| In the opium war, Ribe Yi was an influential figure and also was the appointed imperial commissioner by Qing Dynasty to be in charge of the coastal defence and military action in Zhejiang province. According to the actual situation, they formulated operational guidelines and made contribution to a truce in Zhejiang. After banished, he sacrificed for the state in a crisis and participated in agreement with British officials. On behalf of Qing Dynasty, he was with Qiying and NiuJian signed the treaty of Nanking with Britain and dealed with the rehabilitation works. Ribe Yi has always taken part in the military activities and diplomatic actions and his influence throughout the beginning and end of the first opium war. Ribe Yi was one of the early officials who were from strongly advocated fighting to peace and this reflects most the weak diplomacy of Qing Dynasty. When the state and national interests were in danger, he chose to avoid war and tried to negotiate to solve the related problems based on the real benefits, and this became the defect in his life.Ribe Yi was an influential figure in the opium war. For a long time, he was identified as an important representative for compromise or surrender by the academia. This paper argues that it is necessary for us to continue to study and explore further. Firstly, Ribe Yi was a good man and a prestigious magistrate, who cared about people’s life and had generous peaceful disposition. Secondly, Ribe Yi was prepared for the war carefully in the front of Jiangsu and Zhejiang, so the statement argued that he was the representative figure for surrender is not enough. Thirdly, it had historical reasons for Ribe Yi to choose the peaceful negotiation with British officials to revert Dinghai district finally, and he did not sign the so-called Zhejiang truce. Fourthly, how to evaluate the issue that Ribe Yi chose to truce with British officials, which is worth to reflect on. Finally, as a whole, it was right that Ribe Yi insisted to choose the strategy to keep land, induce enemies to the shore and then assault them, which was the best strategy for coastal defence in the absence of advanced weapons. This paper argues that it is a wrong view that Ribe Yi is a traitor. On the contrary, he is a faithful patriot. And this paper is tentative hoping to get criticism and correct from academic colleagues. |
