The Cabinet's Fight For Power In The Mid-late Of Ming Dynasty

After the abolition of the prime minister system by Ming Taizu, the emperors were not only the head of state, but also the chief executive. In order to reduce the burden of the emperor, the cabinet came up in the period of Yongle. Initially, the cabinet was only the emperor's inner court secretariat, and did not be directly involved in the military affairs. In the periods of Ren Zong and Xuan Zong, the cabinet obtained the right of "tickets drafting",and the cabinet minister's power was also magnified. In the years of Tianshun, Li Xian became the first Grand Secretary of cabinet. Since then, the system of Grand Secretary was gradually formed. During the years of Jiajing, Longqing and Wanli, the power of the cabinet reached the peak gradually, and the Grand Secretary of the cabinet saw himself as the prime minister. Although the six departments were not under the leadership of the cabinet in name, yet they had to listen to the cabinet's orders in fact.Where there is power,there is drastic fighting. In the years of Jiajing, Longqing and Wanli, the cabinet had more power, and the highest power of the cabinet was controlled by the Grand Secretary. So the battles between the Grand Secretaries were particularly fierce during this period. At the beginning of Shi Zong's domination, "dispute of ritual" was a tool of the battles between the Grand Secretaries. Zhang Cong took that opportunity to fight against other people. The Grand Secretary of the cabinet was replaced frequently. Since Zhang Cong's leaving from the cabinet, Xia Yan, Yan Song, Xu Jie, Gao Gong and Zhang Juzheng, in order to compete for the place of Grand Secretary, everyone tried to draw supervisors over to his side, and undermine emperor's trust of opponent; or combined Sili Jian's eunuches to fight against one's opponet. The result of the struggle was that the losing side always had tragic fates.The power of the six departments was snatched by the cabinet, when more and more power was controlled by the cabinet. With the basis of "ancestral provisions", the six departments fighted for power with the cabinet. Initially, the cabinet penetrated the six departments only by authorities. Later, Gao Gong became the head of Official Department, and Zhang Juzheng carried out "Rule of Kao Cheng". With the effect of those affairs, the six departments were completely controlled by the cabinet, especially the power of personnel and military. At that time, as heads of Official Department, Sun Long and Song Xun were discontent with the expansion of the cabinet's power. The contradictions between the cabinet and six departments became acute.As most of emperors in mid-late of Ming Dynasty delayed in politics, the power of "Approved Red" was performed by Si Lijian. The power of the cabinet was restricted by Si Lijian. Cabinet ministers often dissatisfied with it. The fight between the cabinet and Si Lijian also became more and more fierce and complex.From the mid-late of Wanli to the late of Ming Dynasty, the power of the cabinet began to decline from the peak. However, the importance of the cabinet still could not be ignored. With the formations of Donglin Party and Qi,Chu,Zhe,Kun,Xuan Parties, the two sides started a prolonged fight. So the cabinet's fight for power turned into main reflect of the cliques' battle. Cabinet minister enriched his rights relying on his party, and a party could fight against other parties with the help of cabinet ministers. After the party of eunuches got power, cabinet ministers began to play up to Wei Zhongxian. So the cabinet turned into a tool of persecuting the member of Donglin Party. The cabinet struggled in the cliques' battle, which increased the intense rate of the battles among different parties in the late of Ming Dynasty.The cabinet's fight for power in the mid-late of Ming Dynasty had a very bad influence to Ming Dynasty:cabinet ministers formed different parties, gave and accepted bribes, which increased political corruption. The cabinet falled into political struggle, so it was difficult to make timely and correct decisions on military affairs. Such interference of state affairs even had a direct impact on the war situation of Liaodong and accelerated the perish of the Ming Dynasty.