台湾历史学家蒋廷黻在他的《中国近代史》中说,林则徐在鸦片战争前被罢黜,是林的终生大幸事而中国国运的大不幸。如果不罢黜林则徐,他也一定会跟英国人开战,如果开战也一定会失败,若失败,他的声名或许就会跟叶名琛相同了。但是林则徐战败,中国就会速速求和,速速求和损失就可减少,这样一来,中国的维新或许可以提早二十年。 In his book Modern Chinese History, Taiwan historian Jiang Tingtao said that Lin Zexu was ousted before the Opium War and that this was a great misfortune for Lin’s lifetime and the fortunes of China. If you do not dismiss Lin Zexu, he will certainly be going to war with the British people. If war breaks out, he will certainly fail. If he fails, his reputation may be the same as that of Ye Meachen. However, Lin Zexu defeated, China will quickly summation, rapid summation losses can be reduced, so that China’s reform may be able to advance 20 years.