"Humph! It turns out that these Chinese want to abolish those unequal treaties, which is really cunning. It's just that if they think that just taking out these orders will make us succumb, they are underestimating us. Sir Jurdian said coldly in his heart.

Before, he had been wondering why Wu Haoxuan would throw such a large order. Unexpectedly, these are the pictures.

The faces of several ministers in China are not very optimistic, and the interests of various countries in China have been established through these unequal treaties. If these unequal treaties are abolished, their special interests in China will not be guaranteed.

"Your Highness the Crown Prince, the treaty is sacred. Isn't the Chinese Empire going to abide by these treaties? Sir Jurdian said coldly.

"Your Excellency, these treaties were signed between the Manchu government and you, and have nothing to do with the Chinese Empire. We could have directly declared that we would not recognize these treaties, but that would have affected our friendly relations with other countries. That's why we want countries to abandon these treaties on their own initiative. Wu Haoxuan said. In fact, if the Chinese Empire had directly announced the abrogation of these unequal treaties, it would certainly have been hostile to the entire Western world. Later republics dared to abolish those unequal treaties because of the great backing of the Socialist Alliance. Now China can only rely on itself. Otherwise, the hostility of the Western world alone would make it difficult for the Chinese empire to move an inch.

At present, China's industrial base is still very weak, and if you want to buy advanced industrial equipment from the West, especially those strategic-level large-scale forging equipment and industrial machine tools, you must get the nod and consent of all governments. Otherwise, it's just empty talk. If it can't get those equipment, China wants to complete industrialization, even if it's preliminary. It's all impossible. Therefore, China cannot fall out with the Western world, at least until it completes industrialization and has strong industrial power.

Sir Jurdian pursed his lips and said no more. However, the disdain on his face was undisguised. If the Chinese Empire really dared to repeal all unequal treaties at all costs. The Western world will definitely contain China. Even Germany and the United States, which were close to the Chinese Empire, were no exception.

"Ladies and gentlemen, you should all know that there is an essential difference between the newly established empire and the Manchu government. Although we are still very weak now, we will be strong one day. Once we become stronger, we will inevitably touch on these unequal treaties. At that time, it is highly likely that war will break out between the two sides as a result. Instead of going to war. It is better for everyone to take the initiative to abandon these unequal treaties now, so that you can not only get a large number of orders, but also get the friendship of China. China, a huge market with a population of more than 400 million, will be open to you. Imperial Prime Minister Yang Du also said. It would be best if these unequal treaties could be peacefully abolished.

The ministers of various countries fell into deep thought, although, renounced their special interests in China. will cost them something. However, if you are able to get a huge order. If you enter the huge market of China, the gains will also be amazing. What's more, people don't want to see the day when China becomes strong and then abolishes these unequal treaties by force.

"Ladies and gentlemen. In addition to these £300 million orders. In the next five years, we will start construction of a number of railways. The total mileage will be more than 100,000 kilometers. The empire welcomed capital from all over the world into the construction of the railroad. Wu Haoxuan continued. Throw out the railroad and allow foreign capital to take a stake in it. Though. There is a certain amount of risk. But as long as the capital of the empire occupies a controlling position, there is no problem. After all, this is China, after mastering the country's power and guns, will it let those foreign devils turn the tables? This can not only accelerate the construction of domestic infrastructure, but also play a role in promoting national strength. Once China is really strong. There's no need to be afraid of those foreign devils at all.

"Railroad?" Several ministers stationed in China couldn't help but have their eyes lit up. The investment in railways is large, but it is very profitable. It's not just about the operation of the railways themselves, it's about the development along the railway lines. That's a lot of money. If they can participate in the construction of the railways of the Chinese Empire, it will be very advantageous for them.

Some ministers wondered if it was possible to abolish unequal treaties, give up those insignificant special interests, and then seek more benefits.

"His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, if you can join in the construction of China's railways, this is undoubtedly the best. However, the investment of our capital in China's railway construction is also very beneficial to China. This simply cannot be used as a condition to coerce us into giving up our special interests in China. Sir Jurden said.

Wu Haoxuan glanced at Sir Zhu Erdian, did not answer the question, but moved on to another topic.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the Imperial Government is very dissatisfied with the current customs revenue. The tax revenue of 5 percent is completely lower than the current international average. In addition, His Majesty the Emperor was also very dissatisfied with the fact that the Imperial Customs had been held in the hands of foreigners for a long time. So, we decided to take back customs. Wu Haoxuan continued. It is necessary to increase the government's tax revenue, protect the national industry in the country, and take back the customs.

"What? Repossessing Customs? How can this work? Several ministers in China exclaimed.

"Your Royal Highness the Crown Prince, this is absolutely not possible. Since 1861, your customs have been under our control and have been operating very well. If it is taken back by your country, it will seriously affect the operation of customs, not only your country's tax revenue, but also the interests of other countries. The British minister to China, Zhu Erdian, immediately jumped out.

The other ministers in China also nodded their heads one after another, and the ultra-low tariff of 5 percent made it possible for goods from all countries to enter China, treating it as a huge market. Once the Chinese Empire has taken back the customs, it will inevitably increase the tariffs. At that time, it will not be so easy for the goods of various countries to occupy more market share in the Chinese market. Therefore, all countries are surprisingly unanimous in their opposition to China's repossession of customs.

Wu Haoxuan sneered in his heart, it was a shame that a country's customs were actually controlled by foreigners. In addition, after China's tariffs are collected, they are not directly handed over to the Ministry of Finance, but are handed over to the Ministry of Finance after the legation deducts the "Gengzi Indemnity" from it. This is clearly putting China's tax lifeline in the hands of foreigners. For the Chinese Empire to rise to become a true power, it certainly would not allow such a situation to arise.

After the Opium War, China lost its tariff autonomy, but customs administration was still managed by China. In September 1853, the Oriental Knife Society revolted, occupied the county seat of Dongfang, and the Jianghaiguan Customs, which was relocated to the Bund of the concession, was destroyed by the masses. The British and American consuls in Shanghai arbitrarily promulgated the provisional regulations on ship customs clearance, but they could not be implemented due to the opposition of foreign businessmen. At this time, foreign ships freely entered and exited Dongfang Port, and Jiangxi Customs was unable to resume tax collection due to the obstruction of foreign forces. In the summer of 1854, the British consul Ali Guo proposed a plan for the establishment of a Sino-foreign customs office, and the governor of Liangjiang, Yiliang, sent Su Song Taidao Wu Jianzhang to meet with the consuls of Britain, the United States, and France in Shanghai on June 29, stipulating that the consuls of the three countries should each nominate one person to be appointed by China as the tax superintendent and jointly manage the taxation affairs of the Jiangxi Customs with China. In 1858, the Qing government, Britain, the United States, and France signed the "Aftermath Clause of the Treaty Regulations", which amended this method: "Let the prime minister invite the British (American) to help with the taxation, and there is no need for the British (American) official to recommend and intervene", and "each mouth shall handle it uniformly". In 1859, Li Taitai, the British tax superintendent of Jiangxi Customs, was appointed as the chief tax department, responsible for recruiting foreigners to serve as tax departments at various ports, and from then on, the foreign tax department managed the Chinese customs system. Since 1861, the deputy tax department of Yangcheng, the British Hurd, has served as the chief tax department (initially the acting officer) and has been managing the Chinese customs for nearly half a century.

When it comes to the customs of the late Qing Dynasty, one person who can't be avoided is Hurd. In May 1854, when he was 19 years old, Hurd came to China and was trained as a trainee translator in Xiangjiang, and then was sent to the British Consulate in Yongcheng as a translator. In 1858, Hurd was transferred to Yangcheng, which was occupied by the British and French forces. In 1859, Hurd resigned from the consulate and joined the Chinese Customs, serving as the deputy tax department of the Yangcheng Guangdong Customs. From 1861 onwards. HD represented Li Tai in the East as the General Department of Customs and Excise in the East. On November 30, 1863, he was officially succeeded as the General Department of Customs and Excise Department. In 1864, Hedgar was given the rank of inspector and became a member of the Qing Dynasty. In 1865, the General Taxation Office moved from the East to Yenching, and since then, Heard has lived in Yenching for more than 40 years. In 1869, he was promoted to political envoy, and his official rank was changed from the second rank. In 1889, it was promoted to a genuine product. At 7 a.m. on April 13, 1908, Hurd left his post on leave and returned to China after leaving his office on a meaningful note, but he still wore the title of the General Taxation Department, and his wife's brother, Pei Shikai, the deputy general tax officer, was responsible for the operation of the General Taxation Office.

It can be said that the current Chinese customs are completely under the control of the British. As a result, China's tariffs have been very low for a long time, and goods from all countries can be sold in the Chinese market at will, which has seriously squeezed the space for the survival of China's national industry and commerce. It can be said that quite a few national industries and businesses have gone bankrupt under the suppression of foreign commodities.

In order for the empire to regain its lost sovereignty step by step, tariff autonomy is one that must be recovered, and it is an extremely important point. Of course, the Great Powers will certainly not give up their control of China's customs easily. (To be continued......)

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