This Time, We Got Beaten Again: A Comprehensive Look at the Second Opium War Between China and Britain

This book offers a comprehensive interpretation of the Second Opium War, revealing the balance of power in the mid-19th-century world. It provides a detailed account of the comparative strength of China and Britain, their preparations for war, the course of the conflict, and its outcome and consequences, giving readers a thorough, multifaceted understanding of the Second Opium War. Through this panoramic analysis, the author depicts how Western nations were rapidly advancing toward modern civilization while China stumbled along in authoritarian ignorance. This contrast clarifies the fundamental reason the Qing suffered one crushing defeat after another in the Opium Wars: the problem did not lie in the competence of a single emperor, the loyalty or treachery of a few ministers, or the people’s support. It was the rotten autocratic system that left modern China backward and vulnerable to attack.