I'm not as lucky as many who can breathe a sigh of relief after suffering to finish a book.Since the beginning of 1992, I pushed aside everything. For two full years, I tasted the ups and downs experienced by book writers (I didn’t feel sweet). relaxed feeling. 1. Generally speaking, historical events lose their significance with the passage of time.Not so the Opium Wars.It is a turning point in Chinese history, proposing the historical mission that China must modernize.One day before China's modernization is completed, the significance of the Opium War will not be diminished.People living in this yet-to-be-modernized area experience reality and explore problems, and they are inevitably linked to that catastrophic war.Humiliation, hatred, inferiority complex, hope... all kinds of emotions are intertwined, and national feelings arise spontaneously.This is very different from countries that have accomplished the same mission, such as Japan.It itself is a subject that does not make it easy for the Chinese.

However, historical research rejects the involvement of emotion and emphasizes calmness and objectivity.I therefore often ask myself, am I really sane? 2. The title of this book is "Re-study of the Opium War", which naturally contains the meaning of criticizing previous research.As far as the research process is concerned, it should be stepping on the shoulders of the predecessors; as far as the research results are concerned, it should be closer to the historical truth.However, things have changed, people and things a century and a half ago, and today have layers of historical gaps.

The place where I live is called Huangchenggen, just a stone's throw away from the Forbidden City.Looking from the west window, the Wanchun Pavilion on the Jingshan Mountain in the former Imperial Garden is faintly shining in the setting sun.When I was reading files at the First Historical Archives of China located in the Forbidden City, I often wandered around the palace because it was closed at noon, sitting on the white marble steps in front of the "Golden Luan Hall" and daydreaming.I have also been to the former site of the Old Summer Palace, looking at the Chinese-style gardens that have no traces, which are said to be vaguely discernible on aerial photos.The closeness of space often makes me feel the shortening of time span.I tried to talk to the dead. Although I couldn't communicate with the soul, it also increased my understanding of their minds.Although modern historiographical theories have proved that it is absolutely impossible to reproduce history, seeking truth is after all an eternal dream of historians.

3. This book is dedicated to my tutor Professor Chen Xulu. 14 years ago, I voted for Mr. as a graduate student.The first thesis he supervised was "Sino-British Forces During the Opium Wars".Since then, my interest in the Opium Wars has never diminished.After graduation, there are many contacts between teachers and students.He has been encouraging me to write this book, and I secretly hope that Mr. Huo will write the preface.But due to work, I have no time to write. I was transferred to the Institute of Modern History in 1989, and I finally had time at my disposal, but my supervisor passed away in 1988.For this reason, although it has only been two years since the paper was actually written, it has been more than 10 years to collect historical materials and think about problems.The mentor is the foundation for me, but I have no chance to ask for the sequence.Today, when I wrote my preface, I kept wondering whether this book would satisfy him and longed for his criticism.But heaven is so far away from the world...

All three still weigh on my heart, even though I have finished writing this book.I am waiting for readers' criticism. My classmate and friend Pan Zhenping has a lot of experience in the Opium War.Over the past ten years, we have discussed many times, often staying up all night, which has benefited me a lot.At the beginning of this book, he proposed two more: one is to pay attention to the fate of characters, and the other is to explain historical phenomena.As the authentic biographical style of traditional Chinese historiography, it has many advantages and advantages. I explore how to combine these advantages and advantages into the chapter style.Due to the modern society’s metabolism, values ​​and behavioral norms have undergone great changes. I have worked hard on how to use the concepts at that time to explain the thoughts and behaviors of the parties in a reasonable and reasonable manner.After the manuscript was completed, he read it first, and there were many criticisms.It can be said that without his help, this book would not be what it is.There is no need to say thanks for the long-term friendship, and I will remember it here.

Thanks to Mr. Li Shaojun of Wuhan University.Mr. Masaya Sasaki's paper on the Opium War should be a must-read, but I don't know Oriental characters.Mr. Li Shaojun provided the translation for me.Thanks to Mr. Li Yongqing who has become a colleague today.He is one of the editors of "Archives and Historical Materials of the Opium War".Due to my limited copies and unchecked documents, he provided the unprinted manuscripts of the compiled historical materials to ease my urgent need.Thanks to Mr. Yang Guoqiang from the same division for reading part of the manuscript.His skill in giving opinions made me suddenly realize my own shortcomings.Thanks to Mr. Zhu Jinyuan and Mr. Tang Kemin, who are also my teachers. Their encouragement and help have become a great motivation for me to complete the project as I wish.

I am most grateful, without a doubt, to those gentlemen who have done ample research before me and who have inspired me a lot.Due to the large number of references I have made, I cannot list them all here.I have recorded the benefits of reading their masterpieces in the notes.Here, I also want to say, please forgive me for stepping on your shoulders... The above thanks do not mean to shirk responsibility.All errors in this book are my own responsibility.