The precarious life of that era seems unimaginable to people today, and the poignant love stories in the novel have long concealed the nature of the era.
Qian Jiusheng lived at the foot of the Imperial City and grew up hearing about the glory of the Qing Dynasty from his ancestors. However, the reality is:
In 1840, the Opium War started and the Qing Dynasty was forced to sign the Treaty of Nanjing, but Emperor Daoguang said: "Where is Britain?"
In 1856, the Second Opium War broke out, and Britain and France burned the Old Summer Palace.
In 1894, during the Sino-Japanese War of 1894, the entire Beiyang Navy was wiped out. Japan, which had looked down on it in the past, trampled on the Qing Dynasty.
In 1900, the Eight-Power Allied Forces invaded China and held a military parade in Beijing...
They struggled in the dark.
The gunfire on October 10, 1911 did not bring light.
The swamp is deep, sinking in, and suffocating... But the sun remains the same in the Forbidden City.
I have to live for myself and my children.
I will die for myself and my country.
Ji Liang (attack) & Qian Jiusheng (receiver)
Purpose: Feelings of family and country