In ancient times, China had attracted the world's attention with its rapid development, but this scene changed radically in the last years of the Qing Dynasty. At that time, the Qing Dynasty claimed to be the first country, closed the country and cut off contacts with other countries, but as a result, China gradually fell behind other countries, which eventually led to invasion. During the Qianlong period, the British envoys brought advanced rifles, but they were stored in warehouses and never used. This decision became the trigger for our country to lose its advantage.
Learning from the West, Li Hongzhang's decision Xi.
Li Hongzhang, an important minister in the late Qing Dynasty, understood that the development of the country needed to learn from the West and Xi introduce advanced technology to protect the country. Therefore, he advocated directly learning Xi manufacturing technology, rather than relying on large-scale acquisition of advanced **. In August 1896, Li Hongzhang embarked on a journey to a British gun factory, which was owned by Maxim.
Maxim Machine Gun: A Miracle of Machinery.
Maxim was an inventor, and the Maxim machine gun he created became the most advanced at that time. The biggest feature of this machine gun is that it can fire bullets continuously, which has great power, improves the hit rate, and reduces the personnel of its own army**, in all respects, this machine gun has a strong advantage. Makqin thought that the Qing ** had strong financial resources and would definitely purchase a large number of machine guns, but he did not get Li Hongzhang's interest.
The treasury is empty, and the purchase of ** has become a luxury.
Li Hongzhang did not directly ask about the machine gun, but asked how many bullets this machine gun needed for one minute. Makqin replied that the machine gun could fire 300 rounds per minute. Ordinary people are amazed by this, but Li Hongzhang behaves differently. He pointed out that, according to the current state of the treasury, it is simply not possible to pay these costs. Even if these machine guns were purchased, they would only sit idle in the warehouse in the future, and could not play their role.
The Qing Dynasty's treasury was depleted at an extremely rapid pace.
In the heyday of the Qing Dynasty, there were more than 80 million taels in the treasury, but except for a part of the loss of land reparations, the rest were squandered by Cixi and the royal nobles. Especially Cixi, in her later years, she was extremely extravagant, and she needed to use up more than 10 million taels a year, which is tantamount to an astronomical amount for ordinary people. It is understandable that the treasury is depleted at such a rate.
Reflection and Conclusion: Lessons from the Reign of Mediocre.
It was not for nothing that the Qing ** was bullied, and although the Western powers launched wars of aggression, if China was strong enough, there was no need to fear their invasion. However, under the rule of a mediocre ruler, China has become weak and can only endure these bullies in silence. For us, this is a bloody lesson. In the future, we must always be vigilant to avoid falling into a similar predicament again.
This kind of historical reflection has made us more profoundly realize that the strength of a country does not only depend on its short-term glory, but also requires a solid internal foundation and wise decision-making.
The historical reflection on the last years of the Qing Dynasty makes us deeply immersed in it and look back at that tortuous and profound history. The article takes the story of Li Hongzhang and the Makqin machine gun as a clue to outline the decline of the country caused by the Qing Dynasty's self-shut-in.
First of all, the article highlights the conceit and closure of Qing **. Qing ** claims to be the first country, but on this ground to close the country, refuse to interact with other countries. This conceit has led to a blockade of foreign knowledge and technology, and missed the opportunity to learn Xi advanced manufacturing technology. This reminds us that self-confidence is important in national development, but blind conceit can be a fatal weakness.
Second, Li's assertion shows the concerns of a wise statesman. He proposed to learn from the West Xi and introduce technology, rather than blindly purchasing advanced **. This shows a sensitivity to the country's financial situation and a deep understanding of long-term development. The concern of Li Hongzhang about the state of the Qing ** treasury revealed in the article makes people sigh at his foresight. In today's society, such a leader's way of thinking is worth emulating, especially in the face of the country's financial difficulties in development, which requires more foresight.
The Maxim machine gun became the highlight of the article, highlighting the scientific and technological progress of the times. However, the indifference of the Qing ** towards this technology became the fuse for the country's repeated aggression later. This has led to deep thinking, the pace of scientific and technological development will never stop, and whether or not to embrace it is directly related to the fate of the country. We should realize that no matter what historical period, we should not take the rapid development of science and technology lightly, but should actively adapt and adopt new technologies to serve the prosperity and development of the country.
The depiction of the Qing Dynasty's treasury in the article gives a deep sense of the fragility of the state's finances. Excessive extravagance and profligacy led to the rapid depletion of the treasury, casting a heavy shadow over the country's advanced purchases. It is also a reminder to today's society that fiscal sound management is inseparable from sustainable development, and that we should not let our guard down at any time because of short-term affluence.
Finally, the essay concludes with a reflection on the lessons of history under the rule of mediocrity. For us, this history should not be seen simply as a thing of the past, but as a lesson to be learned. Only by keeping a clear head at all times and constantly summing up lessons and lessons can we better lead the country into the future.
Taken together, this article vividly illustrates the tremendous impact of self-containment, technological indifference, and financial weakness on the country's development through historical events in the last years of the Qing Dynasty. In contemporary society, we should ponder these issues and lead the country forward with a more open and wise attitude.
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