On this day, 159 years ago, on October 6, 1866 (August 28, 1866 in the lunar calendar), the Qing government approved the establishment of Tianjin Machinery Bureau. On October 6, 1866, the Qing government approved the request of the General Administration of Commerce and ordered Chonghou, the Minister of Commerce of the Three Ports, to prepare for the establishment of the Tianjin Machinery Bureau. Zeng Guofan, Li Hongzhang, Zuo Zongtang and other Westernization factions actively organized military industries since the 1860s. Although they played a role in suppressing peasant uprisings such as the Taiping Rebellion, they objectively weakened the central power. Especially since these people are Han officials. Therefore, Yi Yi petitioned to set up a bureau for manufacturing in Zhili. It started in May of the following year and was initially named the "Tianjin Munitions and Machines Bureau". In 1870, it was officially called the Tianjin Machinery Bureau. We hired the Danish Consul in Tianjin, a British Mithos, as the chief manager, and all British technicians, with about 2000 workers. The scale is second only to Jiangnan Manufacturing Bureau. The total start-up expenses are more than 200,000 taels. 40% of the annual funds are allocated by Tianjin and Yantai customs, which is about 300,000 taels per year. There was an increase after the 1980s. However, due to corrupt management, the cost of producing gunpowder is higher than the purchase price. In 1870, after Li Hongzhang was transferred to the governor of Zhili, the bureau was taken over by Li Hongzhang. Li Hongzhang transferred a large number of employees from the south and fired "all the northern flag men and Han people" in the bureau. The Machinery Bureau was completely controlled by Li, which broke the intention of Yi Yi and others to strengthen the central military industry. The bureau is divided into two bureaus: the east bureau is located in Jiajiagu, east of the city, and mainly manufactures gunpowder, guns, bullets and mines; the west bureau is located in Haiguang Temple, Chenggao, and mainly manufactures military equipment, supplies and exploding bullets. After expansion by Li Hongzhang, he also manufactured dredgers, royal yachts, etc. The Eastern Bureau also has a Navy and Telegraph School. In 1893, another steel plant was built. In 1895, it was renamed the "Beiyang Machine Manufacturing Bureau". It played an extremely important role in consolidating Li Hongzhang's Beiyang forces. In 1900, it was severely damaged by the Eight-Power Allied Forces. Comment: The earliest national industry in modern times in China.