Hurd, an Englishman, came to China, translated from the British Consulate in Ningbo, and gradually became the General Tax Department of the Qing Customs. The General Administration of Customs and Taxation is the highest administrative organ in charge of customs taxation of the Qing government. Hurd worked in the General Administration of Customs and Taxation for nearly half a century, and established an efficient management system, which made the customs the cleanest and most efficient department of the Qing government. Hurd has great ambitions. He wants the Qing government to build a private school for coastal defense, and he wants to be a naval commander!
Hurd was full of confidence at that time, thinking that the Qing government would soon approve his application, he began to write to his good friend, saying that he would soon become the highest-ranking naval officer in China, and he wanted his friend to work under him! The groggy and incompetent Qing government did not study it carefully, so it was ready to do as Hurd asked!
Xue Fucheng, Li Hongzhang's aide, saw the hidden great harm and immediately told Li Hongzhang: "Since he is in charge of all customs taxes in Jianghai, he tends to lose his tail. If it is re-awarded as the General Department of Coastal Defence, China's military power and pay rights will all be in the hands of Hurd. Li Hongzhang suddenly realized that it was ridiculous that a foreigner was in power!
Later, Xue thought of a plan, saying that the coastal defense forces belonged to national affairs, and he had to go to the seaside for special training in person, so he could give up the position of the General Tax Department of the Customs and let others take his place! In this way, Hurd lost the position of Chief Financial Officer of China Navy!