Dongchang was the largest spy agency in the Ming Dynasty responsible for detectives and prisons.
If a major case occurs, the first thing the emperor will think of is to hand it over to Dongchang for handling.
Dongchang was first established in the Yongle period of Ming Dynasty. "History of Ming Dynasty. Chengzu Benji 3" records: "In the eighteenth year of Yongle, Dongchang was established, and he was appointed as an official."
"Ming Tongjian" records in more detail: "In August of the 18th year of Yongle, the East Factory was built in Beijing. At first, the emperor ordered officials to oversee the country, and the crown prince supervised the country. Secret investigations were slightly banned. By this time, Beijing was first built. The emperor was determined to prevent rape and rebellion, so he spread the Jinyi official school, specializing in investigation and undercover investigation. He was also afraid that foreign ministers would know the inside story, so he set up the Dongchang in the north of Dong'anmen, with his servants and confidants in charge of the factory. From then on, the Dongchang banned the army. He is becoming increasingly arrogant and domineering, and is arrogant and arrogant."
The East Factory was under the direct command of the Emperor, and no one but the Emperor was under its surveillance. It was a matter of confidentiality and heavy responsibility, so the emperor attached great importance to it, and the eunuchs sent to preside over it were all his close confidants. The official defense issued was much grander than that of other eunuch yamen.
The Dongchang was obviously specially established for Chengzu's personal needs. Its external office hall is located in the north outside Dong'an Gate, along the East River, past the Dongshang North Gate and Dongzhong Gate. On the north side of the street are the billiard room, medical school, and billiard room. Reading place, Guanglu Temple, and the grate head room in the south of the street. Further east is Dong'anli Gate, commonly known as Wall Gate. After crossing the bridge, there is Dong'anmen. The external office lobby of Dongchang is located in a courtyard to the north outside Dong'an Gate.
From the establishment of the Dongchang in the 18th year of Yongle to the demise of the Ming Dynasty, a total of more than 220 years, its investigations, arrests, frame-ups, unjust imprisonments and large-scale massacres have never stopped. They were directly and indirectly initiated and executed from here. . Dongchang was established by an imperial edict from the emperor. The emperor's confidant was the governor of the factory. He took orders directly from the emperor and acted under the emperor's orders. Therefore, no one except the emperor could interfere in factory affairs, and everyone was under surveillance and reconnaissance. What Dongchang does is actually something entrusted by the emperor, so it is the emperor's top secret. The responsibility is very heavy, and no one dares to take it lightly.
The emperor's confidant who presided over the affairs of Dongchang was the eunuch in charge of Dongchang. His full official title was "Imperial Envoy Governor and Eunuch in Charge of Dongchang Official School". People in the factory called him "Governor" or "Factory Duke".
Under the factory master, there are one member each for the person responsible for the punishment of a thousand households and the person responsible for the punishment of a hundred households. Both of them are also called "posting", and most of them come from Jinyiwei.
Dongchang's reconnaissance and investigation is very broad, ranging from the government to the private sector.
Nowadays, the official name of Dongchangchang is Shi Zhong, but it was still established by the late emperor. Not long after the current emperor boarded the plane, he originally wanted to reset the factory governor. However, because Shi Zhong was in power and had many close friends, the emperor was also afraid of the three points, so he did not dare to conflict with him head-on.
Shi Zhong was ambitious. He not only monopolized power in both the government and the public, but was also heavily involved in political affairs. He secretly colluded with Sheng Lingren, the Lord of the Temple, and often used his hands to control other sects and participate in Jianghu affairs. They also attempt to eradicate all opposing sects in order to unify the world. Because the Sheng Ling people were backed by Dongchang, they were even more domineering in the world. The only people they feared were the Sichuan Tangmen.
Shi Zhong himself is highly skilled in martial arts and can be regarded as a first-class master in the world. He also has five eunuchs who are highly skilled in martial arts, all of whom are his close confidants. These five people are Ming Hai, Si Hong, Fan Yun, Wu Kui and Shi Tai. Together they are called the fifth supervisor of Dongchang. They are the first-class masters in Dongchang after Shi Zhong.
The case of the disaster relief officer's bank robbery had already alarmed both the government and the public, so the emperor naturally handed it over to Dongchang for investigation. As for the fifth line, they can only be regarded as the secret agents of the court at best.
Shi Zhong then sent his crony Fan Yun directly to Shunqing Mansion to start investigating the case.
Because Dongchang has great power and has the power of life and death over ministers, officials generally dare not offend him. The prefect of Shunqing Prefecture was named Ma Buchao. When he learned that someone was coming from Dongchang, he naturally did not dare to neglect and went out of the city to welcome him into the prefecture.
As soon as he arrived at the government office, Fan Yun asked, "Where is the garrison general who lost his official silver?"
Ma Buchao replied: "According to Master Liang's wishes, he is now on death row and is awaiting trial in prison."
Fan Yun asked again: "I heard there is still one alive?"
Ma Buchao said: "That's right. It's just that the thief was very tight-lipped. I have personally interrogated him many times, but he refused to say a word. So far, nothing has been found."
Fan Yun said very rudely: "It has been some time since the incident occurred, but now there is still no progress. That is your incompetence."
Ma Buchao was angry in his heart, but he didn't dare to show it on his face: "Yes! Yes! Yes! Otherwise, the emperor would not have sent you, my father-in-law, to take charge of this case."
Fan Yun asked again: "When the crime occurred, wasn't there an official who was also present?"
Ma Buchao pointed to one of the agents in the hall and replied: "Yes, it is our agent Fan Chou."
When Fan Chou heard the call, he left work and said, "Fan Chou, a humble official, has met my father-in-law."
Fan Yun didn't look at him, he just said: "Here comes someone! Get it for me."
When Fan Chou heard this, he immediately became anxious and shouted: "My father-in-law, there is no crime for lowering your position!"
Ma Buchao was also confused and interceded on Fan Chou's behalf: "Although Fan Chou failed to capture the culprit, he still saved General Song's life. He really has merit but no fault!"
When Fan Yun heard this, he immediately spat: "Bah! He is a heinous criminal. How can Mr. Ma still plead for mercy on his behalf?"
Ma Buchao was even more puzzled: "Where do you start talking about this?"
Fan Yun did not answer, but asked Fan Chou: "Let me ask you, how were you present when the crime occurred?"
Fan Chou replied: "On my way back to the Yamen, I happened to pass by there and bumped into the robber."
Fan Yun didn't believe it: "'Just passing by'? Is it such a coincidence? Could it be that there was a premeditation! Tell me, are you an accomplice of the robber? Where did the robbed official's money go?"
Fan Chou became even more anxious: "It's unfair! The humble post is indeed for official business. Mr. Ma can testify to this."
Ma Buchao also said: "He is right, it was indeed my government who sent him out."
Fan Yun ignored him and asked: "Well, since you met the robbers, why not capture them?"
Fan Chou said: "The robbers are numerous and powerful, and they are all highly skilled in martial arts. We and I are alone and are no match at all! What's more, General Lian Song is so skilled in martial arts, but he can't deal with the robbers, so how can he do it with his humble position?" Can you catch them?"
Fan Yun did not listen to his explanation, and only said: "You are using strong words to make sense. Let's put this person in prison first, and then deal with him after our family finds out the truth." So the officials had no choice but to put Fan Chou in prison. Ma Buchao was afraid of being burned, so he didn't do anything. Dare to intercede for Fan Chou again.
——Note: This chapter mostly quotes from the two books "Secret Files of the Imperial Guards of the Ming and Qing Dynasties" and "The Politics of Secret Agents in the Ming Dynasty". Chapter 33 Dongchang
