100 Historical Stories That Unlock Teenage Wisdom

Chapter 33 4 Macartney's demand for trade was blocked

Chapter 44 Macartney demanded that trade be blocked
——Only by opening the window can we know the vastness of the world. Some people like to read dead books and get into the books wholeheartedly, completely ignoring the changes in the outside world. In fact, there are many scenery in life that we need to take the initiative to discover.The frog in the well feels small and cramped.

In the middle of the eighteenth century, Britain entered the period of the Industrial Revolution. As the steam engine was widely used in the field of production, it gradually replaced traditional manual labor, and social productivity developed by leaps and bounds.In order to seek overseas sources of raw materials and commodity markets, the British government actively pursued a policy of foreign aggression and expansion.Therefore, China, with its vast land, abundant resources and large population, naturally became the target of British attention.But at this time in China, the self-sufficient natural economy dominated, and at the same time, overseas trade was strictly restricted. There was only one foreign trade port in Guangzhou, which was far from meeting the requirements of Western countries such as the United Kingdom for trade with China.In particular, China had always been in a surplus in foreign trade at that time, and Britain used a large amount of gold and silver to make up for its trade deficit with China every year.In order to change this situation and expand trade with China, the British government sent an envoy, Kasse Carter, to China in the 52nd year of Qianlong (1787), but he died of illness before he could arrive.In the 57th year of Qianlong (1792), a higher-level mission was sent to China, and Lord Macartney, the British Governor of Bangladesh with rich diplomatic experience, was appointed as the special envoy with full powers. Ten departed from Plymouth, England, traveled through the Atlantic Ocean and Indian Ocean to the South China Sea, and then went north from the coast of Zhejiang and Shandong. On June 58, 13000, Qianlong arrived at Dagukou, Tianjin.There were more than [-] people in the entourage, and they carried letters from the King of England to Emperor Qianlong and various gifts, including: astronomical telescopes, geographical surveying instruments, musical instruments, clocks, atlases, vehicles, weapons, ship models and various silk fabrics. It is worth more than [-] pounds.

The Qing court attached great importance to Macartney's mission to China. Emperor Qianlong issued decrees for this reason many times, stipulating that the reception should be based on the principle of "rich and moderate, neither humble nor overbearing", and ordered the coastal provinces, in case of British ships passing through, When berthing a boat, officials should be sent to welcome and reward.Macartney and his party.After arriving in Beijing, some technicians were left behind to install the instruments in the Old Summer Palace and Da Nei, and the rest accompanied Macartney to the Rehe Mountain Resort to meet Emperor Qianlong.At this time, the two sides had a fierce dispute over the etiquette issue when the mission visited Emperor Qianlong.In the past, when Western countries sent missions to Beijing, they often had disputes with the Chinese government over the etiquette of meeting the emperor, and even reached a deadlock because of this, resulting in the failure of the visit.During the visit of the British mission, the Qing government was still arrogant and regarded it as a "barbarian country" with low civilization, and insisted that the members of the mission should kneel three times and kowtow nine times when they met Qianlong.At that time, Britain, which had become the "sea hegemony" of the West, was also extremely arrogant and arrogant. Of course, it refused to kowtow in front of the Qing emperor, so it rejected the Qing government's request.When the mission arrived in Jehol, the debate was still not over.Emperor Qianlong was very dissatisfied with this, and even threatened to "reduce its supply completely".In the end, the two sides finally reached a compromise: Macartney and others met Emperor Qianlong as an audience with the King of England, kneeling on one knee, but omitting to kiss hands.On the tenth day of August in the 58th year of Qianlong (1793), Emperor Qianlong received the British mission at Wanshuyuan, a summer resort, accepted the credentials presented by Macartney, entertained the members of the mission with a banquet, and presented gifts. The minister accompanied the members of the mission to visit the summer resort.Macartney and his party returned to Beijing from Rehe after attending the celebration of Qianlong's 83rd birthday.

The Qing court thought that the British envoy had finished paying tribute and celebrating his birthday, that his mission had been completed, and he was about to leave, but he didn't know that his real mission had not yet begun.The main purpose of Macartney's trip was to demand the expansion of trade with China, to make China a market for Britain's "local manufacturing industry and India", and to seek various privileges for British businessmen in China.Although Macartney, who is rich in diplomatic experience, had many talks with the great scholar He Shen in Rehe, he never revealed this true intention.He imposed strict discipline on the members of the mission, and warned them not to offend the Chinese or violate Chinese laws, in an attempt to change the bad impression that British businessmen gave to Chinese officials in Guangzhou because they did not abide by the rules in the past.It was not until he returned to Beijing that Macartney formally put forward specific requirements from the British side to the Qing government: [-]. Set aside an undefended island in the Zhoushan Islands, and at the same time set aside a place near Guangzhou as a settlement for British merchants, So that British merchant ships can berth in China and store all goods.[-]. Please follow the example of Russian businessmen doing business in China in the past, and allow British businessmen to set up a warehouse in Beijing to buy and sell goods.[-]. Allow British merchants to land in Ningbo, Zhoushan, and Tianjin to conduct business.[-]. All British commercial goods shipped from Macau to Guangzhou will be given tax exemption or tax reduction preferential treatment; British cargoes will be taxed at the tax rate set by China.No additional tax will be imposed, and please announce the tax rate for compliance.[-]. Allow the British to preach in various parts of China.[-]. British envoys are permanently stationed in Beijing.The Qing government rejected all the above-mentioned demands made by the British.In Emperor Qianlong’s imperial edict to the British king, although it reflected the Qing government’s ignorance of the world situation, its arrogance, and its consistent policy of self-defense, it clearly pointed out: “All land in the heavenly dynasty belongs to the books. The borders are dense, even islands and sandbars must be demarcated and divided, and each has its own exclusive rights." He categorically rejected Britain's unreasonable demands for blatantly infringing on China's territorial integrity.

Macartney and his party stayed in Rehe and Beijing for a month and a half, but failed to achieve their expected goals.In the end, the Qing court rejected the British envoy's request to stay in Beijing and ordered him to return home immediately.

The Macartney mission requested to establish diplomatic and commercial ties with the Qing government, but the goal of expanding trade with China failed to be realized.However, through talks with Chinese officials and on-the-spot investigations, they collected a large amount of information about China's politics, economy, culture, natural resources, mountains and rivers, national defense facilities, and military equipment, and came to a conclusion: "The Qing Dynasty is corrupt. Weak and vulnerable", like a "dilapidated warship of the first class", although stronger in size and appearance than its neighbors, but once commanded by "men with no ability on deck, there will be no discipline and peace." It's safe."Macartney argued that Britain would benefit "more than any other country" from the change.

Wisdom Interpretation:

The world outside is vast and constantly changing.To know what this ever-changing world is like, you have to get out there and know.If the windows are always closed, just like the Qing Dynasty closed the country, what we can only see is the unchanging scenery, and we will never be able to get out of the limitations of our own thinking.

As Zhu Xi said: "Ask where the canal is so clear, it means that there is flowing water from the source."Closure is the first step to rigidity, and the result of rigidity is failure.

(End of this chapter)