清代湖广邻私述略

在清代,作为两淮最为重要的行盐口岸,湖广与其他各行盐口岸一样,长期以来一直为私盐所困扰。在名目繁多的私盐当中,邻私的侵害尤为剧烈。邻私的入侵,与制度、价格和地理等因素密切相关。在划界行盐的食盐专卖体制下,质优价廉的邻私借助优越的地理优势大量向湖广地区侵灌。邻私的活跃,给淮盐在湖广口岸的销售构成了极大的冲击。面对邻私的步步逼进,清政府不得不通过设关置卡等措施来加大对邻私的防范和打击力度。但由于受腐败吏治的影响,上述措施收效甚微。

A Brief Account of Private Salt of Huguang from Neighboring Areas

In the Qing Dynasty, Huguang, as the most important assigned territory of the sales of Lianghuai salt, was long beset with private salt like other assigned territory of salt sales. Among the various channels of private salt, the one from neighboring areas was the severest. The invasion of private salt from neighboring areas was closely related to salt system, price and geographic location. Under the monopoly of selling salt within the assigned territory, private salt from neighboring areas of high quality and low price poured into Huguang area with the geographic advantage. Activity of the private salt exerted a great impact on the sales of certificated Huai salt in Huguang. Confronted the menace, Qing government could not but resort to setting up checkpoints to strengthen the prevention and attack. However, due to the influence of corrupted administration, the measures had little effect.