论范祥钞盐法的设计逻辑与实施效果——以盐钞销售环节为核心

The Logic and Effect of Fan Xiang's Chao Yan System:A Perspective of Salt Note Sales

宋仁宗时期,为了改变官榷法和引盐法的实施效果,范祥为陕西设计出"钞盐法"制度。前人多因袭旧说,认为此法促进了盐业的市场化,对其评价较高。实际上,钞盐法通过规定见钱买钞、盐钞价格和发钞数额,将盐法制度完全置于朝廷管控之下,断绝地方官府和商人议价或变通的空间,在某种意义上反而降低了盐业的市场化程度。该政策管控过严,难以契合地方需求,终因无法杜绝实物入中、解盐滞销、发钞量扩大等而遭遇挫折。这反映出钞盐法的设计和实际运作之间有巨大差异,故应对其予以更为客观的评价。

To change the poor effect under the official salt monopoly system and the Yin Yan system, during Renzong＇s time （1022--1063） , Fan Xiang designed the Chao Yan System. Many studies followed the old view, highly evaluated the Chao Yan System for improving the degree of marketization. But the Chao Yan System actually kept the salt system under the court＇s control, stopped free bargaining, and reduced the degree of marketization. It contained the following main rules： coins were supposed to be the only legal means of payment; the price and the amount of salt notes needed to be confined by the court. The outcome of this new policy, however, was largely different from what was designed. During Fan Xiang＇s administration, the Chao Yan System was thwarted by the barter trade （between supplies and salt） , the slow sales of salt, and the expansion of the salt note amount. The evaluation of the Chao Yah System should not be too high.