The spy agencies of the Ming
During the Ming Dynasty, there were many Spy agencies developed by different emperors. They are the Eastern Depot Factory, Western Depot Factory and the Jinyiwei (Emperors’ personal bodyguards). Each were created for its own purpose and to each agency. Eastern Depot was created by Zhu Yuan Zhang’s fourth son Zhu Di. Western Depot was created by Zhu Jian Shen, Ming Dynasty’s eighth emperor. The most famous Jinyiwei was created by Hong Wu Emperor Zhu Yuan Zhang himself, it functioned as secret polices to stabilize the dynasty since the Ming Dynasty was just founded. Jinyiwei, literally meaning the “brocade-clad guard”. They were created in Hongwu fifteen years (1382), created by HongWu Emperor. They are directly …show more content…
The emperor felt very unsafe because an official was caught by the Jinyiwei for plotting to start a coup. After that incident, to strengthen the spy rule, in 1477 in the East factory had an outside the addition of the West Factory was introduced and with the East Factory and Jinyiwei were collectively known as the factory guards, with the most eunuch that was favored by the emperor, Wang Zheng became the Governor of the Western Factory. The power of the western factory was more powerful it was able to overpower the East. The members of the West are selected from the best of the Jinyiwei. The West Factory were allowed to arrest and torcher any middle and low ranked government official without reporting to the emperor, mainly because it was a court and prison mixed structure. But later the director Wang Zhi became very cocky and corrupt. It was recorded that many time him and his underlings would constantly bully government officials and used the power of the Western Factory to get rid of anyone who disagrees with him; many loyal generals and officials were murdered by them. Eventually everyone was oppose of the West Factory. Out of the pressure the emperor ordered to abolish the Western factory and execute Wang
During the Ming Dynasty, there were many Spy agencies developed by different emperors. They are the Eastern Depot Factory, Western Depot Factory and the Jinyiwei (Emperors’ personal bodyguards). Each were created for its own purpose and to each agency. Eastern Depot was created by Zhu Yuan Zhang’s fourth son Zhu Di. Western Depot was created by Zhu Jian Shen, Ming Dynasty’s eighth emperor. The most famous Jinyiwei was created by Hong Wu Emperor Zhu Yuan Zhang himself, it functioned as secret polices to stabilize the dynasty since the Ming Dynasty was just founded. Jinyiwei, literally meaning the “brocade-clad guard”. They were created in Hongwu fifteen years (1382), created by HongWu Emperor. They are directly …show more content…
The emperor felt very unsafe because an official was caught by the Jinyiwei for plotting to start a coup. After that incident, to strengthen the spy rule, in 1477 in the East factory had an outside the addition of the West Factory was introduced and with the East Factory and Jinyiwei were collectively known as the factory guards, with the most eunuch that was favored by the emperor, Wang Zheng became the Governor of the Western Factory. The power of the western factory was more powerful it was able to overpower the East. The members of the West are selected from the best of the Jinyiwei. The West Factory were allowed to arrest and torcher any middle and low ranked government official without reporting to the emperor, mainly because it was a court and prison mixed structure. But later the director Wang Zhi became very cocky and corrupt. It was recorded that many time him and his underlings would constantly bully government officials and used the power of the Western Factory to get rid of anyone who disagrees with him; many loyal generals and officials were murdered by them. Eventually everyone was oppose of the West Factory. Out of the pressure the emperor ordered to abolish the Western factory and execute Wang