Although the late Qing Dynasty is difficult to say in history, it is undeniable that the Qing Dynasty also had a heyday, and since Kangxi ascended the throne, it has been vigorously reformed, and Kangxi announced in the fifty-second year of Kangxi (1713) that "the prosperous world breeds people and never adds endowments", and the Qing Dynasty has officially entered the prosperous era of Kangqian.
The prosperous life of Kangqian went through the three generations of emperors of Kangxi, Yongzheng and Qianlong, which lasted for 134 years, but since Qianlong, the prosperity has begun to disappear, in fact, this can also be seen from a holy decree issued by Qianlong to the British queen.
After the Industrial Revolution, Britain's large-scale production of industrial products, the urgent need for market sales, and the countries of the world have not yet opened a market in China, so Britain wanted to trade with the Qing Dynasty, so it appointed George Macartney as the envoy to Qianlong Heshou.
George Macartney, is a British nobleman, when visiting Qianlong, the Queen of England specially crowned him as "Earl", Ma Garni brought geographical instruments, books, military supplies, vehicles a total of 600 boxes of "tribute" to the Qing Dynasty, he is a very good emissary, for this Birthday visit, he has full confidence.
In August 1793, Ma Garni arrived in Beijing and received them as liang Kentang, the governor of the prefecture, but due to etiquette problems, the ministry of etiquette and Ma Garni and his party had a dispute, and on August 9, Ma Garni rushed to Beijing, but learned that Qianlong had gone to the summer resort.
With great patience, Ma Garni took the delegation to Rehe and submitted the state certificate with Hezhen, and the Qing Dynasty Ceremonial Department talked about Ma Garni kneeling three times and nine kowtows before Ma Garni visited Qianlong, but Ma Garni, as a count, naturally refused, after many consultations, both sides made concessions, he would exercise the etiquette of the person, kneeling on one knee.
On September 14, Macartney finally visited Qianlong, and on behalf of the British government, he negotiated with Qianlong on trade issues, and hoped to open up trade between Zhejiang and Tianjin, set up a cargo store in the capital, and allocate a place to live in Guangzhou, reduce or waive taxes on the exchanges between Guangzhou and Macao.
However, Qianlong was not interested in these "tributes", and the British conditions involved the issue of tax exemption, Qianlong refused, and at the same time gave the British a holy decree (can also be said to reply), and after The failure of Macartney's persuasion, he officially left on March 17, 1794.
Just after they left, Qianlong also ordered all localities to strictly guard the coastal defense ports, make military preparations for defense, and prevent the British from sneaking attacks, after Ma Garni returned to China, he also presented Qianlong's holy will to the British Queen, the holy will is roughly like this: I am a great treasure in heaven and earth, rich in products, if the British like our silk and porcelain, we can reward you with some every year.
The British also used this holy will to emphasize Qianlong's arrogance and unequal treatment of other countries, which became the fuse of the Opium War in the eyes of many British, and this holy will was also preserved in the British Museum.