清末以來，除了外患外，內部結構的控制亦出現嚴重缺失，太平軍興打擊了政權的威信，隨之而來的大運河受阻，最終停廢，更威脅到廣大民眾生計和糧食輸送，使得財政經濟，如江河日下，無法恢復往日榮景。在政策與社會失衡下裁撤的水手、營勇，成為掙扎於社會邊緣的游離群，為生存所迫，走向非正常社會體制以求自保。青幫、紅幫以及哥老會在如此的社會經濟因素下，與販運私鹽的鹽梟相交流，甚至結合，形成特殊的社會型態。為了對此現象有所了解，吾人必須探討其各自發展與擴張的原因，過去主要以民族革命、農民革命單一觀點的看法，事實上已無法窺探其原貌。

During the last stages of the Ching Dynasty, the stability of the political and social structures in China began to deteriorate. The effects of European colonialism play a part in this collapse, but they are not the root of the problem. As Tai Ping soldiers began to exercise power and canals were blocked, the lives of ordinary people were disrupted. The economy began to fail, and unemployment rates rose. Many in the country began to adopt a more anarchic path. Illegal smuggling organizations emerged. In order to maintain their economic needs, many people embraced these smuggling organizations. These smuggling groups became powerful enough to determine the direction of the country. This period used to be explained simply as a working class revolt, but in order to fully understand how and these events occurred, further exploration must be done.