Zhenguan Crown Prince Li Chengqian

Chapter 543 Breaking the Root of the Eunuch Again
Speaking of the profession of eunuch, it can be said that it has a long history. This system is not only a ruthless destruction of men, but also a political system that has gradually become an indispensable political system in successive dynasties along with the monarchy.

As early as the Zhou Dynasty, this system existed, and the number and duties of eunuchs with various titles have been clearly recorded in "Zhou Li".At that time, there were not many eunuchs, and they were only part of the retainers. They were mainly responsible for guarding the palace gate, delivering orders, serving daily chores and other miscellaneous tasks, and their status was low.

However, because eunuchs serve the king, they are easy to gain the favor of the king, and can exert some influence on the king's administration. Over time, they become a powerful force in the officialdom.During the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, some eunuchs such as Qi Shudiao and Song Yili began to squeeze into the ranks of political cadres, participated in political activities, and influenced the overall situation of the government.

Needless to say, Zhao Gao, the eunuch of the Qin Dynasty, was able to become the prime minister as an eunuch. The four words "referring to a deer as a horse" are enough to show how powerful his power is, and he can even instigate abolition at will. After the power grows, how much harm will it do to the country.

In the Han Dynasty, eunuchs could hold official positions with the real power of the prime minister, such as Zhongshu Yezheling, Zhongchang Shijun, etc. All the internal officials of the palace were held by eunuchs, and eunuchs could enjoy the same salary, food, and food rent as courtiers.Since then, eunuchs have officially had their own power system and become a special force that interferes in national politics.

With Zhao Gao, the eunuch ancestor, as a precedent, after the Emperor He of the Han Dynasty, the young emperor changed frequently, and the mother and queen came to the court, resulting in relatives and eunuchs taking turns to rule.In the long-term power struggle, the eunuch group won, and there was a situation in which five people were granted the title of marquis on the same day, the power of the ten permanent attendants spread all over the states and counties, and the forbidden army was also controlled by them.

After the Wei and Jin Dynasties, although accepting the lessons of the previous generation, there were strict restrictions on eunuchs' involvement in politics, but due to the lack of effective supervision and the fact that they belonged to the emperor's domestic slaves, those laws and regulations eventually became a dead letter.

After the founding of the Tang Dynasty, in order to prevent eunuchs from meddling in politics, the Eastern Han Dynasty’s act of abolishing and establishing the emperor appeared. The officials of the Ministry of Internal Affairs consisted of three parts: eunuchs, female officials, and courtiers. They supervised each other and checked and balanced each other. Look, the effect of this separation of powers checks and balances is pretty good.

But even with such strict restrictions, the eunuchs in the inner palace can still achieve the official position of the fourth rank. For such a rank, let alone Changsun Wuji, even those courtiers who stand in the Taiji Palace every day are filled with righteous indignation.

You must know that in the Tang Dynasty, the prime minister was the third rank, and the eunuchs could achieve the fourth rank. Those of them who worked so hard to share the worries of the monarch and seek the welfare of the people would not be able to catch up with an eunuch in a lifetime. Who would be able to balance it.

Changsun Wuji's idea is very simple. Restrictions alone are not enough, but their rank must be suppressed. It is best to suppress it below the sixth rank. Where are the precedents of the Qin and Han Dynasties? If the status of this group is not suppressed until it will never rise, this tumor will sooner or later It's all going to kill.

The emperor was a man of resolute character, great talent and general strategy, and won the world with a long spear. Even if Zhao Gao was resurrected, he would not be able to turn the tide in his hands, and the result would be death.The eunuchs are all masters who watch people order food. When encountering such a master, they naturally dare not be presumptuous. They can only suppress the desire in their hearts and accompany and serve carefully.

And Li Chengqian, like his father, will not be easily manipulated by others, and has a strong desire to control power. He will be the emperor in the future. The Pichang temples in several counties are their final fate.This young master was in a hurry, he dared to build a house in front of the Tai Chi Palace, so that people who come and go can see what is the inviolability of the dignity of the Tian Family.

Having said this, the words come back again, people have a limited lifespan, their emperor will always be the leader one day, who can guarantee that the emperor in the future will also like the two of them, like the two of them, mount a horse to conquer, and dismount What about Anmin?

As the saying goes, wealth does not last for three generations, and who can say what will happen after the third generation, so solving this problem for the descendants early can avoid risks to the greatest extent. Changsun Wuji believes that both the emperor and the prince will understand this truth .

"Li Liyuan grows grass, one year old and one year old. The wild fire is endless, and the spring breeze blows again. Cutting the grass is always a hidden danger. In the ninth year of Wude, didn't my uncle persuade my father to kill it for this reason? Did you become a fifth son? Why, I am getting older and my heart is softening, and I am reluctant to do something serious." Li Chengqian looked at his eldest grandson Wuji with interest.

Hearing his nephew teasing him, Changsun Wuji shook his head helplessly, he, this mouth is really unforgiving, if other courtiers heard what he said, they would faint from fright.However, his eldest grandson Wuji was an exception. He believed that the emperor and his son knew in their hearts who he was doing this for.

"Your Highness, it's not that the old minister is soft-hearted, but that you are too hard-hearted. There are thousands of eunuchs in the palace, and how can you cook them all up because of a few people's mistakes? Your Majesty will never agree with you to do this."

Seeing that Changsun Wuji got it wrong, Li Chengqian laughed twice, this and that, even if he wanted to change this system, he couldn't kill people in one go, that would be so unreasonable.What's more, most of them are still loyal to the master, diligent in the king's affairs, no credit or hard work.

"Uncle, you misunderstood. Gu means to deal with this matter like peeling an apple, and finally completely abolish this system. This way, it can solve the worries of the future, and it can also breed people. It's the best of both worlds!"

"Oh, please enlighten me, Your Highness!"

Li Chengqian's idea is very simple. Based on the current number of eunuchs, starting from next year, the palace will no longer introduce new eunuchs, and will not be castrated without authorization, and those who violate it will be exiled for three thousand miles.Because the positions vacated by eunuchs are all filled by healthy women, even if there are some physical tasks, they can do it with their strong bodies.

In addition, old, sick, and unusable eunuchs were eliminated year by year, and all the cut ones were sent to Enyang Village near Chang'an to live a good life.

Finally, when it comes to grades, the grades and benefits of the existing eunuchs remain unchanged, and the replaced female healthy women are capped at the sixth rank. After serving for a certain number of years, they are ordered to be released to the village, thus replacing the existing eunuch system.

After listening to Li Chengqian's clever move, Changsun Wuji pondered for a while. According to what the prince said, it would not hurt the hearts of the existing eunuchs, so that the royal family would not have the reputation of treachery, and it could eliminate the disaster. It is indeed the best of both worlds. .

"His Royal Highness, the solution is good. However, this remonstrance is better for the old minister to tell His Majesty. You are not young, and it is better to avoid some things."

Of course Li Chengqian understood what uncle meant, he really had an exquisite heart, and he had weighed the pros and cons, gains and losses in such a short period of time. With such an uncle and minister by his side, he could relax a lot.

So, after nodding his head with a smile, he immediately replied: "It would be great to have my uncle on hand, I think so."
(End of this chapter)