Chapter 1 Xu Naiji’s shocking breakthrough
At the beginning of the 19th century, a family named Xu lived in Qiantang, Zhejiang. There are seven brothers, and three out of four were promoted to Jinshi. At that time, they were known as "the seventh son to pass the imperial examination". There were nine cousins, and five of them were admitted to the Hanlin Academy after being admitted to the Imperial Academy. They immediately shocked the government and the public, and people praised them as "Five phoenixes flying into the Imperial Academy together". The most famous among them is undoubtedly "Fengtou" Xu Naiji.
On April 27, 1836, Xu Naiji's phoenix sounded for nine days and he reported to Emperor Daoguang:
Opium tablets are poisonous and should be used sparingly. They can relieve pain, relieve coughs, and invigorate the spirit. If taken regularly, tears and tears will appear in the hands and feet, and the body will not be able to go away. If it persists, the face will be yellow, the eyes will be dull, the energy will be weak, and the body will gradually sway. When it is about to fall, even though it knows the benefits and dangers, it can no longer be controlled by itself; if it grows any longer, it will gnash its teeth, claw its hands, and scratch it, and it will go away. It is indeed a harmful thing, so the former emperor explicitly ordered fasting.
But over the past hundred years, more and more of these things have been banned. Smoking is strictly prohibited, and more and more people can eat it, and now it is almost everywhere in the world. Planting is strictly prohibited, but the barbarians have more exotic goods to live in, and the profits are greater. If the profits are high, the barbarians are more attracted to it. Like a duck. This vicious cycle continues and I don’t know when it will end.
If this predicament is to be changed, I believe that the trade in opium should be liberalized. Opium entering the customs will be subject to heavy taxes. Only tea and other physical goods can be exchanged, and silver trading is strictly prohibited. Officials, students, soldiers, and those who take drugs should be reprimanded. All private smokers are allowed.
China has a large population, which continues to multiply year after year, and there is no chance of a sudden population decline due to opium smoking. If people are allowed to grow their own poppies, the more they grow, the price will drop. If the price drops, the barbarians will gain nothing, there will be no profit, and the barbarians will not be recruited. Whether it is feasible or not, please let the Holy Spirit decide.
The Yangxin Hall of the Qing Palace. The moonlight accompanied the morning light, coming in softly.
"A wilting flower is worse than a dying tree." Emperor Daoguang was in a high position, holding a poppy that was about to wither, and stomping it step by step, thinking: The more stringent the ban on opium, the more serious the abuses will be. Is there any way to deal with it urgently? Xu Naiji is an extraordinary person. How could I not know that this poison rots the human body and ruins the family and the country? The former emperor clearly prohibited it, but the more it was banned, the more it was banned. Xu's speech is orderly and logical. For more than a hundred years, if we open up business and pay taxes according to regulations, hundreds of millions of taels of silver have entered the treasury of our Qing Dynasty. How refreshing! But once the ban is lifted, the situation will be like a flood. If you don't care at all, the country will be difficult to protect. What should we do?
At this time, the morning palace was in chaos, the ministers were in a panic, and Pan Shien, the veteran of the three dynasties, raised his head anxiously.
Pan Shi'en, the number one prime minister, followed Cao Zhenwu's mantle of "kowtow more and talk less". He was cautious and cautious, rarely confused. His disciple Mu Zhang'a couldn't see it, so he bowed deeply to him and tried to kneel down.
Pan Shi'en was excited and said eagerly: "Master Mu, you are destroying the old man."
Mu Zhangana was a native of the Xilan Banner, a Manchu Jinshi, and was favored by Emperor Daoguang. Pan Shien did not dare to underestimate him.
Zhang Axi said: "The middle hall is auspicious."
Pan Shien stopped again and said: "It is always auspicious to the Emperor. Master Mu's words are serious, and I cannot afford to use them."
Mu Zhang'a looked down on Pan Shi'en. This old man was a veteran of three dynasties and had no great achievements, but he was so comfortable as an official. He is almost seventy years old, why is he still alive? If this person dies, how comfortable will it be for me, the Chief Military Minister? Thinking of this easy-to-reach causal relationship, Zhang A was a little excited and couldn't help but say "haha" twice.
"May I ask what Master Mu thinks of Xu Naiji's theory of banning opium?" Pan Shien did not agree with the liberalization of opium. A strict ban is not enough; once it was liberalized, I don't know how many people would lose their money and die. Xu Naiji went so far as to give a discount. I wonder if the sky is high and the earth is high.
Mu Zhang'a clasped his hands together and arched towards the north, saying: Your Majesty is wise, please listen to my Emperor's wishes.
snort! According to me, those who buy and sell opium should be killed with one word! Sellers will be killed, buyers will be killed, and suckers will be killed. If one is caught, one will be killed. If two are caught, a pair will be killed. The punishment will be severe. Let’s see who dares! Wang Dingqi surged from his Dantian, turned to Pan Shien, and said: Master Pan, do you also want to take a sip?
"Master Wang, you have spoken too harshly. Pan Shien didn't like Wang Ding's upright attitude. He kept a straight face whenever he spoke. Let's talk carefully. We are all Han people.
"Haha, Lord Wang is strictly forbidden!" Mu Zhang'a wanted to get close to Wang Ding. He knew that Wang Ding could not be provoked casually. This man was not only the Minister of Military and Aircraft, but also a bachelor of Dongge University, a member of the rites, households, officials, and workers. He has served in all the Ministry of Justice and Criminal Affairs, as well as ministers, governors, and governors. No difficult case can escape his eyes. In the trial of the Xu Jin family in Deqing, Zhejiang, one governor, four prefects, two co-prefects and four prefects were all arrested for accepting bribes and covering up. He is too upright, and even the current emperor respects him, so the best thing to do is to stay away from him.
"I have only one mind in my life, and I have always been like this! Huang Juezi Huang took charge of the joint insurance of five households. One family smoked, and everyone was implicated. I think it is excellent, and there is no need for heavy rituals. It is not enough to frighten people's hearts." Wang Ding has always looked down on Mu Zhang'a and Pan Shi'en. Smiling all day long, I couldn't guess what they were thinking. In a word, they are not all the same.
"We must not engage in mutual protection. If there are too many drug users, it will affect the whole body. If not, it will cause a civil uprising. I believe that Du Benqingyuan will severely punish opium dealers and will never tolerate them; we will never tolerate foreign affairs. Trade, if the poison cannot be sustained, then the roots will be extinct. Master Wang, Huang Juezi Huang said, "The barbarians are even worse. Anyone who smokes them is tied to a bamboo pole and put into the barrel of the cannon. At three quarters of noon, it roars out." That's true. ?" said Qi Shan, Governor of Zhili. Qi Shan responded to the call with a stern tone.
A hoarse eunuch shouted hoarsely: The emperor has arrived. All the ministers knelt down and worshiped.
Emperor Daoguang said: "Everyone loves you, please live in peace." Xu Naiji petitioned for the relaxation of the opium ban. What do you think?
The ministers looked at each other and did not dare to "discuss".
"Mu Zhang A Mu loves Qing?"
Everyone's eyes suddenly focused on Mu Zhang'a. The chief military minister solved the Qing Dynasty's biggest problem, which was also a tit-for-tat confrontation.
Mu Zhang'a had been prepared for a long time and had a plan in mind, and said: "To inform the emperor, we can't rush to a conclusion now whether the opium ban is strict or relaxed. Looking at it, the hardest hit areas are Guangdong and Guangxi. Only the local officials know the things there best. Why not The excerpt was sent to Guangdong and Guangxi to encourage them to act accordingly, and the conclusions drawn were then discussed by the emperor and spread throughout the country."
Everyone booed and sighed, the cunning old guy was wise enough to keep himself safe.
Emperor Daoguang had a really good idea, but it wasn't perfect and he didn't come to a conclusion. Then he asked again: Where is Pan Shien, Master Pan?
Pan Shi'en didn't know how to answer in line with the holy will. His face turned red with embarrassment, but he had to answer truthfully: "Your Majesty, I have been hesitating all night, and I can't make a plan. I deserve to die. I must listen to the holy will!"
Emperor Daoguang thought that this was true, so I was hesitant.
Wang Ding said: "The harm of opium is very great. It must be severely punished, and both buyers and sellers will be punished. Without killing, it is not enough to stop the flood!"
Emperor Daoguang looked at Wang Ding: He was still the upright and chivalrous man. He looked at Qishan again and thought to himself: This year, this governor has not said a word or made a single inquiry. What a revelation! Opium is a poison, how severe is it? If you ignore the white and the white, ignore the green and the red, and attack everything indiscriminately, it will be bloody and countless people will die! But what's a better way? Now, we can only listen to what Guangdong means first.
When the news about the ban on opium arrived in Guangzhou, Deng Tingzhen, the governor of Guangdong and Guangxi, was so happy that he quickly summoned Guangdong Governor Qi Gong, Customs Supervisor Yu Kun, and Navy Lieutenant Commander Han Zhaoqing to discuss it.
Tingzhen said: "To tell the truth, we have killed people, and we have crossed the line with goods. But there are still so many poisons. We have used all the methods, but I have no idea how to ban it. The emperor asked us to review Xu Naiji When the ban was lifted, it was probably because he wanted to liberalize the trade in opium, but the stakes were so high that he couldn't make up his mind, so he asked for advice."
Qi Gong said: "Since it is strictly prohibited, we can only let it go. At least we, the Qing Dynasty, can earn more silver." Yu Kun also nodded in agreement.
Tingzhen said: "Since both gentlemen have agreed, we will put the Qing Dynasty and the country as our top priority. We will disregard our personal safety and shoulder the great responsibility of the world and report our intentions to the emperor. It is a pity for all living beings. "
Han Zhaoqing thought to himself: Bullshit, always high-sounding, that opium, one tael from a box, two boxes from a hundred boxes, thirty-six thousand gold per month, who gets all the benefits? The Governor is the most nourishing!
The news that the opium trade might be liberalized spread wildly in Guangzhou, and the British opium dealers Diandi, Chaton, Ma Dichen and others were very happy.
Chaton said: "It's great. This is the smartest decision made by the Chinese emperor so far that I know. I can finally sleep peacefully. Who doesn't want to do business and make money in a legitimate way? Gentlemen, Why don’t we have a drink?”
Diandi said: "Whether he strictly prohibits it or relaxes it, we are still making money. Even if it is the most stringent prohibition, I still have a way. As everyone knows, I am Mr. Smith of Mokniak Smith Company. A shareholder of the company, and Mr. Smith is a senior adviser to Mr. Palmerston, the British Foreign Minister. At the critical moment, the battleships of the British Empire will come."
Yilu said: "Gentlemen, don't be too happy. I personally have always believed that opium is harmful to people, and engaging in such a business is very ridiculous. Her Majesty the Queen also earnestly warned me that British businessmen should not do things that benefit themselves at the expense of others. thing. And our warships will not protect them."
He said bluntly: "Mr. Commercial Director, the British Prime Minister did not ban the opium trade. Besides, we are just businessmen, and businessmen just sell some things. As long as there are people buying it, we will sell it. Don't ask us what method we use. Those decadent China Officials, nothing can impress them except money. At least one-third of our opium has been taken away by them. Mr. Yilu, since you took office, you have been negotiating with the Governor of Guangdong and Guangxi on trade matters. Excuse me, have you met? Did he?"
Yilu said: "Gentlemen, it is my personal opinion to oppose the opium trade. Deng Tingzhen, the governor of Guangdong and Guangxi, refuses to see me. This may be an ancient habit of this ancient country. But as His Majesty's special commercial director, I will Responsible for everything gentlemen.”
Mathison said: "Gentlemen, I don't understand. Opium is not banned in our British Empire, nor in the United States of America, nor in India, nor in South Africa, but only this country in front of us is the most It is strictly prohibited. We have not banned it, and not many people in our country smoke it. And this country has repeatedly banned it so many times, why can't it be stopped?"
Chaton said: "This is the oldest habit in this ancient country; for us, it is really a good habit."
The businessmen all laughed; Yilu spread his hands and laughed too, and then sent a report to British Foreign Secretary Palmerston: The Chinese government may agree to the open trade of opium, which will greatly stimulate the opium industry in India. Planting. Official orders for the public sale of opium may arrive in a month or six weeks.
The merchants in the Thirteenth Industry were even more excited and even set off firecrackers.
Wu Tianyuan said: "It is definitely a good thing to let opium trade be open. We can breathe a sigh of relief."
Lu Jiguang said: "Don't be too excited, the official document has not been issued yet. Although we are doing a serious business, the profits from selling opium are huge, and it is inevitable that foreign goods are mixed with them. We are not just turning a blind eye; 2. Bit, among us, who dares to say that we haven’t touched that thing?”
Wu Shaorong said: "How can you not get your shoes wet if you often walk by the river? It is best to relax the ban on opium! Everyone knows that poisons flow across the river, and the bad things happen to the soldiers and officials. When the goods of barbarian merchants enter the port, they first pass through the water The inspectors conduct an inventory, and then report it to the customs, and finally we buy and sell it. From this point of view, we have nothing to do with the import and export of opium; but if something goes wrong, we still have to carry it around."
Lu Jiguang said: "That makes sense. Government oppression, smuggling is rampant, and serious business is getting harder and harder to do. Ziyuan, how about your American stocks and East India Company bonds?"
Wu Shaorong said: "It's acceptable. The barbarians value profit and insist on 'Give God's to God and Caesar's to Caesar'; we don't, we value righteousness, but we often pay lip service but don't live up to it. Just like this opium, we talk about benevolence, righteousness and morality. , everyone is taking grain from the fire. Pan Zhixiang still understands, 'I would rather be a dog than a foreign leader'. You two, we are all wealthy, but there is no day when we don't tremble! A few days ago, I presented a top-grade red coral Lord Deng, he said that the thing is a treasure, but it is a pity that it is not shiny and moist. What a pity, that thing is worth a hundred boxes of opium!"
Lin Zexu, governor of Jiangsu Province and Governor-General of Jiangnan Liangjiang, said: "Master Tao, Xu Naiji is harming people!"
Tao Peng, the governor of Liangjiang, said: "Brother Shao Mu, the matter has come to an end. Let's wait and see what happens. We in Liangjiang will not discuss the relaxation of the ban on opium. We still strictly prohibit it. Of course, what will happen in the end depends on the will of the Holy Emperor. "
Zexu said: "My emperor, the Ming Ming, will definitely have a wonderful solution to this problem. Master Tao, I heard that I will go to the capital to take a high position. Congratulations."
Tao Peng said: "If you want half a penny, it's not worth half a penny. Don't be ignorant. Do something and receive something. This way, your heart will be at peace. The capital is far away, so it's okay not to go. Brother Shao Mu, when he returned to his hometown to pay homage to his ancestors last year, he passed by Liling. , met an expert."
Lin Zexu said: "Master Tao has a keen eye and Hu Linyi is already your virtuous son-in-law. I wonder who that expert is?"
Tao Peng said: "Zuo Zongtang."
Lin Zexu said: "Could he be that Xiangyin wizard who had no money, worried about the world, released thousands of scrolls with his hand, and made friends with the ancients?" The spring palace spoke calmly, the twenty-year family mountain seal heart stone was there; the river flowed day and night, eight The children of the state are eager to see the Duke return. The author of this? He is young and talented, but he regrets not meeting him."
Tao Peng laughed and said, "It's a pity that I don't have two girls, but I still have a son. I have married him as his son and daughter. At that time, Ji Gao was still worried. I said, 'In terms of age, I think he and his wife are about the same age. Well, there is no need to talk about the age of the in-laws. If you talk about family status, if this virtuous girl marries into my family, there will be no worries about discomfort. As for fame and position, you will be far better than me one day, so why worry?'"
Hu Linyi said jokingly: "Mr. Lin, look at my father-in-law, why is this happening? Xiao Zuo is only 25 years old, and we are still half a year older than him. We were called brothers before, but in a blink of an eye, he became an uncle. You two adults are so slow. Let’s chat and let Xiaosheng go out and worry about it.”
"Husband, could it be that you went to the alleyway of the fireworks and wine shop again? Do you think that everything in this world has to be repeated thousands of times?" A quiet woman in the inner court said softly. Hu Linyi waved his hand gently, and his legs came out leisurely.
Tao Peng sighed: "Let him go. When things get complicated in the future, even if you have the intention, you will no longer be able to do it. Shao Mu, three years ago, Runzhi recommended you and Ji Gao me. Looking at it now, how do you think we are wise?" I have told the Holy One to recommend my brother to be the governor of Liangjiang. My brother is talented and careful, ten times as good as me. I cannot bear to stay dormant for so long."
Lin Zexu said: "How talented is Shao Mu? Lord Rong loves you so much. Shao Mu is so grateful. Today in the court, Lord Pan Shi'en is cautious, Mu Zhang'a is smooth, Qi Shan is feminine, and Lord Wang Ding is strong. Only Lord..."
Tao Peng said: "Young Master is humble. The relaxation of the opium ban is related to the well-being of the people and the safety of the country. I have sent people to the capital to visit and will make a decision when we return."
At the same time, Zhu Zun, the minister of the Ministry of Rites, Xu Qiu, the minister of the Ministry of War, and Yuan Yulin, the censor of Jiangnan Province, successively submitted petitions demanding that opium be continued to be strictly prohibited.
Zhu Zunzou said: "Opium is a harmful thing. If the trade is liberalized and the so-called tax is imposed, the Qing Dynasty will be in chaos."
Yuan Yulin reported: Allowing the trade in opium is a violation of the old rules, against the ancestral system, harmful to the political system, and bad for the political system. Please examine the rights and wrongs of this, investigate its pros and cons, return to the strictly prohibited proposal, and then ask the court officials to carefully discuss it. There is a way to permanently ban smoke from entering and exiting from silver. Everyone will tell you what they see, and the emperor will choose to implement it.
Xu Qiu said: "The ban on opium tablets does not prohibit their sale, but how can it prohibit people from smoking them?" If only officials and soldiers are banned, and both officials and soldiers come from among the soldiers and the people, how can we prepare a place in advance? Kuang clearly knows that it is poisonous to people, but allows it to become popular and imposes taxes again. There is no such government system in the heaven.
Since ancient times, the method of governing barbarians has been to be detailed on the inside and sparing the outside. Treat yourself first and then treat others. We must first strictly define the criminal regulations, strictly investigate and punish the traitors who trafficked, the traders who negotiated alliances, the kiln entrances that were purchased, the crab boats that were escorted, and the military service that was bribed and bribed, and then the common people in the mainland can be eliminated.
If he is a foreigner living in the area, first choose him to live in a foreign trade and a person who is famous for being cunning. He was arrested and detained, and the rules were laid down and ordered to be limited. He sent all the pump ships anchored in Lingdingyang and Venus Gate back to the country, and ordered a letter to be sent to the king: Opium is poisoning the mainland and harming people's livelihood. The Chinese government has severely punished the traitors who trafficked in the mainland; Overseas, they cannot bear to be punished, just like the opium pumps that do not arrive. If they re-enter China, they will be released and allowed to trade with each other. If former smugglers sneak in to seduce, they will be punished and the trade will be stopped.
Seemingly so righteous and confident, the barbarians dare not show contempt, and the common people have no tricks to use.
Emperor Daoguang was already hesitant, but when he saw the failure of these three people, he became even more hesitant. They simply kept doing nothing and sent three copies of the strictly prohibited documents to Guangdong, and then the Guangdong side negotiated an agreement.
The document that Deng Tingzhen agreed to relax the ban on opium and the document that Emperor Daoguang sent to Guangdong to further discuss the strict ban arrived in each other's hands almost at the same time.
Emperor Daoguang watched in silence, shook his head and sighed.
Deng Tingzhen was sweating profusely, knowing that Emperor Guang had not yet made the final decision, so he quickly changed his mind and agreed to the strict prohibition. He also said: The way to govern is to "observe the scriptures" and "exercise power", both of which are worthy of the name. How can we talk about "exercising power" if we don't dispute the facts and only want the name? If "rights" are not enough, how can we keep "scriptures"? If the old system can be used to achieve new results, who is willing to change the system?
Emperor Daoguang's edict should not be just empty words, but must be consistent with the name and reality.
