547: Chapter 283: Liverpool: A Major Comrcial Port_2 547: Chapter 283: Liverpool: A Major Comrcial Port_2 Arthur had just finished speaking when another officer from the Liverpool Customs asked, “But such an administrative order, we estimate it will be hard to convince the City Hall to accept.”
Arthur raised his hand to interrupt him, “If the City Hall has any objections to the Cabinet’s orders, they can completely send soone to London to communicate with the Lord Chancellor’s office and the Central Health Committee.
That’s not within my responsibility.
I’ve already emphasized that I am here in Liverpool to do one thing, and that is to ensure that during the cholera outbreak, we minimize the cases imported into Britain due to smuggling as much as possible.
Those present might not know, but the Cabinet is very determined to crack down on smuggling this ti.”
Over half a month ago, the Navy Departnt had already ordered two fast warships fighting against the slave trade off the West African Ivory Coast—Black Joker and Rosamond Beauty—to imdiately return to Britain proper and to be officially incorporated into Liverpool’s anti-smuggling operations waiting for deploynt.
So of you might have learned from the newspapers over these past few years just how much those two ships have contributed to the abolitionist movent.
If you’re not aware, then I can introduce to you here.
Black Joker and Rosamond Beauty, in their recent activities against the slave trade, have captured a total of 9 slave ships, freeing nearly 3000 slaves.
Liverpool may have started with the slave trade, but when the abolitionist movent began in Britain, Liverpool was also at the forefront, and I believe you gentlen would be pleased to know this information.”
The officers present all changed their expressions upon hearing this; so looked slightly worried, others held an attitude of watching the fun, while so revealed excited expressions.
The Royal Navy officers were all elated, “Black Joker and Rosamond are back?
So, does this an the Navy Departnt is serious this ti?
Mr.
Hastings, may I ask if the Navy Departnt issued a fire prohibition order regarding interceptions on the high seas?”
Arthur looked at this group of sharks who already slled blood, knowing these reserve officers stationed on land had long been itching for action.
He began, “For rchant ships flying other countries’ flags, they cannot open fire without confirming smuggling activities first.”
“Uh…” The officers deflated upon hearing this.
Seeing this, Arthur added, “However, if the Royal Navy has already communicated the boarding search request and the rchant ship still refuses to comply after three warnings, the Navy Departnt will allow the anti-smuggling fleet to use a certain degree of force.
If it’s just using the ram bow to open a hole in their hull, I think that would still be considered reasonable.”
The officers’ moods went through several changes, their once drooping mouths now turned upwards again, “Mr.
Hastings, you say you’re really catching your breath with that remark.
But we understand your aning.”
The officials from the Customs and Liverpool City Hall, upon hearing this, finally understood the Cabinet’s determination.
They originally thought that just like previous tis, this cholera quarantine could be managed with a lax approach, but it seems now that the Cabinet is truly fired up due to the ergency outbreaks all over the country.
Especially since there was a recent dock riot in Liverpool, at this juncture, they also didn’t have sufficient reason to refute the Cabinet’s decision.
The officials rose and said, “Since the Cabinet’s will is so firm, we have nothing more to say.
However, Mr.
Hastings, concerning the City Hall, you might need to ponder over it quite a bit.”
Arthur nodded slightly, “Thank you all.
But before we adjourn, I hope to get a list of all import and export trading companies in Liverpool tonight.
It would be even better if the Customs could attach all their ‘Import and Export Goods Declaration Forms’ of this year.”
“Declaration forms?” An official from Customs said in surprise, “Are you bringing an auditor with you this ti?”
Arthur took out a pocket watch and looked down, “Because it was a last-minute notification, he didn’t travel with , expected to arrive later this afternoon.”
The officer in charge of duty carefully asked, “If he hasn’t worked in Customs for a while, he most likely won’t understand the declaration forms.
If you have hired soone from an accounting firm, I think providing a business inventory would be sufficient.
Liverpool’s yearly import and export trade volu is enormous, and this is probably not sothing you can handle in a short while.”
Arthur smiled and began, “I appreciate your enthusiastic suggestion, but you needn’t worry about that on my behalf.
This ti, the auditor is a professional, Mr.
John Stuart Mill from the East India Company’s headquarters in London, and he will bring a small team with him.”
“Soone from the East India Company?”
Upon hearing this, the officials imdiately understood the gravity of the situation.
As Britain’s largest comrcial trade company, the East India Company had often clashed with Liverpool in Far Eastern trade in recent years.
In 1813, when the East India Company renewed its royal charter, they spent a great deal of money lobbying Parliant to maintain their monopoly rights in the Far East.
Even so, they were ultimately deprived of their monopoly in India by Parliant and only retained monopoly rights over the tea trade.
In this regard, Liverpool’s major companies, which had long been eager to expand into Far Eastern trade, had exerted significant effort.
Just these incidents alone were enough to cent a deep-seated enmity between the East India Company and Liverpool.
The mysterious suicide of a director and shareholder of the East India Company the night before a parliantary vote added a layer of conspiracy theory to the story, leading many to speculate that it was the work of those envious of the East India Company’s substantial profits.
Liverpool’s major companies, as stakeholders, were naturally also within the scope of suspicion.
Realizing the seriousness of the situation, the officials quickly bid farewell to Arthur and hurriedly left the eting room, seemingly desperate to warn the major companies that winter was coming.
Looking at the empty eting room, Arthur picked up his teacup and approached the window, which overlooked Liverpool’s old dock, built in 1715.
Flanking the dock were rows of red brick buildings and a busy procession of delivery carts and porters carrying heavy loads back and forth.
Suddenly, Arthur heard the sound of a door opening behind him; turning around, he saw that it was Great Dumas, now dressed in a standard police uniform.
Although Arthur had picked an extra-large size for him, Great Dumas’s stomach clearly far exceeded the worst-case scenario the uniform’s design had anticipated.
Given the situation, Arthur could only reluctantly complint him, “Alexander, it suits you well!”
Great Dumas just rolled his eyes and said, “I never thought that I would one day wear a uniform like this in my life.”
Heine erged from behind him, lifting his hat with his Civilization Cane and said, “Who could have thought, wearing a police uniform feels like this.”
Louis asked with a smile, “So, you two ca all the way here just to mock the uniform?”
“Not exactly, we are here on serious business,” Great Dumas gestured to Arthur and continued, “Arthur, a middle-aged man arrived at the Customs office.
He claims to be a rchant dealing in imports and exports from a company called Schwaiger & Sons.
He seems to know sothing about smuggling; do you want to et him?”
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