1. The sea accepts hundreds of rivers, and it is great if it has tolerance; if it stands thousands of feet high on the wall, it is strong if it has no desires.

Vernacular explanation: The reason why the sea is vast is that it can contain hundreds of small streams; people must have broad virtues and have a broad mind like the sea. The mountains are so tall because there are no intrigues and desires in the world.

2. If the opium supply is not exhausted for a day, and this minister will not return for a day, I swear to stay committed to this matter, and there will be no reason to stop.

Vernacular explanation: As long as opium is not eliminated for a day, I will not return for a day. I will definitely fight this matter to the end without interruption.

3. If your children and grandchildren are like me, what should you do with money? If you are virtuous and have a lot of money, it will harm your ambition; if your children and grandchildren are not as good as me, what should you do with money? If you are stupid and have a lot of money, it will increase your faults.

Vernacular explanation: If my descendants are like me, why should I leave money to them? Too much money for sages will only damage their aspirations; if my descendants are not as good as me, why should I leave money to them? Being stupid and rich only makes them worse.

Extended information

Lin Zexu’s process of banning opium in Guangzhou

During the process of banning opium in Guangzhou, Lin Zexu realized that the British colonists were unwilling to give up the evil opium trade, and Premeditated to use force to invade China. In order to fight against the opium invasion and defeat the enemy, he carried out a large number of military reform practices of "learning from the foreigners' skills to defeat the enemy". Lin Zexu banned smoking in Guangdong while actively preparing for war. He built forts and pulled iron chains to block river rafts. Believing that "people's support can be used", he recruited more than 5,000 fishermen to form Shuiyong, who repeatedly defeated the provocations of the British army. In the second half of 1839, we won victories in counterattacks such as the Battle of Kowloon and the Battle of Chuanbi and Guanyong.

From March of the 19th year of Daoguang (1839), Lin Zexu arrived in Guangzhou to ban opium. In October of the 20th year of Daoguang (1840), the Qing government dismissed Lin Zexu as governor of Guangdong and Guangdong. Lin Zexu presided over the ban on opium in Guangzhou. The anti-British military struggle lasted for 19 months. On May 18, after 34 days of operation, the police confiscated 19,187 boxes and 2,119 bags of tobacco, with a total weight of 1,188,127 kilograms. On June 3, the 23-day opium burning in Humen, under the command of Lin Zexu, declared to the world the determination of the Chinese nation not to succumb to aggression.