The Study On Zeng Guofan Govern Services Of Salt In Linghuai

As the largest area of Qing Dynasty's salt sales and salt tax source, Lianghuai has been concerned by the rulers. After the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom movement rising, the Yangtze River was blocked suddenly. Almost no salt transported to Huainan and transport of salt in huaibei also was greatly hindered. The Qing government suddenly lost six million salt tax of Lianghuai every year.To Tongzhi three year, the Yangtze River reunobstructed. When the governor of Liangjiang ,Zeng Guofan wanted to rectify Services of Salt, Salt in Lianghuai had been extremely dilapidated: Piaozhi carried by the Qing government in Lianghuai completely collapsed ; the old territory of Lianghuai was occupied by salt of Sichuan, Guangdong and other areas; official salt was unsalable ,but private Salt rampant. Against the above-mentioned problems in Lianghuai, Zeng Guofan mainly taken reform in the following three aspects : First is the reform of Piaoyan. Taking into account of the lack of businessman's power in Lianghuai ,Zeng Guofan adjusted system of Piaoyan. In order to protect the interests of the Salt Merchants, he formulated the "putting Gangfa to Piaofa". On the one hand, the management system of salt transport in Lianghuai re-established. Salt transport in Lianghuai rapidly recoverd. But on the other hand , Monopolistic businessmen restored ,then develop into generations monopoly. Piaoshang had no difference from Yinshang, resulting in disadvantages. Second is the rehabilitation of territory. When the Yangtze River was blocked, interim policy of lending salt of Sichuan, Guangdong was carried,which ensured people without the danger of no salt; money pumping from the lijin also solved the problem of necessary of army . However, the income of central government reduced for the loss of salt tax. In order to increase the income of central government, Zeng Guofan strongly recoered the old territory of Lianghuai, going through three stages: "heaving tax of adjacent private salt" ,"forbiding salt of Sichuan into Lianghuai" and"dividing boundary of Sichuan and Lianghuai". However, dispute of Sichuan and Lianghuai had not yet been completely resolved. Third is control of Private Salt. Giving up the mainstream ideas-- "tax on the origin of salt", Zeng Guofan controled Private Salt with economic and administrative methords. Because the fundament of Private Salt still exist, the effect of governance of private salt was not satisfactory.From the system of Monopolistic businessmen and Yinan to Piaofa, and then to free trade, reflects the trend of liberalization. Because of the limitations of age and class, Zeng Guofan could't predict this trend. Taking into account the two factors of the interests and the actual situation at that time in Lianghuai, he chose to mix Gangfa and Piaofa, in orderr to overcome weaknesses by learning from each other's strong points. However, it was precisely the reason that Zeng Guofan recoered Monopolistic businessmen and reconstructed Yinan, acting contrary to the trend of liberalization of salt distribution, which determined that the effect of his reform was poor.