[ConservingFreedom]

Out gunned, yes

And resulting loss of public legitimacy is as plausible an explanation for the end of the regime as the effects of opium use.

[DiogenesLamp]

And resulting loss of public legitimacy is as plausible an explanation for the end of the regime as the effects of opium use.

China had a revolution in 1911. That was ~50 years after the end of the second opium war. Do you really think that the loss of respect for the government of China from being defeated by the British would wait 50 years to manifest itself?