Lin Zexu wanted to transport opium back to Beijing for destruction, but Deng Ying thought it better to destroy it on the spot to prevent opium from being secretly replaced, and Daoguang Emperor agreed. Lin Zexu decided to sell cigarettes publicly in Humen, and then Lin Zexu had to find a way to destroy opium. Lin Zexu used the traditional "burning tobacco soil mixed with tung oil" to destroy opium, but the paste would seep into the ground, and drug addicts could still get 23/ 10 by digging the soil. So Lin Zexu found the second method "seawater immersion method". [ 10]

The method of seawater immersion is to dig two ponds at the seaside and lay stones at the bottom to prevent opium.

Linzexu Xiaoyan wing former site

Leak, nail boards around, dig ditches. Pour the salt water into the ditch and flow into the pool. Then cut the tobacco soil into four pieces, pour in salt water, soak for half a day, then add lime, and the lime will boil in water to dissolve the tobacco soil. The soldiers kept stirring in the pool with wooden harrows, so that the smoke soil was completely dissolved in the water. When the tide ebbs, send the pool water out of the ocean and wash the bottom of the pool with clean water, leaving no trickle. [27]

The diary of the day also said: "Digest opium during the day, release the ocean, and let the aquarium move temporarily in advance to avoid its poison."

In the 19th year of Daoguang (June 3rd, 1839), the destruction of opium in Humen officially began on April 22nd. A ceremony platform was set up in Humen, and a yellow banner hung in front of it, which read, "An imperial envoy ordered the Minister of Haikou Affairs of Guangdong Province to investigate Tang Lin of the amphibious control battalion of the Governor's Office", and all senior officials from Guangdong attended. Because selling cigarettes is a public visit, and before and after the Dragon Boat Festival, everyone went to Humen Shoal. In addition, there are foreign businessmen, consuls, foreign journalists and missionaries. Those who didn't sell opium came to visit from Macao or other places, and none of them were British to protest against the oppression of British property by the Qing court.