Preface
In the chapters of Chinese history, eunuchs, a character with a special identity, often carry countless stories and legends. However, one of the eunuchs stood out for his outstanding character and prestige, becoming the most famous eunuch in Chinese history.
His life may be a bright spot in the struggle for power, or a symbol of loyalty and bravery. After his death, hundreds of officials supported the coffin and buried him, and there are still people worshipping him.
So, who is this eunuch who can leave such an immortal reputation in the long river of history? Let's trace his legendary life together.
He entered the palace at the age of nine and laid a solid foundation
The eunuch system can be traced back to the ancient Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, which was gradually completed in the Qin and Han dynasties, and reached its peak in the Ming and Qing dynasties. Becoming a eunuch, for many children from poor backgrounds, although it has a certain tragic color, is also a way out of poverty. Chen Ju is one of them.
Chen Ju was born in the eighteenth year of Jiajing of Ming Shizong (1539), his family was very poor, and he lived in a small village in Ansu County, Hebei Province. In addition to him, there are other siblings in the family, and his parents are really unable to support them. So, at the age of nine, the young Chen Ju had to step into the palace gate and become a eunuch.
Early childhood - a long journey to the palace
After entering the palace, Chen Ju did not become a cook or an inferior person washing horses all his life like many eunuchs. He was fortunate enough to be assigned to the important department of the celebrant supervisor. The chief of the twelve eunuchs was responsible for managing the affairs of the emperor, requiring not only mastery of intricate skills, but also erudition, and occupied an important position in the entire court system.
As an ignorant child, Chen Ju was able to enter such an important department, naturally relying on his extraordinary talent. He was brilliant and clever, and soon attracted the attention of Gao Zhong, the boss of the celebrant at the time, the "King of Eunuchs". Gao Zhong took this little eunuch under his command and became his retinue.
Under Gao Zhong's careful guidance, the young Chen Ju was like a fish in water and quickly rose to prominence in the court. He is diligent and studious, not only mastering various skills such as document processing and policy formulation, but also gradually gaining a deep understanding and insight into national affairs through hearing and seeing. At the same time, he was also influenced by Gao Zhong's integrity and selfless spirit, and his determination to serve the country and support the community became increasingly firm.
Growing years - Accumulation of talents
In the environment of the celebrant supervisor, Chen Ju not only learned various professional skills, but also began to take over some specific work himself. These works involved all parts of the country, and as a eunuch at the emperor's side, he had a influence that could not be underestimated.
But Chen Ju has never taken advantage of his special status, on the contrary, he has always been strict in abiding by the law, acting impartially, and never oppressing the people or arrogant officials. Such a style of work soon won a good reputation in the DPRK and the people.
At the same time, Chen Ju also continued to work cultural cultivation. He was not only a diligent reader, but also focused on collecting and studying all kinds of classics. The accumulation of this knowledge has also enabled him to handle political affairs with ease.
At the same time, under the cultivation of Gao Zhong, Chen Ju's loyalty to the country and the people became more and more firm. When Chen Ju was eleven years old, the northern invaders at that time began to invade the border, and even the capital was threatened. As a minister, Gao Zhong personally went into battle, fought valiantly against the enemy, and finally won the victory.
This incident undoubtedly left a deep impression on the young Chen Ju. He saw his master, leading by example, and spilling his blood for the country, which strengthened his determination to serve the country and support the community. Since then, he has devoted himself to his work, working hard and resentful, and interpreting the responsibilities and responsibilities of a eunuch with practical actions.
Climb to the top and start glowing
In the twenty-sixth year of Wanli (1598), Chen Ju finally ushered in the peak moment of his career. This year, he officially took over the responsibility of the eunuch of the ceremonial supervisor Bingbi and became the real "king of eunuchs".
In the context of this special era, the status of the eunuch Bingbi can be described as supreme. Although the emperor nominally held the supreme power, in practice he rarely personally intervened in political affairs. Instead, the cabinet ministers collectively studied and decided, and then the eunuchs of Bingbi implemented it after the emperor's approval.
It can be said that this eunuch holds the "control switch" of the imperial court's government affairs. If he wishes, he can always amend or veto the bills that have been submitted. Coupled with the special power of serving as the superintendent of the East Factory at the same time, the power in the hands of the eunuch Bingbi can be described as unimaginably huge. In Chen's case, however, everything is very different.
In charge of the East Factory - in accordance with the law
As the overseer of the East Factory, Chen Ju held power enough to disrupt the entire court. Dongchang was a secret police agency under the emperor of the Ming Dynasty, in the same vein as Jinyiwei, and was responsible for monitoring and punishing problematic courtiers.
Previously, all the eunuchs in charge of the East Factory used this power to seek personal interests and engage in power struggles. But Chen Ju is completely different. He always adhered to the creed of "the law of the ancestors, the truth of the sages", and he would severely punish those who did commit crimes, but for some ministers who he believed to be innocent, even if they were framed by others, he would personally write to the emperor to intercede for them.
Chen Ju's impartiality and selflessness made those officials who usually lean against each other and couldn't help but be impressed. They understand that as long as they insist on being loyal, Chen Ju will definitely protect them. During his time in charge of the East Factory, there was a rare peaceful scene in the capital.
Take control of the government - Maintain the law
As a eunuch in the court, Chen Ju actually holds the final decision on the entire country's government affairs. But he remained devout to the testimonies and never used this power.
For example, when the "Demon Book Case" occurred that shocked the government and the opposition, many ministers couldn't wait to take advantage of this to make political money, and they found Chen Ju to try to win him over. But Chen Ju turned a deaf ear and insisted on handling the case fairly, and in the end, although he used a showman as a companion, it also minimized the damage that this case had to the entire court.
It is this style that has won Chen Ju a very high prestige in the DPRK. He often ran into powerful ministers, but in the end he always won the emperor's approval. Not only did he not humble or arrogant in front of the emperor, but he could even sometimes persuade Wanli Shenzong to change some direction of governance.
Perhaps benefiting from years of reading and cultivation, Chen Ju's insights are indeed more profound than those of many high-ranking scholars. This also enabled him to navigate the complex and changeable government and politics with ease, and maintained the overall situation of the government and the opposition.
Living a simple life - being honest and self-controlled
Even with such prominent power, Chen Ju has always maintained his usual frugality and poverty. In the court at that time, many eunuchs fell into extravagance and squandered the state finances. But Chen Ju is very different, his life is almost unimaginable.
Even if he is a high-ranking official, he has maintained considerable frugality in food, clothing, housing and transportation, and has not allowed himself to sink into the ocean of power and money at all. In his spare time, Chen Ju likes to write poems and paintings, read various classics, and is full of literati temperament.
This made many eunuchs around him also make a lot of progress under his influence. Several of them were even entrusted with important responsibilities even after his death, which shows how touching Chen Ju's spiritual power is.
After the death of a hundred officials to support the coffin - the glorious life of a eunuch
In the thirty-fifth year of Wanli (1607), this eunuch, who had been honest and honest all his life and fulfilled his responsibilities for the country, finally passed away peacefully. Chen Ju's death shocked the entire government and the opposition. Emperor Shenzong gave nine altars, specially inscribed the word "Qingzhong" plaque for him, and used the form of a coffin used by monks when he was buried.
This kind of high-standard treatment is unprecedented for the eunuchs of the Ming Dynasty. But what is even more breathtaking is the scene that appeared on the day of Chen Ju's funeral. I saw a large group of civil and military officials, who spontaneously came to see him off.
Among these people, there are former political enemies, and there are also long-time supporters of him, but at Chen Ju's funeral, any contradictions and disputes were temporarily put on hold. They came one after another, and even blocked the road, just to pay their last respects to the incorruptible and noble eunuch.
Such a scene is really unimaginable. After all, eunuchs have always been the object of despise and discrimination, and it is difficult for even Chen Ju himself to imagine that he can obtain such a lofty status and respect by himself.
It can be said that Chen Ju's life has completely subverted people's inherent impression of eunuchs. With his practical actions, he proved that even a eunuch can become a model of noble self-discipline and loyalty to the country.
This young man from a humble background, with his intelligence and integrity, finally reached the top of the eunuch world and became a well-deserved "internal minister". But he has never been corrupted by the huge power, but has always adhered to the belief of "the law of the ancestors, the truth of the sages", and did his best to maintain the overall situation of the imperial court.
After his death, he not only won the high respect of the emperor and hundreds of officials, but also ordinary people came to pay their respects. Even today, his deeds and spirit are still widely known, and he has become a model for future generations of eunuchs.
Perhaps, it is precisely because of the identity of a eunuch that Chen Ju's story can be more fascinating. After all, in that feudal dynasty that lasted for hundreds of years, it was rare to be able to maintain such a noble character under such a deformed system.
Chen Ju's life illustrates the possibility that eunuchs can also become a generation of great men. His deeds are enough to make us re-examine those who have been blindly degraded, and in this chaotic era, his spirit is undoubtedly a model that we should learn from forever.
epilogue
In the eyes of today's people, eunuchs are often conspirators and power parasites who are branded as "traitors". And Chen Ju's legendary life has undoubtedly completely subverted this inherent impression.
With his talent and integrity, he grew from a poor village boy to a powerful eunuch. But even with such astonishing power, he has always maintained an honest and self-disciplined character, and has never been tarnished for personal gain.
On the contrary, he always paid attention to the interests of the country and the people, and showed a firm sense of justice and a high degree of political wisdom in major events. It can be said that Chen Ju's life is a microcosm of a eunuch playing an important political role.