If the Qing Dynasty Had Twenty More Years

From the Daoguang era's twentieth year (1840) to the Xianfeng era's tenth year (1860), China suffered defeat in both Opium Wars. Its medieval feudal armies and weapons, government, people, and even its scholar-officials all proved their failure time and again in war.

Though we fought with all our might, defeat was inevitable and irreversible.

China's failure was not a military one. It lay in knowing we had lost, yet still not understanding why. Refusing to pursue reform or progress was the fatal flaw of the nation.

If the reforms of the Tongzhi and Guangxu eras had been moved to the Daoguang era, we would have gained twenty extra years on the road to modernization.