Lin Zexu's story of destroying opium in Humen

On June 3rd, 1839, just before dawn, Guangzhou City was boiling. A big notice was posted next to the city gate, and people came to watch it. Someone read aloud: "Imperial envoy Lin Zexu destroyed the confiscated foreigners' opium in Humentan on June 3, and coastal residents and foreigners in Guangzhou can go to see it ..." The old man nodded while listening, smiled and smoothed his beard. The young man shook his fist excitedly and was full of praise. Naughty children are drilling around in the crowd and shouting happily: "There is a big smoke burning foreign devils in Humen Beach, come and see!" "

The crowd wore festive costumes, beating gongs and drums, and dancing lions and dragons; The children hung firecrackers on bamboo poles, which was deafening. Huge crowds flocked to Humen Beach.

People who go to Humen Beach pass the British Pavilion. There, the British were once arrogant. Today, however, foreign museums are as silent as death. Several British businessmen who were visiting from the window saw a sea of people, shouted loudly and shrank their heads in fear.

Humen is about 100 miles away from Guangzhou, and people braved the scorching sun in June to come and watch it. Humen beach is crowded with people.

Two 15 square smoke ponds were dug at the height of Humentan. There is a culvert in front of the pond, which leads directly to the sea, and there is a ditch behind it, which is filled with water. There are several platforms around the pool, on which civil and military officials such as Lin Zexu, Deng Tingzhen and Guan Tianpei supervise the sales of cigarettes.

Smokers first fill the pool with water, then pour the bagged sea salt into the pool, and then cut the tobacco soil into four pieces and throw them into the water. After the smoke soil is soaked thoroughly, pour a load of quicklime into the pool. After a while, the pool seemed to be boiling, black opium rolled around in the pool, and clouds of white smoke evaporated from the pool and filled the whole Humen Beach. Onlookers cheered. In the thunderous cheers, the culvert leading to the sea was opened, and the destroyed opium was swept away by the roaring sea water.

Many foreign businessmen were shocked to see this earth-shattering scene, so they went to Lin Zexu's stage respectfully and took off their hats to show their awe. Lin Zexu righteously said to them, "As you can see now, smoking is strictly prohibited in China. I hope that when you go back, you can tell businessmen from all over the world that from now on, you should specialize in legitimate business and never violate the ban of China. Smuggling opium is a trap. " Businessmen are all ears, even claiming to be.

More than 20,000 boxes of opium will be destroyed in 23 days. This feat greatly increased the ambition of the people of China and destroyed the prestige of foreign invaders.