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During the First Opium War (1838-1842) China intended to use a curious method to defend the coastal city of Ningbo against attacking British ships. What was it?

Answer: They proposed attaching firecrackers to monkeys and then flinging them onto the British warships, hoping to ignite the ships’ powder magazines. The plan failed before it had even begun, however, as when the British attacked everyone fled, including the animal keeper, and the monkeys were never used.

Source: The Opium War by Julia Lovell

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