Chapter 41 Section 4 Backward Corruption Leads to Land Loss

In the late 19th century, facing the imperialist powers eager to expand outward after completing the industrial revolution, China remained in a declining feudal society, relying on the small peasant economy to support more than 400 million people.In the face of the aggressors, although the Chinese people are brave and tenacious, and do not hesitate to sacrifice their lives, flesh and blood and primitive weapons are no match for foreign guns and cannons.The backwardness caused China to suffer huge loss of life and property, and also lost a large area of ​​territory. But backwardness was not the only or the main reason for the loss of ground.The loss of many territories can only be attributed to the corruption of the Qing government.

In the early and middle periods of the Qing Dynasty, the rulers had many wise territorial policies, but they always regarded themselves as the great powers of the Celestial Dynasty, and were intoxicated with accepting the vassal and tribute from the "four descendants". They did not understand at all, nor were they willing to understand the world, let alone imperialism the true intentions of the state.The Confucian concept of unity has its own limitations, and it cannot adapt to the situation of the modern world.In the face of imperialist aggression, they still cling to the fantasy of "Under the Pu (Pu) world, is it the king's land" and "the distinction between Hua and Yi" (the Han nationality is fundamentally different from other nationalities, Chinese and foreigners, and the former is superior to others. For the latter, not to be confused), the result of the dogma, of course, can only be failure again and again.For example, during the Qianlong period, Russia and Japan had already invaded Sakhalin Island, mining, fishing, and building churches, competing for many years.The Qing Dynasty, as the master, knew nothing about it, because the natives on the island still crossed the sea every year to pay tribute to the Sansurname Yamen (in today's Yilan County, Heilongjiang).In 1850 (the 30th year of Daoguang), Russia unilaterally declared Sakhalin Island to be Russian territory, but the Qing Dynasty still ignored it. One of the reasons was that the tribute from the natives had not been cut off. After the Sino-Russian Treaty of Nerchinsk was signed in 1689 (the 28th year of Kangxi), Russia continued to expand eastward, and a large number of immigrants entered the Far East. In the early 19th century, they had crossed the Outer Xing'an Mountains and reached the north of Heilongjiang and the Ussuri River in China. east area.However, after the signing of the "Sino-Russian Treaty of Nerchinsk", the Qing Dynasty reiterated and strengthened the order of "blocking" in the Northeast, so that the areas under the jurisdiction of the two generals in Heilongjiang and Jilin have been underpopulated for a long time, with insufficient troops, and many places are still unoccupied. Area.Therefore, before the signing of the "Sino-Russian Treaty of Aigun" and "Sino-Russian Treaty of Beijing", the occupation of Chinese territory by Russia was already a fait accompli.As for the examples of the loss of Chinese territory due to the treachery and ignorance of the monarchs and ministers, it is even more difficult to list them one by one.