Qianlong once gave a holy decree to the British king, and the content made people laugh off their teeth and reveal the ignorance of the Qing Dynasty!
Magani adored and longed for China from an early age, when Europeans often praised Chinese, saying, "Chinese the smartest and most polite person in the world." Because they use Confucius's theories to guide the country, everyone loves each other like a family. The rulers are also very kind and kind to the people: Magani was persuaded.
In 1792, Magani came to China with a large British contingent to establish equal diplomatic relations with china, hoping that the Qing government would adjust the restrictions and prohibitions on British trade. Before he arrived, Mr. Magani was particularly nervous. Faced with the China he yearns for, he chooses gifts with difficulty and is as nervous as a child.
When he heard that China did not have these machines and still relied on manpower, he quickly prepared steam engines, looms, and cotton spinning machines; when he heard that Chinese astronomy was so great, he chose Britain's most advanced globe and celestial instruments and mapped all known voyage routes (the official's son had been studying for half a year Chinese to help translate the documents of the mission).
King George III of England personally wrote a letter to the Qianlong Emperor, I know that China is too big, in charge of many people, the emperor you worry about the world, not only China, even foreign countries, you have to protect, these countries are sincere, emperor you are too hard.
Nowadays, countries around the world say that only where the great emperor of China ruled, the system is more perfect, and everyone is full of praise, so I am more and more eager. Your Majesty, this year is your 80th birthday, I pay tribute to you and hope that you will understand us:
Of course, this letter was translated by a Qing official, and the King of England could not be so "mean", and this translated letter of state made the Qianlong Emperor take a look at it, and the mood was very beautiful.
Macartney never expected that "equal trade" would end in failure. As soon as they arrived in China, the Qianlong Emperor asked the British mission to kneel down and perform three knocks and nine knocks. The elaborate "gifts" prepared by the British were labeled "tributes", and Makani certainly knew Chinese customs, but it was already the 18th century and should not be treated as such, and the British were meant to "celebrate" the Qianlong Emperor, not as tributes.
When the ministers of the Qing Dynasty heard this, these British really did not deserve it!! The Qianlong Emperor was even more furious, and immediately lowered the reception specifications, and the two sides bargained for several months, and the scene was very embarrassing. Finally, on August 13, 1993, the 80th birthday of the Qianlong Emperor.
There was no way to kneel, and Magani saw the king on one knee on the rites, but he recorded: "English envoys" and other prostrations on the emperor's three knees and nine prostrations. "We no longer know the truth, but it was definitely an unpleasant experience for the British.
Before leaving, Markani finally expressed the purpose of the Qianlong Emperor's visit, hoping to allow britain to do business in China. The Qianlong Emperor rejected all this, saying that the mighty Qing Dynasty did not need British ingenuity (guns, looms, etc.). And a decree was returned to the King of England.
Although the Heavenly Dynasty has four seas, but it strives to manage the government, rare treasures, worthless, the second king this time into all things, remember its sincerity and distance, reason of the yamen to receive it: It means that your "rare treasures" are not valuable to our Qing Dynasty, and I am quite touched to read that you have traveled thousands of miles to give gifts, and I will make the next person accept it. Sure enough, all the most valuable inventions of the time were sent to the warehouse to "eat the ashes." Such an arrogant answer is estimated to have been read by the King of England to "laugh off his teeth".