Opium prohibition and its subsequent experience
At that time, the opium problem gradually became one of the political disputes. In the 16th year of Daoguang (1836), Miss Xu Naiji of Taichang Temple advocated the theory of "prohibition" and asked the people to sell cigarettes to legalize opium smuggling. In the 18th year of Daoguang (1838), Huang Jue, the minister of Lu Hong Temple, put forward the theory of "no smoking", which focused on the treatment of food intake. Lin Zexu once played in the imperial court, demanding the prohibition of opium. Without waiting for the emperor's instructions, it began to strictly ban smoking in the whole province, collecting tobacco soil, tobacco paste and smoking utensils, and preparing "addiction pills" for people to quit smoking, with outstanding results. Later, a memorial was made to emphasize the importance of smoking ban, especially the eradication of opium sources and the general plan of smoking ban. In response to the opposition's rebuttal, it is emphasized that "the law should be strict, and if it is still ignored, there will be few soldiers in the Central Plains to defend against the enemy and no money to pay". The indecisive Daoguang Emperor realized the urgency, necessity and possibility of banning opium, so he was forced to accept the idea of smoking ban and decided to ban it. 1 1 month15th (65438+3 1 30th February), Daoguang sent Lin Zexu as an imperial envoy to Guangdong to investigate the smoking ban.
Before entering Guangzhou, Lin Zexu first found out the opium poisoning situation in Guangzhou, searched various cigarette houses and got a lot of first-hand information. In the 19th year of Daoguang, he arrived in Guangzhou in the first month [1March, 839], and on the fourth day of February (March, 65438+March, 2009), together with Deng Yanzhen, Lin Zexu summoned thirteen foreign businessmen, ordered them to hand over an imperial edict, and ordered foreign opium dealers to pay cigarettes within a time limit. However, foreign businessmen refused to hand it over. After resolute struggle, they defeated the British commercial supervision law and opium dealers in China, and confiscated nearly 20 thousand boxes of opium, about 2.37 million kilograms. On April 22nd (June 3rd), it was destroyed in public at Humen Beach. Daoguang18165438+1October 15, and Lin Zexu was appointed as an imperial envoy. The coming 1839 is the most important year in the history of smoking ban and the most brilliant year in Lin Zexu's life.
During the opium ban, Lin Zexu wrote couplets in his office: "All rivers run into the sea; The couplet "No desire is just" is vivid and meaningful. Shanglian earnestly warned itself that to do things well and be in an invincible position, we must listen to different opinions extensively; The second part of the alliance encourages itself that officials must resolutely put an end to selfish desires in order to stand upright in the world like a mountain. This spirit advocated by Lin Zexu is admirable and a lesson for future generations.
March 1839, 10 Lin zexu arrived in Guangzhou after a two-month journey. Ten thousand people in Qian Shan are crowded on both sides of the Pearl River, and everyone is eager to see the elegant demeanour of an imperial envoy. The whole of Guangzhou is waiting, listening to the voice of the imperial envoys. Lin Zexu's answer was that two notices posted outside Yuanmen the next day, "Receipt and Submission", stated that the purpose of the imperial envoy to Guangzhou was to investigate the Haikou incident. Another "Model Draft of Customs Defence" is no different from the first declaration of the imperial envoy's visit, and it is the first time to issue the voice of taking anti-smoking action. This announcement is the first public appearance of Lin Zexu as an imperial envoy to Guangzhou officials, people and foreigners. It not only declares the world clean again, but also aims to drive away slaves in extremely complicated situations. Lin Zexu's diary records that he lived in Yuehua College that day.
1March 839,1March 8, Lin zexu issued two imperial edicts. On March 19, foreigners were forbidden to leave Guangzhou. On March 2 1 day, the business hall was surrounded. On March 22nd, he ordered the arrest of British opium dealers.
With the arrival of British business supervision law in China, the contradiction naturally shifted to him. On the day of arrival, Lin Zexu ordered all foreign ships moored on the Huangpu River to seal their cabins, blocked the business hall that night, and evacuated all waiters and China employees. However, Yi Fa is a real hooligan. In the face of Lin Zexu's orders, he reneged and used despicable means of hooliganism, blackmail, deception and lying alternately. Yi Fa is crafty, but he is no match for Lin Zexu. On March 28th, he gave Lin Zexu "20283 boxes of cigarettes paid according to the law".
Lin Zexu 1839 arrived in Guangzhou on March 10, and Yiliu was forced to agree to hand over all the opium on March 28th, totaling *** 18 days, which fully demonstrated Lin Zexu's victory in the first round of opium collection.
Lin Zexu