Feng Bao is quite controversial in history. He was called a generation of virtuous officials. After Ming Shenzong acceded to the throne, he was called the Inner Minister. He cooperated with Zhang Juzheng and played a key role in the rejuvenation of Wanli. Of course, he also has shortcomings, such as framing high arches and being greedy for money, but on the whole, his image is still positive. Feng Bao
Feng Bao is a native of Shen County, Hebei Province. Besides being a politician, Feng Bao also has a high cultural accomplishment and is good at calligraphy and playing the piano, which is very different from ordinary eunuchs.
Photo: Feng Bao's original work
According to historical records, Feng Bao entered the palace during the Jiajing period. In the fifteenth year of Jiajing, Feng Bao was selected to study in the Inner Book Hall, and then moved to the Six-branch Gallery, the Inner Study Room and the Document Room of Sili Supervisor. Finally, in the thirty-ninth year of Jiajing, he was promoted to be the eunuch of Sili Supervisor.
In the middle and late Ming Dynasty, because of the power to approve the red for the emperor, Si Lijian essentially became another cabinet of the imperial court. The eunuch who was the head of the court could be regarded as the "internal phase" on par with the cabinet records, while the eunuch who was the master of the pen was regarded as the power comparable to the second assistant. In other words, Feng Bao had been the second-in-command among eunuchs during the Jiajing period.
in the first year of Qin Long, Feng Bao was the prefect of the East Factory and the Imperial Horse Supervisor. According to the truth, the next step in charge of the royal horse prison is to be promoted to the eunuch. However, Feng Bao was at odds with Gao Gong, the then records. Gao Gong twice recommended others as handprint eunuchs. Until the death of Emperor Qin Long, Feng Bao, with the support of the Empress Dowager, took out the testamentary edict of Emperor Qin Long, and was promoted to the position of handprint eunuch. Since then, Feng Bao has embarked on the peak of power, and he has the power to pour into the ruling and opposition parties. Educating Ming Shenzong and supporting Zhang Juzheng
Ming Shenzong was only ten years old when he acceded to the throne, so Li Taihou and Zhang Juzheng have always been very strict with him. Feng Bao was trusted by Li Taihou and spared no effort to teach Ming Shenzong.
For example, other eunuchs taught the emperor how to play, but Feng Bao taught Ming Shenzong how to write. Li Jian, presided over by him, specially printed the Enlightenment Collection, Four Books and Book Classics for the emperor. Ming Shenzong liked calligraphy in his early days, which was also influenced by Feng Bao.
For some things, Feng Bao is even more strict with Ming Shenzong than Zhang Juzheng. For example, Bai Lianhua was made in the Cabinet and Bai Yan was made in the Hanlin Academy. Zhang Juzheng brought all these things to the emperor to enjoy, but Feng Bao advised Zhang Juzheng: "The emperor is young and should not use these strange things to make him playful."
Feng Bao will also report Ming Shenzong's mistakes to Li Taihou in time. On one occasion, Ming Shenzong molested the maid-in-waiting after drinking, and Feng Bao reported it to Li Taihou. As a result, Li Taihou almost abolished Ming Shenzong in great anger, and finally sent Ming Shenzong to kneel for three hours, and even committed a letter to himself. Of course, although Feng Bao's starting point was for the good of Ming Shenzong, it also aroused Ming Shenzong's antipathy, which is another story.
Internally, Feng Bao and Zhang Juzheng cooperated with each other in educating Ming Shenzong, and both wanted to educate Ming Shenzong into a generation of wise kings. Externally, Feng Bao also spared no effort to support the reform led by Zhang Juzheng.