In the Qing Dynasty, the foot line was like a courier company, monopolizing the transportation industry, and 70,000 stevedores pointed to this meal
Everyone knows that the transportation industry in the Qing Dynasty was developed, but they don't know that behind that prosperity, there is such an amazing secret! To talk about this secret, we have to start from the dock in Tianjin. At that time, the wharves in Tianjin were full of people, goods were like mountains, and an endless stream of merchants were busy loading and unloading goods. But who would have thought that under this seemingly prosperous scene, there was a huge monopoly organization hidden? Like today's courier companies, they control the lifeblood of the entire transportation industry. What is even more surprising is that as many as 70,000 stevedores depend on it for food! What exactly is this mysterious organization? How did it come to be? And how does it work? What impact did it have on society at the time? Let's uncover this little-known history together!
During the Kangxi period, as Tianjin gradually became an important town in Gyeonggi, the number of civil and military officials who traveled here increased day by day. In response to the "errand" needs of these officials, an organization called "Four Foot Walks" came into being. This was the prototype of foot walking, and their original role was to provide transportation, loading and unloading services for officials.
The "four mouths" refer to the four main gates of Tianjin: the East Gate, the West Gate, the South Gate, and the North Gate. Each gate had a dedicated footman, and they each had jurisdiction over an area, forming the initial division of territory. This division laid the foundation for the monopoly operation of the foot line in the future.
With the passage of time, Tianjin's business activities have become more and more prosperous, and the scope of business has also expanded. From the initial service of officials, it gradually extended to provide transportation services for merchants and ordinary people. This shift has led to a rapid growth and growing influence of the Foot Walking Organization.
However, the real development opportunity of the foot line was in the Daoguang period. After the Opium War in 1840, Tianjin was forced to open up as a treaty port. The great powers set up concessions in Tianjin, which led to a sharp rise in the city's economic status. A large amount of international trade and commercial activity has poured into Tianjin, and the demand for handling and handling services has skyrocketed.
Faced with this historic opportunity, the Foot Walking Organization reacted quickly. They began to expand their business around the concessions on both sides of the Hai River. Those who lost their livelihoods due to the occupation of their land joined the foot movement to earn a living. In order to appease the people, the government came forward to divide the area at the Haihe River Wharf, so that the foot line formed a relatively fixed sphere of influence in various regions.
During this period, the number of foot walkers increased dramatically, and the scope of business also expanded. In addition to traditional handling, loading and unloading services, they have also begun to get involved in warehousing, transit and other fields. Some of the larger trades even started to operate warehouses to provide temporary storage for merchants.
In the third year of Tongzhi (1864), the construction of the Jingfeng Railway brought new development opportunities to the foot line. The construction of the railway occupied a large amount of civilian land, which sparked a strong resistance from local residents. In order to appease the people's grievances, the Bureau allowed the landless peasants to work in the freight yards of various stations along the line. This decision led to the emergence of loading and unloading footlines at stations, further expanding the scope of influence of footwalks.
In order to ensure social stability, the government has recognized these new station footsteps. They issue dragon tickets, erect monuments, and approve their legal status. This kind of official endorsement gives the foot organization stronger legitimacy and also provides a strong guarantee for their future monopoly operation.
As the business continues to expand, the structure of the foot walking organization becomes more and more complex. They began to establish a hierarchical management system, from the foot leaders to the petty bosses to the ordinary workers, forming a huge interest group. This organizational structure allowed the footmen to control their own territory more effectively, and also laid a solid foundation for future monopoly operations.
By the end of the Qing Dynasty and the beginning of the Republic of China, Tianjin's footwalking had developed into a huge industry. They not only monopolize the city's handling industry, but are also deeply embedded in Tianjin's socio-economic structure. Originating in the early Qing Dynasty, after more than 200 years of development, this organization has become a social force that cannot be ignored, affecting the economic lifeline of Tianjin and even the entire North China region.
The operation mode of foot lines in Tianjin is a must, and they firmly control the entire transportation industry through strict territorial division and monopoly operation. Each footwalk has its own sphere of influence, which is usually bounded by streets, docks, or stations. In their respective territories, the footmen have absolute dominance, and outsiders are not allowed to interfere.
In the case of the Haihe River Pier, for example, the entire pier is divided into dozens of areas, each of which is controlled by a foot row. This division may seem simple, but in fact it is a mystery. Areas close to major freight lanes are usually controlled by powerful foot traders, while remote or low-volume areas are operated by small foot operators. This uneven distribution further exacerbates the power gap between the footwalkers.
The monopoly operation of the foot shop is not only reflected in the region, but also in the scope of business. In their respective spheres of influence, the footlines have a monopoly on all handling, loading and unloading operations. Businesses and ordinary citizens must hire foot workers in the area, even if they are only trying to carry their belongings, or they will be obstructed or even violently treated.
This kind of monopoly operation brings huge profits. According to records, at the end of the 19th century, the loading and unloading costs of Tianjin wharf were as high as 70% of the freight rate of ships from Tianjin to Hong Kong. This abnormally high price undoubtedly put a heavy burden on merchants and ordinary people, but it created a good income for foot traders.
However, such a large stake has also sparked fierce competition. Clashes between foot walkers occur from time to time, sometimes turning into large-scale violence. In the last years of Xianfeng, a foot leader named Zhang Siye actually boiled a large pot of oil in order to dominate the "four foot walks" and forced his brother to jump. Such cruel methods, while outrageous, were not uncommon in the footwalking world at the time.
At the end of the Qing Dynasty, Jijialou and the Fire Temple fought for the territory, and an amazing conflict broke out. Hundreds of people were mobilized on each side to participate in the brawl, which eventually left more than 200 people injured and fell to the ground. This conflict not only shows the brutality of the struggle between the foot traders, but also the cruel nature of the foot traders, who do not hesitate to sacrifice the lives of workers for profit.
In order to survive in this fierce competition, many foot runners choose to join various gangs. The Green Gang, the Red Gang, the Black Flag Team, the Heaven and Earth Gate, the Vulcan Society, the Freemasonry Society, the Consistent Dao, the Yizi Association and other organizations have all become the umbrellas of the foot leaders. These gangs not only provide protection for their footsteps, but also facilitate their expansion of power.
After the victory of the Anti-Japanese War, with the change of the political situation, some foot leaders joined the Three Youth League, the Kuomintang, the Military Command and other organizations. This multiple identities not only enhance their influence, but also provide some degree of protection against their illegal actions.
The relationship between foot and the government is also very complicated. On the one hand, in order to maintain social stability, the government often acquiesces to or even supports the existence of footwalking. They gave legal status to the foot walkers by issuing dragon tickets and erecting monuments. On the other hand, some footmen will also use their networks to establish close ties with the authorities. For example, Ba Yanqing, a well-known footman, served as a member of the Tianjin Municipal Party Department of the Kuomintang and a deputy to the National Congress.
This complex network of relationships makes footwalking occupy a special place in Tianjin society. Not only did they control the transportation industry, but they also had a wide influence in all aspects of social life. The foot leaders never pay for the theaters, bathhouses, green houses, and restaurants, and they will be violently confronted if they are treated slowly. Although this kind of rampant and domineering behavior caused dissatisfaction among the people, in the social environment at that time, few people dared to openly resist.
Although the operation mode of foot walking has brought great benefits, it has also buried hidden dangers. It not only exacerbates social contradictions, but also hinders the modernization of the transportation industry. With the changes of the times, this backward mode of operation will eventually face challenges and changes.
In Tianjin's footwalk world, footwalk leaders are undoubtedly the most eye-catching group of people. With their monopoly on transportation, they have amassed huge wealth and enjoyed a staggering luxury life. Among them, the stories of Ba Yanqing, Zhai Lili and An Yufeng, the three foot leaders, have become a topic of discussion in the streets of Tianjin.
Bayanqing, this name is known to everyone in Tianjin in the 30s of the 20th century. He started as an ordinary dock worker, and with his extraordinary courage and skill, he gradually became one of the biggest foot leaders in Tianjin. Ba Yanqing not only controlled the busiest areas of the Haihe Terminal, but also extended his influence to the railway freight station. In his heyday, he had thousands of workers under his command.
Bayanqing's prominent position is not only reflected in his economic strength, but also in his social status. He was not content with just being a wealthy businessman, but was actively involved in politics. He successively served as a member of the Tianjin Municipal Party Department of the Kuomintang and a deputy to the National Congress, and these political identities provided him with more protection and convenience. In Tianjin at that time, Ba Yanqing could be said to be a figure calling for wind and rain.
Zhai Li is another eye-catching footman. His fortune is legendary. It is said that Zhai Li was originally just an ordinary dock porter. Once, while carrying a shipment, he found a bag of missing silver dollars. The upright Zhai Li handed over the bag of silver dollars to the owner of the goods. Impressed by his honesty, the owner not only rewarded him with a considerable sum of money, but also recommended him to become the manager of a small foot shop.
Since then, Zhai Li has begun his career as a foot walker. With his shrewd mind and tough methods, he quickly expanded his sphere of influence. By the 40s of the 20th century, Zhai Li had become one of the richest foot leaders in Tianjin. It is said that his private wealth even exceeds the assets of some medium-sized banks.
Zhai Li's extravagant life in Tianjin at that time can be described as a must. He built a luxurious Western-style mansion in the Italy Concession, which was beautifully decorated and full of exoticism. He also raised a group of Meiji, who always hugged each other when he traveled, full of pomp. Every New Year's holiday, Zhai Li will hold a feast and invite celebrities from all walks of life to participate, just like a rich man.
An Yufeng is known for his toughness and brutality. He controls several freight areas near Tianjin West Railway Station and is one of the most powerful local foot leaders. An Yufeng is known for his vigorous and resolute style, and is extremely strict with his workers, and the slightest disobedience will be severely punished.
Once, a new worker mistakenly moved a batch of goods to the wrong place because he was not familiar with the rules. An Yufeng was furious when he learned about it, and hung the worker up in public and beat him hard until the skin was open. Although this cruel method was outrageous, it was not uncommon in the footwalking world of the time.
Despite his brutal methods, An Yufeng is quite prestigious in the business world. He frequented major chambers of commerce and had close contacts with many big businessmen. It is said that many businessmen even took the initiative to pay bribes to An Yufeng in order to obtain better loading and unloading services. This phenomenon reflects the special status of the footman in the society of the time.
The social circles of these footmen extend far beyond the business world. They often go in and out of Tianjin's major entertainment venues, such as theaters, bathhouses, green buildings, etc. In these places, the footmen are always treated to the highest standards. Not only did they enjoy their services free of charge, but they also often gave large sums of money to those who served them. This kind of extravagance further demonstrates their financial strength and status.
The influence of the foot bosses even extends to law enforcement. Some of the footmen are said to have close ties to the top of the local police department. Every Chinese New Year, they will send rich gifts to these policemen. This relationship allows the footmen to get a certain degree of protection for some illegal acts.
However, the extravagant life and strong style of the foot leaders have also caused dissatisfaction from all walks of life. Many believe that the wealth of the footmen is based on the exploitation of workers and the harm they do to society. As the times changed, this discontent gradually accumulated, and eventually became an important force in promoting the reform of the footwalk system.
Behind the prosperity of Tianjin's footwork is the difficult survival of thousands of footwalkers. Most of these workers came from the countryside of Hebei, Shandong and other neighboring provinces, and came to Tianjin to earn a living and became the lowest level of laborers under the footwalk system. Their lives are full of hardships and struggles, but they also show the tenacity and unyielding vitality of ordinary workers.
The working conditions of foot workers are extremely harsh. In the case of the wharf, for example, workers arrive at the wharf every morning to wait for their work to be assigned. No matter how hot or cold it is, they have to work in the open air. In summer, the scorching sun is scorching, and the workers carry goods under the high temperature, sweat soaking through their clothes; In winter, when the north wind is howling, they still have to work topless in the biting cold wind in order to exert their strength better.
The intensity of the work is staggering. An ordinary foot worker has to carry several tons of goods every day. They often need to move heavy cargo from the ship to shore and from shore to a warehouse or car. This kind of high-intensity physical labor has caused many workers to suffer from various occupational diseases at a young age. Diseases such as lumbar disc herniation and arthritis are extremely common among foot workers.
However, even with such a huge amount of labor, the income of the foot workers is very small. Most workers earn only enough to sustain themselves and are unable to accumulate wealth at all. To make matters worse, many workers are often threatened with unemployment due to job instability. Once they get sick or injured, they can lose their jobs and get into trouble.
In this difficult living environment, some foot workers choose to find a different path. Legend has it that in Tianjin at the end of the 19th century, there was a foot worker named Li San, who was often overlooked in the assignment of work because of his thin physique. In order to survive, Li San began to learn the art of juggling. He took advantage of his work break to perform at the pier, which gradually attracted a lot of audiences. Later, Li San simply quit his job in foot walking and became a full-time street performer. The story, while an example, is a reflection of the resilience of the footwalkers in their quest to survive.
Accommodation for foot workers is equally worrying. Most of the workers live in rudimentary sheds, which are usually made of planks and straw mats, which are neither protected from wind nor rain. In a shed of less than 20 square meters, more than a dozen workers are often crowded. They slept on rudimentary wooden beds, and even their own bedding was brought with them.
In terms of diet, the food of the foot workers is extremely simple. Their staple food is usually coarse grains, such as cornmeal, sorghum flour, etc. Meat is a luxury for most workers and can only be tasted during the New Year's holidays. In order to save money, some workers even live on steamed buns with pickles. This malnutrition further exacerbates their health problems.
In addition to the harsh living conditions, foot workers also face exploitation and oppression from foot traders. Footmen exploit workers in a variety of ways, such as deducting wages and forcing them to work overtime. Some footmen even set up a system similar to "company stores", forcing workers to buy daily necessities in designated stores to make huge profits.
In this high-pressure environment, there are also some mutual aid behaviors among foot workers. For example, in Tianjin in the 20s of the 20th century, a group of foot workers from the same village formed a mutual aid association. They take a portion of their meager salaries each month and make a public fund. Help can be obtained from this fund when a member is sick or has other difficulties. This spontaneous act of mutual assistance has relieved the survival pressure of foot workers to a certain extent.
Despite the hardships of life, the footworkers were not completely devoid of a recreational life. Outside of work, they get together to listen to book reviews, watch plays, or play cards. These simple recreational activities have become a rare comfort in their lives. Some workers will also organize some literary and artistic activities on their own, such as singing big drum books and performing allegro. These activities not only enriched the spiritual life of the workers, but also passed on folk art to a certain extent.
With the development of the times, some young foot workers began to realize the importance of education. In the thirties of the 20th century, a number of night schools organized by workers appeared in Tianjin. In these humble evening schools, some educated workers would teach other workers literacy and basic arithmetic. Although the conditions were difficult, these evening schools opened the door to knowledge for many workers and opened up new possibilities for their later lives.
With the changes of the times, the foot system that once dominated Tianjin began to decline. This process is not achieved overnight, but gradually unfolds under the action of multiple factors. Since the 40s of the 20th century, the disadvantages of the foot walking system have become increasingly apparent, and the criticism of it from all walks of life has become higher and higher.
First of all, technological advances have had a huge impact on the footwalk system. With the introduction of mechanized loading and unloading equipment, the traditional manual loading and unloading methods are gradually backward and inefficient. In 1947, the port of Tianjin introduced the first electric cranes, and the efficiency of these equipment far exceeded that of manual handling. One crane can complete the workload of dozens of workers in a day in a short time. This not only improves efficiency, but also greatly reduces transportation costs.
Faced with this situation, some visionaries began to try to transform. For example, Wang Degui, a once dominant foot leader, decisively invested in several electric cranes in 1948 and set up a professional operation team. This move has enabled Wang Degui's business to remain competitive in the new situation. However, after all, there are a few foot leaders like Wang Degui who have transformed in time, and most people are still sticking to the traditional business model.
Secondly, the criticism of the footwalk system by public opinion is also becoming more and more acute. With the progress of society, people's attention to labor rights has been increasing. The various unfairness in the footwalk system, such as the low treatment of workers and the poor working environment, have become the focus of criticism from all walks of life.
In early 1949, the Tianjin Ta Kung Pao published a report entitled "The Blood and Tears of the Dock Workers", which exposed in detail the exploitation and oppression suffered by the workers under the foot-walking system. The report caused a strong reaction in the community, not only sparked a widespread public discussion of the footwalk system, but also prompted the government to pay attention to the issue.
At the same time, the awakening of workers has also become an important force in promoting the reform of the footwalk system. In the course of the protracted struggle, some conscious workers began to organize themselves and speak out for their rights. In May 1949, there was a large-scale workers' strike at the Tianjin docks. The strike, led by a worker named Zhang Dali, involved thousands of people. The striking workers demanded higher wages and better working conditions.
The strike, which lasted three days, was finally ended with the mediation of the government. Although the demands of the workers were not fully met, the operation improved the treatment of the workers to a certain extent, and more importantly, it marked a new level of consciousness and organizational skills of the foot workers.
The government's changing attitude is also an important factor in promoting the reform of the footwalk system. With the founding of the People's Republic of China, the government began to carry out socialist transformation in all walks of life. In this context, the footwalk system, as a product of the old society, naturally became the object of reform.
At the beginning of 1950, the Tianjin Municipal Government set up the "Wharf Management Reform Committee" and began to conduct a comprehensive investigation of the foot travel system. The results of the survey show that the footwalk system is not only inefficient, but also seriously exploitative, and incompatible with the requirements of socialist construction. Based on this realization, the government decided to carry out a complete reform of the footwalk system.
The first step in reform was the abolition of the privileges of the foot-headers. In June 1950, the Tianjin Municipal Government promulgated the Interim Regulations on the Reform of Wharf Loading and Unloading, which clearly stipulated that the intermediate exploitation of the tycoon would be abolished and that all dock workers would be directly managed by the government. This provision dealt a huge blow to the interests of the foot leaders and caused strong opposition from some people.
It is rumored that at that time, there was a foot man named Liu Fuquan, and after learning the news, he gathered hundreds of his subordinates and prepared to petition the government. However, under the persuasion and warning of the government, Liu Fuquan eventually abandoned this plan. This incident reflects the pains in the process of reform, and also reflects the government's determination to carry out reform.
The second step in the reform was the formation of a state-owned stevedoring company. In March 1951, the Tianjin Port Authority was formally established to take over the loading and unloading business of the wharf, which was originally controlled by the foot line. At the same time, the government has also set up a number of state-owned stevedoring companies to absorb a large number of former foot workers. These companies have adopted modern management methods and advanced handling equipment, which has greatly improved the operational efficiency of the port.
For the former foot workers, this reform has brought about a huge change. They are no longer subject to the tyrants, but have become regular employees of state-owned enterprises, enjoying fixed wages and various social security benefits. Many workers said it was the first time in their lives that they felt a sense of dignity and security.
However, the reform process has not been without its challenges. Some former leaders and vested interests have resisted the reforms. They used various means to obstruct reform, such as inciting workers to riot and concealing important equipment. In the face of these resistances, the government has taken a resolute attitude, on the one hand, strengthening propaganda and education to win the support of the majority of workers; On the other hand, it is a tough fight against the recalcitrants.
By the end of 1952, Tianjin's footing system had been largely abolished and replaced by a new port operation model with state-owned stevedoring companies as the main body. This marks the end of the centuries-old footwalk system.