However, he soon grew dissatisfied with his tasks in the service and left it in 1874 in order to join the German consular service as an interpreter and was eventually promoted German vice-consul in Tianjin.
しかし、彼はやがて仕事の内容に不満を覚え、1874年には通訳としてドイツの領事館に就くため海関を去り、ついには天津の副領事に任じられた。