Such a Nation's Gateway

Synopsis

In the late eighteenth century, Britain's envoy Macartney led the largest delegation in history on a long journey to China, ostensibly to congratulate the Qianlong Emperor on his birthday, but in truth hoping to open the gates of this ancient, mysterious nation and expand trade. First came a dispute over ceremony, which was resolved when the Qianlong Emperor agreed to make concessions. Then the British side put forward a host of unreasonable demands for trade, all of which the Qing court rejected. It was a collision between two worlds. Their chance to engage with one another slipped by, sowing the seeds of war decades later.

As the British delegation passed Zhoushan, it brought disaster to Guo Jieguan, a private-school tutor. Accused of a crime against the emperor, Guo Jieguan was sent under guard to Beijing, his fate uncertain. With the help of Yin Peidian, Guo Putao set off for the capital to save her father, setting a chain of events in motion. Through a unique perspective, the story captures the era: the prosperous reigns of Kangxi and Qianlong were merely the fading glow of sunset, with a far greater crisis yet to come.