Opium War

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This urgent official document

of the Ministry of War

Shall be sent by prompt delivery

to Bao Xing, General of Shengjing!

This urgent official document

of the Ministry of Civil Service

Shall be sent by prompt delivery

to Qishan, Viceroy of Zhui Province!

This urgent official document

of the Ministry of Defense,

Shall be sent by prompt delivery

to Lin Zexu, Viceroy of Hu Guang

Rampant opium use has become

a serious threat to the Celestial Empire

In my opinion, if we do nothing,

within ten years...

the Qing Dynasty's treasury

will be drained and

the country will be defenseless

Foreigners could conquer our nation...

without using force

How dare you!

Summon Lin Zexu, Viceroy of Hu Guang,

to the capital at once

Master, here comes

His Excellency Lin Zexu

Lin, what...

This medicine has grown for a thousand

years at the bottom of the Dongling Lake

It's said that

this medicine can free you from

the habit of smoking opium for good

You might try it

I'm so ashamed of myself. I've weathered

the storms in civil service for 60 years

But failed to resist

the temptation of opium

Lin,

do you know

why you are summoned by His Majesty?

I'm afraid

it's about a strict ban on opium

Opium is the most abominable thing

China has ever seen

It leads people astray and ruins them

Even I have become addicted,

to say nothing of princes and ministers

in the capital

In my opinion,

opium smoking is dangerous

but to impose a strict ban on opium

is even more dangerous

I'd like to listen to your advice

It's so difficult

because customs officers take bribes and

high officials of central government

are corrupt

What's more, His Majesty is indecisive

It's really difficult

to predict the result

You must think twice

before you agree

to undertake any mission

I'll take your advice

Recently I wrote a poem,

and I'd like your comment

It may do you no good...

to be as courageous and

determined as you were young

It could not be a good sign

Lin Zexu, you're an important official

in my government

Right now, opium use is running rampant

Do you have any solution?

It is my opinion that

if Your Majesty issues an order,

the cabinet enacts prohibitions and

customs rigorously enforces them

I'm certain that opium can be wiped out

Are you sure? Is it that easy?

Your majesty's power

can destroy any monster

Since you are so confident,

I hope you will undertake this mission

Go to Guangdong to root out

the evil of opium

Your Majesty,

I am duly bound to sacrifice myself

for the Celestial Empire

But recently, I've been suffering

from various illnesses and

though I fear no death

I am afraid

I may fail in this important task

That would be an unpardonable mistake

I know a little about medicine

Let me check your pulse, your right hand

Your pulse is irregular

Shall I prescribe a good remedy?

How do I dare...

Lin Zexu,

the cause of your illness is threefold

One, you're afraid that

I won't delegate to you,

the power to carry out this mission

Two, you're afraid that government

officials may create obstacles

to make you give up halfway

Three, you fear that...

I may be capricious

and make unpredictable changes in policy

Is this the cause of your illness?

Your Majesty has keen insight

I do have these fears

I am not worried about my career

but I am truly concerned

about the future of the Celestial Empire

It has been 109 years since

Emperor Yongzheng issued an order...

to ban opium in the 7th year

of his reign

And yet opium use runs wild!

If we give up halfway this time,

no one would ever dare...

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