Wei Yuan (魏源)(V)

In chapter four, Leonard pointed out Wei's belief that the maritime affair was associated with Qing's internal problems arose from internal weakness. Therefore Wei's solution was to change pattern in trade and politics of Nan-yang (南洋) in response to the Western penetration in the region. 1 The solution to this problem, according Wei, was to eradicate the Chinese piracy which was part of the opium smuggling activity, and believed to have interrupted the Nan-yang trade since the early 19th century along the coast of Guangdong. Wei was the first Chinese to reappraise coastal security by altering the traditional Qing orientation to the southeastern coastal region.2 According to Wei, the poor communication between the Emperor and Guangdong had kept the Court from seeing the full picture of the crisis. Also, the Emperor was not aware of the backwardness of Qing marine in face of the British. And as such, poor decision were made by the Court during the opium crisis.3 Wei during the War had once accompanied I-li-pu's army to reoccupy Chusan after the British had retreated. He was shocked by the unruliness of the Chinese troops and their inadequacy in military discipline.4 In late June 1841 Wei met Lin Tse-hsu (林則徐) after the latter was ordered into exile. During that discussion, Lin mentioned the enormous power of the British naval force and 'implored Wei to publicize the issue and awaken China to the seriousness of Western penetration of maritime Asia'.5 (to be continued)

Notes:
1. Leonard, Jane Kate. Wei Yuan and China's Rediscovery of the Maritime World. Cambridge (Mass.) and London: Council on East Asian Studies, Harvard University: distributed by Harvard University Press, 1984, pages 79-80
2. page 86
3. page 90
4. page 91
5. page 91