A relatively minor detail, but during the Second Opium War, once Anglo-French forces had reached Peking, they set upon burning down the numerous summer palaces as punishment for how the Chinese treated their prisoners. The English suggested burning down the Forbidden Palace as well, but the French and the Russian envoy both were against it, fearing that it might jeopardize the coming peace treaty.
So let us say that the French come around to the idea, and the Forbidden Palace is razed to the ground. What would the aftershocks be?
So let us say that the French come around to the idea, and the Forbidden Palace is razed to the ground. What would the aftershocks be?