DiplomacyEconomy
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Canton, 1834 · The Shattered Congress
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After the end of the EIC monopoly on Chinese trade a year ago (1833), British merchants have been swarming Canton to trade goods; among them, opium. Friction has been increasing, and thus Lord Napier has been sent as Supreintendent to address any issues between the Qing authorities and the British factory. With the Maratha war stalling, it is wise to not allow new fires to rise.
However, the exchange went awry, for Napier did not understand the requirments the Qing imposed to meet the Zongdu (Governor) of Guangdong to negotiate. Angered, he sent his warships up the river and fired over cities, but such reaction alienated even the British in Canton.
Defeated, he has retired to Macau, from where he will conduct his affairs... if there are any to conduct, given the cold shoulder the Canton authorities are giving him after his actions.
Hostilities will only continue to rise from now on, with many gentrymen asking to stop the British before all of China is swallowed by the opium sickness.