Eunuchs, also known as eunuchs, were slaves in ancient China, serving the emperor and his family. Not all eunuchs in the pre-Qin and Western Han dynasties were eunuchs. Since the Eastern Han Dynasty, eunuchs have been eunuchs. Also known as officials, middle officials, internal officials, internal ministers, internal servants and so on. During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, elderly eunuchs were also called companions. Eunuchs are slaves in charge of court chores and are not allowed to participate in state affairs. But because they live with the royal family day and night, they can win the trust of the emperor and have a chance. Some eunuchs served as court ministers. During the Eastern Han, Tang and Ming Dynasties, eunuchs held the power of state affairs. Early eunuchs were not necessarily eunuchs, but eunuchs were completely used as eunuchs in the Eastern Han Dynasty.

So why did the eunuchs of the Ming Dynasty have so much power?

First, Zhu Yuanzhang abolished the prime minister system?

In the final analysis, Zhu Yuanzhang abolished the prime minister system and set up a cabinet, a royal guard and other specialized agencies in Dongchang to monitor the officials of the civil and military forces. In other dynasties, the prime minister could control power, so there were no eunuchs. According to the experience of the past dynasties, the Ming Dynasty drew a lesson that all the usurpers were civil servants and military officers. Therefore, the Ming Dynasty gave full play to the monarch's power, abolished the prime minister system, and made eunuchs move from behind the scenes to the front of the stage, becoming a force affecting the court. ?

Second, the East-West factory system?

After Ming Taizu Judy usurped the throne, social criticism continued. Judy, the emperor of the Ming Dynasty, was worried that court officials would not submit to him, so he didn't want to trust court officials. In order to confirm the loyalty of officials and eliminate hostile forces, Ming Taizu has set up East Factory and West Factory to supervise officials.

Third, establish the first eunuch school bookstore.

When Emperor Xuanzong of Ming Dynasty ascended the throne, in order to prevent his uncle from usurping the throne, he attached great importance to cultivating eunuch forces, founded the first eunuch school in China history, and invited contemporary university students to teach in eunuch schools, so that eunuchs could learn culture. The eunuchs who studied in the inner library have cultural knowledge and better understand the mystery of the eunuch's authoritarian power in the previous dynasty. As the saying goes, we are not afraid of hooligans fighting, but we are afraid that hooligans are literate. They have been familiar with the intrigue in the palace since childhood, and they have knowledge and culture. If they are not good at heart, they will easily go astray. What happened afterwards? Nine years old? Wei Zhongxian is proof.