After hearing Hong Yuner's words, Xiao Yungui asked in confusion: "Li Taiguo? British? Who is he?"

Hong Yuner smiled and said, "Li Taiguo, whose English name is horatianelsonlay, is a British man. His father was the first British consul in Guangzhou. Li Taiguo came to China at the age of 10 and became a "China Communications" under the training of his father. He served as the translator secretary of the British consular institutions in Guangzhou, Hong Kong and Shanghai, acting deputy consul. In history, Li Taiguo, 22, became the British tax officer of the Jiang Customs Administration Commission in June 1855. After he took office, he made great strides. Reforms and implement inspection receipts for foreign ships entering and leaving, which must be detailed, otherwise they will be punished or confiscated. Each tax must be collected and paid, tax receipts will be issued, and rules and regulations such as "Articles for the Compensation of the Tax for the Entry and Exit of Merchant Ships in Various Countries" were formulated. Wu Xu, the Shanghai Road, reported to the court that since Li Taiguo's management of the collection of taxes, taxes have improved greatly. Compared with the year, the silver has doubled. In 1859, the Jianghai Customs Tax Income was as high as 2.63 million taels, which is 60 times the quota of the Ministry of Revenue. Li Taiguo thus won the trust of the Qing government."

Xiao Yungui touched his beard and said, "Well, it sounds like he has some skills. Where is he now?"

Hong Yun'er hugged her chest and said, "He is now the translation secretary of the British Consulate."

Xiao Yungui slapped his thigh and said, "I remember, a few days ago when Wenhan, Midile and others came here to make noise, there was a young British man next to them, as if he was a translator, and his name was Li Taiguo, but he didn't pay attention at the time." Xiao Yungui frowned and said, "But is it really appropriate to use foreigners to run customs?"

Hong Yuner smiled and said, "Although the old customs system of the Qing Dynasty was independent, the structure was backward and officials were incompetent, it was difficult for them to manage the growing import and export trade after the Opium War. The new customs system created by Li Taiguo after taking over was further improved and improved in the hands of Heard, the British man who took over him. The Chinese customs under Heard adopted the advanced Western administrative management system at that time and implemented vertical unified leadership for the divisions of various places. Imports and exports were subject to institutional guarantees in all aspects such as taxation, declaration, inspection, tax assessment, review, tax collection, payment, and even inspection and release. Li Taiguo proposed the customs industry morality of "honest, efficient, and enthusiastic about public service" and was widely publicized after Heard's succession. The efficiency and integrity of the customs during this period were in sharp contrast with the tyranny of the Qing government."

Hong Yuner paused and continued: "Hard attached great importance to the quality and conduct assessment of customs personnel, and improved the personnel, finance, statistics, audit, anti-smuggling, employee management and other systems. Huard specially established a Chinese customs office in London and recruited foreign personnel for customs. The customs under Huard ruled by Huard were all served by foreigners. Historically, in 1875, there were 408 foreign personnel and 1,417 Chinese personnel. Ten years later, the number increased to 524 and 2,075 respectively. One of the objective reasons for the large number of foreign personnel was the lack of Chinese personnel who were proficient in foreign languages ​​at that time, which was also the reason why Huard later founded a special tax school. However, Huard did not trust Chinese personnel. It was not until Anglian (f.a.aglen1869-1932) succeeded the General Taxation Department. Chinese personnel began to serve as senior officials. Level management position. The customs under Held's rule has withstood many violent turmoil in the domestic political situation due to its sound system and strict organization. This set of institutions and systems have been fully inherited by previous governments of the Republic of China and have been operated until 1949. To put it bluntly, the modern customs of our country were established by foreigners for us. Our Taiping Heavenly Kingdom was first established, with few talents and insufficient structure. The customs was even lacking in experience. You and I were not from tax law, so it was difficult to formulate an effective management system. It is not that I was worried about the fact that we sent our own people to formulate the system and manage the customs. First, we could not play with those treacherous foreign merchants, and secondly, we might also have the old path of fraud and corruption in the Qing Dynasty. So I think it is very effective for foreigners to establish customs systems for us, or even help us manage customs."

Xiao Yungui pondered and asked slowly: "I am worried that doing so will cause customs power to fall into the hands of foreigners. Foreigners will interfere in customs taxes and thus lose national sovereignty."

Hong Yuner asked back: "Is it sovereign to pay more than 100,000 taels of tax per year like the Qing Dynasty? If we manage the customs ourselves, will foreigners not interfere? In 1851, a post signed by a collectively signed by foreign merchants in Shanghai was sent to the Shanghai Daotai Yamen, and strongly demanded that Shanghai Road appoint foreigners as the customs port chief. In September, foreign consuls in Shanghai announced that the British Nicholas Bailis had been appointed by Shanghai Daodao.

This position was taken. Bailis did take office immediately. Under his auspices, Jiang Customs announced a set of port regulations for managing ships and crew. Historical books say this is a serious incident. Not only does it recognize that foreign consuls have the privilege of interfering in Chinese customs tax collection, but it also sets a precedent for Chinese customs to appoint foreigners. I do not deny that it is a great shame for a country's customs to appoint foreigners, but from the actual effect, it is better than our own management."

Xiao Yungui was speechless, and Hong Yuner continued: "I didn't know if you were paying attention when I came to Shanghai last time. After our troops surrounded Shanghai, the British, American, French and other countries, who had been coveting the power of China's customs, immediately announced that the Qing Dynasty's customs officers were not allowed to work at the original site of the Bund on the grounds of strict neutrality in the concession. Therefore, the operation of Jiang Customs was at a standstill. During the period when we and foreign merchants were doing business, Aliguo used the excuse that the customs agencies and legal authorities were still inadequate, in order to fulfill the solemn treaty and ensure the collection of Chinese customs duties, and with the US Vice Consul in Shanghai, Jin Nengheng, respectively, they announced the "Ship during the Customs Administration Pause" on their own.

The Interim Regulations on Customs Clearance stipulate that the customs clearance procedures for the export of ships and cargo in Britain and the United States shall be handled by the British and American consulates; freight organizers, importers and shipping providers are allowed to use bills to guarantee the bills instead of the prescribed method of paying taxes in cash; the bills issued are paid in Shanghai within 40 days to the customs supervision of the Qing Dynasty Customs in Shanghai; as long as such procedures are completed, the ship can leave the door, which is actually an intervention in customs affairs. I have asked the foreign merchants who traded with us that they prefer this method of doing things that is close to reality, and I dare say that none of them go to the Customs Supervision of the Qing Dynasty to pay taxes, but we can recover this money as long as we continue to appoint foreigners to manage the customs."

After a while of silence, Xiao Yungui said slowly: "Yun'er, you're right. We have many problems in managing the customs ourselves. We don't have the time or energy to waste time on this matter."

Hong Yuner nodded and said, "That's true. Even if we have settled the customs tariff rules, foreigners can still object. Tariff negotiations are a lawsuit, and before the Qing Dynasty, there were five trade charters with all countries. They can use these to suppress us. Since we recognize the vested interests of all countries, they will definitely hold on to these. You said you should formulate the tariff rules yourself. It is not normal for the consuls of various countries to not object to this. They just want you to spend time on the constitution and subsequent negotiations. They want to continue the unmanaged chaotic state of Shanghai Customs. Once smuggling becomes a trend, we will have to spend a hundred times more effort to end this state, which is extremely detrimental."

Xiao Yungui slowly closed his eyes and said, "Yun'er, it's okay to ask foreigners like Li Taiguo to help us formulate tariff rules, or even hire foreigners to serve as customs positions, but the power of Shanghai Customs in our Taiping Heavenly Kingdom must be in our own hands. It's not that I'm not pragmatic, nor that I can't let go, nor that I'm afraid that later generations will say that I'm selling my sovereignty. I'm just a rebel leader now, so why talk about national sovereignty? I just remembered a proverb, if you give a bone to the wolf, it will ask you for a piece of meat tomorrow! When dealing with the great powers, we cannot be led by their nose, otherwise we will become more and more passive in the future!"

Hong Yun'er looked at the man in front of her in surprise. He seemed to be getting more and more mature, and he was thinking deeper than she thought. Perhaps this is what this man began to attract her.

After the two were silent for a moment, Xiao Yungui suddenly opened his eyes and stood up happily and said, "I thought of a solution. You are right. Foreigners can help us formulate and manage customs, but if we change the method, we can hire elite businessmen from all over the country to form a customs legislative advisory group and a customs management advisory group. Note that they all participate in customs affairs in the form of consultants, and only have the right to suggest but no decision-making power. Some middle and lower positions in our customs can hire foreigners to serve, but the upper level is completely managed by us. Do you think this is OK?"

Hong Yuner said a few words, snapped her fingers and smiled, "You really have many ideas. This can not only satisfy the foreigners' desire to intervene in the customs, but also solve our current dilemma. Moreover, the customs power is always in our hands. In fact, it can also allow foreigners to form a customs supervision consulting group to supervise the customs' integrity. If you find corruption and fraud, you can report it to us directly, so that you can solve the customs problems to the greatest extent."

Xiao Yungui laughed and pulled Hong Yuner's hand and said, "It's still the old saying goes. We are called husband and wife being one-hearted, and they will be able to cut off gold."

Hong Yun'er's pretty face turned slightly red, and she lowered her head and said, "Who is a couple with you?" But her hand did not retract and allowed Xiao Yungui to hold it.

The two of them whispered in the big tent, causing everyone in the tent to look over from time to time. Xiao Yungui pulled Hong Yun'er out and said, "Let's go out for a walk, I have something to say to you."

The two left the tent, and the personal guards were escorting the guards more than ten steps behind them. The two climbed to the camp and looked at the entire Shanghai city together. The smoke of the Shanghai city had dissipated. Under the sunshine, this emerging old city was returning to its former prosperity.

Xiao Yungui sighed and said, "Yun'er, I suspect that the good things we had ruined before. The Ronglu who would get rid of Xiaodao was also a time traveler. He is likely to be one of Sixuan or Qingyun!" (To be continued, please search for Astronomy, the novel is better and faster!
Chapter completed!