From the capital to Guangzhou, we went down the Grand Canal, and went through Zhili, Shandong, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Fujian, and Guangdong provinces. Lin Zexu witnessed the strange scene of Luli in the world along the way. Although the court began to decay at that time, the people had accumulated a large amount of wealth after more than 100 years of peace and nourishment from Kangxi, Yongzheng, Qianlong and Jiaqing. The commercial towns in various places were bustling and lively, especially the streets in Suzhou all night, and the crowds from south to north had to stay here. The salt merchants in the two Huai River were more prosperous and richer than the other.

. Some economic reforms implemented by Liu Ji have also begun to leave traces in these places, and people have generally used Longyuan. Merchants have begun to accept emerging capital markets such as banks, and silver notes have been widely used for bulk transactions. Mao Hongsui’s Suzhou Weaving Bureau expanded in Suzhou was a hot topic for merchants to talk to. The power loom imported from England broadened the horizons of locals. Many people entered the weaving bureau. The rumbling and thundering sounds of machines were rushing, and the strength was greater than that of ten cows.

Behind these prosperity, Lin Zexu also saw many unsatisfactory places. Every prosperous market has a large number of people who are not covered in clothes and cannot eat. On the streets, there are often people who bully the Eight Banners, and there are also many opium-sucking addicts. These people are so thin, mostly unkempt and dirty, and they are all thinking about smoking opium all day long.

These phenomena are especially serious in the Five Trade Ports. Addicts often kill and set fire to get money from smoking, steal and steal from homes. Some even more so in order to attract money to kill their biological parents, force their wives to become prostitutes, and so on.

After arriving in Guangzhou, Lin Zexu visited Governor Li Hongbin and Governor Chen Zhongfu. The two had already received the emperor's imperial edict and were very thoughtful to the new customs director Lin Zexu.

After Lin Zexu visited local officials one by one, he immediately entered the customs office sent by Wu Bingjian. After having an office location, Lin Zexu immediately summoned three customs supervision regulations for subordinates.

First, after foreign goods are entered into the customs, transaction tax will be paid separately during the transaction. Second, opium ships are not allowed to enter the customs. If opium ships are seen, they will be confiscated and destroyed. Third, if all Chinese merchants are involved in opium trade, they will be confiscated and imprisoned.

Everyone thought that Lin Zexu's new official took office for three fires, and it would be over after a while.

Who knew that Lin Zexu's fire became stronger and stronger, so he would really implement it strictly.

The Thirteen Lines geographically include two areas: China Line Number and Foreign Commercial Store.

There is a group of spacious Chinese-style buildings in the Chinese block, with many rooms and courtyards. This is the former business office. Before Lin Zexu came to office, it actually managed China's foreign trade. All goods imported and exported from China must be approved to trade. Wu Bingjian was originally the general manager of the Thirteenth League, and his office was located here. Now it has become the yamen of the Chinese customs director.

Close to the Chinese Guild Office and the Customs Director are commercial halls from various countries, which are places for foreigners to do business and live. The exterior buildings, interior decoration and lifestyles are exotic. These houses almost cover the architectural styles of dozens of countries in Britain, France, Denmark, Sweden, the Netherlands, Brazil, Russia, Portugal, Spain and Southeast Asia, becoming an exposition for a world business organization. The wooden flat-topped line numbers in the Chinese blocks complement each other and the Western-style buildings in the arched gallery of the mall area, forming a cultural landscape that combines Chinese and Western styles.

Feng Taihang is a specialized in trading with British people. Recently, it has been a disaster for Feng Taihang boss He Guo. First, the five ports traded, which caused Guangzhou's trade volume to plummet. Then several businesses went bankrupt in succession. Although it reduced its competitors, it also saw the beginning of the industry. Four major businesses, together with Wenxing, Guanglixing, Jardinea, and Yichengxing, are all transferring funds to Shanghai. Foreign merchants also transferred a large amount of goods to several other trading ports for trading. At this difficult time, now there are customs director Lin again. Fortunately, Feng Taihang can support it and have some unknown methods. Among all import and export trades, the most profitable one is Fushou Paste.

Although Lin Zexu was fierce, He Guo also had his own way. There were such officials who were ignorant of affairs before, but in the end he did not cooperate with He Guo.

Lin Zexu received the invitation from Feng Taihang in the afternoon. He had just removed his subordinate Guangdong customs supervision. Compared with the newly appointed customs supervision in Shanghai, Ningbo, Fuzhou and Xiamen, there were too many problems with this Guangdong customs supervision. This man was a bannerman who relied on Xien to serve as the Guangdong customs supervisor. This man was extremely crazy. When Lin Zexu inspected the Guangzhou Wharf, he openly refused to allow Lin Zexu to inspect the goods parked by British merchants at the wharf. Lin Zexu immediately asked the governor of Huguang Li Hongbin to transfer to the Guangdong Navy and forced the box to inspect. Sure enough, opium was found inside. The guarantee merchant of this British merchant was Feng Taihang.

At this time, Feng Taihang's boss sent an invitation, and there was probably no good banquet. Lin Zexu stood up from the desk with his hands behind his back and looked at the busy scene of Xiguan outside the window. His family member, Bo Lin, asked again: "Will this Master He Guo meet or not?"

The river breeze blowing from the pier blew up Lin Zexu's chest, and his wide official uniform floated in the wind. The hollowed-out pane solidified the scenery outside the window into a prosperous Guangzhou-style painting in the early 19th century. The protagonist in the painting said solemnly in the wind: "See!"

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From the capital or other places to the Sui, most of them take a boat to the Tianzi Wharf to get ashore, and then follow Xuanzhi Street, Shuangmendi Shangjie, Shuangmendixia Street, Xiongzhen Zhi Street and Yongqing Street to Huiaifang. You can see the official reception pavilion to welcome the officials in the capital on the way. When you arrive in Huiaifang, there are many yamen, from Guangdong and Guangxi ministries, left and right commanders to the governor's office, Guangdong Governor's office, Guangzhou Prefecture, General's Office, Panyu County, etc., and it is called a yamen street. The exception is Lin Zexu's

The customs director was not here, but was not far from the wealthy families of Pan, Lu, Wu and Ye of Xiguan. The He Guo family in Fengtaihang naturally was not as good as Pan, Lu, Wu and Ye of the four major merchants. However, his home was located near Gongbei Tower. When Lin Zexu came to Sui, the Gongbei Tower with double doors appeared in front of him. Only a hundred meters away from Gongbei Tower, a mansion with green bricks and green tiles appeared in his eyes. Under a pair of stone lions at the door, He Guo and a group of people greeted him at the door.
Chapter completed!