I. Lin Zexu and Humen Destroy Opium
Lin Zexu was a famous politician and reformer in Daoguang period of Qing Dynasty. He is famous for resolutely banning the opium trade and destroying a large number of opium. This event is called "Humen Destroys Opium".
The destruction of opium in Humen is an important event in China's modern history, which reflects the struggle of China people against foreign invaders and the struggle of China government to defend national sovereignty.
Second, the reason why Humen destroyed opium.
Opium is a kind of drug extracted from poppy, which is highly addictive and harmful. Long-term smoking can lead to physical weakness, listlessness, mental decline and even death.
The Qing government decided to take measures to ban opium trade and protect the interests of the country and people. Daoguang Emperor appointed Lin Zexu as an imperial envoy, went to Guangdong to investigate the opium case, and ordered all the seized opium to be destroyed.
Third, the method of destroying opium in Humen.
After Lin Zexu arrived in Guangdong, he took a series of measures to ban opium trade. He ordered the seizure of all merchant ships and warehouses suspected of smuggling opium, and arrested some China and foreign businessmen. An ultimatum was issued to Eliot, British Consul in China, asking him to hand over all the opium stored in China and promising not to smuggle opium in the future.
Eliot refused Lin Zexu's request and tried to evade his responsibility. Lin Zexu adopted a tougher attitude. He blocked the Humen waterway off the coast of Guangzhou, cut off the contact between British merchant ships and the outside world, and threatened to confiscate all opium unless it was handed over.
Under the pressure of Lin Zexu, Eliot had to agree to hand over all the opium stored in China, totaling more than 20,000 boxes. Lin Zexu immediately ordered opium to be transported to the beach in Humen, mixed with lime and salt water, boiled in a cauldron, then poured into the sea and completely destroyed.
This process lasted for 23 days from June 3 to June 25, and about 6,543,800 tons of opium were destroyed. This is the famous "Humen destroyed opium" incident in history.
Fourthly, the significance of destroying opium in Humen.
The destruction of opium in Humen is an important event in China's modern history, which reflects the struggle of China people against foreign invaders and the struggle of China government to defend national sovereignty.
Smoking ban in Humen was a just challenge to Britain by the Qing government headed by Lin Zexu, which showed Lin Zexu's patriotic spirit and firm will and won the support and respect of the people.
The destruction of opium in Humen was also the beginning of China's modern anti-imperialist struggle, which inspired the awakening and unity of the people of China and laid the foundation for the subsequent historical events such as the Opium War, the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom Movement, the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895 and the Revolution of 1911.