Introduction: The process of opium eradication in Humen

At the beginning of the 19th century, large quantities of opium from British imperialism poisoned thousands of Chinese people. Emperor Daoguang Yan Ning of the Qing Dynasty specially appointed Lin Zexu as the imperial envoy to ban smoking in Guangzhou. The smoking ban was obstructed by opposition leaders Mu Zhang'a and Qishan, who secretly sabotaged it. Lin Zexu relied on the officers, soldiers and people of Guangzhou to rectify the dilapidated coastal defense and force the British businessmen to hand over all opium. We achieved victory in destroying more than 20,000 boxes of cigarettes in Humen. In 1840, the British government used this as an excuse to launch a war of aggression against China. Lin Zexu defeated the invaders with the support of the people, but was persecuted by domestic reactionaries and was dismissed from his post and sent to Xinjiang.

The process of smoking ban in Humen

On January 15, 1839, Daoguang, Lin Zexu was appointed as the imperial envoy. The coming year of 1839 was the most important year in the history of smoking ban, and it was the most important year for Lin Zexu in his life. The most glorious years.

On March 10, 1839, Lin Zexu arrived in Guangzhou after a two-month journey. Thousands of people crowded both sides of the Pearl River, everyone vying to see the imperial envoy. The whole of Guangzhou was waiting and listening to the imperial envoy's voice. Lin Zexu's answer was to post two notices "Receipt of Submissions" posted outside the camp gate the next day, stating that the imperial envoy came to Guangzhou for the purpose of investigating the Haikou incident. Another "Customs and Defense Notice" is tantamount to the first declaration of the imperial envoy's trip, and it is the precursor to taking anti-smoking actions. This announcement was Lin Zexu's first public appearance as an imperial envoy to Guangzhou officials, people, and foreigners. It not only once again advertised the world's cleanliness, but also served to control an extremely complex situation. Lin Zexu's diary records that he lived in Yuehua Academy that day.

On March 18, 1839, Lin Zexu issued two edicts.

On March 19, an order was issued to prohibit foreigners from leaving Guangzhou.

On March 21, an order was issued to surround the business building.

On March 22, he ordered the arrest of British opium dealers.

With the arrival of British Commercial Supervisor Yi Lu in China, the conflict naturally shifted to him. On the day of his arrival, Lin Zexu ordered all foreign ships anchored on the Pearl River to seal their cabins, blockade the commercial buildings that night, and evacuate them. All servants and Chinese employees. But Yilu was a complete gangster. When faced with Lin Zexu's orders, he went against his word and resorted to despicable tactics such as roguery, blackmail, deception, and lying. Yilu was cunning, but he was no match for Lin Zexu. On March 28, he presented Lin Zexu with "Yilu obeyed the order and submitted 20,283 boxes of cigarettes."

It took a total of 18 days from Lin Zexu's arrival in Guangzhou on March 10, 1839 to March 28 when Yilu was forced to agree to hand over all opium. This fully illustrates the first round of Lin Zexu's opium collection. victory.

After discussing with Deng Tingzhen and others, Lin Zexu made impeccable instructions and arrangements for all aspects of the collection, such as the location, acceptance, escort, storage, custody, and guarding.

On April 10, Lin Zexu and Deng Tingzhen went to Humen to inspect various preparations before the seizure.

The collection began on April 11, and Lin Zexu personally supervised the entire collection process.

On May 18, after 34 days of operation, the police confiscated 19,187 boxes and 2,119 bags of tobacco, with a total weight of 1,188,127 kilograms.

During the days of confiscation, Lin Zexu supervised this complex process without any delay. Working day and night, meticulous and without any mistakes.

On June 3, the 23-day opium burning in Humen, under the command of Lin Zexu, declared to the world the determination of the Chinese nation never to succumb to aggression. The elimination of opium in Humen is an unprecedented feat in human history. The elimination of opium in Humen shows the unparalleled great image of the Chinese nation and is a victory in the fight against foreign aggression. Lin Zexu was of course the organizer, commander and completer of this incident. In this sense, he has become a historical giant without any shame.

Before the opium eradication in Humen, Lin Zexu learned that in the past, opium was burned with fire, and the opium oil seeped into the soil. Some people dug out the soil and refined it into tobacco paste. Therefore, he sent people to Humen Beach to Dig two large ponds, each 15 feet long and wide, and fill them with sea water. Then put the opium into the ponds, soak them thoroughly and put lime in them. Then open the culvert and let the opium powder leak into the vast sea.

150 years ago, Britain was the largest imperialist country in the world at that time. It continues to crazily plunder colonies around the world, and also attempts to use opium to open the door to China.

Guangzhou is a drug trafficking center for foreign cigarette dealers. In 1838, when the local government of Guangzhou executed a Chinese opium dealer, British cigarette traders came out to obstruct it, arousing the indignation of the people of Guangzhou. In February 1839, more than 10,000 people demonstrated in front of a hotel where foreign people lived to denounce the crimes of foreign cigarette dealers interfering in China's internal affairs.

In March 1839, Lin Zexu arrived in Guangzhou, and the anti-smoking movement began rapidly. On the one hand, he stepped up the rectification of coastal defense and strictly controlled the cigarette dealers; on the other hand, he ordered foreign cigarette dealers to hand over opium. Lin Zexu said in a notice to foreign cigarette dealers: "If opium continues for a day, this minister will not return." Due to Lin Zexu's firm attitude and powerful measures, coupled with the support of the people, foreign cigarette dealers were forced to surrender. More than 20,000 boxes of opium were sold.

Lin Zexu ordered the public destruction of opium in Humen, and led senior and junior officials to personally supervise it.

He ordered the opium to be put into two large dug ponds, and brine was put into the pond. After the opium was soaked for half a day, quicklime was added, and the quicklime water was boiled to destroy the opium. After 23 days, all the seized opium was destroyed. This is the world-famous "Humen Smoking".

The just action of eliminating cigarettes has won the support of the broad masses of the people. Tens of thousands of people watch it every day at Humen Beach, and they all applaud and applaud. Seeing this, foreigners also expressed admiration for Lin Zexu's decisiveness in banning smoking.

Humen destroyed 2,376,254 kilograms of opium.