inside, the criminals could not be wiped out.

It's nothing more than empty talk.Not only will there be no real money in the end, but many waves will arise.The joy of thinking is better than anger and resentment, let's see why you make couplets.This is it.

When all the friends saw Zhu Pi, they all felt sorry for Zexu.Ze Xu said: "The emperor is as bright as the sun and the moon, but now it is covered by floating clouds, so it can't shine here for a while."

Then I asked Mu You to make a draft of an apology, and I carefully conceived it and wrote an attached piece. The speech said: "Zai Chenwo has received great kindness, and it is hard to be ignorant of heaven."Every time I think about it, the protection of the body is still small, but the stakes of the state are very important. I dare not not take what I have seen and heard, and respect it as my emperor.

According to the survey, what the British felt was in Guangdong, but the nuisance was in Zhejiang.Although the change is unexpected, its lack lies in the intention.Those who are unwilling to be discouraged by the Gai foreigners are most profitable from opium.Yiwen silver goes abroad every year, up to tens of millions of taels.If you can revive your old business in Guangdong, why go to Zhejiang?It is now heard that in the Dinghai area, there are large posters, and every catty of opium soil is sold for only one yuan in foreign money.

The reason why they are willing to lose money is either to pay wages, or to make up for food.It is also heard that mercenaries come from cargo ships from various ports abroad, and the cost is tens of thousands a day.Cannons and gunpowder cannot be supported for a long time, and the appearance of being poor can also be seen in general.Also, foreigners spend the winter with felts for warmth and don't wear leather clothes, so the cover is of a natural nature.The cold in Zhejiang Province is bound to be unbearable.Now when the letter from the West reaches Guangdong, it is said that Dinghai is cloudy and damp, and many people died of illness.Most likely, martial law is enforced in Shuofeng, so I must leave Zhoushan and set sail southward.All foreign merchants in Guangdong Province have been hindered by the British since June, and they are also divided, and the country has sent warships to reason with them.It is the British who are now in a dilemma, and they can't be timid, but they succeed in their humility.The poorer he is, the more he wants to show off his villainy, to threaten and shout at him, to reproduce his secret tricks, hoping to sell his adulterer.If you can't do anything, you will still bow down.I have experienced it many times before, and I am quite aware of it.That is to say, it is not worth fighting with him at sea at this time, and defending the fence is more than enough to make him sleepy.Since ancient times, the Miao people have rebelled against their orders, which will not harm the teachings of Yao and Shun.My Majesty ruled China and foreign countries with the rule of Yao and Shun, which is like opium, more harmful than floods and beasts.Even Yao and Shun today cannot help but drive them away.

The sage punishes the evil and punishes the adulterer, it is actually the plan of the world, and the people of the world, there is absolutely no one who does not need to ban opium.If it is said that the soldiers from the west came to Zhejiang for the purpose of banning smoking, then those who brought opium into the interior had already harbored evil intentions.There must be a distinction between the severity of the hair at this time and the hair at a different day.

Chen Yu thought that the poison of opium in the interior is like the poison of carbuncle on the human body.Carbuncles will gradually turn into pus, and opium will gradually lead to bandits.It was originally intended. If the investigation had been carried out decades ago, there were still few smokers at that time, and the ban was easy to implement. It is like a gangrene without pus, and the internal poison may dissipate.Now the toxin has been shed for a long time, such as a carbuncle and gangrene, and the pus has to be cut out urgently.And disturbing Zheyang again and again is no different from festering pus.However, the abscess and its consequences are treated according to the law. Tuoli Fuyuan, after the pus is exhausted, it will naturally scab and close up.If you don’t seek to dissipate due to swelling and pain, if the poison follows you, you may be suffering from carbuncle.Since the investigation and handling of opium, fortunately, Lai has been strict and decisive, and the power of the sky has taken pictures. The consignment of more than [-] boxes on the barge was submitted by the Englishman Yilu for collection. There are original Chinese and Western characters and Western paper seals. test.

Then it was destroyed in Humen, and it was shown in advance, allowing all foreigners to watch it.There are thousands of people who seek to see from all over the world.Those who use words to record their events probably say that the laws of the Celestial Dynasty are enough to convince people's hearts.Today's western books also contain edicts, which can be recited abroad as much as possible.Afterwards, all countries came to the ship and cut the knot, stating that if a catty of opium was carried, the person would be punished, and the cargo ship entered the official, and it was also based on Chinese and Western characters.After the confirmation, the foreign ships were inspected, and there was no opium in them.But the British do not abide by the law and act wantonly.Therefore, it was specially ordered to stop its trade.There is no such thing as Zheyang, or it can still be kind.Now that the city has been captured and the civil and military forces have been harmed, the rebellion is obvious. It is well known both at home and abroad that it is not only difficult to do business, but we should use prestige to subdue rebellion.Those who argue that inland ships and guns are not the enemy of foreign countries, rather than protracted, it is better to try to detain them.I don't know that foreigners are insatiable, and they have to go one step at a time.If you lose your power, you will be in danger, and it is even more worrying that other countries will follow suit.The ignorance of the ministers is to think about adoring the state at the top and deterring foreign sentiments at the bottom, so I really dare not have a slightly hesitant view.That is to say, in terms of ship guns, they are originally necessary for sea defense. Although it is difficult to do so at the moment, it is a long-term plan that must be prepared in advance.Moreover, Guangdong is benefiting from trade. Since the first year of Daoguang to the present, Guangdong Customs has confiscated more than [-] million yuan in silver.Those who reap the benefits must think about preventing the harm. If the gunboats were manufactured at one-tenth of the tariff before, then the foreign system can also be rich, so it is still tricky.When the minister read the decree next time, what is the point of paying taxes?Looking up at the Holy Lord's inner and outer ends, he doesn't say what is there or not, and it is enough to show and worship. However, the Guangdong Hai customs is richer than the five provinces, and the amount of foreign silver is used for foreign defense.From then on, making guns must be profitable, and building ships must be strong, and it seems that funds can be raised at will.That is to say, goodness is not superficial.

I am a minister of Western affairs, and I am not handling it well. I am asking for punishment. How dare I offer more.But if something is beneficial to the country, even if it hurts the heel, how dare you feel sorry for yourself?If the emperor is extraordinarily gracious and lenient, or orders Dai Zui to go to Zhejiang Province to serve in the camp in order to atone for the past, the minister must do his best to try to recover.As far as the passes in Guangdong Province are tightly blocked, looking at the current situation, the foreigner seems to have no gap to take advantage of, so he can look up and comfort him.I would like to write a detailed report, and beg for instructions from the holy mirror.Sincerely.

Read it by yourself, and hand it over to your friends for copying and correcting.All the screen friends said: "As soon as the film Zhijun is released, the clouds and mists will be cleared and the heart of heaven will be restored."

Lin Zexu said: "There are many traitors in the court, so it is not necessary whether this film will be effective. I am just trying my best.

"Speaking, the patrolling officer filed a report, and the admiral Guan Tianpei reported to see it. Lin Zexu hurriedly called to please.

This Guan Tianpei, named Zipu, is a native of Huai'an, Jiangsu.He is very bloody, and he has a unique skill in his life. He is good at shooting guns, firing guns in front of the battle, and he can compete with each other from far and near.

Before the British invaded, he and Lin Zhitai were connected by arms, and they guarded every mouth in Guangdong like a solid wall.The British could not succeed, so they turned the rudder and sailed north.Immediately cast the handbook and wait in the official hall of Tizhen.Suddenly, the patrolling officer came out and said, "Marshal, please meet us in the security room at the gate of the army."

Guan Tianpei followed the arresting officer to the signing room before stepping in the door. He saw Young Marshal Lin coming down with a smile on his face.After seeing the ceremony, Guan Tianpei returned to his seat, and said: "The imperial court sent Prime Minister Qi to Guangdong to investigate people. I am afraid that the case of opium will be overturned. If the case is really overturned, will Westernization be easy to do in the future? The commander-in-chief will always deal with this move. way."

Lin Zexu said: "Old Qi Jing mistakenly believed the words of the British, and the superiors also mistrusted the words of old Qi Jing. Gathering iron into a mountain, making a mistake, and in the future, I don't know what the end will be? I am now a prisoner, There is no other way but to listen quietly and investigate."

Then I said it again about sending it to the pen for approval and submitting the plea.Guan Tianpei sighed uncontrollably, and said, "I don't know the fate between Jinglao and foreigners in the previous life. Yilu suffered a loss from us, and went north to Zhejiang to submit a letter to Zhang Zongbing. Zhang Zongbing refused, and then sent a letter to Wu Fu Taiwan and Wufutai are not accepted either. When I arrived in Tianjin, I wrote a note saying that I was called the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and the Prime Minister of the Qing Dynasty. Jing Lao would accept it. At that time, Tianjin Dao Lu Jianying secretly told Jing Lao: "You should be in Dinghai, and you should go against the sea. The situation is obvious. Please excuse me, but I really want me. Why don't you take this opportunity to destroy his ships, arrest his chiefs, ask them to return Dinghai, and then talk about the matter'. Jing Lao refused Listen, treat Yilu and others as honored guests, treat each other with a banquet, and allow him to beg for mercy, the arrogance of the British is only amplified."

Lin Zexu said: "I think it's the bad luck of the country. The imperial court believed what Mr. Jing said, and sent Yilibu to Zhejiang to investigate and deal with it. Here, Mr. Jing came by himself. Just these two naves have already ruined the wharves of the two provinces."

Guan Tianpei said: "Zhejiang Futai Wu Ergong has been arrested and brought to Beijing. The new Futai is Liu Yunqi. I don't know what's wrong with Liu Futai?"

Lin Zexu said: "Liu Futai is too famous, so he is willing to do his best. Now the border ministers are like Yugong, the governor of Liangjiang, and the ministers are like Chen Gong, who is the governor of Xiamen. There is a priority, and it depends on the support of you guys."

Guan Tianpei said: "Tianpei is a martial artist, and the Commander-in-Chief praised him so much. As the saying goes, 'Hot blood is sold to those who know the goods'. In the future, let it be free. If there is a real priority, I will keep a certain breath. I will never allow foreign ships to break into the provincial river."

With that said, send it to the residence newspaper outside.Lin Zexu took a look at it, and after reading a few pages, he couldn't help bursting into anger.Guan Tianpei hurriedly asked why.Lin Zexu said: "Zi Weng, you will be angry after seeing it."

Pass the residence newspaper to Guan Tianpei.When Guan Tianpei came to see it, he saw that there was a report on the passage of foreign ships from Dongfu Tuo Hunbu on it. Submissive, claiming that Yi and others are here to beg for mercy. Now that the Emperor Meng has inspected it, he has sent an imperial envoy to eastern Guangdong to investigate and deal with it. I am very grateful.

Don't dare to disturb on the way, since there are only five boats, where will the rest of the boats arrive first?It is said that when Yi and others first came, they arranged forty Mengyala warships as backup, and they were entrusted with the decree of grace.Therefore, after anchoring from Tianjin, we first dispatched three ships, and quickly returned to the south from Tianjin to stop the previous warship." Guan Tianpei stood up angrily after watching it. If you want to know what happened next, let's listen to the next chapter.

(End of this chapter)