Secretary to the eunuch
Eunuchs in Chinese history. It generally has the dual status of a monarch, imperial servant and state official at the same time; As early as the Warring States and Qin and Han periods. The nature of the eunuch's identity.
The transformation process from a simple monarch and imperial household slave to an official status was largely completed. It is all eunuchs who can leave a mark in the history books, especially under the "official history".
Not at all "slaves" in the general sense, "domestic slaves". But a real "official".
An obscure book edited by Han Shi - "The Staff - The Actual Manipulator of China's Destiny". It is insightful to point out: "Eunuchs: Special Staff Members in the Imperial Building" (Educational Science Press, May 193). p. 8).
And back in July 198. Yang Jianyu, author of "History of Chinese Secretaries". On the bold and successful creation of the "eunuch secretary" (Tongji University Press).
According to the actual situation. We can think. What Han called "special staff" and Yang Jianyu's "eunuch secretary".
There are commonalities. From a secretarial point of view. Called "eunuch secretary". It is more intuitive and comparative (mainly compared with recent titles).
Yu Huaqing, an expert and young scholar on the "eunuch studies" issue, pointed out: The situation of eunuch dictatorship that emerged in the Tang Dynasty. The duration is long, the scope of the pre-government is wide, and the degree of harm is deep.
It's all unprecedented. Compare with the previous generation. The dictatorship of eunuchs in the Tang Dynasty was mainly characterized by the following three aspects: the status of eunuchs continued to change.
further bureaucratization of the ranks of eunuchs; Thanks to the guarantee of the relevant system. The status of eunuchs tends to be legitimized; The eunuchs of power rose one after another.
The situation of eunuch dictatorship has been perpetuated for a long time" (History of the Chinese Eunuch System). Shanghai People's Publishing House, June 193. p. 279).
This is Yu Huaqing's conclusion after comparative research. It is historically realistic. Five dynasties and ten kingdoms as a continuation of the Tang dynasty.
Although in the Later Tang, Former Shu and Southern Han states. Eunuch secretary is in power. There has also been a "resurgence". But in general.
There has not been a long-term, holistic, global situation. The momentum of the dictatorship of eunuch secretaries. Basically controlled.
The hazard has decreased. Compared to Don. The eunuch secretaries of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms failed to stir up the wind and make evil waves. The reason for this situation. There are many reasons.
Like what. Late Tang and early Later Liang. Zhu Wen, a native of Changshan, Anhui, joined forces with Tang Zhaozong and Cui to remove the prime minister to give the increasingly rampant power forces after the middle of Tang.
with devastating blows; Later Tang Zhuangzong Dynasty. Guo Chongtao, the privy envoy who took Tianxia as his post, was "a supreme eunuch".
Make "eunuchs and servants." especially inconvenient"; Due to the numerous separatist regimes, there are frequent regime changes. The power of eunuchs has not yet had time to expand.
Wait a minute. Ouyang Xiu had focused on the third reason. When revisiting the history of the Five Dynasties and talking about the Later Tang eunuchs. Ouyang Xiu pointed out that at that time, the monarch "multi-martial people rose. and its successors. The number of years is short and the years are not eternal.
The former eunuch Mo Xi Shi" ("New History of the Five Dynasties, Eunuch Biography"). Volume XXXVIII). First. The eunuch system continues with difficulty: 1. Source situation. Eunuchs of the early Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms.
Most of them are the remnants of the eunuchs of the Tang Dynasty and the survivors of the "eunuchs". They were the original source of the team of eunuch secretaries of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms.
There were two situations: First, Zhu Wen, Tang Zhaozong, and Prime Minister Cui Yu claimed to "condemn eunuchs." In fact, it was not completely killed.
Although they "cursed" more than 700 people, including "Fifth Kefan". But in the inner court of the Tang Dynasty. A small number of eunuchs who were "offered to miscellaneous servants" remained.
Similar to the handymen in today's government units. The second was a high-ranking eunuch who was not in the capital at that time and served as a "military supervisor".
Most escaped under the cover of the general of Jiedu Town. The General Guide to Information and Governance pays attention to this phenomenon. He pointed out: "The eunuch died. However, Zhang Chengye, the supervisor of Hedong, Zhang Juhan, the supervisor of Youzhou, Cheng Kuangrou, the supervisor of Qinghai, the nephew of Yuquan and Zhishi Yan Zunmei.
It was completely hidden by Li Keyong, Liu Rengong, Yang Xingmi, and Wang Jian. beheading him to be imprisoned in response to the edict" (Tang Dynasty 80). Except for the "overseer".
There were also a small number of surviving eunuchs. Li Keyong and other jiedu towns will protect the eunuchs. It is inseparable from their ambition to use the imperial system and attempt to claim the title of emperor.
Five generations. The eunuch secretary was appointed by the eunuch envoy. Become fashionable. The two formed a new relationship between the master and the assistant—similar to the leader and secretary today.
For example. Chengde Jun Jiedu made Wang Rong and the eunuch Shi Ximeng, and Zhenhai Jiedu made Qian Miao and the eunuch Zhou Yanhao.
That's it. Except times. The system of eunuch adoption was revived. It became the main form of supplementing the "soldiers" of the eunuch ranks in the late fifth dynasty.
- Eunuch institutions and eunuch appointments. The eunuch institutions of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms and the eunuch appointment system. It basically follows the Tang Dynasty.
It's just a change. Eunuch Institution: In general, it is still like the Tang Dynasty. It's called the Province of Internal Affairs. The main officials are: internal attendant, internal waiter, internal constant attendant, internal servant, internal thirsty, internal bureau order, etc.
Furthermore. There are still internal divisions that make great changes. Later Liang was based on the late Tang Dynasty's "only nine envoys such as Xuanhui". About 20 more have been restored or added.
The envoys included the Chongzhengyuan (that is, the "Privy Council" of the Tang Dynasty), the envoys of the Yihui Yuan, the flying dragon envoys, the Zhuangzhai envoys, and the bow and arrow library envoys.
There are about 30 ((Book 24 of the Five Dynasties). But. The envoys of Later Liang were different from those of the Tang dynasty. Basically, it is filled by scholars.
Later Tang Zhuangzong "reused eunuchs." immersion in political affairs" (Zizhi Tongjian Later Tang Ji II). It is also only for the eunuchs and men among the envoys.
Moreover, it is mainly served by scholars; Later Liang, Later Jin, Later Han, and Later Zhou states. Eunuchs are not required to be "privy seals".
Among the ten countries. The "Privy Seal" of Former Shu. First attack first Tang system. Dedicated Shiren. Since then, he has also served as a eunuch. Eunuch position: Later Tang Zhuangzong. The post of "internal envoy" was added.
"Take the general of the left prison guard, Li Shaohong (i.e. Ma Shaohong), the province of the inner guard, and the inner hook. All the world's money valley book books. Commissionering" ("History of the Old Five Dynasties, Official Records"). Volume 149).
Late Southern Han Kingdom. The posts of "Inner Third Division" and "Inner Third Duke" were specially set up for eunuchs (Liang Yannan: "Southern Hanshu Later Master Ji").
Grand eunuchs Gong Chengshu and Li Tuo. Zeng Guan worshiped the "Inner Tai Master". — It expands the remit of eunuchs. The rank of eunuchs was raised. Former Shu eunuch Wang Chengxiu.
He was actually appointed by the later lord Wang Yan as the "envoy of Qinzhou Jiedu". and was given the title "Duke of Lu". "Zizhi Tongjian Later Tang Ji II" discussed: The end of the Tang Dynasty. "Eunuchs are prosperous. There are no builders".
Wang Chengxiu's appointment. It created a special case of eunuchs directly serving as envoys of the Jiedu during the Fifty Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period.
- Interfering in the regime situation. Throughout the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period. Not serious. In the three kingdoms of Later Tang, Former Shu and Southern Han.
The interference of eunuchs in the regime was quite serious. It is a reproduction of the situation at the end of the Tang Dynasty. Former Shu as an example. During the reign of Wang Jian.
The eunuch Tang Wenxian colluded with the favored concubine Xu. Intervene to corrupt the government. He also encouraged the king to establish the young son of the concubine as the crown prince; Tang Wen hired the "Long Dian Forbidden Army." See Pre-Secrets".
For the sole rule. Trying to squeeze out other ministers. Thus intensifying the contradiction between courtiers and eunuchs. He was murdered. After Wang Yan came to power.
A eunuch tinkered. The eunuchs Song Guangsi, Wang Tingshao, Ouyang Huang, Li Zhouge, Song Chengyun and others were all reused.
They "all interfere in political affairs. Arrogance and greed. Great trouble". The monarch is dedicated to "luxury".
"Shu You is chasing decline" (Zizhi Tongjian Later Liang Ji V). The defeat of Former Shu. With eunuchs dictatorship.
There is a direct relationship. The situation in the Southern Han Kingdom. It is more than the former Shu. Yu Huaqing believes: "In the history of the development of China's eunuch system.
The Southern Han Dynasty was a unique kingdom of eunuchs. The eunuch system of the Southern Han Dynasty. Not only different from other separatist regimes of the same period.
It is also extremely rare in the previous and subsequent feudal dynasties" (History of the Chinese Eunuch System). p. 302).
The end of the Southern Han Kingdom. Out of a total population of 100,000. "There are nearly 20,000 eunuchs" (Zizhi Tongjian).
Yu Huaqing said: "In terms of the absolute number of eunuchs. The Southern Han Dynasty was probably inferior only to the Ming Dynasty. In terms of the proportion of eunuchs in the total population of society.
The Southern Han Dynasty created a unique exception for the descendants of the previous dynasty. It can be called the best in Chinese history."
The four lords of the Southern Han Kingdom all favored eunuchs. As a result, there has been a special industry of "castration" and "professional households" - "castrations" in China.
According to the "Song Shi Southern Han Family". The Northern Song general Pan Mei led an army to attack the state capital Panyu (present-day Guangzhou). He once "cut more than 500 castrations".
Visible. How prosperous the "castration" of the Southern Han Kingdom was back then. In terms of eunuch service. The Southern Han Kingdom also opened the door for eunuchs to intervene in power.
The first is to make the eunuch a "imperial master." Duty. The position of "Taishi" is higher than that of all ministers. The grade column is "Genuine First Product". Except for the Northern Wei dynasty.
There is no precedent. Second, the number of "envoys" appointed by eunuchs has increased significantly. "The names of the envoys are as many as two hundred" (Southern Hanshu Later Lord's Record).
Third, the phenomenon of eunuchs directly holding military posts is widespread. Eunuchs can not only continue to serve in positions such as "superintendent", "lieutenant", and "envoy to watch the army".
And there are quite a few people who turned out to be the commanders of the front. For example, the empresses Wu Huaien, Shao Ting, Pan Chongche, and Guo Chongyue all served in important military positions in the category of "soliciting envoys".
Later lord Liu Yin became the dynasty. The ones who really command everything and command the world are Quan Que Gong Chengshu, Chen Yanshou and others. He was escorted to the back of Kaifeng.
He said bluntly to Song Taizu: "The minister took the false throne at the age of sixteen. (Gong) Chengshu and others are all former subjects. Every minister shall not be exclusive.
In the country, a minister is a subordinate. Chengshu is the lord of the country" ("Song Shi Southern Han Dynasty"). Yu Huaqing said: "Although this remark is suspected of inducing guilt.
But to a certain extent, it also reflects the political reality of the late Southern Han dynasty when the monarch was a subordinate and the eunuch was opposed to the lord of the state" (History of the Chinese Eunuch System). Page 3) second.
The general trend of eunuch secretaries 1. From the perspective of different dynasties, it is said that the general trend or characteristic of eunuch secretaries in the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period is "big ups and downs".
It's precise. The basic situation is: the rear beam is strangled. Later Tang rose again. The end of the Tang Dynasty. One of the causes of political chaos was the eunuchs.
Failure to do one's duty. Make waves. Dictatorship of eunuch secretaries. has degenerated into a force of evil. Under the specific operation of Zhu Wen.
Emperor Tang Zhaozong and Prime Minister Cui withdrew the "eunuchs". It has indeed dealt a heavy blow to this evil force. After Zhu Wen became the founding emperor of Later Liang.
While reflecting on the "one-pot end" policy. Still maintain the necessary vigilance: "This genus (referring to the eunuch) I know his innocence.
But now is the beginning of the reform. do not want to put it alone" (Zizhi Tongjian Houliang Ji II). The second generation of the rear beam and the three masters. Continue to pursue the policy of strangling eunuchs in the late Tang Dynasty.
There has never been a situation in which eunuchs interfere in government and dictatorship. Later Emperor Zhuangzong of Tang opposed the policy of the Zhu Liang Dynasty and acted on it. Make the eunuch power that has been stifled.
Another opportunity to resurrect and raise one's head. Long before the official establishment of the Later Tang regime. Li Keyong's father and son began to use eunuchs.
They "tasted" the "sweetness" from the reuse of the superintendent Zhang Chengye and the eunuch Zhang Juhan. February of the second year of Tongguang (924).
Zhuangzong told the world. Recruit and recycle hundreds of former Tang eunuchs scattered among the people. Together with the existing ones in the palace. Up to a thousand people. Zhuangzong "provides excellent support".
Delegate affairs. Treat as a henchman. Therefore, Tang Ills. Once restored. Zhuangzong obeyed Quan Gong's words. Kill Guo Chongtao, the number one meritorious and loyal minister who holds the "Danshu Iron Coupon".
It was Zhuangzong and Empress Liu who listened to the confidence eunuch Xiang Yansi. and the absurd decisions made; Another adulterer, Ma Yansi, designed to kill Guo Chongtao and his two sons.
Finally, a mutiny was triggered and Zhuangzong died in a random arrow. 2. Even in the same country. Because the emperor had a different attitude towards the eunuch secretary.
Their circumstances are very different. Its ups and downs. The change is evident as mentioned earlier. After Tang Zhuangzong was fighting the world.
He was fully assisted by the eunuchs Zhang Chengye and Zhang Juhan and others. He then generalized that eunuchs and secretaries were available talents.