Don't forget, Qing empire unlike the Ming they had a policy to opening and promoting trade and export for their commodities to the so called barbarian countries from the South in which at the times has been heavily invested if not conquered by European power. Made me wonder why the Qing who know about what happened outside of their world including the war, destruction, enlightenment, industrial prowess, and the advancement technologies the European brings still idle with their own idea of universe and world politics.
I am quite sure, in the time spaning between 1680 into 1800 the central government of Qing empire is have much authority , times, and wealth to finance any research and and modernization programme for their army but they prefer not to. Instead they more prefer to use their resources to built a lot of monumental tasks, palaces, to held a grandiose party among nobles and Royal courts.