Chapter 32 Four "Dedication": Sino-French Whampoa Treaty

After America came France. As a European power, France's interests were mainly in Europe, North Africa, North America and other places. Its commercial interests in the East were relatively small. The number of merchant ships coming to China was less than one-tenth that of the United Kingdom, and its trade volume was only a fraction of that of the United States.Its expansion to the east is still pioneering and has the characteristics of focusing on areas other than commerce. When the Opium War just started, the French Consul General in Manila (who was also in charge of China affairs) immediately reported to the country and asked to send ships to China.In order to ensure its "due" status in China, the French government sent two ships to China to collect intelligence, and appointed Adolphe Dubois de Jancigny as the king's special envoy. On April 28, 1841, Zhenyi set off on the French ship Erigone and arrived in Macau on December 8.

At this critical moment in the Opium War, this warship with 46 guns and more than 400 officers and soldiers attracted the attention of Guangdong officials. " thoughts.Despite the gracious mission of the French government as an observer, he is unwilling to stand by. Even more active than Genuine Kindness was Captain Joseph de la Serviere of the Errigona.As far as his own country's status is concerned, Shi Sili and Zhen Shengyi are both colonels, but from the perspective of future development, Shi Sili is much higher.He ignored his sincere intentions and privately connected with Chinese officials through missionaries. On January 27, 1842, Shi Sili came to Guangzhou by boat, and according to himself, he was invited.

On February 4th, in a small village called "Bantang" about 10 miles outside Guangzhou City, General Yishan of Jingni and Qiqi, Governor of Guangdong and Guangxi,