We analyzed that the Qing Dynasty did not occupy an absolute disadvantage in the Opium War from the perspectives of weather, geographical location and human harmony. However, this does not rule out the backwardness of China and the Qing Dynasty in the comparison of national strength at that time, which is what people often say: "If you lag behind, you will be beaten". /kloc-In the middle of the 0/9th century, Britain has become a capitalist power with developed industry and scientific prosperity. Although its area is only one-thirty-sixth of that of China and its population is only one-sixteenth of that of China, its colonial dependent countries are all over the world, with abundant human, material and financial resources. At that time, China was a declining feudal empire with no natural economy dominated by industry, agriculture and cottage industries. Under the shackles of feudalism, it has been stagnant for a long time. Manchu and Han landlords and nobles ruled China, which was politically reactionary and corrupt, closed to the outside world and stifled science and culture. Compared with Britain, the situation in this country is completely behind a historical era. However, the Opium War was not a total war aimed at conquering China, but a limited local war aimed at forcing the Qing Dynasty to yield. In this war, China was invaded, and justice was completely on China's side. The Qing Dynasty resisted foreign aggression, which could arouse the enemy's heart of officers and men and win the support of people from all walks of life. The British army, however, was unfair from the beginning and was opposed by its own people and people all over the world. The Qing army can rely on pre-set national defense fortifications to fight at home, with familiar terrain and convenient supply; However, the British army is far away from home, and the traffic is blocked, the command is inconvenient, the supply is difficult, the land is strange, and the water is not acclimatized. As long as the Qing dynasty can correctly understand and measure the enemy's situation, make full use of its own favorable conditions and overcome unfavorable factors, it can completely defeat the British invaders. Then, what was the reason for the failure of the Qing Dynasty in the Opium War, and what mistakes did it make subjectively?

1, don't understand the enemy, misjudge the enemy:

The Qing Dynasty was a declining feudal empire. For a long time, it has been arrogant, closed to the outside world, blindly exclusive, regarded foreign countries as "barbarians" and refused to introduce advanced ideas and science and culture. Therefore, although the Qing court has a history of nearly 200 years, foreigners come to China, and few people from China go to Western Europe, let alone have any in-depth research and understanding of western powers. Lin Zexu was one of the early figures who paid attention to understanding the world situation. The history contains "Lin Zexu went to Guangdong and made people spy on western affairs, translate western books and buy his newsprint every day" to learn about the situation of western powers. However, due to short time, few means and lack of translators, his understanding of western powers is very limited, and his understanding of British social system, economy and military strength is also very superficial, so his judgment is often not accurate enough. Until the British fleet was on its way to China, Lin Zexu told Daoguang: Recently, British and foreigners came on board, and they were equipped with more weapons, but they still carried opium. The traitor threatened to get a trade license. Now warships are cruising in foreign oceans, and there is no place to stay here and there. Besides, without exercise, it is as powerless as the Oracle (Gai Yi). It can be seen that Lin Zexu was completely unaware of the British government's massive invasion of China, which would certainly affect the strengthening of Guangdong's war preparedness. As for other coastal provinces, the combat readiness work is even worse. For example, when the British army arrived in Dinghai, Zhejiang Province, the soldiers were unprepared, the artillery at Dagukou was useless, and the Qing army stationed in Tianjin and Dagu was less than 1,000, which had nothing to do with the understanding of the armed aggression that Britain was about to launch.

2. The policy of peace and war is uncertain, and the strategy is passive and changeable;

During the Opium War, the British government's instructions to the expeditionary force invading China were clear in principle and specific in requirements, allowing the commanders in front to make their own decisions according to the situation. Even if the war changed many times and the commander-in-chief changed hands several times, Britain's strategic requirements remained basically unchanged. However, the situation in the Qing Dynasty was completely different. The attitude of the Qing dynasty to this war has changed many times before and after. This is not only because Britain is the aggressor and holds the initiative in the war, but also because the Qing Dynasty is the victim and is in a passive position. It is also directly related to the blind self-confidence of the Qing Dynasty in its own strength and ignorance of Britain's aggressive intentions: before and at the beginning of the war, defending is the attack and waiting for success. Don't fight the enemy in the ocean, try to lure the enemy ashore and annihilate them; After the war in Guangzhou, they tried to settle for second best and avoid confrontation with the British army. When the British army invaded the north for the second time, the Qing court decided to compete with the British army by force; After the failure of the counterattack in eastern Zhejiang, the Qing court lost the confidence to defeat the British army by military means and solve the Sino-British dispute, which brought submission and compromise. It can be seen that the Qing side lacks a basic understanding and accurate estimation of the enemy's situation, so peace and war are uncertain and its strategic policy is changeable. Sometimes sending more troops, sometimes withdrawing troops, leaving the generals in front at a loss. The Qing dynasty was a feudal autocratic empire, and the emperor was in charge of military and political affairs, and the decisions on peace and war were made by himself. The decision makers are far away in Beijing, and the war takes place thousands of miles away. Due to the inconvenience of communication at that time, the situation in various places could not reach Beijing in time, and the emperor's decrees could not reach the front line in time. The decision-making of the imperial court often lags behind the changed situation, and the former generals are given the right to handle it at their discretion and have to comply. In addition, in order to reduce their guilt, front-line generals often exaggerate the enemy's situation and lie about their exploits, which makes this situation even more serious.

3. Low military and political quality and low combat capability;

In the 200 years since the establishment of the Qing Dynasty, the Eight Banners and green camp have been corrupted. In addition, the Qing dynasty's "long-term peace" was unable to fight because of its lack of actual combat experience and strict training. Is this army suppressing the people or insiders, but it is amateurs who resist foreign enemies. Moreover, the military system is very backward. Usually, the stars are scattered in various camps, busy with heavy chores and little training; Because the salary is too low, some people have to learn odd jobs to support their families. Until the war broke out, soldiers were temporarily transferred from various camps and pieced together into an army. Therefore, the soldiers did not learn from each other, and the soldiers would not know each other. Battalions are scattered and their ideas are uneven, so it is difficult to form an organic fighting collective. Once they get cold feet, the soldiers won't listen to their orders, and they can't force them. When they meet the enemy, they often run away without fighting. In addition, all levels will abandon poor command, do not know tactics, stay in one place, only know how to defend artillery bases, and do not deploy far-reaching forces. The rest of the artillery can't cooperate with each other organically. Every fortress is only fortified on the first line, and there is no second-line position. So, a breakthrough, the whole line collapsed. Defending town fortresses often only focuses on the front, regardless of the rear. Moreover, elite soldiers and generals from all walks of life still regard the people as enemies, and talk nonsense about "traitors are everywhere", "traitors are everywhere", "preventing the people is more important than preventing bandits" and "not suffering from internal problems", which is completely opposite to the people, let alone relying on and mobilizing the people to kill the enemy. The Qing army did nothing in the war and missed the opportunity. Instead of destroying the enemy, it was defeated by the British.

In short, in the Opium War, due to the decay and decline of the Qing court, the country closed its doors to the outside world and its national strength was weak. Even though the weather, geography and people were not at an absolute disadvantage, it was defeated, and it was so terrible.