Humen historical story life and death sign

The destruction of opium in Humen (June 1839) refers to a historical event in which the Qing government of China appointed an imperial envoy Lin Zexu to destroy opium in Humen, Guangdong. This incident later became the fuse of the First Opium War, and treaty of nanking was also signed by the Qing government in that war. 13 June, 839 (that is, April 22nd, 19th year of Daoguang reign of Emperor Xuanzong of Qing Dynasty), Lin Zexu ordered the public destruction of opium in Humentan, which lasted for 23 days until June 25th, and totally destroyed boxes of 19, 187 and 21/kloc-0. The destruction of opium in Humen has become a historic event in the anti-drug struggle. June 3, which began with the destruction of opium in Humen, was designated as a no-smoking festival during the Republic of China. June 26, the day after the end of cigarette sales, also happened to be the International Anti-Drug Day. Since the fall of French emperor Napoleon I and the industrial revolution, Britain has become an industrial power. 1757, Britain destroyed the Mughal Empire and brought India into colonial rule, which was called British India. The British East India Company obtained the exclusive distribution right of India in 1773, and produced a large amount of opium, which was transported to Calcutta warehouse for export. When the British government and the board of directors of the British East India Company began to trade with China, they did not support opium trafficking, thinking that it would harm the dignity of the country. 1833 On August 23rd, the British Parliament passed the East India Company Reform Act, and the Privy Council of the United Kingdom ordered the cancellation of the trade patents and monopoly rights of the British East India Company in China. The British East India Company was replaced by the Commercial Director of China. Queen Victoria of England appointed Lord Lavobe as the first commercial director of Guangzhou, and appointed Davis (also translated as Davis, Dad and David) and Sir G·B· Robertson, the last senior class of the British East India Company, as deputy directors. The British side has instructed Laube to take military action. In the 14th year of Daoguang (1834 July 15), on June 13th, Pharaoh Bei took a boat from Macau and tried to forcibly enter Guangzhou. As a result, there was a conflict with Lu Kun, governor of Guangdong and Guangxi. Lv Kun ordered the expulsion of Lao Bei and others to Macau. Lao Bei died shortly after returning to Macau, and Davis became the second commercial director of China. Since the Qing government was not allowed to buy or sell opium on land or store opium in Macau, British businessmen set up an opium warehouse on a ship moored in the waters around Lingdingyang to Taiwan Province Province, called Asian Arsenal, so that opium smugglers could receive the goods and set up vouchers so that they could withdraw money in Guangzhou. At that time, the British newspaper in Calcutta reported that Lin Zexu was so great! The red-hot faction headed by Qishan criticized Huang Juezi, blaming other social problems for the harm of tobacco for various reasons, and only a few officials advocated banning smoking. Even Emperor Daoguang tasted opium before he ascended the throne, but he didn't quit smoking until he woke up, which made him hesitate to ban smoking. However, Lin Zexu had already banned smoking during his tenure as Governor of Jiangsu and Governor of Huguang, and swept away cigarette dealers and opium addicts. In view of Lin Zexu's success, Daoguang Emperor thought it was not impossible to ban smoking, so Daoguang Emperor made up his mind to remove the title of Prince Yidou, who smoked opium, and the title of Puxi, who assisted lord protector, and degraded the taste of Xu Naiji, a heavy smoker. Daoguang summoned Lin Zexu for eight consecutive days, and every day he summoned Lin Zexu to discuss the issue of smoking ban. In the 18th year of Daoguang (1838,65438+February 3 1), on November 15th, Lin Zexu was appointed as an imperial minister to pass customs, and smoking was banned nationwide. After Lin Zexu became an imperial envoy, he was dissatisfied with Yan School and Manchu nobles. However, due to the imperial power of Emperor Daoguang, he dared not openly oppose it and had to secretly obstruct it. Yan sent Qi Shan, the leader, to threaten to seduce Lin Zexu. Later generations described the situation like this: Gong Zizhen was also worried about Lin Zexu's safety. He suggested that Lin Zexu take a skilled craftsman and heavy troops, and fight back immediately in case of war, preferring to go south with Lin Zexu, but Lin Zexu did not want him to be involved in the political whirlpool and declined Gong Zizhen's kindness. Deng Tingzhen, the governor of Guangdong and Guangxi, and Yiliang, the governor of Guangdong and Guangxi, jointly issued the imperial edict of Daoguang Emperor, sealed up cigarette houses, arrested cigarette dealers, and ordered the execution of Feng Angang, a China cigarette dealer. Lin Zexu's greatest resistance is William Jardine of Jardine Matheson and Lan Shilu's younger brother of Baoshun Foreign Firm. William Jardine returned to England to stop Lin Zexu and lobbied the government to take tough measures against the Qing court. As soon as Lin Zexu heard that William Jardine, the "iron-toed rat", had left, he said happily, "Iron-toed rat, the cunning opium smuggler, is afraid of angering China and has returned to the land of rime." In the 19th year of Daoguang (1839 March 10), Lin Zexu officially arrived in Guangdong and was greeted by a nine-gun salute. American businessman william hand also attended the ceremony nearby. He left an important document about Lin Zexu's appearance: "He is dignified, grim-faced, fat, with a thick black moustache on his upper lip and a long moustache on his chin. He looks about sixty years old." Lin Zexu visited Yuehua Academy first, and put forward a couplet: "All rivers run into the sea, bearing the Great Wall, being rigid without desire". Many opium dealers believe that bribery can impress the new imperial envoys. However, Lin Zexu is different from traditional officials. He regards money as nothing. He limited all opium dealers to hand over all opium within three days, and signed a statement of breaking off relations, stating that they would never sell opium again. He promised: "If opium is brought in the future, once it is found out, the goods will be gone and people will be punished." A few tobacco merchants gave in and handed over opium, but most tobacco merchants, including government officials and petty officials, were unmoved. Lin Zexu declared: "As long as the opium is inexhaustible, this minister will not return for a day and swear to be with this matter. There is no reason to stop. " Knowing that intellectuals were on his side, Lin Zexu, who was really a petty official, called 645 students from Yuexiu College, Yuehua College and Yangcheng College to "take an exam" in Hiram's Hospital. This time it's called an exam, but it's actually a questionnaire survey. There are four questions: "1. Names of opium distribution centers and operators; 2. Retailers; 3. Disadvantages of smoking ban in the past; 4. Prohibition. " Since then, Lin Zexu has mastered the list of all tobacco dealers and corrupt officials. During the smoking ban, Lin Zexu wrote a note to Queen Victoria, questioning that the Queen knew that opium was harmful, and opium was not produced in China, including London, Scotland and Ireland, and it was strictly forbidden for nationals to smoke it. However, it grows and produces opium in India under its jurisdiction and allows its nationals to trade opium in China. He asked the Queen to dispose of Indian opium, and told her that China had passed the Opium Smoking Prohibition Ordinance promulgated by King James, which completely banned smoking and made British nationals give up the opium trade. Foreign tobacco companies thought it would be easy to hand over a small amount of opium to Lin Zexu for work, so they adopted delaying tactics, saying that they should carefully consider the order, set up a Committee to make a report and reply within seven days. Lin Zexu was very angry and ordered the tobacco seller to hand over the opium on time, otherwise he would go to the thirteenth line to judge the foreign tobacco seller at 0: 00 the next day. American tobacco dealers expressed their willingness to follow Lin Zexu's instructions and were stopped by Lan Shilu's brother. As a result, three days later, the tobacco dealer decided to symbolically distribute 1037 boxes of opium. So Deng Tingzhen ordered the blockade of the coast of Guangzhou and besieged the thirteenth line. The younger brother of Lanshi Road tried to escape and was captured alive by Deng Tingzhen. At that time, the commercial director was Charles Elliot. As soon as he heard that the 13 line was surrounded, he rushed to Guangzhou from Macao. When Yi Law saw that the thirteenth line was guarded, he broke in with his sword. The guards had to let him go, but they would never let him out. Lin Zexu ordered all the China people in the 13th line to move out, cut off communication and cut off water and food. There are 350 foreigners in the thirteenth line, who have to cook, wash clothes, make beds, clean lamps, carry water, milk cows, and do housework that they don't usually do. On February 1 1 day (1March 25, 839), yilu gave in and was willing to meet any official. Guangzhou magistrate saw him, but Yi Fa did not appear. Lin Zexu issued an ultimatum to Yifa-"the four drafts instructed foreign businessmen to transport opium, tobacco and alcohol", denouncing Yifa, and Yifa finally obeyed Lin Zexu's order at 6: 00 on February 14 (March 28th, 1839). Presented "Submitting 20283 Boxes of Cigarettes according to Law" to Lin Zexu; From March when Lin Zexu arrived in Guangzhou on 10 to March 28 when Yifa was forced to hand over all opium, the total time was *** 18 days. However, just laws left a legacy. He refused to let foreign tobacco dealers give opium directly to Lin Zexu, but gave it to him first, and then handed it over in the name of Her Majesty's government, including interest and freight, 20,238 boxes of opium. Make the commercial conflict disguise the conflict between the two great empires in Chung ying Cheng. After the incident of blocking thirteen lines, it was written in treaty of nanking, and it was used as an excuse to demand compensation of 6 million silver dollars. The treaty reads: "Fourth, because the imperial envoy of the Qing Dynasty stationed in Daxian, in February of the 19th year of Daoguang, was equivalent to forcing British consular officers and civilians to stay in Guangdong, threatening death and demanding opium to redeem their lives, the current great emperor was allowed to compensate the original price with six million silver dollars." In the 19th year of Daoguang (1839 April 10), on February 16th, Lin Zexu, Deng Tingzhen and Yu Kun, the supervisor of Guangdong Customs, arrived in Humen by boat and received opium with Guan Tianpei, the prefect of Guangdong Navy. The cigarette seller paid for cigarettes in Shajiao and issued a receipt from Louisa. Lin Zexu also suggested that if you hand over a box of opium, you will be rewarded with five Jin of tea. American and Dutch tobacco dealers promised never to sell opium again, but the law was broken, opium was transported to the way to pay for cigarettes, and the time to pay for cigarettes was delayed for various reasons. Lin Zexu played along and extended the blockade of thirteen lines. Yi Law had no choice but to hand in all the cigarettes. On March 19 (1839 May 12), people paid cigarettes, arrested drug addicts and cigarette sellers 1600, and confiscated 46 1526 cigarettes and 4274 1 0. On the sixth day of April (1839 May18), the cigarette seller handed in the cigarettes and * * * received 19 187 boxes of 2 1 19 bags. On April 1 1 day (1May 23, 839), British businessmen such as Lanshi Ludian were expelled from China, and the next day, Yili also evacuated thirteen British businessmen to Macau. Lin Zexu wanted to transport opium back to Beijing for destruction, but Deng Ying thought it was better to destroy it on the spot to prevent opium from being secretly replaced, and Daoguang Emperor agreed. Lin Zexu decided to sell cigarettes publicly in Humen, and then Lin Zexu had to find a way to destroy opium. Lin Zexu used the traditional "burning tobacco soil mixed with tung oil" to destroy opium, but the paste would seep into the ground, and drug addicts could still get 23/ 10 by digging the soil. So Lin Zexu found the second method "seawater immersion method". The method of seawater immersion is to dig two ponds at the seaside, lay stones at the bottom of the ponds, nail boards around them, and dig a ditch to prevent opium from leaking out. Pour the salt water into the ditch and flow into the pool. Then cut the tobacco soil into four pieces, drop them into salt water, soak them for half a day, then add lime, and the lime will boil in water to dissolve the tobacco soil. The soldiers kept stirring in the pool with wooden harrows to ensure that the smoke soil was completely dissolved in the water. When the tide ebbs, send the pool water out of the ocean and wash the bottom of the pool with clean water, leaving no trickle. The diary of the day also said: "Digest opium during the day, release the ocean, and let the aquarium move temporarily in advance to avoid its poison." On April 22nd (1June 3rd, 839), the destruction of opium in Humen officially began. A ceremony platform was set up in Humen, and a long yellow silk banner was hung in front of the platform, which read "An imperial envoy was ordered to investigate the control of land and water by Tang Lin, the Governor's Department of Haikou Affairs, Guangdong Province", and all senior Guangdong officials attended. Because selling cigarettes is a public visit, and before and after the Dragon Boat Festival, everyone went to Humen Shoal. In addition, there are foreign businessmen, consuls, foreign journalists and missionaries. Those who didn't sell opium came to visit from Macao or other places, and none of them were British to protest against the oppression of British property by the Qing court. Among them, American businessman C·W· King, missionary Elijah Coleman Bridgman, merchant captain Ji Xun and other ten people did not sell opium with their families. They didn't believe that Lin Zexu had the means to completely eliminate all opium, so they came to the field for textual research. Lin Zexu simply let them enter the pool and let foreign observers directly look at the methods of selling cigarettes in detail and explain them along the way. After watching the whole process and making repeated investigations, I was convinced and took my hat off to Lin Zexu. Later, missionary Elijah Coleman Bridgman wrote in his China series: In addition, Macau Monthly and Quarterly.