In the long course of history, there are always some misunderstandings and myths that have been passed down from generation to generation, as if they have become a recognized "truth". A common misconception about the Opium War and the Eight-Nation Alliance's war of aggression against China is that the seemingly large Manchu army could easily send hundreds of thousands of troops to defend against foreign aggression. However, when we dig deeper into the details of that period of history, we will find that this "truth" is actually just a beautiful fantasy.
By the middle of the 19th century, the Manchu dynasty had become inadequate. Although it nominally has a large army, its actual combat effectiveness is worrying. The total strength of the country was about 800,000, but these soldiers were scattered over a vast territory, from north to south and from east to west, garrisoning various important cities and passes.
At that time, Jingshi, which is today's Beijing, was the political and military center of the Manchu Qing Dynasty. Here, although the children of the Eight Banners nominally have 150,000 troops, in fact, due to various reasons, their combat effectiveness has been greatly reduced. Although the number of the Eight Banners and Green Battalion troops stationed in the provinces is large, they are also facing problems such as backward equipment and insufficient training.
The military system of the Manchu Qing Dynasty was particularly unique in the social context of the time. There is no distinction between the military and the police, and there are checks and balances on each other, and this system has weakened its ability to dispatch troops to a certain extent. When war broke out, the number of troops that could be quickly mobilized was often only a few tens of thousands of troops near the Beijing Division. And those armies that were far away from Beijing were often difficult to rush to the aid in time due to the restrictions of transportation and communication.
During the Opium Wars, when British and French warships sailed to the shores of China, the Manchu government was not well prepared. Although the Anglo-French forces were small in strength, their ships were strong, well-trained, and tactically flexible. In contrast, the equipment and tactics of the Qing army appeared backward and stiff. During the war, the Qing army suffered repeated setbacks and was unable to form an effective resistance.
By the time the Eight-Nation Coalition invaded China, the situation was even worse. At that time, Tsarist Russia sent more than 130,000 troops in the northeast, and the armies of other powers also poured into China. With a total strength of more than 180,000, the Eight-Nation Alliance, armed with advanced weapons and tactics, launched a fierce attack on Beijing. At this time, the Qing army had very few mobile troops that could be mobilized. Empress Dowager Cixi could only rely on 40,000 armed guards near Zhili and 50,000 garrisons in the northeast to defend against a strong enemy. However, these forces seemed so small and powerless in the face of the powerful coalition forces.
The defeat of the Qing army was not simply due to a lack of troops. The deeper reason lies in the rigidity of its military system and the backwardness of its tactics. The training level of the Qing army was low, the quality was uneven, and there was a general lack of the concept of nationality and state and the sense of honor of soldiers. This makes them often lack a strong will and determination to fight on the battlefield. When confronted with a strong enemy, they often choose to flee or surrender rather than resist bravely.
The truth of history is always brutal. Although the Manchus nominally had a large army, in fact they failed to exert their due combat effectiveness in the Opium War and the Eight-Nation Alliance's war of aggression against China. This common misunderstanding has also made us more aware of the importance of military institutions and strategic thinking. Only through continuous reform and innovation can we meet the development needs of the times and ensure the security and stability of the country.