After the Opium War, in order to raise reparations and cope with the trade means of European businessmen, the Qing government began to set up customs. Because there is no talent inside and no prestige outside, foreigners are hired to manage the customs. Horatia Nelson Lay and Hurd have long been in charge of the General Administration of Customs. The customs duties were handed over to the household administration department.

Because foreigners could control the venue and put an end to traditional disorderly corruption, the income of the Qing government increased. So Hurd won a great honor, but at the critical moment, Hurd's cultural genes were biased towards the west, and the Qing government really dared not pay for it.