Chapter 21 Chapter 5 The Fall of the Southeast Barrier

The descendants who know the historical conclusion are fortunate to see such an interesting phenomenon: at the beginning of 1841, when Qi Shan’s cowardice in the negotiation aroused the dissatisfaction of Emperor Daoguang who lived in the capital, and was reprimanded in the imperial decree, the United Kingdom as far away as London Foreign Minister Palmerston is also annoyed by Elliot's low-profile diplomacy, and he was severely criticized in the order.Qishan was dismissed from his job and ransacked his home and locked up Beijing because of the British occupation of Hong Kong. The so-called basis for the British army's move - the untenable "Preliminary Agreement" also made Elliot lose his position.If the difference in communication time caused by geographical factors between Guangzhou and Beijing, and Macau and London is not taken into account, then it can be said that Qishan and Yilu were dismissed by their respective masters at the same time for the same reason.If London was not farther than Beijing, the opponent before Yang Fang and Yishan would no longer be Elliott, but the new plenipotentiary Henry Pottinger.

Pottinger, Irish, born in 1789. At the age of 14, he went abroad and went to India. At the age of 15, he joined the army of the East India Company and was awarded the rank of second lieutenant two years later.The most newsworthy event in his life was that in 1810, he volunteered to investigate the border area between India and Persia (that is, the border area between Pakistan, Iran, and Afghanistan today), disguised as a local aboriginal horse dealer, and traveled more than 2,500 kilometers.Since then, his reputation has grown, and opportunities for promotion beckoned frequently. In 1840, he ended his 37-year overseas career and returned to England where he lived as a child. He was knighted and a major general of the East India Company.

At the latest in early April 1841, Palmerston decided to change horses.The arrival of Easter gave Elliot a few more chances. On April 30, the British cabinet held a meeting and decided to recall Elliott. Pudingcha, who had just returned from India, was sent to the Far East again to take over the post of plenipotentiary.Palmerston obviously valued Pudingcha's experience, dexterity and courage in the East, and believed that he had found an "expert" for British rights and interests. On May 31, 1841, Pottinger received his last instruction from Palmerston. On June 5, he left London, took a boat into the Mediterranean, passed Suez by land (the canal had not yet been dug), and arrived in Bombay on July 7.He stayed in Mumbai for 10 days, coordinating the invasion of China with the Indian authorities, then departed on July 17 and arrived in Macau on August 10.Arriving on the same boat as him was Rear Admiral William Parker, the new naval commander of the expeditionary force and commander-in-chief of the East India Fleet.

Pottinger spent only 67 days on the way from London to Macau.This record-breaking speed surprised the merchant ship owners in China at that time.It is probable that Elliott was among the surprised crowd, for the order to recall him, issued on May 3, did not reach him until August 8, and his successor stood before him two days later. Pottinger's rapid arrival showed the progress of Britain in ship technology, geographical knowledge and colonial system at this time.Compared with Lin Zexu's 61 days from Beijing to Guangzhou, Qishan's 56 days, and Yishan's 57 days, this is not much more than a few days.If Pudingcha's 10-day stay in Mumbai is excluded, the British side is faster.Science shortens the distance of space.The two great powers of the East and the West are getting closer.In the future, the Qing Dynasty will bear the oppression of the West faster and stronger.

However, Pudingcha's subsequent military operations were faster and showed a completely different style from Elliott's. Elliot's dismissal was because the British government believed that he did not follow the rules. Pudingcha took over the post and also took over the previous orders of the British government.In addition, Palmerston also specifically instructed: 1. The British army reoccupied Zhoushan. 2. Negotiations should not be conducted in Guangdong, and the place of negotiation should be Zhoushan or Tianjin. 3. The object of negotiation should be the representative of the Chinese emperor with full power.

4. The total amount of indemnities (opium, commercial debts, military expenses) shall not be less than 3 million pounds (about 12 million silver dollars). 5. Persuading the Qing government to allow the legalization of the opium trade. According to the principles of the above-mentioned instruction, Pu Dingcha should not stay in Guangzhou for too long, but should quickly move to the north to ignite the flames of war to the north. On August 12, 1841, two days after Pudingcha arrived, he held a military meeting and decided on the military action plan for going north. On August 21, except for a part of the British army to occupy Hong Kong, the main force moved northward. On August 22, Pu Dingcha himself also boarded the battleship for the Northern Attack.

The first target of the British army this time is still Xiamen, which Yilu had planned for a long time but failed to achieve. The British army started a new military operation, but the Qing court was still in the dark.Because, Yishan cheated again. On August 10, 1841, on the day of his arrival, Pu Dingcha sent a letter to the governor of Guangdong and Guangxi