轮规整散与清中期淮盐困境的应对机制——兼论淮盐纲法崩溃的原因

Lungui Zhengsan and Coping Mechanism of Huai Salt Dilemma in Mid-Qing Dynasty——Also on the Reason for the Collapse of Gangfa

清前中期淮盐流通是在官府监督下由盐商自主运销的体系。到了乾隆末年,市场开始供过于求,淮盐进入滞销和跌价的困境。由此,轮规整散成为朝廷调控市场关系、改善淮盐困境的应对机制。随着时间推移,轮规对于保价和疏销的各自作用,呈现出从有效到失效的渐进过程。伴随着轮规的失效,淮盐跌价和滞销的困境加剧,直至淮盐市场的败坏和纲法体系的崩溃。而这一应对机制无力改善淮盐困境的原因,除了轮规整散的固有缺陷之外,还包括朝廷积年累月的额外财政索取,以及嘉道时期国内银价持续上涨的不利货币体系。

In the early and middle periods of the Qing Dynasty,Huai salt circulation was a system of salt merchants independently transport and sell under the supervision of the government.By the end of Qianlong,the market began to oversupply,Huai salt entered into the situation of slow sale and falling price.Therefore,Lungui zhengsan became the imperial government to regulate market relations and improve the salt dilemma response mechanism.Over time,lungui shows a gradual process from effective to ineffective in terms of the respective functions of insuring price and driving sale.With the failure of the lungui,the predicament of Huai salt falling price and unsold intensified until the collapse of Huai salt market and gangfa.The reason why this coping mechanism was unable to improve Huai salt’s predicament was not only the inherent defects of lungui,but also the extra financial demands of the imperial court over the years,as well as the unfavorable monetary system of the continuous rise of the domestic silver price during the Jiadao period.