Everyone in the world knows that the five major supervisors of the Apocalypse in "Youth Song Xing" are inclined to the government and the opposition, but few people know that their origins are so tortuous and bizarre. These five Ouchi masters have unique skills, but they also have their own thoughts. Their fate is closely related to the rise and fall of the Beili Dynasty. What kind of rules make them willing to die for the imperial power? And what kind of conspiracy to let them rise and fall in the whirlpool of power? And why did the seemingly most inconspicuous Palm Incense Supervisor Jinxian survive in this bloody storm? Let's uncover the dust of history and discover the secrets of this little-known court. How amazing will the ending of the five eunuchs of the Apocalypse be?
1. The Tradition of the Northern Departure Dynasty: The Origin of the Five Great Prison System
It is said that at the beginning of the establishment of the Beili Dynasty, the founding emperor Xiao Yuande was well aware of the scourge of "eunuch chaos". When he was wandering among the people, he witnessed the evils caused by the dictatorship of eunuchs in the previous dynasty, so he was determined to put an end to such disasters in his own dynasty.
At the beginning of the founding of the People's Republic of China, Xiao Yuande convened his ministers to discuss how to prevent the eunuch dictatorship. At that time, an old minister of the DPRK and China put forward the idea of the "five major prisons" system, and as soon as this remark came out, it immediately caused an uproar in the Manchu Dynasty. This old minister's name is Chen Xuanji, who is Xiao Yuande's teacher and is proficient in the art of Qimen Dunjia.
Chen Xuanji said: "Your Majesty, the five elements are mutually reinforcing, and it is the principle of heaven and earth. The minister thought that five major eunuchs could be set up, divided into five positions, and each other could be contained, which could not only give full play to the strengths of eunuchs, but also prevent them from causing trouble. "
When Xiao Yuande heard this, his eyes couldn't help but light up, and he asked repeatedly: "The teacher's words are really wonderful!" I don't know how these five positions should be distributed? "
Chen Xuanji replied calmly: "According to the minister's opinion, there can be a sword supervisor, a palm seal supervisor, a palm incense supervisor, a book supervisor and a chief eunuch. The sword in charge of the town is the national treasure sword, symbolizing the northern departure from the army to open up the territory; The palm seal of the superintendent inherits the jade seal of the country, representing the inheritance of the Xiao family from generation to generation; The palm incense supervises the green jade incense burner, implying the virtue of the Buddha and the sky; He is in charge of supervising the legal texts, showing that the dynasty governs the country with virtue; As for the eunuch, he grew up with the emperor as a companion, and did not hold real power, but he was the head of the eunuchs and commanded the four eunuchs. "
When Xiao Yuande heard this, he couldn't help but exclaim: "Wonderful! Wonderful! That's a great idea! "
However, just when the ministers were rejoicing, Chen Xuanji said again: "Your Majesty is slow, the minister still has a word." "
Xiao Yuande saw the teacher's solemn expression, and hurriedly said, "Teacher, please speak." "
Chen Xuanji said in a deep voice: "The establishment of the five major eunuchs can certainly check and balance the power of eunuchs. However, without strict restraints, it is difficult to guarantee that they will not form a party for personal gain and plot misdeeds. Therefore, the ministers thought that an iron law should be made: if the emperor dies, the five living eunuchs must go to the imperial tomb to guard the tomb and must not leave for life. "
As soon as these words came out, the Manchu Dynasty was shocked. Xiao Yuande couldn't help but gasp and asked, "This... Is that too harsh? "
Chen Xuanji said with a straight face: "Your Majesty, for the sake of the country, I have to do this." The five eunuchs enjoy glory and wealth, but they also have to shoulder the heavy responsibility of protecting the royal family. In this way, they did not dare to rebel easily, but they could also protect the dragon vein from coveting when the emperor died. "
Xiao Yuande pondered for a long time, and finally made up his mind: "Just follow the teacher's words!" "
In this way, the five major prison systems of the Northern Imperial Dynasty were formally established. In order to highlight the special status of the five eunuchs, Xiao Yuande also specially gave them a unified surname "Jin", which means that they are as precious as beautiful jade, and they must always be loyal and protect the royal family.
With the passage of time, the system of five major prisons was gradually improved. Each generation of the Five Great Eunuchs had a special mission: when the emperor died, they would open the Dragon Seal Scroll with Qin Tianjian to confirm the succession of the new emperor. This dragon seal scroll was secretly written by the emperor during his lifetime, and was sealed with a dragon seal, and the name of the successor emperor was written in it.
This move originated from the tragedy of the accidental death of two princes in a row at the beginning of the founding of the country. In order to avoid turmoil caused by the struggle for the throne, the court made a rule: no crown prince should be appointed, but the emperor would secretly choose the heir. Every annual ceremony, a copy of the dragon seal scroll will be handed over to the five major supervisors for safekeeping, called "passing on the emperor's life"; The other copy was sealed by Qin Tianjian and called "Reaching Heaven's Will".
2. The selection and training of the five major eunuchs of the Apocalypse
The five eunuchs in the Apocalypse period can be said to be the most special group in the history of the Beili Dynasty. Their selection and cultivation not only follow the tradition, but also have a unique style, which is really a rare miracle in a thousand years.
It is said that at the beginning of Emperor Tianqi's ascension to the throne, the five eunuchs left by the first emperor were already old and difficult to perform heavy duties. The new emperor ordered the selection of a new generation of five eunuchs throughout the country. When this news came out, it immediately caused an uproar.
At that time, Li Yuanfang, the secretary of the Ministry of Rites, wrote: "Your Majesty, since the founding of the country, the five major eunuchs have all been served by eunuchs in the palace. Now to be selected among the people, I am afraid that it will violate the ancestral system. "
When Emperor Tianqi heard this, he disagreed: "The ancestral system is important, but it must also keep pace with the times. I've heard that there are many folk masters, why don't you open the door and select people who are truly talented and learned? "
In this way, an unprecedented grand selection meeting kicked off. Local strangers have been recommended from all over the country to compete for the position of the five major eunuchs. Among them, the most eye-catching are five teenagers from Jiangnan.
These five teenagers are: Jin Han, a swordsman from a martial arts family, Jin Xuan, a genius who is proficient in mechanical arts, Jin Qing, a divine doctor who is good at medicine and toxicology, Jin Wen, a scholar who is erudite and talented, and Jin Xian, who has a mysterious background. They are all about the same age, they are all fourteen or fifteen years old, but they have their own strengths, which is amazing.
At the selection meeting, the five people shined. With a long sword, Jin Han fought alone, and the subtlety of the swordsmanship amazed the martial arts masters present. Jin Xuan designed a complex array of mechanisms, which was difficult for even the old ministers of the court to crack. In the medical skills competition, Jinqing not only rejuvenated her hands, but also detoxified all kinds of poisons, showing amazing talent. Jinwen is even more knowledgeable, and the answers are so fluent that even the examiner sighs to himself. As for Jin Xian, although he seems to be ordinary, he can always turn danger into a disaster at a critical moment, showing extraordinary wisdom.
After layers of selection, these five teenagers finally stood out and became the five major prisoners of the new generation. The Emperor of the Apocalypse, Long Yan Dayue, personally gave them the surname "Jin" and ordered them to begin special training.
However, just as the Emperor of the Apocalypse was about to announce the results of the appointment, a shocking news suddenly came from the court: the five major eunuchs left by the first emperor had disappeared en masse! This change immediately caused an uproar, and the government and the opposition were in an uproar.
Some people speculate that the five eunuchs of the first emperor were unwilling to abdicate and secretly plotted misdeeds. Some people also believe that it is a person with a heart who takes the opportunity to cause trouble and intends to disturb the court. What's more, it is suspected that the Emperor of the Apocalypse secretly attacked in order to eradicate dissidents.
In the face of the rumors, the Emperor of the Apocalypse appeared unusually calm. He ordered a thorough investigation of the matter, and at the same time accelerated the training process of the new five eunuchs.
In order to ensure the loyalty of the new five eunuchs, the Emperor of the Apocalypse specially arranged for a respected old minister to serve as their mentor. This old minister's name is Zhang Shouren, who was the first assistant of the cabinet during the first emperor's period, and he became a senior minister because of his advanced age. Zhang Shouren is not only knowledgeable, but also proficient in court etiquette, and can be called the best candidate to train the five major eunuchs.
Under the careful guidance of Zhang Shouren, the five teenagers grew up rapidly. They not only have to learn the etiquette of the court and the knowledge of government affairs, but also improve their respective specialties. It is very busy to get up in the morning to practice martial arts, study the classics in the afternoon, and take turns to guard the palace at night.
However, just as the five teenagers were about to officially take office, an even more shocking news came: the bodies of the five eunuchs of the first emperor were found near the imperial tomb! What is even more shocking is that the cause of their death turned out to be poisoning.
The discovery caused an immediate uproar. The ministers of the DPRK and China have written to them demanding a thorough investigation of the matter. Emperor Tianqi was extremely calm in the face of the doubts of the ministers. He ordered the news to be blocked, and at the same time ordered the new five eunuchs to secretly investigate the case.
In this way, the five teenagers who have not yet officially taken office are involved in a shocking conspiracy. While ascertaining the truth, they must also deal with the covetousness of various forces in the DPRK and China. This seemingly simple selection and training has so many hidden mysteries.
3. The powers and duties of the five major supervisors
After the five eunuchs of the Apocalypse officially took office, their powers and responsibilities were gradually revealed. Although these five teenagers are young, they have their own unique skills, and they quickly gain a firm foothold in the court. However, as time went on, their scope of responsibilities continued to expand, and their powers expanded day by day, causing all kinds of suspicion and controversy between the government and the opposition.
First of all, let's talk about the sword supervisor Jin Han. As the head of the five eunuchs, he not only held the sword of Zhenguo, but was also entrusted by the Emperor of the Apocalypse to lead the forbidden army. This is the first time in the history of Beili. In the past, although the sword supervisor had the right to mobilize a small number of forbidden troops, he had never held such a large military power. After Jin Han took office, he immediately set about rectifying the forbidden army and carried out drastic reforms. He abolished the hereditary system in the forbidden army, replaced it with merit-based recruitment, and personally trained soldiers, which greatly increased the combat effectiveness of the forbidden army.
This move aroused the dissatisfaction of the DPRK and Chinese military generals. Zhao Guanghan, the secretary of the military department, said: "Your Majesty, the forbidden army is the foundation of the imperial city, how can it be controlled by a eunuch?" I am afraid that this move violates the ancestral system. When Emperor Tianqi heard this, he was displeased, and immediately refuted: "I know that Qing is loyal, but Jin Han has outstanding ability, and I am convinced that he can be qualified for this position." Moreover, the forbidden army is strong, precisely to better protect the imperial city. "
The second is the palm print supervisor Jinxuan. Not only did he keep the jade seal, but he was also given the power to supervise the six seals. This means that all important documents need to go through the hands of Jin Xuan. He used his exquisite skills to design a complex system for the storage of seals, so that the ministers of the DPRK and China could not use the seals without authorization. Although this move strengthened the imperial court's control over documents, it also aroused the dissatisfaction of the civil official group.
Wang Shouren, the servant of the ministry, wrote: "Your Majesty, the seal letter is the most important weapon of the country, how can it be easily handed over to outsiders? What's more, Jin Xuan is still young, and it may be difficult to take on this heavy responsibility. The Emperor of the Apocalypse disagreed: "Jin Xuan's wisdom is outstanding, and it is precisely because of his youth that he can come up with such a subtle method of preservation." Why should Wang Qing be arrogant? "
Let's talk about the palm incense supervisor Jin Xian. Not only was he responsible for the supply of spices in the palace, but he was also given the authority to oversee religious affairs. This is unprecedented in the history of the North Departure. After Jinxian took office, he immediately set about rectifying temples and Taoist temples in various places, and even participated in the formulation of sacrificial rituals. He put forward the concept of "three religions in one" and tried to reconcile Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism, which caused an uproar among the people.
Zhang Juzheng, the waiter of the Ministry of Rites, complained about this: "Your Majesty, religious affairs have always been in charge of the Ministry of Rites, but now they are handled by the Supervisor of Incense, I am afraid that there is a suspicion of trespassing." The Emperor of the Apocalypse praised it: "Jin Xian's move is exactly what I wanted. The three religions are one family, why bother with each other? Zhang Qing should study with an open mind and not rest on his laurels. "
As for the registrar Jinwen, his power can be said to be the most extensive. In addition to managing the royal collection, he was given the power to participate in the affairs of the state. Jinwen attends the court meeting every day and participates in the discussion of national affairs. He was very knowledgeable and often able to put forward unique opinions, and he soon gained the respect of the Emperor of the Apocalypse.
However, this move caused strong dissatisfaction among cabinet ministers. Shoufu Li Dongyang played: "Your Majesty, the major policies of the country have always been decided by the cabinet, and now it is against the ancestral system to let a eunuch participate in it." Emperor Tianqi disagreed: "Jin Wen is outstanding in learning, why not participate in politics?" Li Qing should accept it with an open mind and not be arrogant. "
Finally, he said that the eunuch Jinqing. As the youngest of the five eunuchs, he has the most special powers. Jinqing was not only in charge of the emperor's daily life, but was also given the authority to supervise the imperial hospital. He is proficient in medical skills, and often personally diagnoses and prescribes prescriptions for the Emperor of the Apocalypse. What's even more surprising is that Jinqing was also allowed to participate in the draft, which is unique in the history of Beili.
Sun Simiao, the envoy of the Tai Hospital, complained about this: "Your Majesty, the heart of the doctor's parents, the imperial hospital is related to the safety of the dragon body, how can it be entrusted to an inexperienced young man?" Emperor Apocalypse disagreed: "Jinqing's medical skills are exquisite, and I have personally experienced it." Sun Qing is old, so he should give more guidance, not blame. "
With the passage of time, the power of the five eunuchs continued to expand, involving almost all aspects of the government. Not only did they hold real power, but they also gradually participated in the decision-making of major state policies. This situation is unprecedented in the history of Beili, and it has triggered all kinds of speculation in the government and the opposition.
Some people believe that Emperor Tianqi's move is to check and balance civil and military officials and prevent ministers from dictatorship. There was also speculation that these five teenagers might have some kind of special relationship with the Emperor of the Apocalypse, so they trusted them so much. What's more, it is secretly rumored that the Emperor of the Apocalypse may have other plans, planning something earth-shattering by the hands of the five major eunuchs.
In any case, the rise of the five eunuchs is a fact. The scope of their powers and responsibilities has surpassed that of the five major eunuchs of previous generations. This change not only changed the power structure of the imperial court, but also laid the groundwork for a series of thrilling events in the future.
And this is only the beginning of the legendary story of the five eunuchs of the Apocalypse. As their power continues to expand, more contradictions and conflicts will follow. An earth-shattering power struggle is quietly unfolding in the court of the Northern Dynasty......
The political struggles and conspiracies of the Fourth and Fifth Prisoners
With the continuous expansion of the power of the five major prisons, the contradictions between the government and the opposition have become increasingly intensified. In the spring of the sixth year of the Apocalypse, an earth-shattering political storm quietly broke out in the court of the Northern Dynasty.
It all started with a great drought. The north and west have been dry for many years, and there is no harvest, and the people have been displaced. The imperial court sent disaster relief envoys to the rescue, but news came back that the relief materials had been embezzled by local officials. The Emperor of the Apocalypse was furious and ordered a thorough investigation into the matter.
Jin Han, the sword supervisor, took the initiative to invite Ying and led the forbidden army to the west to investigate the case. However, on the third day of Jin Han's departure from Beijing, a shocking news suddenly came out of the court: someone found a large amount of stolen goods in Jin Han's mansion, including a large number of pearls, gems, gold and silver treasures.
This news was like a bombshell, exploding in the government and the opposition. Hundreds of civil and military officials have written to demand a thorough investigation of the matter. Zhao Guanghan, the secretary of the Ministry of War, was even more blunt: "Your Majesty, Jin Han, as the sword supervisor, has embezzled so much, which is really a great disaster for the country. Your Majesty, please be aware of it and set the record straight. "
In the face of the doubts of the ministers, the Emperor of the Apocalypse appeared extremely calm. He ordered Jin Xuan, the Palm Seal Supervisor, to immediately seal off Jin Han's mansion and send someone to secretly investigate the matter. However, at a critical moment in the investigation, another even more shocking news came: the official in charge of the investigation had mysteriously disappeared!
The people of the court were suddenly panicked. Some people speculate that Jin Han sent someone to kill him, and some people suspect that someone framed him. What's more, it was suspected that the Emperor of the Apocalypse secretly ordered the removal of the investigating officials in order to protect Jin Han.
Just when there were different opinions, Jinwen, the supervisor of the book, suddenly stood up. He made a generous statement in the court: "Your Majesty, the minister has reason to suspect that someone deliberately framed Brother Jinhan in this matter. Please tell me in detail. "
Jin Wen then presented a series of evidence, including the suspicious origin of the stolen goods, as well as the testimony of the guards at Jin Han's mansion. He speculated that it was likely that someone took advantage of Jinhan's departure from Beijing to smuggle stolen goods into his mansion with the intention of framing him.
These words immediately caused an uproar in the court. There was a lot of discussion among the ministers, and some people supported Jinwen's point of view, thinking that it was indeed strange; Some people scoffed at this, thinking that Jinwen was shielding his companions.
Just as the argument was endless, the chief eunuch Jinqing suddenly stood up. Holding a secret report, he claimed that the truth had been ascertained: "Your Majesty, the minister has ascertained that this matter was committed by the rebels in the west. They intended to divide the court and sow discord between His Majesty and his ministers. "
Jinqing then presented a series of evidence, including secret letters from the rebels and confessions from several captured rebels. This evidence shows that the rebels did orchestrate the framing in order to undermine the prestige of the imperial court and create favorable conditions for their rebellion.
This momentous discovery immediately silenced the court. The ministers looked at each other, not knowing what to do. Some ministers who were originally suspicious of the five major eunuchs had to admit their ability at this moment.
However, just when everyone thought that the matter was over, Jinxian, the palm incense supervisor, suddenly put forward an even more astonishing guess: "Your Majesty, I think that this matter may not be so simple. If it is really as Jin Qing said, then why can the western rebels enter the capital so easily and still come and go freely in Jin Han's mansion? The minister suspects that there may be internal responses in the DPRK and China. "
These words were tantamount to a thunderbolt, which immediately plunged the court into chaos. The ministers put themselves in danger, for fear of being taken as rebel internal actors. For a time, voices of mutual accusation and suspicion came one after another.
Faced with such a situation, the Emperor of the Apocalypse appeared extremely calm. He ordered the suspension of the court meeting and ordered the five eunuchs to secretly investigate the matter. At the same time, he also ordered the defense of the capital to be strengthened to prevent the rebels from infiltrating again.
In this way, a seemingly simple corruption case turned into an earth-shattering political struggle. The five major eunuchs must not only find out the truth, but also deal with the open and covert struggle between the forces of the DPRK and China. They must maneuver carefully in the intricacies of court-court relations, both to maintain their own security and to ensure the stability of the country.
And this is only the beginning of the political struggle between the five major prisons. As the investigation deepens, more conspiracies will be uncovered, and a major case that shocks the government and the opposition will also surface. The wisdom and ability of the five major eunuchs will be severely tested in this thrilling political game.
At the same time, Jinhan, far west, is also facing unprecedented challenges. Not only does he have to find out the truth about the misappropriation of relief supplies, but he also has to deal with the growing insurgency. A thrilling military adventure is quietly unfolding in the western desert......
5. The merits and demerits of the five major eunuchs and their historical evaluation
In the tenth year of the Apocalypse, the Northern Dynasty ushered in the tenth year of the five major eunuchs. In the past ten years, the government and the opposition have undergone earth-shaking changes, and the merits and demerits of the five major eunuchs have gradually surfaced, triggering extensive discussions and evaluations by later historians.
First of all, let's review the exploits of Jin Han, the sword supervisor. Under his leadership, the Forbidden Army grew in strength, not only successfully quelling the rebellion in the west, but also repelling the invasion of the nomads on the northern border. In the eighth year of the Apocalypse, Jin Han personally led the army to fight a decisive battle with the main force of the rebels in the depths of the desert. In this battle, which was later called the "Battle of Blood Sand", Jin Han defeated the rebel army of 50,000 with less than 20,000 forbidden troops and completely quelled the turmoil in the west.
However, Jinhan's exploits are not without controversy. Some historians have pointed out that although his reform of the forbidden army has improved its combat effectiveness, it has also aggravated the contradictions between the army and the civilian clique. In the ninth year of the Apocalypse, Zhao Guanghan, the secretary of the Ministry of War, once wrote a letter criticizing: "The forbidden army was originally to guard the imperial city, but now it has become an independent kingdom. Although Jin Han has contributed to the country, he has also buried disasters. "
The evaluation of the palm print supervisor Jinxuan is more complicated. The seal management system he designed really strengthened the imperial court's control over documents and effectively curbed corruption. In the seventh year of the Apocalypse, a major corruption case involving a number of high-ranking officials was uncovered under this system. However, this system has also provoked strong resentment among the civilian clique. Wang Shouren, the servant of the ministry, once sighed: "The major affairs of the court need to be asked by a eunuch, how can there be such a thing in ancient and modern times?" "
Zhangxiang Jian Jinxian's "three religions in one" policy has caused huge controversy. Although this policy alleviated religious conflicts and promoted cultural exchanges to a certain extent, it was also strongly opposed by Confucian scholars. In the ninth year of the Apocalypse, Zhang Juzheng, a waiter of the Ministry of Rites, and a number of ministers wrote a letter, accusing this policy of "violating the holy way and disrupting our ritual law". However, the people supported this policy, and many temples and temples were renovated and rebuilt.
It is also difficult to judge the merits and demerits of the superintendent Jinwen. He participated in the country's major politics and proposed a number of reform measures, many of which were insightful. In the sixth year of the Apocalypse, the reform of the "uniform land system" proposed by him effectively alleviated the problem of land annexation. However, some of his radical policies have also sparked controversy. In the eighth year of the Apocalypse, he strongly advocated the abolition of the imperial examination system and advocated "meritocracy", although this proposal was not adopted, but caused an uproar among the scholar class.
The evaluation of the chief eunuch Jinqing was relatively positive. His reform of the Imperial Hospital improved the medical level of the royal family, and also promoted a number of private prescriptions for the benefit of the people. In the plague that broke out in the seventh year of the Apocalypse, it was Jinqing's "Huoxiang Zhengqi Dispersion" that saved countless lives. However, his participation in the draft still drew criticism and was seen by some conservative ministers as "trespassing".
The merits and demerits of the five major eunuchs had already aroused fierce debate at that time. In the tenth year of the Apocalypse, Li Dongyang, the first assistant of the cabinet, once commented in the compromise: "Although the five people are talented, they are too powerful. As the old saying goes: Water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize a boat. Your Majesty should ponder. "
However, the Emperor of the Apocalypse always maintained his trust in the Five Great Eunuchs. At a court meeting, he once publicly stated: "The five talents are brilliant and worthy of great responsibilities." If you have different opinions, you can speak up and don't need to talk about them behind your back. These words not only show the support of the Emperor of the Apocalypse for the five eunuchs, but also hint at the complex situation of the undercurrent surging in the DPRK and China.
Over time, the evaluation of the five major prisons has also changed. In the fifteenth year of the Apocalypse, a historian named Sima Qian wrote in his private diary: "The talent of five people is rare in the world. However, the weight is great, and I am afraid that it is not the blessing of the society. To some extent, these words represent the general view of intellectuals at the time.
In later generations, the evaluation of the five major eunuchs was even more varied. Some praised them for their brilliance and brought unprecedented prosperity to Beili; They were also criticized for being too powerful and upsetting the balance of power in the imperial court. What's more, they are compared to the "Five Ghosts Haunting Tokyo", believing that they are the main culprits responsible for the decline of the Northern Departure Dynasty.
However, regardless of the evaluation, the important position of the five eunuchs in the history of Beili is undeniable. Their actions profoundly affected the politics, economy, culture and many other aspects of the Beili Dynasty, and they became the most iconic figures of that era.
And this is only one chapter in the legendary story of the five eunuchs. What will be their fate over time? What kind of challenges will the Northern Dynasty face? All this has yet to be further witnessed by history......