The Qing Dynasty had a secret folding system, and ministers could use secret folds to report private issues to the emperor, which was a channel for the emperor to collect intelligence and a means to control his subordinates. Only the emperor's cronies had such an honor.
When Cao Xueqin's grandfather was weaving in Jiangnan, he often gave Emperor Kangxi a secret fold, reported the situation in Jiangnan, including ideology, economy and other aspects, and quickly transmitted news to the emperor.
The Ming Dynasty had a similar system, which began as a symbol of honor and then evolved into a means of controlling ministers.
During the Ming Dynasty from Renzong, the cabinet ministers had a silver seal, and the secret fold of the silver seal was stamped, and only the emperor could see it, which was a special folding system.
When it was first introduced, it only reflected the closeness of the relationship between the five cabinets and Injong, and then gradually it became a system and a privilege. The Ming system has also continued.
Although the period of Renzong was very short, only ten months, Zhu Gaochi participated in politics for a long time, and when Zhu Di went north, he was in charge of the country in the capital.
After Renzong ascended the throne, the five giants of the cabinet, Jianyi, Yang Shiqi, Yang Rong, Jin Youzi, and Xia Yuanji, were the core decision-makers of the Ming Empire and assisted Renzong.
These five ministers are all very old, experienced, and even old ministers of the Six Dynasties, this is a later story. They all have deep qualifications and have been following the emperor or the crown prince for a long time.
From Zhu Di to Zhu Gaochi, the Ming Dynasty had three sets of decision-making bodies, which assisted the emperor, the crown prince, and the imperial grandson, and the relationship between these ministers and Renzong was close.
The ** of the Yongle Northern Patrol Department, they are Zhu Di's descendants, who have accompanied Emperor Yongle in the southern and northern wars all the year round, and have mastered military power, and the prince's people are all excluded, and they are all people trusted by Zhu Di.
Beijing Taisun Left-behind Department**, is Taisun's teacher Xia Yuanji, he is the bridge of communication between the emperor and Taisun.
Nanjing Prince Stay-at-Home Department**. The assistant ministers of the crown prince Zhu Gaochi, Jian Yi and Yang Shiqi, have been accompanying the prince to supervise the country and deal with the government affairs in the rear.
Renzong's attitude towards these five people is obviously different. Renzong was naturally close to his subordinates, and first gave them the silver seal to show a kind of honor.
Then it was rewarded to the ** of the Northern Tour, and finally to the ** of the Beijing Department.
After Injong ascended the throne, the situation of the dynasty changed greatly, and the three major decision-making groups lost their support and faced with the redistribution of power, and they were all very cautious.
Half a year after the silver medal was obtained, only Yang Shiqi played in secret and was accepted by Renzong. With Yang Shiqi's beginning, Yang Rong dared to give the emperor a secret recital, so that in the end, the emperor issued an edict to blame, and Xia Yuanji and others began a small number of secret recitals.
It can be seen that the emperor's cronies have the courage to put forward opinions, and the rest are waiting and seeing.
Renzong carried out a big reshuffle for them, and the power was also distributed, Yang Shiqi was originally Hanlin, and he could only be a scholar of the Wupin Palace, but he was a descendant of Emperor Renzong, so Yang Shiqi was awarded a rank from Yipin, Young Fu, Waiter of the Ministry of Rites and a scholar of Huagai Palace, ranking as the third duke. And Jian Yi is from the first product, the young master, the secretary of the department, the third duke, the status is slightly higher than Yang Shiqi.
The three dukes lacked one, so they made up for Xia Yuanji, he was the head of the household department, Renzong needed him to get money and solve financial problems, and he was listed as the lowest Shaobao among the three dukes.
For his father's cronies, Renzong naturally wanted to give honor and leave a good name for himself.
Although Injong was in power for a short time, the system he created influenced later generations.
Daming