141 years ago today, on August 23, 1884 (July 3, 1884, the French fleet attacked the Fujian Navy and the Battle of Mawei broke out. On August 23, 1884, the French fleet attacked the Fujian Navy, and the Battle of Mawei broke out. Mawei, or Majiang River, is a section of the lower reaches of the Min River in Fuzhou. Mawei Port is the base of the Fujian Navy. During the Sino-French War, the invaders took advantage of the Qing government's indecision and hesitation, and used force and diplomatic blackmail to force the Qing government to submit. In mid-July 1884, French Vice Admiral Gu Ba led his fleet into the Mawei Military Port in the name of "traveling". Under the influence of Li Hongzhang's policy of concessions and concessions to the outside world, He Ruzhang, the governor of Fujian and Zhejiang, and He Ruzhang, the minister of shipbuilding, were deeply afraid of offending the invaders and affecting the "peace talks" between China and France and the "mediation" between the great powers. Instead of taking precautions, they held a grand welcome ceremony to provide a "friendly reception" to the French fleet that was preparing to attack the Chinese Navy. He also "strictly ordered the navy not to fire first, and that violators will be killed even if they win." It even prohibited the movement of naval ships in the port to avoid arousing doubts among the French army. On August 21, China-France negotiations broke down. On the morning of the 23rd, after receiving the letter of challenge from the consul stationed in Fuzhou, He Jing actually blocked the news from the naval officers and soldiers, and prohibited the officers and soldiers from asking for "act recklessly", hoping to beg the French army to postpone the attack. After 1 o'clock in the afternoon, the French ship fired artillery attacks on the Fujian Navy. The Fujian Navy hastily fought back without making any preparations for battle. Most of the ships were damaged and sunk by the French superior artillery and water before they could lift anchor. In less than 30 minutes of the naval battle, 11 Fujian Navy warships and 19 transport ships were all destroyed. 521 officers and soldiers were killed, 150 were injured, and 51 were missing. In the French army, 5 people were killed and 15 people were injured (including Guoba). At the same time as the naval battle, the French army bombed the Fuzhou Shipyard, the fortresses on both sides of the Taiwan Strait and countless civilian houses that had been operated by the Westernization Faction for nearly 20 years. Mawei was defeated.