In 1839 the emperor appointed the incorruptible Commissioner Lin Tse-hsu to stamp out the smuggling of  foreign mud.  
The Commissioner was a foreign man who the emperor came to trust over the years.
mnli hypothesis: The Commissioner was a foreign man who the emperor came to trust over the years. premise: In 1839 the emperor appointed the incorruptible Commissioner Lin Tse-hsu to stamp out the smuggling of  foreign mud.  