Chapter 61: The Industrial Revolution was missed, and China's destiny was locked in with one's own hands
During the past two and a half years, the Yongle Dynasty not only achieved victory in foreign wars, but also achieved rapid agricultural development internally.

After Tianmu's reminder, Zhu Di successfully found and promoted the crop of corn, and experimental fields were set up in various places for its planting.

I believe that in another two to three years, it will be fully promoted nationwide.

The Ming Dynasty is closer to the modern era and has unique advantages. Zhu Di ruled the country with an iron fist, so the issuance of government orders was relatively smooth.

Of course, there were also significant changes in other dynasties.

Under Cao Cao's order, the three forces temporarily suspended their fighting and trained their naval forces in preparation for the attack on Japan.

Zhuge Liang also secretly developed gunpowder.

During the Zhenguan period.

With the support of Li Shimin, Li Ting, the "founder of fireworks", also successfully developed artillery, which played a huge role in the war between the Tang Dynasty and the Turks.

When the artillery fired, the Turks thought it was the arrival of the god of thunder. Many people were frightened and the army was defeated again and again.

The Tang army won the war with almost no effort, not only capturing 50,000 Turks, but also recovering large tracts of land outside the border.

For a time, foreign tribes regarded the Tang Dynasty soldiers as divine soldiers.

……

at the same time.

As Chen Yu returned to the rental house and started watching short videos again, images appeared on the sky again in the past dynasties and time.

"Look, the gods have appeared again!"

As the sky 'awakens.'

Ying Zheng, Liu Che, Cao Cao, Zhuge Liang, Li Shimin, Zhu Di and others appeared one after another and looked at the sky intently.

[The beginning of decline: How the Qing Dynasty missed the world's industrial revolution! ]

[In the history of human civilization, China has been the world's most powerful country for about one-sixth of the time! ]

[In fact, in the early Qing Dynasty, China's status in the world has always been very high. China's economic size was among the best in the world at that time, and it was one of the most developed economies in the world! ]

[At that time, the total output value of the Qing Dynasty was 6 times that of England and 9 times that of Japan! Even more powerful than the United States! ]

[If the rulers had a sense of crisis and spent more money on national defense, China would not be at the mercy of others in the future.]

[But the Qing court was too arrogant. Qianlong, who claimed to be the Celestial Empire, personally ruined China's chance to enter the Industrial Revolution. Little did he know that it was this arrogance that plunged China into the abyss in the future! ]

……

"The world's most powerful country!"

After hearing Tianmu's story about the history of all dynasties, from high-ranking officials to ordinary people, everyone felt a sense of pride.

Afterwards, many people became curious.

I want to know what the Qing Dynasty rulers did to cause the once vast China to be humiliated by the powerful countries in the future.

……

Qing Dynasty.

Qianlong was furious: "Damn Tianmu, he is spreading lies to confuse the people again!"

"I am the Ten Perfect Man, the best man in history! How can you blame me for China's defeat?"

"No one is allowed to look at it! No one is allowed to look at it. It's slander, it must be slander!"

Qianlong looked extremely angry.

After all, in his own opinion, he is the best person in ancient and modern times, how could he be wrong?

If there is, it must be false and slanderous!

"I will issue an order to the whole nation, asking all the people to stay in their houses. Anyone who dares to look at the sky will be punished by me!"

……

[On May 1792, 5, George III ruled the country with an iron fist and pushed England to the peak of prosperity. The Industrial Revolution was like a spring breeze, making Britain's national strength soar, and all the countries on the European continent were far behind. ]

Then, a spinning machine appeared in the sky.
[A weaver in England invented a spinning machine that improved production efficiency and named it Jenny.]

[Later, a mechanic named Watt created an unprecedented power method through a modified steam engine, and human society entered the "Steam Age".]

[The momentum of this industrial revolution caused Britain's national strength to expand rapidly, even leaving the entire European continent far behind. It ushered in an era where machines replaced manual labor. ]

As the video continues, a vast plain appears on the screen.

A giant silver dragon rushed past, with white smoke coming out of its body and making a deafening roar. Its speed was so fast that it was jaw-dropping.

……

"What is this thing? How can it gallop across the land so quickly?"

Ying Zheng muttered to himself, his eyes full of shock: "Could it be the immortal's mount?"

"Without human power to push it, and only horses to pull it, such a huge creature can actually gallop on the road. Could it be a magical power?" At the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, Zhang Fei's eyes were as big as copper bells, staring at the sky intently.

"It's amazing. Military Advisor, do you know how this giant steel beast in the sky is driven?"

Liu Bei looked at Zhuge Liang, his eyes full of curiosity.

"steam……"

Zhuge Liang thought for a moment, then smiled and said, "My Lord, have you ever observed the scene of tea boiling? The hot air can push away the objects pressing on it. I think the principle of the steam engine may be similar to that."

"It is truly a divine object. If we have this object, wouldn't we be able to quickly mobilize troops to and from the two places?"

Guan Yu was greatly shocked. If this item was used in war, it could quickly transport food and troops. It was truly a magical item!

After hearing what Guan Yu said, Liu Bei suddenly felt that the Dilu horse under his crotch was no longer attractive.

Zhuge Liang looked at the sky with envy. He knew very well the magic of the steam locomotive.

At this moment, he wished very much that he could own a steam engine so that he could understand the principle.

……

Yongle period.

Zhu Di was so fascinated by what he saw that his face was filled with excitement.

"If such a huge thing is used for strategic transportation in our Ming Dynasty, wouldn't it be even more powerful?"

The more he thought about it, the more excited he became. He couldn't help but stand up and pace back and forth in the hall.

"This thing is so fast, far faster than our army's horses. It can transport a large amount of food and armaments in a short period of time, allowing our army to appear on the battlefield like a gust of wind and catch the enemy off guard!"

"With this, our army can easily reach any place. How dare the Oirat Tatars disturb the border of the Ming Dynasty?"

In the court, all the ministers were also shocked.

They all started to think divergently and explore the usefulness of steam locomotives in this regard.

……

During the Qianlong period.

Qianlong scoffed at this.

"It's fake! It must be fake. The later generations are only a hundred years away from now. How could there be such a miraculous change?" "Besides, if manpower is saved, won't the people be lazy?"

"Once people have nothing to do, they will stir up trouble. Is this damn Tianmu trying to deceive me and shake the foundation of my Qing Dynasty?"

Seeing Qianlong's unhappy face, Heshen immediately flattered him:
"Your Majesty is right. Once the common people save their energy and no longer have to work hard for a living, they will cause trouble. Your Majesty sees things clearly!"

"It is best to let these untouchables live in misery. Only when they are no longer struggling for a living will they not have the energy to rebel!"

Heshen said with a flattering look on his face.

For the Qing Dynasty rulers, the Han people were not of the same ethnic group as them, and they did not care at all about how the Han people lived.

As long as they don't cause trouble, don't rebel, have more children, and pay taxes honestly, they don't care about the lives of these people.

Qianlong nodded in agreement: "It must be the evil people from the White Lotus Sect who are casting spells to deceive people! Don't try to deceive me!"

……

[At this time, England was in urgent need of finding new markets and raw materials for the industrial revolution, so George III turned his attention to the legendary land of China in the East.]

【The vast land, rich resources, large population and prosperous China became the dream of George III. 】

【So George III sent Macartney to the distant ancient country in the East with carefully selected gifts and a personal letter. 】

[After nine months of sailing, on June 9, 1793, the Macartney Mission successfully arrived at the southern coast of China.]

[When the Western world first saw China, it was shocked by its idealized social system—a group of officials surrounded the monarch and jointly governed this huge and rich country.]

[However, there are also voices pointing out that China is not perfect, and their resistance to foreign culture is shocking. ]

[Deputy Ambassador George Staunton was one of those who held this view.]

[He lamented that after a century of interaction with British merchants, China still remained conservative.]

[What is even more puzzling is that when people saw the portrait of Emperor Qianlong, they actually bowed their heads and kowtowed.]

[In Macartney's eyes, this scene was as incredible as kissing the ground.]

[This was the 83th year of Emperor Qianlong’s reign. The -year-old Emperor Qianlong was already an octogenarian.]

【Since he ascended the throne at the age of 25, he inherited the prosperous foundation of his grandfather Kangxi and his father Yongzheng, and pushed the country to the peak. Qianlong firmly believed that China was the best in the world. As for the Western countries, he regarded them as vassal states that paid tribute every year. As long as they abided by the etiquette, they could share the grace and honor. 】

……

"Yes, that's a bit like what I would do."

Although he said that it was the witchcraft used by the White Lotus Sect, Qianlong himself still couldn't help watching it.

Seeing what he was doing in the sky at this moment, he nodded in approval.

This sentence of "pushing the country to the peak" was particularly appreciated by Qianlong.

"You are right. China is the best in the world. The Western countries are just seeking the protection of the Qing Dynasty. As long as they abide by etiquette, I am willing to protect them!"

Qianlong said confidently.

……

[In late summer of 1793, the British delegation arrived at Tianjin Port smoothly, but the Qing official Qiao Renjie was worried.]

[Emperor Qianlong's imperial envoy Wei Rui did not come to pay a visit, saying that he was afraid of the sea, but in fact he was unwilling to board the ship. ]

【Macartney insisted on equal relations between the King of England and the Emperor of the Qing Dynasty, which made Qiao Renjie feel that the task was arduous.】

[As expected, the dispute over etiquette intensified. ]

[Weir tactfully proposed the etiquette of an audience, but Macartney explicitly refused to perform the ritual of three kneelings and nine kowtows.]

【Macartney's stubbornness made Wei Rui very angry, and Qiao Renjie felt powerless to change the situation.】

After the delegation arrived in Beijing, Macartney was even more resolute in his refusal to follow the etiquette of admonishment, and even threatened to never kneel down. He proposed that a court minister should kneel three times and kowtow nine times in front of the portrait of the King of England in exchange for him to perform the same etiquette in front of the Emperor.

[Emperor Qianlong felt this was ridiculous and thought that Macartney was just a tribute envoy.]

[The representative is just the king of a small country, whose status is far lower than that of the ministers of the Celestial Empire. ]

[However, although Qianlong was furious, he finally agreed to Macartney's way of meeting the emperor by kneeling on one leg and not kissing his hand.]

[During this period, Macartney expressed his hope to develop trade between the two countries and allow the English to live freely along the coast of Guangdong. ]

【At that time, Emperor Qianlong implemented a policy of seclusion from the outside world, and refused on the grounds that "the Celestial Empire is rich in resources and has everything."】

[After that, everyone was busy with gifts and etiquette trade, but there was no progress in the trade request. For Macartney, this diplomacy was ultimately a failure.]

[Although the two sides reached a consensus on the surface, the misunderstanding was not eliminated, but became more serious. ]

[On September 1793, 9, on the banks of Rehe, Emperor Qianlong’s 14rd birthday celebration was held. ]

[In the vast history, this encounter with foreign countries was originally insignificant, but it was unexpected that this was the first time that the two great powers of the East and the West faced each other directly. ]

[When the emperor arrived, everyone kowtowed, and the British lowered their heads. When everyone raised their bodies, the British raised their heads.]

【When Qianlong saw this scene, he thought that the group of people were behaving strangely and were arrogant and disrespectful, so he refused to prostrate himself.】

[Little did they know that this tiny island was quietly rising in the light of self-confidence. ]

[In the past 30 years, Britain has experienced a tremendous change. The advent of the spinning jenny has increased production efficiency, and the clarion call of the industrial revolution has been sounded. Then the birth of the Watt steam engine has injected unprecedented power into Britain. The country's power has expanded rapidly, and it has ambitiously sought world hegemony. ]

[However, Emperor Qianlong probably knew very little about all this.]

【What’s more, in Qianlong’s view, the vast and self-sufficient Qing Empire did not need to care about the upheavals in the distant island country.】

[The gap and misunderstanding between the East and the West are like a natural chasm that is difficult to cross. This encounter seems destined to be a passing by, with little intersection.]

……

And at this time.

Seeing this, Kangxi's face became solemn.

"In other words, because of this meeting, the Qing Dynasty did not seize the opportunity of the Industrial Revolution, which led to the British using their powerful ships and cannons to open our country's doors in the future?"

Kangxi thought of the Meiji Restoration of the Japanese that Tianmu had mentioned, and he felt a chill down his spine and was filled with great regret.

From this perspective, the Qing Dynasty originally had the opportunity to connect with the world.

But he missed it because of Qianlong's arrogance.

……

[Historical records show that Macartney and his entourage knelt three times and kowtowed nine times to Emperor Qianlong. This move later sparked controversy and became the starting point of a historical turning point.]

【Macartney's wish to meet with Emperor Qianlong alone and show his personal charm was never realized.】

[He gained nothing except delivering the letter from the King of England. Macartney's failure seemed to mean the failure of the Qing Empire.]

[The years ahead will prove that this is a contest without a winner.]

[47 years later, in 1840, the Qing Dynasty's imperial commissioner Lin Zexu ordered the destruction of a batch of opium shipped to Guangzhou by Britain, and the British used their powerful ships and guns to open the door to China.]

【Since then, China has entered a period of unprecedented change in history. 】

——At that time, foreign guns, cannons, and even models of warships were brought by the British. However, Emperor Qianlong was too arrogant and thought that the Celestial Empire was vast and rich in resources and did not need such strange and tricky things. Later, the Eight-Nation Alliance even found these tributes in the storage room of the Old Summer Palace. How ironic!

——This is a lack of awareness of potential dangers! If it were Yongle, the imperial court would have copied these weapons and beaten the Wala people!

——He locked himself up and locked the door, locking up China's fortune for a thousand years with his own hands. He is truly a sinner for all ages!
——The Qing Dynasty could have caught up with the world's industrial revolution, but was ruined by Qianlong himself. While other countries in the world were making progress, the Qing Dynasty was standing still. It can be said that Qianlong should bear half the blame for the demise of the Qing Dynasty!
——I really want to skin Qianlong alive!
——The decadent Qing Dynasty has undergone an unprecedented transformation. (Laughs)
(End of this chapter)