The real reason why Lin Zexu was riding a tiger in the Opium War.

Why did Lin Zexu ride a tiger in the Opium War?

Regardless of whether Lin Zexu deliberately exaggerated the results or whether Lin Zexu was deceived by his subordinates, in short, the battle report passed through Lin Zexu's hand and finally reached the Daoguang case.

Regarding the victory of Kowloon, he criticized Lin Zexu's memorial: "I'm not worried about Meng Lang and others, but I don't have to be afraid of ministers abstaining." Give an order to Lin Zexu: "Our soldiers are brave first, then brave, and defeat their front. Foreigners will not dare to surrender and call for death ... Since they are attacking on a large scale, why not show their military strength? " (The Story of Organizing for Westernization, Volume I of Daoguang Banknote, Zhonghua Book Company, 1964, p. 226)

At the same time, Daoguang also expressed impatience that the westernization of Guangdong could not be settled and Lin Zexu could not be the governor of Liangjiang. Daoguang means that the governor of Zhili is the first position of provincial officials in China, and Qishan occupies it. The governor of Liangjiang was the second child, so he quickly transferred it to Lin Zexu, the competent minister in his mind, by taking advantage of Tao Shu's illness and retirement. Lin Zexu never goes to his post.

In Daoguang's mind, the westernization in Guangdong is not a big event at all, or it is a big event, but it is very simple, and Lin Zexu can do it. Therefore, Daoguang warned Lin Zexu in the imperial edict: "If you commit another crime in the future, that is, show people by force, cut off rhubarb tea, and never trade." (The Story of Organizing for Westernization, Volume I of Daoguang Banknote, Zhonghua Book Company, 1964, p. 232)

Influenced by Gong Lin's memorial, Daoguang still thinks that Yi people can't live without tea and rhubarb. When Lin Zexu was riding a tiger, he discussed with Deng Tingzhen and formulated a policy of riding a wall. It was announced that Sino-British trade would be stopped from February 6th, 65438. Before this, British businessmen will transfer the goods to foreign businessmen in other countries, and British goods are still allowed to be imported through contracts; After that, all British ships and goods were not allowed to be imported; In view of the fact that the British ships "Damace Qi" and "Royal Saxon" have long been bound by the contract, they can be treated differently and allowed to trade.

While riding the wall, Lin Zexu continued to play. Although I dare not openly oppose Daoguang, I hope the emperor can correct it.

If the Battle Report of Kowloon is the first stimulant under Daoguang's suit, then a series of subsequent battle reports of "total victory" in nose piercing and official conflict are equivalent to letting Daoguang overdose a few pills, and the degree of excitement can be imagined. 1840 1.2. Lin zexu received an imperial edict from Daoguang: "When Ying Ying's trade stops, all its ships will be expelled for export, and there is no need to wear incense knots. Its ... criminals are not worth ordering them to surrender."

The hyperactive emperor could not see the consequences of stopping trade. He thought that once trade stopped, the world would be peaceful, and there would be no need to make an oath to return opium and resume normal trade.

Of course, he saw the loss of customs duties, but the emperor generously announced: "It is not enough to pay taxes!" "

What makes Lin Zexu feel uncomfortable is not only that his vows, punishing evil and promoting good, and restoring normal trade between China and Britain have all gone to waste, but also that as one of Daoguang's favorite government officials, Lin Zexu has never been criticized so much at once.

On Lin Zexu's memorial, Daoguang added some comments by Zhu: he disdained Lin Zexu's proposal that "those who serve the law come and those who resist the law go" and thought that "what he saw is quite contradictory"; He disagreed with Lin Zexu's measures to protect merchant ships with bonds, saying, "Obediently resist, although the situation is different, people who study a country should not deal with it." (The whole story of preparing for Westernization, Volume I of Daoguang Banknote, Zhonghua Book Company, 1964, pp. 242-243).

1840 65438+1On October 5, Lin Zexu reluctantly announced the official closure of Hong Kong and completely cut off Sino-British trade.

1840 1.5, Daoguang saw that Lin Zexu was not appointed as the governor of Liangjiang River, so he approved Zhang Mu A's role, and simply appointed Lin Zexu as the governor of Guangdong and Guangxi, and transferred Deng Tingzhen as the governor of Liangjiang River (on February1day, it was changed to the governor of Yunnan and Guizhou, and on the 26th it was transferred to the governor of Fujian and Zhejiang). For example, Lin Zexu was demoted as an imperial envoy.

Lin Zexu's deception of the Battle Report and China's collective ignorance of foreign feelings made Daoguang simply think that as long as Sino-British trade was cut off, the original happy days would come back! When Daoguang announced that Lin Zexu was the governor of Guangdong and Guangxi, he gave him the task of banning smoking: "Lin Zexu has actually awarded the governor of Guangdong and Guangxi, and the civil and military affairs are in his hands. If Cha Na can't eradicate the roots, only Lin is asking. "