明代国史视阈中的盐城地方史——以《明实录》为视点

Exploring the Local History of Yancheng from the National History of the Ming Dynasty:From the Perspective of Ming Shi Lu

不同性质的史书在对待同一历史对象时会有不同的书写。国史对某一地方的历史书写就与当地的方志记载有着不同的倾向,并形成不同的重点。以盛产淮盐出名的盐城县,在国史《明实录》中最受关注的却不是其盐业,而是它的灾害和赈灾,表明国史关注的重点是朝廷对地方的赈济和施恩。《明实录》对盐城关注较多的还有该地的军政建置和军官任免以及行政建置和官员升降,皆因这些事务关乎国家对地方的控制,能够反映大一统政治的特色。国史对盐城在国家水利决策中的地位作了一定的记载,每当治理黄河和淮河时,都将大水引入盐城,从此导入海中,使盐城成为国家治水棋局中的重要棋子,而承受巨大的牺牲。此外,实录对盐城的人才也作了表彰,虽然盐城人才相对于苏南比较稀少,但实录还是以国家的标准将这些人才纳入国史视野。当然,实录对盐城的盐业也从不同角度有所涉及和关注,但更关注私盐贩运和盐徒防范问题,因为这些问题关涉国家的盐业政策和税收重务,不能不引起重视。总之,国史是以国家立场来取舍盐城地方史实,因此要想完整地反映盐城历史,还必须借助于方志的研究。国史与方志的结合,才是地方史研究的应由之路。

Historical books with different natures will have different words when dealing with the same historical object.The history of a certain place within the history of a country may have different tendencies from the local chronicles with different focal points.Yancheng County,which is famous for its abundant salt in Huaihe River,appeared in Ming Shi Lu due not to the salt industry but to its disaster and relief,which shows that the emperor's focus in the history of the country is the relief and charity to the local areas.Ming Shi Lu pays more attention to Yancheng,such as the abolition of military forces and the appointment and removal of military officers,as well as the establishment of administration and the rise and fall of officials,because these matters are related to the state's control over local areas and can reflect the characteristics of unified politics.National history records the status of Yancheng in the national water resources.Whenever the Yellow River and the Huaihe River were harnessed,the water will be introduced into Yancheng,making Yancheng an important part in the national water control and bearing huge sacrifices.In addition,the record also commends the talents of Yancheng according to the national standards,although they are scarce compared with that of southern Jiangsu.Of course,the record also concerns the salt industry in Yancheng from different perspectives,but pays more attention to the issue of private salt traffic and salt precaution,which are related to the country's salt industry policy and taxation,and cannot be ignored.In short,the national history is based on the national position to choose the local history of Yancheng,so in order to fully reflect the history of Yancheng,we must also rely on the study of local chronicles.The combination of national history and local chronicles is the only way to study local history.