The merchant system promoted overseas trade at that time? First of all, foreign businessmen were unfamiliar with China at that time? Without knowing the language of China, Hong merchants provided contacts between foreign businessmen and the Qing court, and facilitated trade between foreign businessmen and Chinese businessmen, which played a communication role? Secondly, because the hong merchants pay customs duties on behalf of foreign businessmen, foreign businessmen can avoid the trouble of customs declaration and tax payment and concentrate on trade activities?

The Qing court also promulgated a series of articles of association and regulations to prevent and restrict the activities of foreign businessmen in China? Such as "four checks on foreigners"? People-foreign trade regulations? Articles of association to prevent dissidents, etc. Did the Qing court take all precautions against foreign businessmen?

The history of international trade development proves that even in the west, it is normal to strictly control foreign trade, and the so-called complete "free trade" does not exist? So in the early Qing Dynasty, when China was still an independent sovereign country, the Qing court formulated and implemented these management systems to facilitate the development of overseas trade?