冲突抑或媾和:乾嘉时期海盗与海商关系析论

Conflict or Cooperation: An Analysis of the Relationship Between Piracy and Maritime Commerce in the Qianlong and Jiaqing Periods

乾嘉时期,海商下海为盗以及海盗涉足商业的"亦商亦盗"行为渐趋消失,然而海商与海盗关系仍颇为复杂。就海商而言,海盗既是海商海洋贸易的长久威胁,海商通常通过联合官府剿杀海盗以维护其海洋贸易利益;当海盗活动失控或政府盘剥行为超出海商承受能力之时,海商则会选择与海盗媾和,结成同盟以对抗政府。就海盗而言,海商既是海盗抢劫的主要对象,又是其船只、米粮等物资支持的主要来源。海商与海盗之间发生冲突抑或媾和,不过是海商在权衡利弊后的无奈选择而已。

Qianlong and Jiaqing Periods were the times when the maritime commerce went to rob and the pirate engaged in the business gradually declined.However,the relationship between maritime commerce and piracy remains complex.As far as maritime commerce is concerned,piracy is not only a long-term threat to their maritime trade,but also a threat to their interests in maritime trade.When piracy is out of control or government exploitation is beyond the merchant's capability,the maritime commerce may choose to cooperate with pirates and form alliances against the government.As far as pirates are concerned,maritime commerce are not only the main targets of piracy,but also the main source of material support such as ships,rice and grain.Either conflict or cooperation between the maritime commerce and pirates is a helpless choice that maritime commerce makes based on their judgment between advantages and disadvantages.